While Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was enjoying in Brazil, Chelsea's Jose Mourinho was helping kids in Africa, Brendan Rodgers had to deal with an inevitable task of dealing with Luiz Suarez imminent exit. More than the exit, it is the task of filling the void left by the Uruguayan that could well decide his and the team’s future during the course of next 10 months. Money that will be generated through Suarez sale has already been changing hands as Liverpool look to bolster their squad for next season.
#489514401 / gettyimages.com
Different approach from Tottenham:
After the departure of Gareth Bale, Tottenham sacked 2 managers during the course of last season and finished 6th even after spending a 100million pound lottery. Many comparisons have been made with Liverpool as it is nearly the same situation for them. But if you look closely, it is never the same situation for the Merseyside giants as last season they were well more than a one man team unlike Tottenham who were totally dependent on Bale in his last season.
In the 2012 season, Bale was the top scorer for Tottenham with 21 goals and the 2nd top scorer for Tottenham was way behind as Jermaine Defoe scored 11. Contrary to this, Liverpool have 3 players at their top form last season with Suarez of-course on top of list with 31, Sturridge second with 21 and Gerrard with 13 goals. So certainly Liverpool are not a one man team when it comes to scoring goals unlike the Londoners who were more or less totally dependent on the Welshman.
Brendan Rodgers:
Although Brendan Rodgers will have little experience as a Liverpool manager when Suarez will eventually be sold but he has delivered and that will kept the mouths shut for some time. For a side that has made the lowest number of substitutions last season, he has done well to take the Liverpool side from 7th to 2nd with the lowest number of quality available on bench. And with players like Lallana, Emre Can and Markovic giving tough-time to normal starters Sterling, Coutinho and Henderson next season, it can eventually be said that we will see more Plan B’s from the Liverpool boss that were absent in the later stages of last season.
Predictable signings:
Like a kid who has got some money on some festive eve, Liverpool might have gone for big names. However, they have kept their foot on ground and tracked down players that they felt will compromise themselves for team effort. As a result, people like Rickie Lambert have been added to the ranks. Moreover, all of the three signings made so far has played in front of them with Emre Can as the exception who has been a tip from the former kop favorite Sami Hyppia. So yes, these players might take some time to settle and they should, but they might not feel lost here.
Steven Gerrard:
Unlike their major top four rivals, Liverpool have a man who knew the place well and has been on top form. By scoring 13 and assisting the same number last season before eventually falling to that miserable slip, Steven Gerrard is the sort of ‘’hungry’’ player which Liverpool have more valuable than the departing Uruguayan. And at the dusk of his career, he will be looking to add that one final trophy that has been eluding him so far in an illustrious career.
Lessons learnt:
When Liverpool lost Fernando Torres to Chelsea, they gone into the market with vengeance and come out with misery. After getting players like Downing and Carroll for 55million pounds, they looked as if money will guarantee them success. What happened after should be kept in a locker. However since those fateful decisions been made by the Liverpool board, two main members of Liverpool boardroom in Kenny Dalglish and Damien Commoli have been sacked. It is obvious by the price tags of incoming players now that Liverpool have learnt their lessons and will not go into a bidding war or a last minute break-the-bank offer.
When Liverpool lost Fernando Torres to Chelsea, they gone into the market with vengeance and come out with misery. After getting players like Downing and Carroll for 55million pounds, they looked as if money will guarantee them success. What happened after should be kept in a locker. However since those fateful decisions been made by the Liverpool board, two main members of Liverpool boardroom in Kenny Dalglish and Damien Commoli have been sacked. It is obvious by the price tags of incoming players now that Liverpool have learnt their lessons and will not go into a bidding war or a last minute break-the-bank offer.
Amir Bashir follow him on Twitter.
No comments