It's hard to admit, but Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish wasted a lot of money on dud players during his second spell in charge at Anfield, and Charlie Adam is one of the players widely considering to have flopped at Anfield flop, along with the likes of Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, and Sebastian Coates. Dalglish never misses an opportunity to (indirectly) defend his buys, and over the weekend, he heaped praise on Adam, and urged fans not to 'undermine' his impact for Liverpool.
Speaking to the Sunday Mail, Dalglish hailed 'important' Adam's recent good form, and suggested that his tenure at LFC deserved to be considered in a more positive light. He observed:
“It is good to see Charlie back playing well. Is he an enigma? Yes, but if somebody has got abilities and a contribution to make you try your best to fit them in.
"Are you going to gauge Charlie at Liverpool by what goals he made, goals he scored?
“He was a stand out at Blackpool...and now he’s doing well at Stoke. When he was at Liverpool we won the Carling Cup so I wouldn’t undermine what he did at Liverpool."
Soon after Adam signed for Liverpool, Anfield legend Gary Gillespie made the following bold claim:
"His [Adam's] performances all season have been excellent. He hurts teams, and defences with his passing. I've gone on record as saying think he's got all the capabilities of being better than Xabi Alonso, and I stick by that".
With respect to Gillespie, it's fair to say he was way off on this one (!) Alonso is on a totally different level to Adam, but I can see why he made the comparison.
Historically, the Scottish influence on LFC is absolutely immense, and Scottish players/managers played a huge part in much of Liverpool's fantastic success over the years. As such, as a Scot myself, I was happy to see Dalglish sign Adam, and delighted to see another Scottish regularly player in the team for the first time since Gary McAllister. Granted, Adam didn't set Anfield alight, but it's unfair (IMO) to label him as a flop.
With 8 goals/assists in 32 starts, he undoubtedly contributed to the cause, which is more than you can say for Downing and Henderson, who both had extremely poor first seasons at Anfield. Additionally, LFC made back £4m on Adam - who cost £8.5m (with add-ons) in 2011 - so overall, not the biggest loss in the world.
I'm a regular critic of Dalglish's abject waste of LFC's transfer funds during his second spell in charge, but he did get one signing absolutely right, and that's the £20m purchase of Jordan Henderson. No one saw that transfer coming, and after his first season, it looked like another huge chuck of cash down the pan.
Hendo has gone from strength to strength, though, and is now one of LFC's most important players (even though he does need to score/assist more regularly).
Author: Jaimie K
Speaking to the Sunday Mail, Dalglish hailed 'important' Adam's recent good form, and suggested that his tenure at LFC deserved to be considered in a more positive light. He observed:
“It is good to see Charlie back playing well. Is he an enigma? Yes, but if somebody has got abilities and a contribution to make you try your best to fit them in.
"Are you going to gauge Charlie at Liverpool by what goals he made, goals he scored?
“He was a stand out at Blackpool...and now he’s doing well at Stoke. When he was at Liverpool we won the Carling Cup so I wouldn’t undermine what he did at Liverpool."
Soon after Adam signed for Liverpool, Anfield legend Gary Gillespie made the following bold claim:
"His [Adam's] performances all season have been excellent. He hurts teams, and defences with his passing. I've gone on record as saying think he's got all the capabilities of being better than Xabi Alonso, and I stick by that".
With respect to Gillespie, it's fair to say he was way off on this one (!) Alonso is on a totally different level to Adam, but I can see why he made the comparison.
Historically, the Scottish influence on LFC is absolutely immense, and Scottish players/managers played a huge part in much of Liverpool's fantastic success over the years. As such, as a Scot myself, I was happy to see Dalglish sign Adam, and delighted to see another Scottish regularly player in the team for the first time since Gary McAllister. Granted, Adam didn't set Anfield alight, but it's unfair (IMO) to label him as a flop.
With 8 goals/assists in 32 starts, he undoubtedly contributed to the cause, which is more than you can say for Downing and Henderson, who both had extremely poor first seasons at Anfield. Additionally, LFC made back £4m on Adam - who cost £8.5m (with add-ons) in 2011 - so overall, not the biggest loss in the world.
I'm a regular critic of Dalglish's abject waste of LFC's transfer funds during his second spell in charge, but he did get one signing absolutely right, and that's the £20m purchase of Jordan Henderson. No one saw that transfer coming, and after his first season, it looked like another huge chuck of cash down the pan.
Hendo has gone from strength to strength, though, and is now one of LFC's most important players (even though he does need to score/assist more regularly).
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Author: Jaimie K
I just don't think he was right for Liverpool. To label him a flop might be a little harsh, he did alright. He just didn't quite suit Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteGlad he is doing well but I am more glad he plays for Stoke. He is a reminder of a time (hopefully) rapidly fading into the past. I think of Adam like Dempsey. Did great on a small team but couldn't fit into a big team.
ReplyDeleteHe is a good player but not LFC quality. His biggest problem was mobility. He seems like a good lad so happy for him that he is doing well at Stoke.
ReplyDeletePity he was lambasted in his first season. Then in his second season was told that he can go if he wants but clearly that was Rodgers playing mind games. Hendo never complains, just gets on with improving game by game.
ReplyDeleteRodgers seems to have a magic touch with young players. There is still plenty of hope for Alberto :-)
Hughes seems to have it right playing him as an AM. He is absolutely garbo at defending and doesn't really like running much unless it is for glory (goal). He really never looked like he could play a whole game either. Flop may be a bit harsh but we needed better. Should Jordan have been given more of a chance in the center? Not sure. But Adam did need someone tactically astute and with good stamina near him as these things he lacked.
ReplyDeleteThanks god his gone thats all I have to say
ReplyDeleteJust not good enough for a team that needs to play on the oppositions half for the largest part of the game. Also, most of his goals at BP came from free kicks and penalties and since Gerrard takes those at Liverpool, he never really got a chance to score much did he
ReplyDeleteI dont think queen kenny called carroll a flop either! Does br call allen cissokho alberto aspas assaidi mignolet borini flops? Dont you know lfc managers are well stubborn?
ReplyDeleteWhat is your boggle?
ReplyDeleteI wonder who are those 2% think Adam was better than Alonso. People shouldn't post after being drunk.
ReplyDeleteI just loved the 90's
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbSXrH_CPKg
JK this comment is grossly offensive. Why has it been allowed. As you admit you have an agenda but there is no excuse for such a personally abusive comment being allowed. It breaches yoyr own rules
ReplyDeleteNormally only mancs will call Kenny Dalglish 'Queen Kenny'
ReplyDeleteAbsolute disgrace of a comment if he is a LFC fan. No place for that rubbish here.
Think he showed his true colours there, no lfc fan calls KD queen
ReplyDeleteI'm not online 24/7. when I see dodgy comments, I will delete them, as I have in this case.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your assessment. From Webbs position it could be interpreted as shoulder to shoulder. Tough old job being a referee
ReplyDeleteThe only real waste was Carroll's grossly extortionate inflated fee, Hendo is eventually repaying his, Downing although his shooting left a lot to be desired, did create chances that others never took advantage of (could have sold him for more than we did too ??), Coates was/has never really been given a fair shot (the qpr goal should have been a launching pad for something).
ReplyDeleteCarrolls struggles and price tag affected more than just him (Downing/Kenny/LFC, as for Adam he was nowhere near Alonso, he did do the occasional good thing but for me was limited in ability and never had the engine to be an integral part of our midfield, i knew he would not last.
lol
ReplyDeleteWow! Never thought my comment would be a big hit like this! As for info there are many so many lfc fans who call kenny queen, if you didnt know. Secondly I didnt call him so because of hate I have for him, didnt intend to insult him either. I just call him so in some cases, when he screws up in the media. Lfc fans used to call him a lot during the season he took over, after all he did here, im surprised you didnt know it! Anyway never thought someone would be "touched" by that here, but apparently you are so, I guess I wont use that word again, but this delete thing is too childish, could have been a warning or a demand to change it or remove the word queen, but deleting straight away looks too dictatorial and communism.
ReplyDeleteThis story is about 2 years out of date, whats the point of it ?
ReplyDeleteMethinks you are unlikely to get support for a plea for "Technology" here Simon. Most football supporters seem to like something to gripe about post match in preference to officials getting it right on the night (or day). I mean it's totally understandable that the FA should prefer that 20 million viewers be better equipped to referee the match than Webb - regrettably they forgot to issue us all with whistles. You see the FA are very important people who totally control our game; by hook or by crook they get the decisions they want by establishing a plethora of quasi judicial panels to examine miscreants who have offended against the laws of Ahab, they have panels that will appoint the next England manager; panels that will review video evidence of selected incidents in football matches; panels who appoint referees to control matches in their jurisdiction; panels that control the prices of tickets to attend matches etc., etc., so do not expect them to demote their favourite son Howard to the Championship for a couple of weeks till he gets his act together. After all the FA (or one of their Panels) have selected Howard to go to Brazil as their head honcho!
ReplyDeleteThe FA is one of the few bodies that cannot be called to answer to the Royal Courts of Justice - why should they take any cognizance of the opinions or views of those that pay at the gates? They are The Untouchables.
By the way I would prefer to lose a cast iron penalty appeal than lose Stephen Gerrard for three games. We need to stop all this talk about fourth place and go all out to win the league.
Surely suarez reputation is much larger than his actual deeds. There are other players who go down much more easily such as young and bale - but get no where near the media stick.
ReplyDeleteThe 2nd pen was as blatant as they come. However i dont expect liverpool to win if Webb is officiating.
With regards to Gerard not being sent off - that's like saying every foul should be a yellow - how many times did arsenal players get away with rash challenges without a yellow - yet some coutinho all 5ft 2 of him contrived to get one!
Further Webb's reaction to Stirling touching him was one of the most stupid things ive seen - could easily have racial connotations to it.
When it comes to liverpool webb gets away with murder - yet the easiest route is to bring suarez reputation into it!
Arsenal fan here and it was a penalty now I asked all Liverpool fans to look at Skrtel's tackle on Cozorla in Liverpool's box it was just as much a penalty as the ox's tackle on Suarez.
ReplyDeleteWhen the manager saw it wasn't working for him he should have replaced him by Suarez who is outstanding at improvisation and scares the L out of defenders, I would have instructed Sturridge and Sterling to do their work on the wings and interchange regularly. They would have to do defensive duties but their main role would have been to supply Suarez. I think the Arsenal did, as you say, keep Sturridge on his right foot and render him ineffective.
ReplyDeleteSuarez has not been scoring because he has been playing too wide - he does not duck out of the tackles for self preservation. The manager must start him scoring again or he will lose interest.
Jaimie with saying ur a scotsman then like me you will have seen Adam at rangers and he didn't set the world a light there either, he has tonnes of ability but for me he is a big fish in a small pond player
ReplyDeleteWould also like to add that although Gillespie may be a legend and league winner for Liverpool but hes not exactly renowned for gettin things right in judging players, no more evident when he commentates
ReplyDeleteI commented on here a few months ago that Gary Gillespe suggested that Adam had the potential to become a better player than Alonso and also that he made a remark that he was happy that we purchased Stewart (no assist, no goals in a season) Downing over Mata. Comments which I strongly disagreed with at the time and disagree with now. We can not dispute the contribution of Scottish players to LFC but Charlie Adam was OK but not a LFC player for me. He been on the bench for the majority of his time at Stoke and only recently showed glimpses of his potential. Rodgers did right not to keep him Spearing etc. I know certain fans were up in arms at the time but BR made the right decision for me.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Drunk as a skunk. His corners still hardly beat the first man for Stoke!
ReplyDeleteWhen i first saw this i thought "Cazorla get up" but then on seeing a replay Skrtel was lucky IMO. i think the only thing that saved him was they both played the ball.
ReplyDeleteBut at the end of the day he missed the ball and took out Cazorla so probably a pen.
But after watching this game i dont know what a pen or free kick is anymore as i found myself yelling at the TV alot :P
Shocking day for Officials. regardless or which team got the advantage or not.
ReplyDeleteHeaps of missed calls, unnecessary cards for some players yet none for others more deserving, Corners being given for goal kicks and missed penalties.
Officiating is a hard job and people make mistakes but if a play makes a mistake and gives away a penalty or gets carded they have to answer for it.
A manager makes a mistake and says the wrong thing he has to answer for it, when will officials have to stand in front of a camera and say "Ok this is why i gave this decision."
Now heres my LFC Bias for everyone, I read Liverpool have lost 14 of the last 22 games Webb has officiated...Do with that what you will :P
Good summary about the game JK - but no mention of Allen?
ReplyDeleteAgree on both counts..
ReplyDeleteBut then what would you call Fabs knock-out blow of Agger?
Same scenario i think. No doubt the keeper tried to play the ball, only problem was Aggers head was between him and it.
ReplyDeleteJust because the ball is in the box doesnt automatically mean it belongs to the keeper and he can charge through anyone to get it.
Incidental and a little late i think but a penalty for me.
I agree with your whole post. awesome comment
ReplyDeleteA frustrated by the score but not the resolve. If one of those early chances goes in, the whole game chemistry changes. Not sure playing Allen the whole game was good; he was gassed in the 2nd half; would have liked for of Henderson given the magnitude of the game, even with his cranky wrist.......Just hope we stay hungry and focused for the remainder of the season...we continue to grow!!!!
ReplyDeleteAbject waste of funds ?Do you remember who brought Suarez to Anfield ???
ReplyDeleteGareth Bale left the EPL to avoid Charlie Adam finishing his career with his mindless tackles
ReplyDeleteWell dalglish was the manager but that deal was in motion while Hodgson was manager, but it wasn't Hodgson either, it was Damien comolli
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you sir your obviously a very intelligent person.;p
ReplyDeleteFive out of seven. I know there was a win against Sunderland and I think against Swansea last season.
ReplyDelete