With the ink drying on the Paul Konchesky transfer from Fulham yesterday, the paperwork still hot from the Raul Meireles deal this afternoon and the betting odds on Sky Bet going to 2/1 for Mahamadou Diarra to join before the transfer window ends on Tuesday at 6:00pm BST, is Liverpool set in replacing the void left by Javier Mascherano’s departure to FC Barcelona? Let’s look at each player, and what they bring to Liverpool.
Paul Konchesky is a cheap pickup for Liverpool at around £4 million. He’s an average left-back with plenty of experience in the Premier League having over 150 appearances for Tottenham, West Ham and his current squad Fulham. This pickup would seem to make Konchesky as a substitute and not so much of a starter; I could see him however playing in the Europa League group stage. Ever since the Insua transfer fell apart and his return to the club, the priority has not been getting a replacement of that caliber. Konchesky is a good pickup, nonetheless.
It is clear that the pickup of Meireles so quickly after the departure of Mascherano to Barcelona is a direct move to fill the void left by the transfer. However, Roy Hodgson needs to realize one major difference between the two players—they each have a different playing style. Mascherano attacks the ball and moves forward with it. Meireles, with Porto and with the Portuguese national team, plays more of a passing style game. He tries to shoot for precise passes to make opportunities arise, and can go through the game relatively unnoticed. If Hodgson tries to make Meireles play in the same form as Mascherano this acquisition will be a failure. At around half the price of the transfer money Liverpool got from the Mascherano deal, the Meireles acquisition seems to be a winner, if the cards are played right.
While it is not set in stone yet, it is looking likely that Liverpool may grab Mahamadou Diarra from Real Madrid within the next 48 to 72 hours. Another defensive midfielder, it seems like Diarra could be a backup to Meireles. Madrid seems to want to offload Diarra before his contract is up at the end of this season in order to get a transfer fee for him, and Liverpool is in a position to get an above average defensive midfielder to be a backup to the newly acquired Meireles. It is an unknown at this point how much playing time Diarra may get as a part of the first squad at Liverpool; however, depending on the transfer fee, he seems to be a solid acquisition to be a backup at defensive midfield.
There are a lot of things that can happen between now and the close of the transfer window on Tuesday, so Liverpool may pull another trick out of its bags and sign other important assets to the team. The transfer of Mascherano has opened up some needed money, and with Meireles and Konchesky costing a total of about £15 million, there is enough money to make one or two more major acquisitions.
On a semi-related side note, my brother and his friends have started a blog that looks at the relationship between sports and business. As a finance student myself, I will be posting here on EOTK and there about Liverpool finances and hopefully be able to analyze their statements and financial health (maybe in a few parts). Their website is thesportstomato.com.
YNWA
we need a striker like SAF needs a retirement home
If Mahamadou Diarra does come to lfc, he’ll be a fantastic buy. The guy has been extremely unlucky with injuries at real madrid but he’s fantastic. Get him fit, there are not many dms on his level.
Personally I see us dropping Lucus, and play Gerrard and Meireles in front of Diarra in the defensive midfielder role. But that could just be me.
WE BADLY NEED A STRIKER WE CANT JUST RELY ONLY ON TORRES ANYMORE ITS WAY TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON HIM ALSO IF HE GETS INJURED WHO IS GOING TO TAKE HIS PLACE NGOG WE WILL BE LUCKY IF WE FINISH 6TH OR 7TH PLACE AND MOST OF ALL WE NEED NEW OWNERS
I don’t think Meireles will play the part of Mascherano. He’s more in for covering the departure of Aquilani, which is central midfielder. I don’t see the value bringing in Diarra as Lucas and Poulsen are enough for defensive midfielders.
If we get Meireles, then why we still need to buy Diarra, #lfc should rather buy strikers for Torres backup.
Hello
Are you a liverpool fan? I found this part particullary annoying
‘Roy Hodgson needs to realize one major difference between the two players’
ROY HODGSON NEEDS TO REALISE?!? Shit the bed, Can he have your number on speed dial?
I think you mean the fans need to realise because im sure that Roy knows what he is doing.
Also, ON A SEMI_RELATED NOTE?!? semi related to what Hodgson? and why are you plugging links?
Brilliant.
Get rid of Lucas and get Diarra in. Lucas is rubbish and we all know it..
As there’s not much time left we’ll be able to get at least two new signings. Hence, Roy should get PATRICK HELMES to ease the burden off Torres’s shoulders. Helmes to me is an ideal player and would cost about 15M. As we are left with 12M from Mascherano’s sale(Konchesky’s not needed as Fabio is better than him and we have Agger too), we can use the balance from the previous sales to fork up the 15M to get Helmes. We can live with Helmes and Mereiles FOR NOW.
First team :
GK Reina
RB Johnson
RCB Carragher
LCB Skrtel
LB Aurelio
RWM Joe Cole
RCM Gerrard
LCM Mereiles
LWM Kuyt
RS Torres
LS Helmes
Subs : Jones, Agger, Lucas, Babel, Maxi, Jova, N’gog
When the next transfer window re-opens, we can sell Insua (5M), Kyrgiakos(2M), Kuyt(15M), Lucas (6M), Itandje + El Zhar + Plesis (1.5M). Now, we have a total of 29.5M.
Then, we can replace them with JUAN MATA (10M), JAVI MARTINEZ (6M) and KIERAN GIBBS (4M). Gibbs in my opinion, is faster, younger and more agile then Konchesky (would be a more worthy buy). In addition, according to the new rules, he will be a good addition to the club as he is an English player.
First team :
GK Reina
RB Johnson
RCB Carragher
LCB Skrtel
LB Gibbs
RWM Cole
RCM Gerrard
LCM Mereiles
LWM Juan Mata
RS Torres
LS Helmes
Second team :
GK Jones
RB Kelly
RCB Ayala
LCB Agger
LB Aurelio
RWM Maxi
RCM Javi Martinez
LCM Poulsen
LWM Babel
RS Pacheco
LS N’gog
ROGUE WHO IS TELLING YOU THAT JAVI MARTINEZ IS JUST FOR SALE FOR 6 MIL THEY WERE ASKING MIN 15 MIL FOR HIM AND JUAN MATA IS NOT GOING FOR LESS THEN 12 MIL everything is up in the air I HOPE THINGS STABILIZE IN ANFIELD BECAUSE I FEAR TORRES WILL LEAVE NEXT SUMMER LIKE XABI ALONSO DID NOT REGARDLESS WHAT HAPPEN WITH BENITEZ THIS YEAR IT WAS MASHERANO AND I HAVE DOUBTS TO SEE TORRES STICK AROUND LIVERPOOL FOR LONG IF BARCELLONA COME IN FOR HIM
‘Mascherano attacks the ball and moves forward with it’ Mascherano is probably the best defensive midfielder in the world but he couldn’t move forward with the ball if you super glued it to his boot! I stopped reading after that.. you obviously haven’t a clue mate..
Well, looks like Rogue has it all figured out. Liverpool must be blind not to see it so clearly!
The need for a striker is huge but i would like to get a player like Ruiz who can play up front is quick and can play out wide where he is most needed.
Meireles signing is a good one but Konchesky is not worth more than 2 mill and i am annoyed about Dalle Valle being traded off i think that is a bad decision.
1 other player i would like is Van Wolfswinkel only21 a bit of a project but has star written all over him.
Guys, I have to say that I dont think that Roy would spend 4M-5M on konchesky if he was going to be back-up to fabio or insua. The bottom line is that knonchesky may not be world class but he is defo a better player than aurelio and roy must think better that insua, or why spend the money. I think we will see a new premier league left back for liverpool with aurelio featuring in the europa league.
By all accounts, Mereiles plays like Xabi Alonso. I think he and Poulson in centre midfield will be excellent. I am excited by this one.
Konchesky is a solid left back. Committed in the tackle, which is what we have needed for a while. It’s all very well dancing up the touchline but if you’re not very good at job you were primarily brought for then you leave the back line exposed – (Glen Johnson), ahem.
still trying to get rid of kuyt ,, what a mug and they say liverpool fans know there football, yet again i see a prick that just doesnt stop trying to slate kuyt and want him gone.
can i remind you that we have just had 3 major deadbeats leave this club in reira, yossi and mascherano, none of them had a shed of respect for us, the club and its history, and you then want to sell the hardest working, most loyal servant after carragher and gerro in kuyt.
please go and support another club if you want to see players brought in with just big names who do not care and want to just pick up their cash, i suggest you start thinking like a real liverpool fan.
you mug you!….
Meireles: a decent buy, has been solid everytime I have seen him with Porto or Portugal
Konchesky: a solid LB with Premiership experience…
Poulson: been there done that… a bit over the hill, but can be good a decent squad player…
Jovanovic: The initial impression is that he’s a hard working left sided midfielder, who doesn’t mind helping at the back (reminds me a bit of Kuyt, but with more pace than the Dutchman)
Cole: A bit of a nighmare start (Sending off, Penalty miss), But will being Roy’s so called Marquee signing, he’ll get all the opportunity he needs to establish himself…
Wilson: one for the future
Shelvey: one for the future
2nd striker: needed
The raw material is there… the players just need to believe… They showed guts and glimpses of quality against Arsenal… But looked very flat at Man City, with the team crying out for creativity!
It’s going to be a difficult season on the road, but at home I think we’ll be a match for anyone…
YANKS OUT…
still thnk we need 2 quick wingers and play johanovic up front or kuyt as i dont believe they r effective out on the flanks
i like jovanovic but prefer him as a squad player.i think maxi is better.provided that the konchesky deal is done,we need one striker.i like Toivonen but Roy rubbished the rumours about him joining liverpool.also if we are to buy a defensive midfielder from Real Madrid,buy Lassana Diarra or loan him with an option to buy him.he can play the Mascherano role when needed.14million plus Babel for Carlton Cole?NO WAY.babel is better than cole in my opinion.i would like him but he aint that great.