Comolli, Youngsters and the Transfer Window

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Damien Comolli and John Henry
Damien Comolli and John Henry

After the turmoil of the Hicks & Gillett saga, Liverpool’s resurgence will be matched with equal ambition in the summer transfer market. What owner John Henry, manager Kenny Dalglish and Director of Football Damien Comolli all believe is that Liverpool can’t let the dust settle after two poor summer transfer windows under old manager Rafa Benitez.

The signings of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in January were a statement of intent from the club. Both of these players were not just bought for here and now – they are an investment for the future. Comolli was quick to praise everyone involved in the Suarez deal, including the player himself. “The groundwork and intelligence coming out from the scouting team was very good. Everything you look at with Luis – his character, his attitude, his commitment–on top of all the football skills–made us feel he was the right person and the right individual.”

Comolli also explained the clubs decision to splash out on Andy Carroll. “I was very, very pleased for two reasons. Firstly, because we were getting a top player. Secondly, because we sold a player who didn’t want to be here and got one who does.” The reference to an unhappy player is Fernando Torres, who jumped ship and moved to Chelsea in a multi-million pound deal, which marked the end of a disappointing final year at Anfield.

“When you have someone who doesn’t want to be here, and you swap him for people who do, the atmosphere changes.” This change may be a huge factor in the fortune of the team, who have picked up their form and are now sitting in the top six of the Premier League table, having previously been relegation candidates under Roy Hodgson.

In the new look Liverpool, Comolli and the scouting team are striving for players who will fit the new Liverpool vision, of youthful attacking and attractive football. But we can’t escape the fact that the academy at Melwood is currently producing a fine crop of players. It would be against this exact philosophy that Henry and the club have introduced to block the path of these players, opting to buy talent from else ware.

Through a season nagged by injuries to some key players, Dalglish has had to rely on youth to fill the gaps. Most notably, Martin Kelly, Danny Wilson and Jay Spearing have all been given opportunities to impress in the Premier League, and it is hard not to think that more academies graduated will get the nod in the future.

Comolli has already spoken about his plans for the summer transfer market, promising fans the club will be signing top players. “We are very attractive for a lot of players because of what we did in January against Manchester United. It is fantastic publicity for us around the world. We are attractive to a lot of top players and we want to bring top players to this club.” Names of possible targets are already floating around the newspapers, television and in cyberspace. The rumour mill will surely be producing more and more stories as we near the end of the season and the opening of the window.

“We talk about different targets, about players we thought about in January but couldn’t do … So I expect a busy summer.”

11 Comments

  1. Sounds promising, with Flanagan and Robinson coming through too, its looking good, COME ON LIVERPOOL! Lets get back where we belong! YNWA!!

  2. I never said he was to blame, I just said that those two transfer windows happened whilst he was in charge. And they were disappointing.

  3. The only disappointing transfer window with Rafa in charge was the summer Alonso left and Aquilani and Johnson came in – and it was disappointing not because of the quality of the two players (I rate them both) but due to the failure to replace Alonso adequately. Rafa was responsible for at least bringing in top youngsters like Shelvey, Wilson and Stirling shortly before being thrown out by Hicks-Gillet-Purslow; and he was no longer there to prevent the loss of Mascherano, Aquilani and Insua. Had Hodgson not put his foot down we would also have lost Lucas, while we only gained Meireles and the unfortunate Poulsen, Konchesky and Jones.

  4. During these poor summer transfers, there was hardly any money to invest in new players. Only the money from players sold.

  5. I agree on point of not blocking the path of youngsters coming through but we have to sure their good enough as they develop through the youth and reserve teams. Not all will make the grade but at present I think Kelly,Spearing,Flannagan ,Shelvey could be first team players a save us millions. I think the jury is still out on Pacheco. Whilst I’m sure Ngog is not good enough. We have to wait and see on Sterling,Wisdom,Wilson and Suso. It appears the coaches we brought from the Barcelona academy in particular Borrelli are doing great job with the youth team. I read last week that Barca were trying to get him back but he is enjoying life at Liverpool and has been promised a promotion to reserve team coach at Liverpool . That will allow him the chance to prepare boys he has coached for two years to progress to first team. Maybe the bootroom mentality is coming back to the club and this coach could in time come to be first team coach. I think the priorty for the first team in the summer is a left back. Right back is covered now and Johnson can also cover as left back. The centre back position needs one stellar buy as Stolios is too old and Carra has probably one season left. Skertal is squad player not starter. Reina must be convinced to stay. I feel with injuries and age Gerrard has the quality to sit and play the Alonso role rather than the dynamic box to box player he has been to date. For this reason we don’t need Charlie Adam and can plough his fee into a good wide player with pace, creativity and crossing ability . And has been mentioned the older first team players who are dead wood at the club, like Jovanovic , Aqualini, Cole, Poulson etc must be moved on and replaced with youth. Oh just seen Adam Morgan live for the reserves playing upfront. He looks a better prospect than Ngog. Seems like a goal machine to me.

  6. Rafa is certainly not to blame for two poor summer transfer windows!!?

    Check the NET spend out.

    Anyone who says different is clueless, and that inc FSG if it be they who think so.

    Kenny needs too put this right once and for all, I’m sick to the back teeth of keep having to defend a man who should not need defending.

    YNWA Rafa Benitez.

  7. Rafa had a major budget much more even manscum had he bought good players that we all agreed but he also bought major s players

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