[GUEST POST]. Since FSG bought LFC, One of the most discussed subjects amongst LFC fans is their transfer policy, and under Rodgers, this has intensified, with Ian Ayre repeatedly being blamed for the club’s inability to close transfer deals. Is this fair, though? Is Ayre really at fault for so many recent transfer deals falling through?
Clubs that can offer Champions League football will always have the upper hand over the Reds, and this was evident last summer, with the collapse of deals for Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Signed for Dortmund in £23m deal); Diego Costa (£20m bid rejected) and Willian (LFC made £26m offer).
Ian Ayre continues to be blamed for these transfer failures, but in my view, Liverpool were at a dead end with three deals, no matter how anyone wants to spin it.
The recent attempt to signing Mohamed Salah also failed, with Basel rejecting LFC's measly £8m bid. This could be another bullet dodged. He will be a bench warmer with the competition he has at Chelsea, which cannot be seen as a loss to Liverpool.
Yevhen Konoplyanka was another transfer disappointment, but LFC triggered his £15m release clause, the player had agreed terms and passed his medical. The issue was that Dnipro’s owner refused to sign the paperwork to make the deal go through. James Lippett, Konoplyanka’s agent confirmed this on Twitter, and blaming Ayre is (IMO) wrong.
Now, let’s get to the signings we did make in the summer of 2013. Total spent: +- £49m
Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Kolo Toure, Simon Mignolet, Tiago Ilori, Mamadou Sakho.
* Mignolet and Sakho both have great futures ahead of them at Anfield.
* Toure’s contract ends next season and was mainly brought in to replace the experience of Jamie Carragher.
* Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto and Thiago Ilori have raised many questions marks. Aspas looks too lightweight, Alberto has shown promise but keeps on being overlooked and Ilori has gone out on loan.
To be honest, Aspas seems to be on his way out and most probably will be moved on in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Good thing is that if BR does sell him, the club will probably recoup the money paid, so nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Ilori was one of the most highly rated young CB’s in Europe when LFC signed him. Even Chelsea tried to secure his signature but Liverpool beat them to it. With Skrtel, Agger, Toure and Sakho ahead of him in the pecking order this season he was always going to struggle to get into the starting eleven. Next season will give us a better idea of what the plan is for young Ilori.
Luis Alberto is the strangest signing. The youngster clearly has talent yet has only been given 144 minutes of EPL playing time. The reasons for his lack of playing time are unclear, nobody knows why, but just like Aspas, Liverpool have not struggled without him on the pitch.
Additionally, with Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho and Sterling all ahead of him in the pecking order will always see him struggle to start matches. Sure he could have featured more as a sub, but next season should give us all the answers we need.
If LFC are planning on selling Alberto, then like Aspas I doubt the club will make a loss on his transfer fee. Rodgers could also have other plans for Luis Alberto. Many have suggested that he could be have a future playing deeper in midfield so let’s wait and see what happens next season.
The loan signings of Moses and Cissokho have not been great but Cissokho has actually improved since his run in the first team. Both will be returned to their current clubs at the end of the season, that’s for sure.
FSG have made it clear that they are not willing to overpay for players since the Andy Carroll transfer disaster and fair play to them for that. There is no way LFC can afford to be making £20m losses again. Downing was another bitter pill FSG had to swallow.
Writing off a £34m loss on two players will be a bitter pill for FSG to swallow, so taking everything into account, can FSG/Rodgers/Ayre be blamed for the current transfer strategy at Anfield?
Maybe they are just waiting for Champions League qualification to loosen the purse strings again?
Author: Loganlfc
Clubs that can offer Champions League football will always have the upper hand over the Reds, and this was evident last summer, with the collapse of deals for Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Signed for Dortmund in £23m deal); Diego Costa (£20m bid rejected) and Willian (LFC made £26m offer).
Ian Ayre continues to be blamed for these transfer failures, but in my view, Liverpool were at a dead end with three deals, no matter how anyone wants to spin it.
The recent attempt to signing Mohamed Salah also failed, with Basel rejecting LFC's measly £8m bid. This could be another bullet dodged. He will be a bench warmer with the competition he has at Chelsea, which cannot be seen as a loss to Liverpool.
Yevhen Konoplyanka was another transfer disappointment, but LFC triggered his £15m release clause, the player had agreed terms and passed his medical. The issue was that Dnipro’s owner refused to sign the paperwork to make the deal go through. James Lippett, Konoplyanka’s agent confirmed this on Twitter, and blaming Ayre is (IMO) wrong.
Now, let’s get to the signings we did make in the summer of 2013. Total spent: +- £49m
Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Kolo Toure, Simon Mignolet, Tiago Ilori, Mamadou Sakho.
* Mignolet and Sakho both have great futures ahead of them at Anfield.
* Toure’s contract ends next season and was mainly brought in to replace the experience of Jamie Carragher.
* Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto and Thiago Ilori have raised many questions marks. Aspas looks too lightweight, Alberto has shown promise but keeps on being overlooked and Ilori has gone out on loan.
To be honest, Aspas seems to be on his way out and most probably will be moved on in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Good thing is that if BR does sell him, the club will probably recoup the money paid, so nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Ilori was one of the most highly rated young CB’s in Europe when LFC signed him. Even Chelsea tried to secure his signature but Liverpool beat them to it. With Skrtel, Agger, Toure and Sakho ahead of him in the pecking order this season he was always going to struggle to get into the starting eleven. Next season will give us a better idea of what the plan is for young Ilori.
Luis Alberto is the strangest signing. The youngster clearly has talent yet has only been given 144 minutes of EPL playing time. The reasons for his lack of playing time are unclear, nobody knows why, but just like Aspas, Liverpool have not struggled without him on the pitch.
Additionally, with Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho and Sterling all ahead of him in the pecking order will always see him struggle to start matches. Sure he could have featured more as a sub, but next season should give us all the answers we need.
If LFC are planning on selling Alberto, then like Aspas I doubt the club will make a loss on his transfer fee. Rodgers could also have other plans for Luis Alberto. Many have suggested that he could be have a future playing deeper in midfield so let’s wait and see what happens next season.
The loan signings of Moses and Cissokho have not been great but Cissokho has actually improved since his run in the first team. Both will be returned to their current clubs at the end of the season, that’s for sure.
FSG have made it clear that they are not willing to overpay for players since the Andy Carroll transfer disaster and fair play to them for that. There is no way LFC can afford to be making £20m losses again. Downing was another bitter pill FSG had to swallow.
Writing off a £34m loss on two players will be a bitter pill for FSG to swallow, so taking everything into account, can FSG/Rodgers/Ayre be blamed for the current transfer strategy at Anfield?
Maybe they are just waiting for Champions League qualification to loosen the purse strings again?
Author: Loganlfc
I wonder if this article was against fsg and ayre, would have been allowed by the owner of this site? I doubt. If I want to make one, will JK post it? I mean Id want to express my feelings as well! Dont think I'll have any space or anybody else who are against fsg.
ReplyDeleteI think he would allow it as long as it has some strong arguments against them. Just because Jaimie doesn't agree with the opinion doesn't mean he wouldn't post it, in fact he'd probably encourage it. If he's anything like me, he would like a good debate. Probably one of the reasons why he set up this site in the first place, even if it is only subconsciously.
ReplyDeleteGood article, although I think you're being overly generous to Ian ayre! Time will tell if Salah was a bullet dodged, but the fact remains we knobbed it by low balling again. 11m is not a big gamble or a high price for a proven champions league performer, identified by our committee as our main target. After all the other balls ups (which I'm not going to bring up again) I don't think he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Compare his prowess in this area of his job with Daniel levy and it's clear he's not the cream of the crop!
ReplyDeleteThe rejected bid for Diego Costa has of course nothing to do with us not playing CL football. That is only important for the player, not the selling club.
ReplyDeleteAlso for the failed Konoplyanka deal, don't buy any of the "they refused to sign paperwork"-nonsense. If you meat a buyout-clause AND pay the money in time, the selling club has nothing to sign. Read the FIFA rules on transfers. You just have to submit proof of the payment to FIFA and that's it.
No man, you see how this site is being runned, as soon as you disagree with jk he immediately will delete your post. Soon as you disagree with the so called legends of the club you get banned. When did you see an article being against fsg posted on this site? There are many fans out there who want them out asap, but cant do it here. People are not feeling free here. Sites like this should be all free and uncensored, let the people express themselves properly, not with "rules" warnings or bans.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
ReplyDeleteI think if we had Champions League on offer then we might have had one of Costa or Mkhitaryan at Anfield.
Do many people want FSG out? That really surprises me.
ReplyDeleteI think your one of those super fans, cant touch your fsgs ayres kennys rodgers etc.
ReplyDeleteIt will make his job easier that's for sure and even easier when we're champions ;-)
ReplyDeleteTiago Ilori was always one for the future, and from what I hear about his 2 games sofar in Granada he is a class act of the highest order.. He could also comfortably adapt his game to play CDM as he has a superb range of passes at his disposal..
ReplyDeleteThe likes of Aspas and Alberto are always going to divide opinion, but given time and some large doses of Protein Powder to bulk up abit they could still both have plenty to offer.. Especially Alberto..
Ming and Sakho are class acts in the making so there's not alot to be said there..
Yes there are many, but you cant find them here, they are all censored and banned.
ReplyDeleteYeah. reckon we will see Ilori play a big part next season.
ReplyDeleteAlberto has not made the bench for the last two matches so not sure how things will end up for him. Next season will tell the story.
refusing to sign and delaying tactics can hardly be argued against to Fifa for paperwork being late to the point of not getting signed.. Fact is he is Dnipro's best player and they didn't want to lose him... keep all the nonsense going till it's too late and what can you do.. If LFC had turned up even a day earlier it may have been a different story.. Who really knows.
ReplyDeleteI honestly thought they were popular. I'm skeptical about American owners full stop, but these guys seem alright to me. What's are the main issues with them?
ReplyDeleteonly the moronic.. We're in the title race. that didn't happen by mistake...
ReplyDeleteI think your one of those uninformed fans who make rash nonsense comments without thinking..
ReplyDeleteI don’t know who's to blame, coz a lot happens behind closed doors that we don't see, but not being able to get high profile transfer targets is something that goes back to the days of Benitez which I believe has only recently been hightened because BR basically promised the fans a marquee signing that never came. So I dont think its necessarily anyone's fault, I think its where the chips happened to land and the last thing I would want is LFC signing someone for the sake of getting in another body...they must be up to snuff.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of being up to snuff, I want to just touch on the whole Alberto and Aspas bit of this. This is the tightest BPL race in decades and I believe that BR had plans for them both until it became clear that he would need to put out our first 11 every week in order to get top four. Look around the league, even City consistantly play the same team in the league because they know that any slip-up can cost them. I think this is a good thing anyway because it gives both players a year to settle and get acclamatizes to LFC (remember they are both foreign and we're playing at significanly smaller teams before coming to LFC... and yes, Barca B team is no where near the same as playing for the Barca first team or LFC). Fingers crossed we'll be competing in 4 competitions next year and squad depth coupled with experience will come to the fold and having these two more settled with help us give the established players a break throughout the season. BR is a man who thinks ahead and I believe he has these two (with assiadi, suso and borini) as essential players in League and FA cup games plus the BPL games before big nights in Europe.
As with everything to do with LFC we only know bits of the story regarding transfers. You can take the view that we have made lots of attempts to sign players which shows intent and merely put the failures down to external factors such as a lack of CL football. Alternatively you can look at the number of failures and question whether there were other causes such as trying to push the price down too low and not offering competitive wages. We will probably never know the whole story and your view will most likely depend on what you think of FSG. Ayre is to some extent a convenient lightening conductor taking the flak for some of the owners' policies and manager's decisions.
ReplyDeleteI would just point out though that the losses on AC and SD were to some extent offset by the torres money.
Your username is the abbreviation for???
ReplyDeleteJaime can you see it?
Jamie jamie.. Stop s* balls man, Fred York Jimmy Kenwright.
ReplyDeletefreda young jubbly kong
ReplyDeleteAgain, there is no paperwork to be signed. Pay the money, tell FIFA, job done ...
ReplyDeleteIt is explicitely stated as such in the FIFA rules for international transfers.
It is in the very nature of a buyout-clause that you don't need the approval of the selling club. You wouldn't even need to talk to any club offical.
Well seen as barely a day goes by without JK having a go at Ayre, I suspect he would, yes
ReplyDeletesame as buying a house, paperwork still needs to be signed before you can take possession.. basic business dealing....
ReplyDeleteI give up. You know better. You probably have read the FIFA rules and I only dreamed it. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteditto
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine many people really think that LFC should be owned by Americans. Nothing against them as such but it just don't seem right.
ReplyDeleteIs this a private argument or can anyone join in?
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering that. I'm hoping there is only one Markus :-)
ReplyDeleteYes but 34 million which was written off by FSG could have possibly allowed LFC to offer better wages etc. We can ill afford to have more deals like Carroll and Downing again.
ReplyDeleteWell said!!
ReplyDeleteMe too they say some people can start an argument in an empty room :-)
ReplyDeleteLol
ReplyDeleteDeep down I still feel Alberto has a future at the club. Aspas I am not so sure about.
ReplyDeleteFully agree regarding what you said about Rodgers. Good post!
I agree with you but just pointing out that the pill was sweetened as far as FSG was concerned.
ReplyDeleteAlso they changed the manager which directly led to thoise two players being moved on at a loss. Not saying they were wrong as things have turned out but we''ll never know what might have been.
He writes quite a few articles disagreeing with club legends.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that there hasn't been an article may be down to nobody actually writing an article, how about you write one? If you don't feel free then don't come to this site as I for one feel free and actually like these rules for this site as the rules are based around encouraging debates and not just saying "Person X is shit and offers no explanation" You can't just slate someone and not explain why. I have had debates with Jaimie before and most likely will do in the future and I have yet to have a comment deleted or be banned. If you write an article giving strong reasons why FSG should sell then I guarantee e will post but he would also argue in the comment section.
People are too quick to jump to conclusions and rush to decisions about a players worth and whether they have a future. Remember back when we were at the height of our powers in the 70s and 80s young players would be bought and then spend 12-18mths in the reserves while they developed. And many only emerged in their early 20s to graduate into the 1st team. So I see no difference in what is happening with Alberto and Ilori.
ReplyDeleteWho is though. We had owners before Hicks and Gillette who were not unpopular yet hadn't done enough to capitalise on the clubs earlier success in foreign markets, hadn't made us as financially strong as we could have been so as to be able to continue to strengthen for the future then sold us to cowboys. There are still some people who are very skeptical of FSG and some who downright hate them. Skepticism is fine as long as it's rational. The hatred that gets thrown out usually contains the word "yanks", this to me says that that view is not rational. There are those who try to claim FSG are milking the club without any shred of evidence. I'm all for healthy debate but facts are necessary not not vitriol and rhetoric. Most fans are quietly watching to see what FSG are doing. They seem to have strengthened us financially but without using much of their own money (other than the actual purchase and non interest loans).
ReplyDeleteI am a visitor of various sites and the problem with what you suggest is the recurrent circular arguments that take place re FSG and the derailing of any story and article with anti FSG vitriol.This like a few others have set up these rules so the minority don't create the fuss that makes visiting these sites irritating. I have been on a site that spends a lot of time discussing that kind of thing but there are plenty of articles on there that make statements as if they are facts when the actual facts are in short supply.
ReplyDeleteI found the "Yanks out" campaign with Hicks and Gillette quite petty to be honest. Ok, I agree they had to go but when Liverpool fans starting chanting "Yanks out." The word Yanks was used as an insult, what I found quite annoying about that (this says a lot about my "actually it's this not that" personality) Hick and Gillette are not Yanks. They are not from the North Eastern US so therefore are not Yanks so when we chanted "Yanks out" to them, we were making ourselves look stupid. If you are going to insult people make sure you do it right.
ReplyDeleteFredo yorky jucyfruit kitkat
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could quote the article of the fifa rules that you refer to?
ReplyDeleteI banged the try Ilori at CM drum often a while ago when it looked like there were so many ahead of him at CB.
ReplyDeleteI trust Rodgers on this kind of thing. Where did Flanno go at one point. Wasn't even with reserves was he? I think that despite what Rodgers says he does give a little stick. Like a lad who gets on the bench every game but isn't doing enough to force him to consider playing him. Then he sees a lad in the youth set up at a similar age who also looks technically good on the ball but is working hard and thinks "swap these two and see what the first lad does about it". Could work, he sees this lad play, sees other young lads getting games and the youth set up dudes know what he needs to do to get in there and can work on him a bit. The optimist in me sees a manager using the who management and training structure as a way to make the players available better. It may be dreaming but it has as much substance as those pessimists saying he will be gone in the summer.
ReplyDeleteThere is no denying that FSG have gone for star players, yet they also will not be fleeced like we were in 2011 on Carroll etc.......................when you have an academy like ours you have to exploit that asset, Teixeira, Ojo, Canos, Wilson, Sinclair, Rossiter and the like. They have been close to several top players but without CL football it is difficult!!!.................they have drastically improved the commercial side of LFC, unlike previous owners, we now get top $ for our name being used around the world. If we get into the CL I have no doubt that top players will arrive!!!
ReplyDeleteFair points there and I was never a fan of the petty name calling especially as the message itself was so important you don't want it to be name calling or lacking in the seriousness it needed. Thats whats so bad about the current "yanks out" "campaigners". It's using a term that is not an insult as an insult as well as linking the current incumbents with the previous owners when the only real connection they have is a continent they are from. It's lacking in critical thought and makes those people seem stupid. If there are points to be made people should make them but make them in a way that uses rational reasoning and is done in an adult fashion. Basically I am saying Planks out!
ReplyDeleteTotally and utter BS. I am so sick of people like you who spread this nonsense. Everything you've stated here is made up rubbish, and there's zero evidence to back any of it up.
ReplyDelete* There are close to a million comments on this site, and 99% of them disagree with me. How do they stay live if I delete those I disagree with. Get a f****ing grip.
* The idea that people who disagree with club legends get banned is also laughable. I don't care who people disagree with. Visitors can dispute what club legends say to their heart's content.
* I have criticised Rodgers and FSG countless times, so clearly, you have not been visiting this site that long. In fact, site visitors criticise ME for giving FSG/Rodgers a hard time.
The only comments that get deleted = sniping comments/insults etc, and people who engage in that get banned.
People like you who deliberately spread lies about this site also get banned, so if you spout this uninformed crap once more, you will join the legions of others who've been banned for the same thing.
Totally agree, Zelphyius. The 'Yanks Out' campaign (perpetuated by Spirit of Shankly) was undignified and xenophobic, and reflected poorly on LFC fans. I didn't want anything to do with it, and argued strongly against it at the time.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/poll-yank-liars-out-is-soss-approach.html
I wouldn't say they are a total failure, but neither a success - I'd give them a B- overall on their dealings. This season I think they failed to perceive the perfect storm brewing and the opportunity to get CL and the title. With all the other top clubs (except arsenal) experiencing major changes, there was an opportunity that was missed to really strengthen the team. Sure they "tried" to get some marquee signings - but they didn't try hard enough - if you wan't something bad enough you make sure you get it.
ReplyDeleteYou can have your once bitten twice shy argument, but stakes is high, and there are no excuses.
All that being said, there have been some good aquisitions this year, but the big impact type were not made, and this is what could make the difference between CL or not, or winning the league.
Either way, no use in crying over spilled milk, FSG might get very lucky, and possibly win the league with the current team, CL is almost a foregone conclusion at this point.
Hopefully in the next window they can be judged on full intent, without excuses of no CL, etc. etc.
I believe teh old saying holds true, if you want to make money, you gotta spend money.
For the summer miss, nothing to say really, they've been bought by club who have more money and champion's league.
ReplyDeleteOn the summer signing, cissokho and Moses will be gone, cissokho have been usefull so i consider it as a "success". Aspas doesn't seem like he'll stay in the summer, i still have hope for Alberto and ilori is starting to show why liverpool bought him.
And finally not signing anyone in january could prove to be a blessing in disguise, if we qualify for CL it could 'force' the owner to sign a couple proven player, i'm not disapointed to have miss Kono actually.
Good article. My hunch on Alberto is that he is not playing because he is slow. I don't think he has a good sense of PL game speed...and maybe he doesn't get any better in practice. He seems alert. I remember the one assist he got for Suarez was lightening quick thinking and passing. I just think he takes too long to get moving. Watching him and then seeing Teixeira was a revelation for me. Tex is ready now.
ReplyDelete100% agree. Too many times we either rush players into the first team or write them off before they have a chance. BR is finding the right balance for each of them; some are loan deals, others are staying at home and developing, but in the end its all to make our team a cohesive unit and start winning multiple titles and not just the one-off
ReplyDeleteFSG have paid off our debt, significantly invested in the transfer window and even when the deals have fallen through it hasn't been because FSG were unwilling to pay the big bucks. They are redeveloping anfield and the surrounding area and have increased our commercial revenue tenfold. Not only that but we've made HUGE strides on the pitch. We're right in the title race, playing brilliant football and scoring loads of goals. What exactly is it that you want? Anybody who wants FSG or Rodgers out is an absolute muppet
ReplyDeleteThis is a well thought out article that makes a lot of sense. When you step away from the emotion of supporting the team there does seem to be a transfer policy and strategy in place. It's just a pity that some of the recent high profile deals have fallen down.
ReplyDeleteI generally agree with most of the comments you leave and find you talk a bit of sense so it was good to see you post an article. Well done mate
ReplyDeleteNo mention of the money spent on Allen????
ReplyDeleteCurrently reading through the comments on that article and even now some of those arguments I could rip to pieces.
ReplyDelete". Most educated people realise that the term "Yank" is only mildly derogatory so do not take offence. You do not hear of any chinese or italian club utilising the xenaphobic terminology that you have included in your artical in their team name in the way the New York Yankee's have." A Yank/Yankee is actually someone from the North East of the US and quite a few of the southern states actually take it as an insult. This is dating back to the civil war. That point is invalid now anyway. The NFL are on about changing Washington Redskins name as redskin is deemed offensive to Native Americans. New Yorkers don't deem being called a Yank offensive (maybe if you're a Mets fan) so why would they change it? I'm going to carry on reading these comments now. Also I like the comment section update. Really shows how far this site has come. I think back then it was harder to put an opinion cross because of how the comment section was set up.
I presume you want FSG out then? As long as you are basing your opinion on what you deem factually correct then I'm ok on. No point arguing over it because let's be honest no one really changes their minds do they? What I dislike is basically what you said, linking the two ownerships together when in fact as you said the only similarity is they are from the same continent. With the U.S I find that each State is more like a country than the collective as a country itself. Each state the people are very different from the next. Yes some are more a like than others but IMO no two states are the same. The same could be said of where you live in England to be honest. It's not just the north south divide. I live about 15 miles outside of Liverpool at the moment and where I live is nothing like Liverpool in the slightest and that goes with the other bordering towns and cities but this is a discussion for a different time.
ReplyDeleteI liked the "Planks out" by the way.
In the great words of Monica Geller: "Rules help control the FUN" :D
ReplyDelete