We’ve teamed up with 5Times, the former Liverpool players association, to offer readers the chance to win tickets to see John Barnes, John Aldridge and Jason McAteer in Birmingham.
The trio of former players, who made over 500 appearances for the club between them, will be speaking at a dinner evening, hosted by BBC Asian Network’s Noreen Khan.
The event takes place on March 6th, 2014, at The Second City Suite in Birmingham. You will get the exclusive opportunity to hear what it was like to play in different eras of Liverpool’s rich history as well as the chance to ask them questions yourself.
What could be better than a night with the lads, curry served at your table, listening to true Liverpool legends and asking them questions?
To be in with a chance to win 2 pairs of tickets we have up for grabs, answer the question below.
Closing date for entries is 20th January, 2014. Winners will be notified by email.
You can reserve your seats for this event for just £20, via this link.
We’ve teamed up with 5Times, the former Liverpool players association, to offer readers the chance to win tickets to see John Barnes, John Aldridge and Jason McAteer in Birmingham.
The trio of former players, who made over 500 appearances for the club between them, will be speaking at a dinner evening, hosted by BBC Asian Network’s Noreen Khan.
The event takes place on March 6th, 2014, at The Second City Suite in Birmingham. You will get the exclusive opportunity to hear what it was like to play in different eras of Liverpool’s rich history as well as the chance to ask them questions yourself.
What could be better than a night with the lads, curry served at your table, listening to true Liverpool legends and asking them questions?
To be in with a chance to win 2 pairs of tickets we have up for grabs, answer the question below.
Closing date for entries is 20th January, 2014. Winners will be notified by email.
You can reserve your seats for this event for just £20, via this link.
The Champions League-winning former Red announced his retirement today, at the age of 35. Henry Jackson (@OnFootballTweet) takes a look back at the diminutive Spaniard’s top 5 goals in a Liverpool shirt.
5. LIVERPOOL 2-0 CHARLTON (2004/05 Premier League)
Garcia had only been at Liverpool for a couple months, having signed from Barcelona in the summer of 2004, when he unleashed this thunderbolt to defeat a stubborn Charlton side.
Jon Arne Riise’s opener was still the difference between the two sides with just 16 minutes left, before the former Spain international struck. He picked the ball out 35 yards from goal, carried it a few yards before rifling a right-footed into the net.
It was his first goal in front of the Kop, and it wouldn’t be his last.
4. LIVERPOOL 3-0 ANDERLECHT (2005/06 Champions League group stages)
This was a win that saw Liverpool edge closer to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and Garcia’s goal was the standout moment in a resounding Reds victory.
Although fairly small in stature (5″9) Garcia was always good in the air, and his header against the Belgian side was majestic. He met Steve Finnan’s cross brilliantly, guiding a long-range effort into the far corner of the net.
It was one of 11 Champions League goals he scored for the club.
3. LIVERPOOL vs CHELSEA (2004/2005 Champions League semi-final)
It may have been one of the ugliest goals Garcia scored in his three years at the club, but it was easily the most important.
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea arrived for the Champions League semi-final second leg as the new Premier League champions, and they were brimming with arrogance.
The first leg had been a tight 0-0 draw, but the return game got off to a remarkable start. Just four minutes in, Garcia pounced on a loose ball, after Milan Baros had been fouled by Petr Cech, to scramble the ball home.
Nobody will ever know if the ball crossed the line or not, but the goal was given and it was enough to send Liverpool through to an unforgettable final against AC Milan.
2. LIVERPOOL 2-1 CHELSEA (2006 FA Cup semi-final)
The Liverpool-Chelsea, Benitez-Mourinho, Gerrard-Lampard rivalry of the mid 2000s saw another fascinating tussle take place in the 2006 FA Cup semi-final. Again it was Garcia who had a major say in the outcome of the game.
Riise had given the Reds a 1-0 half-time lead at Old Trafford, before Garcia scored a vital second. He collected a bouncing ball, teed it for himself, before firing a wonderful half-volley past the motionless Cech.
Chelsea got a late consolation, but Liverpool were through to the final, which they won against West Ham.
1. LIVERPOOL 2-1 JUVENTUS (2004/05 Champions League quarter-final)
There can be absolutely no question that this was the best goal Garcia ever scored for Liverpool.
Benitez’s side faced a hugely impressive Juventus team, boasting the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Lilian Thuram, Pavel Nedved, Alessandro Del Piero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their starting lineup. Garcia produced the defining moment of the game, however.
With Liverpool already leading thanks to Sami Hyppia’s opener, the ball dropped to Garcia 30 yards out slightly to the right. The Spaniard, then 26, hit an unstoppable volley past Buffon, the world’s best goalkeeper at the time.
Anfield has rarely been louder, and Garcia’s goal rivalled Steven Gerrard‘s against Olympiakos as the best of that season in the Champions League. They eventually went through 2-1 on aggregate, with Garcia all set to break Chelsea hearts in the semi-final.
What is your favourite Luis Garcia goal?
The Champions League-winning former Red announced his retirement today, at the age of 35. Henry Jackson (@OnFootballTweet) takes a look back at the diminutive Spaniard’s top 5 goals in a Liverpool shirt.
5. LIVERPOOL 2-0 CHARLTON (2004/05 Premier League)
Garcia had only been at Liverpool for a couple months, having signed from Barcelona in the summer of 2004, when he unleashed this thunderbolt to defeat a stubborn Charlton side.
Jon Arne Riise’s opener was still the difference between the two sides with just 16 minutes left, before the former Spain international struck. He picked the ball out 35 yards from goal, carried it a few yards before rifling a right-footed into the net.
It was his first goal in front of the Kop, and it wouldn’t be his last.
4. LIVERPOOL 3-0 ANDERLECHT (2005/06 Champions League group stages)
This was a win that saw Liverpool edge closer to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and Garcia’s goal was the standout moment in a resounding Reds victory.
Although fairly small in stature (5″9) Garcia was always good in the air, and his header against the Belgian side was majestic. He met Steve Finnan’s cross brilliantly, guiding a long-range effort into the far corner of the net.
It was one of 11 Champions League goals he scored for the club.
3. LIVERPOOL vs CHELSEA (2004/2005 Champions League semi-final)
It may have been one of the ugliest goals Garcia scored in his three years at the club, but it was easily the most important.
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea arrived for the Champions League semi-final second leg as the new Premier League champions, and they were brimming with arrogance.
The first leg had been a tight 0-0 draw, but the return game got off to a remarkable start. Just four minutes in, Garcia pounced on a loose ball, after Milan Baros had been fouled by Petr Cech, to scramble the ball home.
Nobody will ever know if the ball crossed the line or not, but the goal was given and it was enough to send Liverpool through to an unforgettable final against AC Milan.
2. LIVERPOOL 2-1 CHELSEA (2006 FA Cup semi-final)
The Liverpool-Chelsea, Benitez-Mourinho, Gerrard-Lampard rivalry of the mid 2000s saw another fascinating tussle take place in the 2006 FA Cup semi-final. Again it was Garcia who had a major say in the outcome of the game.
Riise had given the Reds a 1-0 half-time lead at Old Trafford, before Garcia scored a vital second. He collected a bouncing ball, teed it for himself, before firing a wonderful half-volley past the motionless Cech.
Chelsea got a late consolation, but Liverpool were through to the final, which they won against West Ham.
1. LIVERPOOL 2-1 JUVENTUS (2004/05 Champions League quarter-final)
There can be absolutely no question that this was the best goal Garcia ever scored for Liverpool.
Benitez’s side faced a hugely impressive Juventus team, boasting the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Lilian Thuram, Pavel Nedved, Alessandro Del Piero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their starting lineup. Garcia produced the defining moment of the game, however.
With Liverpool already leading thanks to Sami Hyppia’s opener, the ball dropped to Garcia 30 yards out slightly to the right. The Spaniard, then 26, hit an unstoppable volley past Buffon, the world’s best goalkeeper at the time.
Anfield has rarely been louder, and Garcia’s goal rivalled Steven Gerrard‘s against Olympiakos as the best of that season in the Champions League. They eventually went through 2-1 on aggregate, with Garcia all set to break Chelsea hearts in the semi-final.
What is your favourite Luis Garcia goal?
Luis Suarez has once again gone on record as saying he has changed his ways, and is now focussed on helping Liverpool qualify for the Champions League.
The Uruguayan international was on target twice for the Reds on Sunday as they beat Stoke City 5-3 at the Britannia Stadium — the club’s first victory there in the Premier League.
Suarez has now scored 22 goals for Liverpool this season, all in the league, making him the top scorer by a clear nine goals from Manchester City’s Sergio Agüero.
Now Suarez appears a more mature, and better player, sweeping aside defenders and hungry to help Liverpool challenge for the top honours.
“When you are a child, you imagine a lot. Now many people or players speak about that and it’s unbelievable for me,” he told the club’s official website.
“And also for Liverpool, because in the last two or three years we have not played very well and not demonstrated our level. Now we are back to that.
“You work hard for the supporters and the people. It’s important because the last few months were a little difficult for me. Now I’ve changed and it’s okay.”
Liverpool’s win at Stoke at the weekend moved them back up to fourth, and currently sit six points off the top spot after 21 games.
Whilst it is very close for the top four Champions League spots, Suarez believes the progress of the club has shown everyone that the Reds would be a force in UEFA’s elite competition, should they qualify.
He added, “It’s very important because we know that in the last two years we haven’t demonstrated that Liverpool can play in the Champions League.
“Now we are playing very well and we have the level to play in the Champions League. We have really good players and if we continue at this level, we can do it.”
Brendan Rodgers‘s side next host Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday afternoon with a win necessary to keep up with the chasing pack of Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea at the top of the table.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa gets underway at 5.30pm on Saturday, 18th January 2014. It’s live on Sky Sports 1 in the UK.
Luis Suarez has once again gone on record as saying he has changed his ways, and is now focussed on helping Liverpool qualify for the Champions League.
The Uruguayan international was on target twice for the Reds on Sunday as they beat Stoke City 5-3 at the Britannia Stadium — the club’s first victory there in the Premier League.
Suarez has now scored 22 goals for Liverpool this season, all in the league, making him the top scorer by a clear nine goals from Manchester City’s Sergio Agüero.
Now Suarez appears a more mature, and better player, sweeping aside defenders and hungry to help Liverpool challenge for the top honours.
“When you are a child, you imagine a lot. Now many people or players speak about that and it’s unbelievable for me,” he told the club’s official website.
“And also for Liverpool, because in the last two or three years we have not played very well and not demonstrated our level. Now we are back to that.
“You work hard for the supporters and the people. It’s important because the last few months were a little difficult for me. Now I’ve changed and it’s okay.”
Liverpool’s win at Stoke at the weekend moved them back up to fourth, and currently sit six points off the top spot after 21 games.
Whilst it is very close for the top four Champions League spots, Suarez believes the progress of the club has shown everyone that the Reds would be a force in UEFA’s elite competition, should they qualify.
He added, “It’s very important because we know that in the last two years we haven’t demonstrated that Liverpool can play in the Champions League.
“Now we are playing very well and we have the level to play in the Champions League. We have really good players and if we continue at this level, we can do it.”
Brendan Rodgers‘s side next host Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday afternoon with a win necessary to keep up with the chasing pack of Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea at the top of the table.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa gets underway at 5.30pm on Saturday, 18th January 2014. It’s live on Sky Sports 1 in the UK.
Liverpool defender Tiago Ilori has been expected to head out on loan this January and reports today claim La Liga side Granada are the ones who will get his services.
The Portuguese centre-back was signed from Sporting Lisbon in the summer for a fee that could rise to £7 million.
At the time of his signing, manager Brendan Rodgers described the capture of the 20-year-old and Mamadou Sakho as protecting the club’s future for the next 10 years.
“He is 6′ 3″, super quick, power, can jump, and he just needs to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League,” described Rodgers to the Daily Post. “He is one for the future, but he can be a really big talent.”
“Centre-halves are so hard to find. You look at some teams and they have ageing centre-halves because it is a struggle to get a really good one.
“We were fortunate in that two became available, one that we had been tracking for a year in Tiago Ilori, a young talent but who can be a big talent.
“We had a chance to protect the club for maybe the next ten years and that is what we have done.”
Last month Rodgers explained that the plan was always to loan out Ilori in January. “He [Ilori] has come in, he will have six months to adapt and then he will go out and get experience” the boss told The Liverpool Echo.
“Signing Ilori was about looking after the future of the club. Centre-halves are very hard to get.”
The Daily Mail claim Valencia are also interested in taking Ilori on loan.
Ilori has yet to make his Liverpool debut, appearing on the bench three times this season.
Liverpool defender Tiago Ilori has been expected to head out on loan this January and reports today claim La Liga side Granada are the ones who will get his services.
The Portuguese centre-back was signed from Sporting Lisbon in the summer for a fee that could rise to £7 million.
At the time of his signing, manager Brendan Rodgers described the capture of the 20-year-old and Mamadou Sakho as protecting the club’s future for the next 10 years.
“He is 6′ 3″, super quick, power, can jump, and he just needs to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League,” described Rodgers to the Daily Post. “He is one for the future, but he can be a really big talent.”
“Centre-halves are so hard to find. You look at some teams and they have ageing centre-halves because it is a struggle to get a really good one.
“We were fortunate in that two became available, one that we had been tracking for a year in Tiago Ilori, a young talent but who can be a big talent.
“We had a chance to protect the club for maybe the next ten years and that is what we have done.”
Last month Rodgers explained that the plan was always to loan out Ilori in January. “He [Ilori] has come in, he will have six months to adapt and then he will go out and get experience” the boss told The Liverpool Echo.
“Signing Ilori was about looking after the future of the club. Centre-halves are very hard to get.”
The Daily Mail claim Valencia are also interested in taking Ilori on loan.
Ilori has yet to make his Liverpool debut, appearing on the bench three times this season.
Neil Collins dissects Liverpool’s 5-3 victory over Stoke at the weekend and finds both positives and negatives.
After losing crucial six-pointers against Man City and Chelsea, an unenviable trip to Stoke was always going to take on added significance. After all, we hadn’t won there in the league since 1984.
However, Liverpool passed this robust test of their Champions League credentials with flying colours. And whilst it might not have been pretty, yesterday marked a huge win for Rodgers’ Reds.
Here’s five talking points…
The S.A.S.
Sturridge looked like he hadn’t missed a kick since that last-gasp equaliser against Everton nine games ago. Replacing Coutinho after the hour-mark, the 24-year-old took just five minutes to set up Suárez with a sublime drop of the shoulder and flick following a break from halfway.
Suárez then returned the favour with an inch-perfect cross onto his strike partner’s head for the fifth. Sturridge’s sharpness in juggling a bouncing ball before lashing home demonstrated a player exhibiting no signs of rustiness after a six-week lay-off.
That’s 32 between them in the league now (22 for Suárez and 10 for Sturridge), which is incredible given their prolonged periods on the sidelines.
Our goal tally of 51 this season is only second behind Man City’s 59, and is the joint highest total we’ve scored over 21 games since Dalglish’s Reds romped to the title in 1987-88. Furthermore, our goal difference of 25 is also second behind City in the league, which could make all the difference in May.
Defensive Difficulties
Alarmingly, only Fulham and Hull have failed to score against us in the last 18 league games as our back-line continues to creak.
Injuries meant that Rodgers had to break up the S.A.S. (Škrtel and Sakho obviously), who were beginning to show an improved understanding and looked like becoming the boss’ preferred pairing.
Škrtel appeared to be on the verge of linking back up with Benítez at Napoli last summer before a commanding display against the Mancs saved his Anfield career. He’s been a staple of the Reds’ defence ever since. Yet, whilst he’s a fearless no-nonsense defender who provides great blocks, he’s quickly becoming a liability.
Recently, he’s taken to wearing opponents like glove-puppets in the penalty area and tugging away harder than a spotty adolescent. At least Sakho and Coutinho wait until half-time to swap shirts. Škrtel was even humping Shawcross in the goalmouth like an excitable Jack Russell at one point. Soon he’ll get caught and cost us big-time.
Other times he completely stands off his man though. Škrtel and Touré were nowhere near touch-tight on Crouch when he scored a simple, unchallenged header without even needing to jump. Škrtel was slow to close down Adam’s rocket for the second, and the third zipped between his legs.
On his first start at centre-back since that Hull horror-show, Touré was lumbering and lethargic, whilst Cissokho continues to look out of his depth. I hoped his hopeful hack toward the corner flag that led to the opening goal would result in a much-needed confidence boost. Yet, his first touch was dreadful and his link-up play with Coutinho down the left was non-existent.
And then there was Johnson, who continues to play with the complacency of knowing there’s little competition for his place. He stood watching Arnautovi?’s cross for Stoke’s first, and it says something when Suárez was closer to getting a tackle in. It speaks even greater volumes that third-choice full-back Cissokho is currently playing better than him. Surely Kelly should be given a go now?
Role Reversals
Yesterday, Rodgers reversed roles by granting Lucas a licence to roam, whilst Gerrard was deployed in the Ron Burgundy role.
The skipper is the first to admit that he has to pick and choose his moments more wisely than his younger self who produced endless lung-busting runs in Istanbul.
But Gerrard being used in a holding midfield berth has divided fans more than a Coutinho through-ball. Personally, I think his performance was encouraging and his displays will improve once he’s fully adapted.
He gained possession 16 times, which was more than double of any of his teammates, and made more tackles than anyone else on the pitch. The position also allowed him to deliver raking balls and buffer the back four with his aerial prowess.
However, it wasn’t without teething problems. Miscommunication between him and Henderson resulted in Adam’s goal, whilst his miscue led to Stoke’s third.
Meanwhile, Lucas frequently helped out in the final third with neat distribution; passing the ball more in the opposition half than any other Liverpool player and totalling a pass completion rate of nearly 90%. Yet, despite being typically tireless Lucas didn’t pose much attacking threat in terms of shots and crosses.
I strongly believe we should still accommodate the team around Gerrard. Sterling and Henderson shouldn’t be dropped on current form, whilst you can’t underestimate Coutinho’s creativity regardless of his erratic shooting. Therefore, Lucas may become the fall guy if Rodgers gives starting roles to Sturridge or Allen in the coming weeks.
Raheem’s Resurgence
It wasn’t long ago that Sterling was in danger of becoming the forgotten man at Anfield. The 19-year-old enjoyed an explosive start to his Liverpool career before the boss wrapped him in cotton wool for the second half of last season.
Sterling’s form then stagnated with critics citing his perceived attitude problems and that he had become complacent after securing a big new contract.
Yet, since scoring a simple tap-in against Norwich last month the youngster has excelled; grabbing goals and causing havoc in his link-up play with Suárez.
He set up the first and combined with Suárez and Sturridge for the killer fifth, whilst the penalty incident in which he cleverly invited Wilson’s challenge proved to be the turning point.
On Being: Liverpool, Sterling was infamously told by Rodgers that he would be on the first plane back to Merseyside after answering back the boss. Yet, on current form he’ll be on the first plane to Rio.
Goalkeeping Gaffes
Mignolet made himself an instant hero by saving a last-minute penalty against Stoke on the opening day. Heroic performances followed against Villa and Everton where he gained us more points.
Yet, he’s declined recently and isn’t looking so much like a ‘monster between the sticks’ as Carra called him. Mignolet is an excellent shot-stopper, but he’s looked nervy of late and hasn’t instilled confidence in his defenders. Yesterday, he frequently punched away crosses and flapped at others. His distribution from hands and feet was unpredictable too.
Furthermore, individual errors against Man City and Chelsea have cost us and his blunder for Walters’ daisy-cutter was terrible. My only defence could be that his view was obstructed, and he was wrong-footed when the shot trickled through Škrtel’s legs.
Now Mignolet needs to get these mistakes out of his system by producing a couple of saves for the cameras. On his debut, he endured a challenging start before overcoming his nerves to steal all the headlines. I have no doubt he’ll do the same again.
Neil Collins dissects Liverpool’s 5-3 victory over Stoke at the weekend and finds both positives and negatives.
After losing crucial six-pointers against Man City and Chelsea, an unenviable trip to Stoke was always going to take on added significance. After all, we hadn’t won there in the league since 1984.
However, Liverpool passed this robust test of their Champions League credentials with flying colours. And whilst it might not have been pretty, yesterday marked a huge win for Rodgers’ Reds.
Here’s five talking points…
The S.A.S.
Sturridge looked like he hadn’t missed a kick since that last-gasp equaliser against Everton nine games ago. Replacing Coutinho after the hour-mark, the 24-year-old took just five minutes to set up Suárez with a sublime drop of the shoulder and flick following a break from halfway.
Suárez then returned the favour with an inch-perfect cross onto his strike partner’s head for the fifth. Sturridge’s sharpness in juggling a bouncing ball before lashing home demonstrated a player exhibiting no signs of rustiness after a six-week lay-off.
That’s 32 between them in the league now (22 for Suárez and 10 for Sturridge), which is incredible given their prolonged periods on the sidelines.
Our goal tally of 51 this season is only second behind Man City’s 59, and is the joint highest total we’ve scored over 21 games since Dalglish’s Reds romped to the title in 1987-88. Furthermore, our goal difference of 25 is also second behind City in the league, which could make all the difference in May.
Defensive Difficulties
Alarmingly, only Fulham and Hull have failed to score against us in the last 18 league games as our back-line continues to creak.
Injuries meant that Rodgers had to break up the S.A.S. (Škrtel and Sakho obviously), who were beginning to show an improved understanding and looked like becoming the boss’ preferred pairing.
Škrtel appeared to be on the verge of linking back up with Benítez at Napoli last summer before a commanding display against the Mancs saved his Anfield career. He’s been a staple of the Reds’ defence ever since. Yet, whilst he’s a fearless no-nonsense defender who provides great blocks, he’s quickly becoming a liability.
Recently, he’s taken to wearing opponents like glove-puppets in the penalty area and tugging away harder than a spotty adolescent. At least Sakho and Coutinho wait until half-time to swap shirts. Škrtel was even humping Shawcross in the goalmouth like an excitable Jack Russell at one point. Soon he’ll get caught and cost us big-time.
Other times he completely stands off his man though. Škrtel and Touré were nowhere near touch-tight on Crouch when he scored a simple, unchallenged header without even needing to jump. Škrtel was slow to close down Adam’s rocket for the second, and the third zipped between his legs.
On his first start at centre-back since that Hull horror-show, Touré was lumbering and lethargic, whilst Cissokho continues to look out of his depth. I hoped his hopeful hack toward the corner flag that led to the opening goal would result in a much-needed confidence boost. Yet, his first touch was dreadful and his link-up play with Coutinho down the left was non-existent.
And then there was Johnson, who continues to play with the complacency of knowing there’s little competition for his place. He stood watching Arnautovi?’s cross for Stoke’s first, and it says something when Suárez was closer to getting a tackle in. It speaks even greater volumes that third-choice full-back Cissokho is currently playing better than him. Surely Kelly should be given a go now?
Role Reversals
Yesterday, Rodgers reversed roles by granting Lucas a licence to roam, whilst Gerrard was deployed in the Ron Burgundy role.
The skipper is the first to admit that he has to pick and choose his moments more wisely than his younger self who produced endless lung-busting runs in Istanbul.
But Gerrard being used in a holding midfield berth has divided fans more than a Coutinho through-ball. Personally, I think his performance was encouraging and his displays will improve once he’s fully adapted.
He gained possession 16 times, which was more than double of any of his teammates, and made more tackles than anyone else on the pitch. The position also allowed him to deliver raking balls and buffer the back four with his aerial prowess.
However, it wasn’t without teething problems. Miscommunication between him and Henderson resulted in Adam’s goal, whilst his miscue led to Stoke’s third.
Meanwhile, Lucas frequently helped out in the final third with neat distribution; passing the ball more in the opposition half than any other Liverpool player and totalling a pass completion rate of nearly 90%. Yet, despite being typically tireless Lucas didn’t pose much attacking threat in terms of shots and crosses.
I strongly believe we should still accommodate the team around Gerrard. Sterling and Henderson shouldn’t be dropped on current form, whilst you can’t underestimate Coutinho’s creativity regardless of his erratic shooting. Therefore, Lucas may become the fall guy if Rodgers gives starting roles to Sturridge or Allen in the coming weeks.
Raheem’s Resurgence
It wasn’t long ago that Sterling was in danger of becoming the forgotten man at Anfield. The 19-year-old enjoyed an explosive start to his Liverpool career before the boss wrapped him in cotton wool for the second half of last season.
Sterling’s form then stagnated with critics citing his perceived attitude problems and that he had become complacent after securing a big new contract.
Yet, since scoring a simple tap-in against Norwich last month the youngster has excelled; grabbing goals and causing havoc in his link-up play with Suárez.
He set up the first and combined with Suárez and Sturridge for the killer fifth, whilst the penalty incident in which he cleverly invited Wilson’s challenge proved to be the turning point.
On Being: Liverpool, Sterling was infamously told by Rodgers that he would be on the first plane back to Merseyside after answering back the boss. Yet, on current form he’ll be on the first plane to Rio.
Goalkeeping Gaffes
Mignolet made himself an instant hero by saving a last-minute penalty against Stoke on the opening day. Heroic performances followed against Villa and Everton where he gained us more points.
Yet, he’s declined recently and isn’t looking so much like a ‘monster between the sticks’ as Carra called him. Mignolet is an excellent shot-stopper, but he’s looked nervy of late and hasn’t instilled confidence in his defenders. Yesterday, he frequently punched away crosses and flapped at others. His distribution from hands and feet was unpredictable too.
Furthermore, individual errors against Man City and Chelsea have cost us and his blunder for Walters’ daisy-cutter was terrible. My only defence could be that his view was obstructed, and he was wrong-footed when the shot trickled through Škrtel’s legs.
Now Mignolet needs to get these mistakes out of his system by producing a couple of saves for the cameras. On his debut, he endured a challenging start before overcoming his nerves to steal all the headlines. I have no doubt he’ll do the same again.
The ‘Where are they now’ series continues with a look at a Hungarian forward who was tipped to become a goalscorer success at Anfield.
Hungarian forward Krisztian Nemeth joined Liverpool’s Academy in the Summer of 2007 from MTK Budapest.
Nemeth signed for Liverpool due to his scoring record, having netted 18 goals in 37 league games. This incredible goal scoring record did continue as he scored twice on his debut for the then Liverpool Reserves against Manchster City.
A good start soon turned into a great start one week later as Nemeth netted again scoring twice in the mini-derby as the Reds beat their Merseyside Rivals 3-0. 4 goals in 2 appearances soon went to 5 goals in 3 appearances as Nemeth scored in a win over Middlesbrough, and sent his new side top of the league, mainly thanks to his goals.
Nemeth continued to be successful in front of goal and his form didn’t seem to stop as the Hungarian forward netted against Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers. His success in his first season inspired the team to the title of the Reserve Premier League and it was fitting that Nemeth scored in the game where the Reds clinched the title.
He was the Premier Reserve League North Top scorer in the 2007–08 season and this accolade along with strong performances made him Liverpool Fans’ Reserves Player of the Year for the 2007–08 season aged just 18 years of age. His domestic form also match his international form as when he led the line for Hungary Under 19s, Nemeth scored 14 goals in just 15 appearances which included 7 goals in 3 matches in a small tournament in Cyprus. He also scored the goal that sent his nation through to the Under 19 European Championships.
If Nemeth were to continue like that, then the future would be very bright.
Following the immense success that he had in the 2007/08 season, Nemeth earned a call up the first team’s pre season friendlies against Villarreal and Rangers and despite coming as a second half substitute in both games, the Hungarian impressed more in the 2nd game against Rangers. This was because the Liverpool number 29 was involved in two pivotal moments in the game. Firstly he was provider for Yossi Benayoun to score and then he was fouled in the penalty area as Xabi Alonso converted the penalty to deny him his first goal for Liverpool’s first team.
Following many persistent injurires, Nemeth was loaned out to Blackpool to try and replicate the form he showed in the 2008/09 season that earned him a first team call up. Unfortunately, Nemeth’s injury woes continued after he suffered a fractured cheekbone.
The following season Nemeth was loaned to AEK Athens and this loan spell was a lot more successful than his loan at Blackpool. He claimed an assist on his debut followed by two goals in two matches meant that his career with his new side started promisingly, and Nemeth featured in every game prior to the Under 20 World Cup, and because of this Nemeth was selected to play for his home nation Hungary.
As things were looking on the up for Nemeth, injury struck at the World Cup meaning he was again out for several months. Nemeth did have a successful World Cup however, as his goals meant that Hungary qualified for the semi-finals and also goals helped Hungary finish third in the tournament.
When he returned to action for AEK, he claimed two assists in the final day of the season which meant he had acquired more assists than goals in that season and despite his injuries, the contribution he made with his 3 goals in 19 games helped AEK secure a play-off place.
When he returned to Merseyside, he found himself immediately leaving the club, this time for good when he signed for Olympiacos for €1m. In his contract clause, Olympiacos would have to pay Liverpool 25% of his transfer fee if he leaves Olympiacos.
Nemeth did struggle for the Greek side despite helping his side win the Greek Super League, and only made 4 appearances without scoring in 2 years with the club. His contract was then terminated in September 2012.
Before his contract was terminated, Nemeth had 3 loan spells. His first loan spell was with Olympiacos Volos, where he featured 13 times, scoring just once in their 3-0 win over Panserraikos. His second loan spell was with previous club MTK for the 2011/12, where he only made 1 apperance scoring once. His final loan was with Eredivise side RKC Waalwijk for 6 months. He did score winning goals against Vitesse and De Graafschap and overall scored 4 goals in 17 games before returning to Olympiacos.
When he contracted with the Greek club was terminated, Nemeth stated that he preferred to play in the Eredivisie. Since he made an impact with Waalwijk, the club tried to sign him back after his Hungarian national coach joined the club after Ruud Brood was sacked.
Unfortunately for them, Nemeth decided to follow his former coach Bruud and sign for Roda JC, the team he currently plays for. Nemeth currently has 9 goals in 42 apperances and seems to has settled after a very tough few years that saw him play at 5 clubs in 3 different countries in just 3 years.
However this season, Krisztián Németh has either scored or assisted an Eredivisie goal every 98 minutes this season after scoring 7 goals and claiming 6 assists. This means that things are only on the up for the Hungarian.
If it wasn’t for injuries, Nemeth could have filled his potential and became a top player in the future, but now at Roda JC, Nemeth is starting to show the rest of Europe what he can do and why Liverpool snapped him up. I for one would be tempted to try and sign Nemeth either on a loan deal or permanently after seeing that statistic for this season. Would you agree?
Do you think Nemeth will become a good player in the future? Was he unlucky with his career thus far? If you have an answer to any of these questions then be sure to leave your comments below, and if you have any suggestions for players I can cover in upcoming editions of Where Are They Now, then also leave that in the comments below.
For more updates on former academy players, follow me @ScottTaylorUK.
The ‘Where are they now’ series continues with a look at a Hungarian forward who was tipped to become a goalscorer success at Anfield.
Hungarian forward Krisztian Nemeth joined Liverpool’s Academy in the Summer of 2007 from MTK Budapest.
Nemeth signed for Liverpool due to his scoring record, having netted 18 goals in 37 league games. This incredible goal scoring record did continue as he scored twice on his debut for the then Liverpool Reserves against Manchster City.
A good start soon turned into a great start one week later as Nemeth netted again scoring twice in the mini-derby as the Reds beat their Merseyside Rivals 3-0. 4 goals in 2 appearances soon went to 5 goals in 3 appearances as Nemeth scored in a win over Middlesbrough, and sent his new side top of the league, mainly thanks to his goals.
Nemeth continued to be successful in front of goal and his form didn’t seem to stop as the Hungarian forward netted against Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers. His success in his first season inspired the team to the title of the Reserve Premier League and it was fitting that Nemeth scored in the game where the Reds clinched the title.
He was the Premier Reserve League North Top scorer in the 2007–08 season and this accolade along with strong performances made him Liverpool Fans’ Reserves Player of the Year for the 2007–08 season aged just 18 years of age. His domestic form also match his international form as when he led the line for Hungary Under 19s, Nemeth scored 14 goals in just 15 appearances which included 7 goals in 3 matches in a small tournament in Cyprus. He also scored the goal that sent his nation through to the Under 19 European Championships.
If Nemeth were to continue like that, then the future would be very bright.
Following the immense success that he had in the 2007/08 season, Nemeth earned a call up the first team’s pre season friendlies against Villarreal and Rangers and despite coming as a second half substitute in both games, the Hungarian impressed more in the 2nd game against Rangers. This was because the Liverpool number 29 was involved in two pivotal moments in the game. Firstly he was provider for Yossi Benayoun to score and then he was fouled in the penalty area as Xabi Alonso converted the penalty to deny him his first goal for Liverpool’s first team.
Following many persistent injurires, Nemeth was loaned out to Blackpool to try and replicate the form he showed in the 2008/09 season that earned him a first team call up. Unfortunately, Nemeth’s injury woes continued after he suffered a fractured cheekbone.
The following season Nemeth was loaned to AEK Athens and this loan spell was a lot more successful than his loan at Blackpool. He claimed an assist on his debut followed by two goals in two matches meant that his career with his new side started promisingly, and Nemeth featured in every game prior to the Under 20 World Cup, and because of this Nemeth was selected to play for his home nation Hungary.
As things were looking on the up for Nemeth, injury struck at the World Cup meaning he was again out for several months. Nemeth did have a successful World Cup however, as his goals meant that Hungary qualified for the semi-finals and also goals helped Hungary finish third in the tournament.
When he returned to action for AEK, he claimed two assists in the final day of the season which meant he had acquired more assists than goals in that season and despite his injuries, the contribution he made with his 3 goals in 19 games helped AEK secure a play-off place.
When he returned to Merseyside, he found himself immediately leaving the club, this time for good when he signed for Olympiacos for €1m. In his contract clause, Olympiacos would have to pay Liverpool 25% of his transfer fee if he leaves Olympiacos.
Nemeth did struggle for the Greek side despite helping his side win the Greek Super League, and only made 4 appearances without scoring in 2 years with the club. His contract was then terminated in September 2012.
Before his contract was terminated, Nemeth had 3 loan spells. His first loan spell was with Olympiacos Volos, where he featured 13 times, scoring just once in their 3-0 win over Panserraikos. His second loan spell was with previous club MTK for the 2011/12, where he only made 1 apperance scoring once. His final loan was with Eredivise side RKC Waalwijk for 6 months. He did score winning goals against Vitesse and De Graafschap and overall scored 4 goals in 17 games before returning to Olympiacos.
When he contracted with the Greek club was terminated, Nemeth stated that he preferred to play in the Eredivisie. Since he made an impact with Waalwijk, the club tried to sign him back after his Hungarian national coach joined the club after Ruud Brood was sacked.
Unfortunately for them, Nemeth decided to follow his former coach Bruud and sign for Roda JC, the team he currently plays for. Nemeth currently has 9 goals in 42 apperances and seems to has settled after a very tough few years that saw him play at 5 clubs in 3 different countries in just 3 years.
However this season, Krisztián Németh has either scored or assisted an Eredivisie goal every 98 minutes this season after scoring 7 goals and claiming 6 assists. This means that things are only on the up for the Hungarian.
If it wasn’t for injuries, Nemeth could have filled his potential and became a top player in the future, but now at Roda JC, Nemeth is starting to show the rest of Europe what he can do and why Liverpool snapped him up. I for one would be tempted to try and sign Nemeth either on a loan deal or permanently after seeing that statistic for this season. Would you agree?
Do you think Nemeth will become a good player in the future? Was he unlucky with his career thus far? If you have an answer to any of these questions then be sure to leave your comments below, and if you have any suggestions for players I can cover in upcoming editions of Where Are They Now, then also leave that in the comments below.
For more updates on former academy players, follow me @ScottTaylorUK.
Si Steers details the Liverpool transfer committee and explains how it has a critical role in the club’s future.
Since the inception of the transfer committee in autumn 2012 there has been a sense of expectation and scepticism about how much the committee can do to help drive the club forward.
The purpose of the transfer committee at Liverpool is clear: it is in place to give the club a competitive advantage in an environment where finances dominate your ability to compete.
In today’s game, intelligence can be as important as money when scouting players. A good scout will always be able to tell a good player. But what is more difficult to tell is how good that player will be in your team, and whether that players attributes, motivation and personality will thrive in your team dynamic.
The aesthetic sign to what makes a good player is usually purely based on performance, and that is the key driver behind cost. Players that are proven and have demonstrated consistency at a high level over a period of time do not come cheap. In fact, even players that have shown flashes of ability at a young age are now very expensive.
So to get ahead of the game you need start looking beyond performance; by scouting attributes and performance, you open up an entirely new selection of players, and that is where you are more likely to find the value.
The philosophy
Barcelona president Joan Laporta once said “Some clubs buy Ballon d or winners, we make them”. That is also very true of Liverpool, especially at this stage in our evolution.
The investment in our transfer committee has a very transparent objective: and that is to source players that are affordable and that have the potential to reach the top of the game. The group of players at the very top of the game may represent instant value; but long term value is more difficult to find.
As an example; if you look at what Van Persie may contribute to United’s success for 3 years before he starts to decline at £24m (plus wages), at 24 years old and £12m what can Daniel Sturridge contribute to Liverpool right now and over the next 5=7 years? In terms of pure value for money, Sturridge can provide much better value to Liverpool than Van Persie will for United over the long term.
Daniel Sturridge is a great example of how the committee adds value. Sturridge has always had the attributes to be an elite striker, he has pace, power, technique and composure. But at 23 years old his career had hit a crossroads at Chelsea; he needed a coach and a club that would give him the platform to fulfill his potential.
Right now, Sturridge is looking like one of the best strikers in the Premier League, the committee is the mechanism to take that long term view of a player and make a judgment on whether they can reach the level of quality the club needs to progress.
The difficulty and frustration for supporters sometimes comes when rivals turn to ‘established names’ to provide an instant injection of quality. When you are investing in potential, it comes with a certain amount of unknowns. When you are investing in established quality, the risks are less. But they still exist.
The Model
Analytics are becoming an influential tool in football. Big clubs are starting to see the benefits in gathering and analysing data to provide factual insight into every aspect of the game. Performance and fitness analytics are now beginning to reach a level of maturity; but the use of analytics in transfer activity is still relatively new.
This is an area where Liverpool is looking to be cutting edge. The traditional scouting model has always been reliant on the ‘eye’ of scouts on the ground. But Liverpool have realised that you need to look beyond that.
The methodology being applied at Liverpool will be based on a great deal of data that will arrive at a value parameter for a player. That data may include age, achievements, attributes, attitude, and injury record for example. The list isn’t exhaustive.
This model for identifying players by TTT scribe and professional data analyst Lee Mooney gives some excellent insight into how you can use data to drive your transfer strategy.
Winning team
Football is all about having a winning team on the pitch, but in today’s financially competitive game it is equally important to have a winning team off it as well. The investment in Liverpool’s transfer committee has poached Barry Hunter and Dave Fallows from Manchester City. Not quite as eye catching as poaching Sergio Aguero perhaps, but longer term, can have a much greater impact.
The team of Fallows and Hunter is complemented by Michael Edwards who is the Head of Analytics. The committee use an extensive database of players to inform decisions and strategy. Fallows said in 2010 “The traditional role of a scout, where they went to a match and kept all the knowledge in their head rarely exists in modern day scouting structures.”
It is the role of the committee to identify the right players for Liverpool at the right cost. When Brendan Rodgers was appointed, that was an investment in an ideology, and to fit that ideology, you need a certain type of player. The biggest attributes that Rodgers seems to look for are technical ability and winning mentality.
One of Rodgers greatest strengths is his coaching ability. The structure of the committee is reliant on good coaching; the strategy of bringing in players that are yet to reach peak needs a good coaching structure in place to develop players. From the academy through to the first team Liverpool has a very strong coaching team that has a great deal of experience in developing young players to an elite standard.
The transfer process and ITK’s
‘In The Know’ – what does that mean, exactly? It means that somebody has inside knowledge of what is happening in a football club; usually it is specifically to do with a transfer.
Transfers are likely managed from a small team and I would be shocked if information was leaked out casually from a club without a very specific purpose. If information is leaked, it is usually to a respected journalist who actually becomes part of the clubs transfer strategy. A football clubs PR department will likely keep very close tabs on transfer rumours and will probably work in a ‘smoke and mirrors’ kind of way to drive the best deal for the club (e.g. leaking a players name to throw the scent of a real target).
Of course, it is impossible for any club to manage the narrative on player transfers. In multi million pound deals, clubs can use the media to gain a competitive advantage. For example, it is in a selling clubs interests to leak bids for a player to drive the highest possible value. It is also in the agent’s interests to leak a bid to source the best possible deal for a player. We have seen it many times. But this is all information that quickly becomes public knowledge.
The transfer process has actually become a bit of a pantomime. The brilliant ‘Duncan Jenkins’ masterfully unpicked just how easy it is to become an ITK – based purely on keeping ahead of the rumour mill. Jenkins was so good in fact that Liverpool believed there was a genuine leak; where in fact, there was none. And there is likely a very good reason for that – if you worked in a position for Liverpool involved in player transfers – would you risk your job by disclosing commercially sensitive information?
Transfers are such a complex world; they are a negotiation of multi million pound assets, it isn’t just the fee, it is also the wages over the life of a contract that makes it a huge investment. As an example, if a club buys a player for £8m on a 4 year deal worth £40k a week, that is an investment of over £16m. And in today’s market, that investment is very unlikely to get you the ‘finished product’.
So, whilst there maybe people that have access to information on occasion, most likely journalists, it is very probable that clubs are using them as a pawn in the transfer game. I think you have to take the vast majority of what ITK’s say – even journalists – with a huge pinch of salt.
Conclusion
The Liverpool transfer committee is in place to give the club a competitive advantage. It is an investment in the top talent in the player recruitment space; with the aim to source and scout players that have the quality and mentality to play for Liverpool, but have not yet caught the eye of the world.
There probably weren’t many football fans that didn’t follow Dortmund’s progress last year with an envious eye. As I look at in detail in this comparison I think there is a real similarity in how Dortmund have built a team capable of competing and the journey Liverpool are taking.
Dortmund has been one of the smartest clubs in world football and has integrated great young players like Gomez with smart buys like Lewandowski (who only actually cost £4.5m) into a team that became greater than the sum of its parts.
Football transfers are complex; and there will be variations of Liverpool’s transfer committee at most big clubs across Europe. So what is it that will give Liverpool an edge? Essentially what the club have done is recruited who they believe to be the very best people in the scouting space in Hunter and Fallows; they are using intelligence led data to identify and value the right players.
The club recognise that they will be recruiting players still in a development phase; so will need a strong coaching structure to complement the transfer strategy.
There will always be exceptions; and the club has proven with the signing of Sakho it is willing to invest in an established name if the deal is right. But the broad strategy of recruiting the ‘balloon d’or’ winners of the future is very much what the committee is in place to do, and in my view is absolutely the right direction for the club.
If you look at the Willian deal as well – whilst he looks to be a very good player – there has been little evidence to suggest he looks like a £30m player. There was no value to be had from that deal – and by walking away from it, Raheem Sterling has been given the opportunity to flourish. It is those kinds of calls that the club has to get right, and the committee helps with those decisions.
The transfer committee has a critical role in the club’s future; it can be the difference between competing or not. Beyond all of the speculation and media that surrounds transfer windows; there is a strategy and structure at work at Liverpool that can give the club that competitive advantage. They won’t get everything right, but it is unrealistic to expect them to.
They have made a significant contribution to the clubs push towards the top four this season, if we can return to the Champions League; they will probably find that players such as Mkhitaryan are more easily attainable.
Si Steers
Si Steers details the Liverpool transfer committee and explains how it has a critical role in the club’s future.
Since the inception of the transfer committee in autumn 2012 there has been a sense of expectation and scepticism about how much the committee can do to help drive the club forward.
The purpose of the transfer committee at Liverpool is clear: it is in place to give the club a competitive advantage in an environment where finances dominate your ability to compete.
In today’s game, intelligence can be as important as money when scouting players. A good scout will always be able to tell a good player. But what is more difficult to tell is how good that player will be in your team, and whether that players attributes, motivation and personality will thrive in your team dynamic.
The aesthetic sign to what makes a good player is usually purely based on performance, and that is the key driver behind cost. Players that are proven and have demonstrated consistency at a high level over a period of time do not come cheap. In fact, even players that have shown flashes of ability at a young age are now very expensive.
So to get ahead of the game you need start looking beyond performance; by scouting attributes and performance, you open up an entirely new selection of players, and that is where you are more likely to find the value.
The philosophy
Barcelona president Joan Laporta once said “Some clubs buy Ballon d or winners, we make them”. That is also very true of Liverpool, especially at this stage in our evolution.
The investment in our transfer committee has a very transparent objective: and that is to source players that are affordable and that have the potential to reach the top of the game. The group of players at the very top of the game may represent instant value; but long term value is more difficult to find.
As an example; if you look at what Van Persie may contribute to United’s success for 3 years before he starts to decline at £24m (plus wages), at 24 years old and £12m what can Daniel Sturridge contribute to Liverpool right now and over the next 5=7 years? In terms of pure value for money, Sturridge can provide much better value to Liverpool than Van Persie will for United over the long term.
Daniel Sturridge is a great example of how the committee adds value. Sturridge has always had the attributes to be an elite striker, he has pace, power, technique and composure. But at 23 years old his career had hit a crossroads at Chelsea; he needed a coach and a club that would give him the platform to fulfill his potential.
Right now, Sturridge is looking like one of the best strikers in the Premier League, the committee is the mechanism to take that long term view of a player and make a judgment on whether they can reach the level of quality the club needs to progress.
The difficulty and frustration for supporters sometimes comes when rivals turn to ‘established names’ to provide an instant injection of quality. When you are investing in potential, it comes with a certain amount of unknowns. When you are investing in established quality, the risks are less. But they still exist.
The Model
Analytics are becoming an influential tool in football. Big clubs are starting to see the benefits in gathering and analysing data to provide factual insight into every aspect of the game. Performance and fitness analytics are now beginning to reach a level of maturity; but the use of analytics in transfer activity is still relatively new.
This is an area where Liverpool is looking to be cutting edge. The traditional scouting model has always been reliant on the ‘eye’ of scouts on the ground. But Liverpool have realised that you need to look beyond that.
The methodology being applied at Liverpool will be based on a great deal of data that will arrive at a value parameter for a player. That data may include age, achievements, attributes, attitude, and injury record for example. The list isn’t exhaustive.
This model for identifying players by TTT scribe and professional data analyst Lee Mooney gives some excellent insight into how you can use data to drive your transfer strategy.
Winning team
Football is all about having a winning team on the pitch, but in today’s financially competitive game it is equally important to have a winning team off it as well. The investment in Liverpool’s transfer committee has poached Barry Hunter and Dave Fallows from Manchester City. Not quite as eye catching as poaching Sergio Aguero perhaps, but longer term, can have a much greater impact.
The team of Fallows and Hunter is complemented by Michael Edwards who is the Head of Analytics. The committee use an extensive database of players to inform decisions and strategy. Fallows said in 2010 “The traditional role of a scout, where they went to a match and kept all the knowledge in their head rarely exists in modern day scouting structures.”
It is the role of the committee to identify the right players for Liverpool at the right cost. When Brendan Rodgers was appointed, that was an investment in an ideology, and to fit that ideology, you need a certain type of player. The biggest attributes that Rodgers seems to look for are technical ability and winning mentality.
One of Rodgers greatest strengths is his coaching ability. The structure of the committee is reliant on good coaching; the strategy of bringing in players that are yet to reach peak needs a good coaching structure in place to develop players. From the academy through to the first team Liverpool has a very strong coaching team that has a great deal of experience in developing young players to an elite standard.
The transfer process and ITK’s
‘In The Know’ – what does that mean, exactly? It means that somebody has inside knowledge of what is happening in a football club; usually it is specifically to do with a transfer.
Transfers are likely managed from a small team and I would be shocked if information was leaked out casually from a club without a very specific purpose. If information is leaked, it is usually to a respected journalist who actually becomes part of the clubs transfer strategy. A football clubs PR department will likely keep very close tabs on transfer rumours and will probably work in a ‘smoke and mirrors’ kind of way to drive the best deal for the club (e.g. leaking a players name to throw the scent of a real target).
Of course, it is impossible for any club to manage the narrative on player transfers. In multi million pound deals, clubs can use the media to gain a competitive advantage. For example, it is in a selling clubs interests to leak bids for a player to drive the highest possible value. It is also in the agent’s interests to leak a bid to source the best possible deal for a player. We have seen it many times. But this is all information that quickly becomes public knowledge.
The transfer process has actually become a bit of a pantomime. The brilliant ‘Duncan Jenkins’ masterfully unpicked just how easy it is to become an ITK – based purely on keeping ahead of the rumour mill. Jenkins was so good in fact that Liverpool believed there was a genuine leak; where in fact, there was none. And there is likely a very good reason for that – if you worked in a position for Liverpool involved in player transfers – would you risk your job by disclosing commercially sensitive information?
Transfers are such a complex world; they are a negotiation of multi million pound assets, it isn’t just the fee, it is also the wages over the life of a contract that makes it a huge investment. As an example, if a club buys a player for £8m on a 4 year deal worth £40k a week, that is an investment of over £16m. And in today’s market, that investment is very unlikely to get you the ‘finished product’.
So, whilst there maybe people that have access to information on occasion, most likely journalists, it is very probable that clubs are using them as a pawn in the transfer game. I think you have to take the vast majority of what ITK’s say – even journalists – with a huge pinch of salt.
Conclusion
The Liverpool transfer committee is in place to give the club a competitive advantage. It is an investment in the top talent in the player recruitment space; with the aim to source and scout players that have the quality and mentality to play for Liverpool, but have not yet caught the eye of the world.
There probably weren’t many football fans that didn’t follow Dortmund’s progress last year with an envious eye. As I look at in detail in this comparison I think there is a real similarity in how Dortmund have built a team capable of competing and the journey Liverpool are taking.
Dortmund has been one of the smartest clubs in world football and has integrated great young players like Gomez with smart buys like Lewandowski (who only actually cost £4.5m) into a team that became greater than the sum of its parts.
Football transfers are complex; and there will be variations of Liverpool’s transfer committee at most big clubs across Europe. So what is it that will give Liverpool an edge? Essentially what the club have done is recruited who they believe to be the very best people in the scouting space in Hunter and Fallows; they are using intelligence led data to identify and value the right players.
The club recognise that they will be recruiting players still in a development phase; so will need a strong coaching structure to complement the transfer strategy.
There will always be exceptions; and the club has proven with the signing of Sakho it is willing to invest in an established name if the deal is right. But the broad strategy of recruiting the ‘balloon d’or’ winners of the future is very much what the committee is in place to do, and in my view is absolutely the right direction for the club.
If you look at the Willian deal as well – whilst he looks to be a very good player – there has been little evidence to suggest he looks like a £30m player. There was no value to be had from that deal – and by walking away from it, Raheem Sterling has been given the opportunity to flourish. It is those kinds of calls that the club has to get right, and the committee helps with those decisions.
The transfer committee has a critical role in the club’s future; it can be the difference between competing or not. Beyond all of the speculation and media that surrounds transfer windows; there is a strategy and structure at work at Liverpool that can give the club that competitive advantage. They won’t get everything right, but it is unrealistic to expect them to.
They have made a significant contribution to the clubs push towards the top four this season, if we can return to the Champions League; they will probably find that players such as Mkhitaryan are more easily attainable.
Si Steers
Daniel Sturridge has revealed his delight in Liverpool winning their third game of 2014 against Stoke City on Sunday afternoon.
Sturridge was following in the footsteps of Luis Suarez, who hailed Liverpool’s togetherness in an interview last week ahead of the win at the Britannia Stadium.
The England international returned to action as a second half substitute against Stoke, setting up Suarez for his second of the game, before sealing Liverpool’s win with a fifth goal himself late on.
It was the first time Sturridge had been in action since November, when he suffered ankle ligament damage during a training session.
Brendan Rodgers and Reds fans will have been delighted to see him immediately link up with Suarez on his return from injury, picking up where they left of — with the ‘SAS’ tag.
“I’m delighted with the result for the boys,” Sturridge told the club’s official website. “It’s important that we work hard as a team.
“It’s a difficult place to come and play, and we showed a lot of character, so we’re very happy with the result.
“Being out of the fold has been very hard for me mentally, watching the boys. But it’s also good that we’ve been getting results and working very hard as a team.
“It’s about the boys at the end of the day. It’s very hard when you’re on the side, watching a team, and you want to be involved in the fun and be out there.
“I’m just happy that we’re up there within touching distance and we’re in the top four. It’s great to be a part of it.”
The cynical amongst us will see Sturridge’s latest comments as pure propaganda coming from the increasingly well oiled Liverpool FC press machine.
But maybe that is exactly the point. In contrast to past public relations, all the players are saying the right things, giving a very positive outlook at Anfield.
Liverpool moved up to fourth in the Premier League with their win at Stoke, and will be hoping Arsenal drop points away to Aston Villa on Monday night.
Daniel Sturridge has revealed his delight in Liverpool winning their third game of 2014 against Stoke City on Sunday afternoon.
Sturridge was following in the footsteps of Luis Suarez, who hailed Liverpool’s togetherness in an interview last week ahead of the win at the Britannia Stadium.
The England international returned to action as a second half substitute against Stoke, setting up Suarez for his second of the game, before sealing Liverpool’s win with a fifth goal himself late on.
It was the first time Sturridge had been in action since November, when he suffered ankle ligament damage during a training session.
Brendan Rodgers and Reds fans will have been delighted to see him immediately link up with Suarez on his return from injury, picking up where they left of — with the ‘SAS’ tag.
“I’m delighted with the result for the boys,” Sturridge told the club’s official website. “It’s important that we work hard as a team.
“It’s a difficult place to come and play, and we showed a lot of character, so we’re very happy with the result.
“Being out of the fold has been very hard for me mentally, watching the boys. But it’s also good that we’ve been getting results and working very hard as a team.
“It’s about the boys at the end of the day. It’s very hard when you’re on the side, watching a team, and you want to be involved in the fun and be out there.
“I’m just happy that we’re up there within touching distance and we’re in the top four. It’s great to be a part of it.”
The cynical amongst us will see Sturridge’s latest comments as pure propaganda coming from the increasingly well oiled Liverpool FC press machine.
But maybe that is exactly the point. In contrast to past public relations, all the players are saying the right things, giving a very positive outlook at Anfield.
Liverpool moved up to fourth in the Premier League with their win at Stoke, and will be hoping Arsenal drop points away to Aston Villa on Monday night.
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