While it is tempting to be overly optimistic about the rapid moves the club has made in the transfer market in the last few weeks, transfer dealings that James Pearce of the Echo, along with many pundits, considers to be a vast improvement on those of 2014 I find the news coming out of the club to be less encouraging than many. In terms of efficiency Pearce could not be more on point but to me what the signings say about the direction of the club, particularly when seen in the context of Brendan Rodger’s position, is that FSG are merely hedging their bets.
Before we take a look at the players signed, the change in backroom staff seems to me indicative of a fudging of responsibility. The appointment of Sean O’Driscoll as assistant manager raised many an eyebrow among Liverpool fans accompanied by the inevitable question, Who? Looked at in terms of silverware and experience working with top level players his CV is thin, workaday and uninspiring and at fifty seven it is not due to a lack of years in the game. Nonetheless Brendan Rodgers considers him "one of the best coaches I have ever come across.”
That may be the case and Rodgers, having also stated that O’Driscoll is the type of coach that “has never had a chance in the top flight. His teams were expressive, had movement, they were technical, but he will probably never get a chance at a higher level.” clearly sees untapped potential that he can exploit and a mistake, made by the rest of top flight football in ignoring O’Driscoll’s talent, that he can rectify. Rodgers has form, however, for hyperbole when describing people he values and his (ab)use of the word outstanding when describing many a mediocre performance last season means his praise for O’Driscoll does not carry as much weight as it could.
I for one am not buying it. I hope I am wrong and that it is an inspired decision by Rodgers but it strikes me that it is in fact a cautious move by a man under pressure, a man who has just overseen a poor season culminating in a calamitous defeat and is seeking to make changes without admitting fault. The performance at Stoke and in fact most if not all going back to the game against Man Utd at Anfield gave every indication that Rodgers’ authority among the players was hopelessly compromised as the lack of pride and direction seemed systemic. The conclusion from the swiftly conducted, and we are talking a couple of hours apparently, end of season review appears to be that Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh somehow failed to get Rodgers vision across to the players or perhaps that they failed to contribute enough ideas of their own. Neither conclusion seems to fit what we know of Rodgers style. He has not been shy in taking credit for players improvements or to expound upon his philosophy, neither of which suggest he values a conduit between him and the players nor particularly welcomes a huge amount of input.
If I were cynical I would conclude that Rodgers scapegoated Pascoe and Marsh and has appointed a replacement who offers no threat to either his waning authority nor a ready made replacement should FSG be inclined to start thinking that his position is no longer tenable. This is of course all speculation as the above quotes from Rodgers are from last year and he has been notable only by his silence since the end of last season.
From FSG’s perspective the move makes sense as their plans, whether they are to sell or deliver a consistently successful side, will likely remain largely unaffected by next season’s performances unless they include a deeper decline than last year. With the expansion of the ground well under way, TV money swelling the coffers and commercial revenue ever improving, their investment in the club seems on a sure footing and certainly firm enough to extend the gamble on Rodgers recreating the form of 2013-14 next season without the potential for stagnation or further regression representing a huge risk to them. With Pepijn Lijnders apparently due to be appointed to the first team coaching staff the owners have assembled a relatively inexpensive and easily dispensable management team while giving Rodgers the rope with which to hang himself if that is what transpires. If the “it was Colin and Mike’s fault” explanation carried the day at the end of last season then the buck presumably has moved upward to its final and proper destination with this reshuffle.
So what to make of the player recruitment so far? While the players signed all gel with Rodgers’ professed playing style they also, significantly, fit FSG’s recruitment profile. Without wishing to enter into the Rodgers/transfer committee territory again the signings of Clyne, Firmino and Ings all represent the buy ‘em young philosophy while the free transfer of James Milner appears a calculated gamble to add some experience to the squad without a significant upfront outlay. Adam Bodgan and Joe Gomez and the delayed arrival of Origi following his year out on loan do not represent a sizable risk to FSG in either fees or wages.
As such all these moves could have been initiated by a newly invigorated Rodgers determined to shape a new side or by a committee acting as a glorified and collective Director of Football with a remit to improve the squad for Rodgers or a future successor. Given the likely departure of Sterling, Borini, Lambert and possibly Lucas the financial implications are minimal given that the fees for those players could collectively shovel £60-£65 million into the Anfield bank account. If those sales go through and the mooted signing of Benteke goes ahead then the Americans will have invested around £25 million into the playing staff (less if Balotelli is off loaded and someone is kind enough to offer money for doing such a favour) which is in keeping with their typical net outlay. When you factor in the removal of Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson from both the the wage bill and the playing squad the early flurry of business actually signifies less than the fanfare surrounding it implies.
Taken individually of course, the signings can be seen as positive. Clyne represents an improvement on Johnson or any one of the revolving roster of players who appeared on the right of Liverpool’s defense last season. Firmino offers a tigerish work rate that potentially matches that of Suarez allied with a level of skill and finishing that will enhance the prospects of improving upon last season’s dismal goal tally. Ings is a player one would like to hope will be more effective from the bench than Borini or Lambert while Milner should add some guile and leadership to a Gerrardless midfield. However, these individual upgrades will only be significant if they in fact perform as expected and if Can prospers in midfield, Sakho, barring some miraculous improvement in Lovren, maintains his fitness, Henderson grows into a player consistently able to dictate games and Coutinho continues his improvement. That’s a long list of ifs and it doesn't include Moreno learning some positional sense, Sturridge enjoying an injury free period, Lallana adding an end product to his fleeting moments of promise, and the presence of Benteke, should he sign, not creating indecision in Rodgers' mind as to how he should set his side up.
If you step back from the desire to see these moves into the market as harbingers of a sustained assault on either the top four or even a higher ambition then the cold reality seems to be that they represent an improvement but not a determined drive to compete. The five teams who finished above Liverpool last season will not be standing still. Of course this all comes with the massive caveat that the transfer window has just opened so it it possible that additional signings beyond either Benteke or another striker will transpire or that Sterling will about turn and sign a new contract. If that’s the case it will represent a departure from FSG’s previous investment levels and as such seems unlikely. As things stand talk of a significant change in player investment policy and unequivocal support for Rodgers through the appointment of O’Driscoll seems premature to me and the real picture is in fact one that allows FSG the opportunity to say they backed Rodgers and equally easily relieve him of his duties without a massive payout for a backroom staff and potential clear out of players highly identified with the manager. They are to be praised, for sure, for the decisive nature of their dealings this window but I can not help but think that FSG have given Rodgers a stay of execution rather than a resounding vote of confidence.
The fixture list has thrown up a massive early season challenge to the players and manager and its likely that Rodgers will be under intense pressure before Autumn has fully set in. For the sake of the club I hope he proves to be the manager he thinks he is, and that it appeared we had in 2013-14, and that O’Driscoll is the foil that he needs to reinvigorate both players and supporters. It’s going to be a huge test of his mettle, character and ability. There is plenty of potential in the squad but the missing ingredient on the playing side and in the dug out still seems to be that indefatigable desire to win and I remain unconvinced even with the steps that have been taken towards improving the playing staff that anyone at the club truly possesses it. It would be great to be proven wrong.
