devaney » Fri Jun 21, 2013 3:41 pm wrote:Ace the signings don't look like world beaters but then how many of us knew what Cortinho was capable of. Inter Milan certainly didn't !!! To suggest that none of the possible signings are an improvement on what we already have is a bit harsh. The new scouting team that we have seem to be more imaginative and that is going to be a prerequisite with a considerably smaller budget than the top Premiership teams. I'm certainly prepared to give these lads a chance to see how they develop before suggesting that they cannot improve the team.Come on mate the glass needs to be half full....
Its not about the glass being half full or empty. We're spending the money you claim we dont have on gambles. That much, I'm sure pretty much everyone agrees on. My point is, that same money, those same wages that many claim we dont have, that many claim we didnt have last season when we spent over 50mill, could and should be spent on more proven players.
Coutinho, the player you claim we took a gamble on, had more champions league experience than most of our first team players. He appeared in a friendly for the senior Brazil squad a month after he turned 18 ! He was widely considered a top prospect in the game, and if you look at his appearances, stats,experience, and achievements AT THE TOP LEVEL prior to us signing him its nowhere near that of the players we are after now. I dont think any Liverpool fans who knew him criticized the deal before it was made and the manager/scouts deserve credit for getting him on the cheap.
To your point about my assessment of the players not being better than what we have being harsh, who would you bring into the starting 11 from the names I've mentioned ? Toure ahead of Skrtel ? or Aspas ahead of Sturridge ? I dont think so. What it means is that the likes of 10mill Borini who had an unfortunate season, and 7mill Coates who is yet to get a run in the starting 11 are now less likely to get a game next season. And the cycle continues.
We dont need to be imaginative, we dont need more players on the sidelines waiting for a chance or as you put it 'developing'. We aren't too far from where we need to be to challenge for a top4 spot and I really dont believe that a side that will only be competing in the league and Cup and not Europe should be focusing on improving the options on the bench rather than the starting 11.