After last season’s achievements, there has been a convergence of factors that have seen us unable to carry over any momentum from last season.
Looking past the recent media furores – the Balotelli signing, the poor defence, and Rodgers’s team selection away at Real Madrid – and also tactics and team selections, there are serious backroom issues that need attention, as well as transparency for fans.
One of the factors that have halted our progression has undoubtedly been the signings made. Most signings, both on paper and in practice, appear illogical.
An understanding of the dubious signings can be understood in light of the times we have gotten it right in the transfer market under Rodgers.
Take signings such as Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho for instance. Here we have two players that had theoretically made sense in a Rodgers team, as it was easy to predict exactly what they would bring to the party. Even if they had turned out to be poor performers, one could still see the logic behind their signings. Thankfully, however, we got these signings right both in theory and on the field.
More recent examples have been Javier Manquillo and Alberto Moreno, who have arguably been our best signings this season. What all these have in common is that they have addressed weaknesses in the team, made clear and obvious sense on paper, and – crucially – are part of a team that are conducive to their strengths.
The rest of our summer signings, worryingly, do not answer any of the questions above. The most obvious examples are strikers Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert. There are differing opinions on their abilities as players prior to their purchases, but what is important is that they simply don’t fit the team on paper. Their approaches to the game leave serious questions to be answered about the way we go about recognizing appropriate transfer targets.
Last season we had an attacking system that swept everything in its path. It is therefore very strange that we seemed to have abandoned it for a slower, more conservative attack.
What’s more is that, throughout the transfer window, we were constantly linked with players that did work in theory – Loic Remy, Alexis Sanchez, and even Marco Reus. But when we failed to sign them, why did we not just try and find more of the same rather than panic buy? There has surely got to be a list of targets in case the ideal ones don’t materialize.
Perhaps Lambert was an intentional purchase, considering the fact that he was an early signing. However, we are not in a position to make such romantic signings as, even if we’d kept Suarez or had a good start to the season, there is still a long way to go before we are in the position to do so.
The much maligned Dejan Lovren is one who, to be fair, may make sense in theory: he is comfortable with the ball, good in the air, and was billed as a leader in defence – something that we have desperately needed since Jamie Carragher. However, on the field Lovren really disappoints. For a supposed leader, he is probably the most mistake-prone and hesitant defender we’ve had in some time. Surely for the hefty £ 20m price tag, we could have gotten a more experienced and proven defender. Once again, those who identify the targets have questions to answer.
There are also questions over the promising signings like Emre Can and Adam Lallana. When Can’s signing was announced, it looked as if he would be an understudy to aging Steven Gerrard, with the idea of eventually taking on the role of deep-lying playmaker. This has not been the case, however, as Gerrard has started most of games so far, and, when played, Can is deployed as a box-to-box midfielder.
If the plan was indeed to play Gerrard in most of the games, then why was Can purchased? We have a wealth of central midfielders, and Can – while impressive – does not bring anything vital or unique to the table as things stand.
Lallana’s transfer becomes increasingly questionable as more and more games are played. Lallana’s strengths are there to see – his industry, skill and energy do make him a Rodgers player, but should we really be spending £ 25m for a player that isn’t a nailed-on first-team starter? Could we have gotten a similar player for a lower price who could have been the rotation option?
A Rodgers buzzword since he arrived has been ‘profile’. He has put emphasis on getting the right player. To his credit, when it has worked, it has worked well. However, major explanations are needed over why exactly we signed who we signed, and exactly who is in charge of identifying these players. Looking at the signings this season, there appears to be a lack of harmony between so-called game plans and what we need on the pitch, and the scouting process. I do realize I have left our Lazar Markovic, but I don’t believe we’ve seen enough to judge him properly. Yes, while the signings may yet prove to be the right ones, these questions and concerns will still be valid.
Rodgers has been criticized for signings, and has also been questioned over his decisions not to get specialist coaches to help with our problems on the pitch. Perhaps it’s time for the club to be transparent about their reasons for certain decisions so far.
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