I’m not sure about anyone else but I’m a bit worried about the players that our great club is being linked with as I do not believe that these players will enhance the club but only drive us towards mediocrity. While other clubs are looking to strengthen their teams it looks as though we are settling for players who will just fill a gap.
Liverpool has entered the race to sign Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa while Sunderland also remains keen on the player. Is this the sort of player we want at the club. Granted he had an impressive season at Wigan last time out, I don’t firmly believe that he is any better than Insua although the left back position is something of concern as we don’t seem to have any genuine back up but a better quality player would be more advantageous as we look to close the gap as there are a few teams who will be competing for the top 4 spot and I think the financial constraints on the manager won’t help him.
We need to keep the players we have in order to strengthen the squad and this one out one policy won’t really help us much. I feel we need to keep Insua as well as sign another left back to provide much need competition and balance within the squad for that position.
Roy Hodgson has identified Inter Milan starlet Rene Krhin as one of his top summer transfer targets and will work his connections at the San Siro to secure a deal for the highly-rated 20-year-old Slovenian. Now this could be a potentially good transfer as other top clubs have been interested in him, at the same time there’s no point in signing youth if he’s there just to sit on the bench.
He will need to play and we will need some players from the youth set up to come through and shine and they will need the opportunity to do so. However this could be a major risk as only a handful of players have come through and played in the first team often referred to as Benitez’s preferred players and have not really shown much potential other than Ayala .
However the youth set-up has got the likes of Finnish hotshot Lauri Dalla Valle is one of the most exciting prospects at Liverpool. A host of European clubs were interested in Dalla Valle prior to his arrival on Merseyside. Chelsea were rumoured to be circling, while the teenager actually spent three months at Inter Milan before deciding to return to JIPPO. He has scored at International level for U16, U17 and U19.
Players like this need a chance as he has proved he has and eye for goal at the youth and reserve levels and may just be what we need to do and take a chance rather than spending big money on players who may turn out to be flops. I’ve not even mentioned Pachecho or Nemeth who many Liverpool fans are excited by.
The financial situation we find ourselves in is not new therefore this cannot be the reason for argument although I do believe some firm investment from the current owners would help to strengthen the squad and help us to challenge therefore making it easier for them to see the club.
Although there have been rumours that departures are unlikely without signings, I cannot really see this, Jovanovic I hope can create and impact, he looked good at the world cup, let’s see how he does in the premiership. A player which we have been linked with is Shaun Wright-Phillips. I believe it would be disastrous to sign a player like this who showed nothing when having a chance to succeed at Chelsea and two bites of the cherry at Manchester City, I believe that this could be a major mistake.
However there is a good prospect in the sense Bryan Ruiz as a winger which is only likely to confuse Liverpool fans. Steve McClaren can be credited with changing his position at FC Twente last season and he reaped the rewards.
Prior to moving to Holland, Ruiz spent three seasons at KAA Gent, where he scored 11 goals in 31 matches (2007/2008) and then 12 in 34 (2008/2009). Naturally left footed, Ruiz usually found himself starting on the left wing but he has also appeared on the right and through the middle.
Whilst his game is also suited to the physical side of things, he is 6.2ft, Liverpool fans should be warned that his assist ratio decreased when playing up front. In his last season at Gent he contributed 13 assists in 34 appearances whilst in 46 games at Twente his tally was just seven.
Experienced at international level (39 caps and nine goals for Costa Rica) he would likely be a good acquisition for Liverpool thanks to the fact he is quick, can dribble past opponents and is a good finisher. The only problem this poses is that could it be another Ryan Babel situation. I think that a move for Joe Cole should be seriously considered and scouring the market for some other free agents is not a bad option as this would mean we will get players for nothing and there are a few quality players going this summer.
We have been linked with Ashley Young and James Milner and while I believe they would be good important signings it is highly unrealistic and I just don’t think the funds are there. However the sale of want away players such as Mascherano who has made no attempt to commit is future to Liverpool and sending some players out on loan to slash the wage bill and give them more experience of first team football will be advantageous to the club in the long run and we may just see returns from these players that are currently in the youth reserve set up.
Both ways the new man does have his work cut out and hopefully his fresh approach and with some support from the board we won’t lose too many players and will be able to get some quality players and keep most the current squad. With Benitez constantly playing players out of position has this left our squad short of players in certain areas? Who knows only time will tell. Depending on the players we can attract and get I think that at the moment top four is unrealistic and top 6 should be the aim as teams such as Villa, Spurs and City are on the verge of over taking us if they already haven’t.