Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has yet to make any additions to last seasons underachieving squad.
Rodgers has stated recently that the Reds are close to securing a few of their targets, but nobody has yet arrived through the Anfield entrance.
Underachievement
The former-Swansea boss has been very patient in the transfer market so far.
The transfer market has been relatively quiet so far this summer but the Reds are expected to make additions to their squad, after finishing eighth in the Premier League last season.
Under Kenny Dalglish they did win the Carling Cup and get to the FA Cup final. However, the eighth place finish in the Premier League meant that the Scot had to leave the club. For a club the size of Liverpool an eighth place finish in the top flight is nothing short of a disaster.
Liverpool are expected to finish higher up the league table under Rodgers, but if they are to achieve anything next season then they need to improve the quality of the players in their squad.
Style
Brendan Rodgers likes his team to play a particular way. He likes his teams to play attacking, possession football. He seemed almost to perfect the style at Swansea, as the Welsh side achieved promotion to the Premier League and survived comfortably in the top flight.
Liverpool fans will be hoping that he can replicate the style he had with Swansea at Anfield. For that though he needs the right players in squad. Rodgers does a lot of research on prospective signings and leaves no stone unturned.
At Swansea he would only sign players that were comfortable in possession of the ball. Meaning that his team was able to keep the ball and patiently build-up play. His teams style of play was once compared to that of Spanish giants Barcelona.
Some Swans fans even gave their team the nickname ‘Swans-alona’ in tribute to the way the side played their football.
Time
It’s going to take Rodgers time to instil that style of football in the Liverpool players. I have a feeling that some big name players are likely to follow Dirk Kuyt out of the Anfield exit door this summer, as Rodgers tries to put his football philosophy in place.
Loan
As I wrote in an article a few days ago Brendan Rodgers is open to the idea of England international Andy Carroll leaving the club on-loan. This may be because the Irishman doesn’t think the Geordie fits into his style of play.
However, I think he is judging a book by the cover. Andy Carroll is not just a hit and hope target for defenders. The 23 year-old is skilful and his touch is improving all the time. He may not be the most skilful striker in the country but he still has a lot to offer Liverpool.
His form and fitness have improved over the last few months and he is starting to look like a striker that could repay a bit of that £35million transfer fee next season. However, if reports are to be believed he may not get that chance.
Linked
As mentioned earlier the transfer market has been relatively quiet. Very few Premier League sides have rushed out and signed players. Liverpool have been linked with a couple of targets but nothing has yet come of those links.
The Reds were chasing Icelandic international midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, but the former-Swansea star decided to move to Tottenham instead. According to Sky Sports Roma striker Fabio Borini is currently considering a move to Anfield.
The 21 year-old Italy international scored nine times for Roma in Serie A last season in 24 appearances. The youngster has previously been on the books at Chelsea and enjoyed a spell on-loan at Swansea under Rodgers.
Another player being linked with a move to the Reds is Malaga striker Salomon Rondon. According to his club boss Manuel Pellegrini Malaga have received offers from big clubs in England and Germany for his services. With Malaga in the Champions League though, it remains to be seen if the striker will want to move on.
The agent of Real Madrid attacking midfielder Jose Callejon has dismissed reports that his player could be moving to Merseyside this summer. He told the media that Real Madrid does not want to sell the 25 year-old former-Espanyol star. Callejon had be linked with the Reds earlier this summer.
Improvement
I expect Liverpool to improve under Brendan Rodgers. He has warned fans today that there is no quick-fix and he is absolute correct. The former-Swansea boss will need to be given time to change things around at the club.
Not just to instil his style into the team, as earlier state, but also to change the mentality of the whole club. For too long Liverpool fans have had expectations above the level of the quality of their actual players.
Liverpool are not suddenly going to become champions again overnight with the current group of players. The squad needs heavily strengthening. Brendan Rodgers is a promising manager and I believe that he will be a success at Liverpool given time, resources and the support he needs.
Will Brendan Rodgers be a success at Liverpool?
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
