Liverpool have had a disaster of a summer and are probably now worse off than they were this time a year ago. For all their cash and prestige from winning the CL their transfer dealings this summer have overall been a failure. They've managed to sign two players who are better than what they already had: The keeper Reina, and the midfielder Sissoko. But otherwise they have gone sideways or backwards: Crouch in for Baros and, err, Zenden and some youth teamers in for Smicer, Nunez, Diouf and a stack of others.
But it is their failures in the transfer market that are far more noteable than their 'successes' like Zenden and Crouch. They must now take the title from Spurs for the most 'nearly' signings. Look at their efforts to sign a right winger:
They enquired about Joaquin, but didn't proceed to bid.
Then they bid for Figo - but he shunned them for Inter
Then they bid for and signed Gonzales - but he couldn't get a work permit
Then they were in for Giannakopoulos - but he shunned them for the bright lights at Bolton
Then they were in for Solano - but he shunned them for Newcastle
Then they made a desperate last minute bid for Simao - but failed.
While they were doing all this they got rid of their existing wide options in Diouf, Nunez and Smicer - expecting them to be replaced. But they were not and now they've got nobody. The best they can do is stick a non right winger out there, like Garcia or Finnan or maybe Cisse.
That is a disaster for them. Their big money signing was Crouch. Now I rate Crouch a lot higher than most people do, but he needs crosses coming into him to be a danger. They've got nobody on the right to deliver him the crosses he needs, and on the left they've got to choose between Zenden and Kewell. Zenden can't cross to save himself and Kewell hasn't played a decent game for two years. If Liverpool can't find a reliable source of crosses for Crouch he'll be diabolical. Their failure to secure a winger is a complete disaster!
Their efforts to sign a Centre Back have been almost as comical. They've been in for Ibaniz, Milto, Andrade, Bonera and several others - but got nobody. While they were trying to sign someone they let their existing cover in Pelligrino go - expecting him to be replaced. But he wasn't. Now they are paper thin at the back and will be in big trouble if anything happens to Carragher or Hyppia. As an experiment in their options they tried their failed right back signing from last season (Josemi) at centreback against Moscow.
But their efforts on a striker really take the cake. Morientes who joined in January has been a complete lemon. Then they add Crouch (I actually think he is a good signing if they can get crosses to him, but that isn't looking likely at the moment) and sell their best striker in Baros. When there is a hint that Owen might be available they run up and down all over Europe offering Cisse to anybody who will listen as a way to fund the move. Cisse gets severely
off and Owen shuns them for Newcastle anyway. Nice bit of business that by Madrid. Buy for 10 million and sell a year later for 17 million. Not great business by Liverpool. How must our nearly man Steven Gerrard be feeling today? He'll be reading the papers and seeing the summary of summer transfer activity: Chelsea - Crespo, Del Horno, Essien and SWP. Liverpool - Reina, Sissoko, Crouch and Zenden. I can't see that putting too much of a dint in the 37 point gap between us, and I suspect Gerrard can't either. I wonder if there is a little knot of nervous tension forming in the pit of his stomach today.
And Benitez as well. He walked out on Valencia because the board didn't give him the resources they promised. Well Liverpool earned almost 31 million Euros from the CL last season (link), but if you discount the money from the players they've sold like Baros and Diouf they have only spent a net of 5 million on new players. He can't be happy with that, especially as most of their failures to sign players were over money. I wonder if now he will be more inclined to talk when the likes of Barcelona or Inter come and enquire about his availability
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A lot of fair points there. I think it will be difficult for you to utilise Crouch. You need someone to put in those devastating corsses and you dont have anyone. I would have thought Pennant (brum) would be a good coup, but obviously Rafa has other ideas.
The Simao deal failing is a huge blow. Like I said before he is the best player in the Portugal league and I can understand why they wanted more money.
It is going to be a tough task till Jan, and an even tougher task to make the signings in Jan.
All the best.
Cheers
