I would like to quote from an article which Eain McGurdy wrote yesterday to kick start a few considerations. This is what Eain wrote: “Let’s first take a look at what positions the club needs to strengthen in. In my opinion, they need to buy a couple of wingers, a center back and a left back. If there’s any money left over, I’d also say that they need a creative central midfielder in the Xabi Alonso mold, or maybe even recall Alberto Aquilani from Juventus at the end of the season!”
The way Eain put it, probably without wanting to, it sounded as if were looking inside our wallet before we go on a shopping spree, and after we think we’ve spent everything we find another 100 pound note and spend some more. I really don’t think building a competitive football squad to challenge (as Eain puts it) for PL and CL glory can be that superficial I’m afraid.
As fans, the only thing we can really do is play with our fantasy and desire to have the best and to have quality in depth, but there are a lot of parameters to take into consideration. Although everyone is taking it for granted, FSG have not as yet confirmed if Kenny will be our manager next season! Secondly we are also aware that Damien Comolli has a particular way of building football teams and I am led to believe that he does have some say as to which players to bring in and ship out (perhaps in liaison to the manager’s tactical requirements). For the time being, Comolli seems to be taking notes and perhaps a couple of quality pre-contracts have already been agreed and signed. FSG will not want to repeat mistakes done in the last few seasons where high player turnover resulted in zero honours.
Fabio Coentrao will not be cheap, Aquilani will not be coming back, and notwithstanding that I like him a lot, I really don’t think Charlie Adam’s value will rise to Stg 20 million!
I think FSG’s way of thinking is slicker than that. What happened in the last week of the transfer window last January is testament to this! Spending 25 million on Suarez and binding him to a 5 and a half year deal, they were aware Torres was on his way out and swooped for Carroll meeting Newcastle’s bluff and binding the player again for 5 and a half years. That is quick thinking on a long term basis.
Do we need another centre back? Yes! Do we need a left back? Yes. Do we need wingers? Ask Dalglish and Clarke! What we also need is to a) bring in a couple of reinforcements to add quality to the bench, and b) we need to keep honing players like Pacheco, Spearing, Shelvey, Wilson and Co and introduce them in the same fashion as Kenny has introduced Kelly. Quietly, discreetly, successfully!
It’s not really a question of what amount we will have to spend. Now it will be a question of how the money is spent. There will be a tendency to focus on younger players. Some players may be brought in not only for their quality, but also for their market potential. Players will also be leaving Anfield, and these will already create a first portion of spending money, but FSG know they have to spend to reap rewards, and spend they will….wisely and certainly not superficially.