Since arriving at Anfield, Brendan Rodgers has spent over £200m on transfers, and of the 25 players brought in, only Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho are bona-fide successes. However, with the shrewd signings of Alberto Moreno, and Javier Manquillo, it looks like Rodgers may have pulled off another successful double-whammy (touch-wood). For the first time in years, the Reds have several quality options in the full-back positions; Moreno, in particular, looks very assured, and Jose Enrique knows that he has a huge battle on his hands to get back into the team.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo today, Enrique conceded that he'll have to be 'patient' this season, and hailed the impact of the man who will ultimately replace him in the team:
“Moreno did really well and scored an amazing goal. For me the best thing about it was the pressing to win the ball back. That was half of the goal. How he finished was unbelievable".
It was indeed a fantastic goal; very John Arne Riise-esque, and if Moreno can have a similar impact to the Norwegian (arguably one of LFC's best left-backs of the last 30 years, especially going forward), then the £12m paid for the Spaniard will - in retrospect - seem like a massive bargain.
Liverpool legend John Aldridge is an early-fan of Moreno, and after the Spurs game, he raved:
"Moreno will be our best Left-back since the great Stevie Nicol"
In my view, it's way too early to get carried away. Moreno got caught out repeatedly against Manchester City, and was at fault for two of City's three goals. Granted, it was his debut, but consistency is the key, and it will be interesting to see how he performs over the next 10-12 games.
As for emulating Nicol - that's a tough act to follow. Indeed, in 1989, Nicol won the Football Writers' Association's 'Player of the Year' award, which is a tremendous achievement, especially since he's the only defender in the last 60+ years to win that award.
if Moreno can achieve that, then he can be mentioned in same breath as Nicol. Until then, I'll just be happy to see him emulate Riise.
Author: Jaimie K
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo today, Enrique conceded that he'll have to be 'patient' this season, and hailed the impact of the man who will ultimately replace him in the team:
“Moreno did really well and scored an amazing goal. For me the best thing about it was the pressing to win the ball back. That was half of the goal. How he finished was unbelievable".
It was indeed a fantastic goal; very John Arne Riise-esque, and if Moreno can have a similar impact to the Norwegian (arguably one of LFC's best left-backs of the last 30 years, especially going forward), then the £12m paid for the Spaniard will - in retrospect - seem like a massive bargain.
Liverpool legend John Aldridge is an early-fan of Moreno, and after the Spurs game, he raved:
"Moreno will be our best Left-back since the great Stevie Nicol"
In my view, it's way too early to get carried away. Moreno got caught out repeatedly against Manchester City, and was at fault for two of City's three goals. Granted, it was his debut, but consistency is the key, and it will be interesting to see how he performs over the next 10-12 games.
As for emulating Nicol - that's a tough act to follow. Indeed, in 1989, Nicol won the Football Writers' Association's 'Player of the Year' award, which is a tremendous achievement, especially since he's the only defender in the last 60+ years to win that award.
if Moreno can achieve that, then he can be mentioned in same breath as Nicol. Until then, I'll just be happy to see him emulate Riise.
Author: Jaimie K
Good article. Well thought....
ReplyDeleteYup nice conclusion to the article
ReplyDeleteMoreno needs more game time and league exposure. Lets see how he has progressed in January.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan you either got it or you aint this kids got it.
ReplyDeleteHey JK how about an article on the transfer window as a whole it would make for interesting discussion.
This guy Brendan Rogers is impressing me by every day. He didn't go crazy like LVG but over a season's time he has basically sealed LFC back line for almost a decade. After initial hiccups, I am sure Sakho-Lovren 'll become one of the if not the best CB pairing. At 22 & 20 respectively the Spanish pairing of WBs might start for Spain next WC - they look so promising. If Mignolet can learn from Valdes, BR actually has got the back 5 settled for almost a decade for almost the same the money MU paid for Di Maria or PSG spent for Luiz. I believe, BR is looking for good, really good young DM & the team 'll be completed.
ReplyDeleteJust off topic - few months back, Juventus acquired a 17 years old French boy, apparently PSG reject. Last Saturday, now at 18, on his Seria A debut, Kingsley Coman won MoM. I think, he 'll wear French No. 10 next WC, may be even earlier. I saw that boy few years back in a junior tournament in UAE, when he won player of tournament aged 14-15, competing with Brazilian & Argentine boys of 18-19. This kid was apparently a target for us, before joining to Juve. I wonder, why we can't brake a single deal like this? Even the likes of Yesil or Suso seems to be fading away.
I still think we will need one more LB/RB next season if Jose Enrique do not perform upto the required standard. Assuming Johnson will be on his way out, we will only be left with Moreno, Manquillo & Flanagan. However, I wouldn't mind someone like Mclaughlin, Wisdom or Smith stepping up.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it would be interesting to read his thoughts on the transfer window performance by the other teams...
ReplyDeleteMoreno was great he bounced back really well from the one mistake he made at City. In saying that, Javier Manquillo was just as impressive for me. He has pace good technique and anticipation. I'm happy for him to progress and Johnson and Enrique supplying back up for these two new talents with infinite potential.
ReplyDeleteLiverpool looks to have done impressive business this summer and both Rodgers and Ayre, yes Ayre, deserve great credit. Money has been spent with both the present and the future in mind, upgrading and giving depth where it's needed, and business done promptly with no whiff of panic buying or massive overspending on fees or wages (like some clubs I could mention!). Admittedly it is early days, but the three new faces at the back particularly look like they will have a hugely positive impact. I've said it before and I'll say it again; Manquillo is a bad ass. Lovren is exactly the kind of organiser and leader we needed and Moreno looks mighty slick going forward and hopefully a snip at £12 million. Magnanimous gesture from Enrique to single out Moreno for praise and that's an indication of the kind of positive atmosphere and team spirit that has been fostered within the squad.
ReplyDeleteKind of unrelated, but Rodgers has 56 wins in his first century of games as Liverpool coach, equal with Shanks and Benitez. Not too shabby.
Sterling
ReplyDeleteWell, the Van Gaal factor certainly kicked in very late.
ReplyDeleteActually that was probably the 300K+ a week factor :)
ReplyDeleteVan full of cash factor.
ReplyDeleteUnited will be Van Gaalin before long soon theyll want Moyes back.
ReplyDeleteHa, seriously, I think JK exaggerates this 'Van Gaal' factor. Would Falcao have gone to Utd with Moyes there? It'd be less likely. Is Van Gaal a massive reason he went there? I'm not so sure. I think it was just the aura of the club itself. The thing is, Moyes definitely hurt the club's healthy aura, so bringing LVG restored it a bit. However, I don't think it would have made a difference if LVG or BR were the United manager.
ReplyDeleteI think that Manquillo is your typical baby-faced assassin.
ReplyDeleteI'm particularly interested by the Falcao signing. Could be brilliant, could be absolutely fackin' awful. Not really convinced he's what they need at all. And then there's those wages. Supposedly Falcao's demands stretched to extra cash to subsidise for the lack of Champion's league football. Two years ago he was among the most lethal forwards on the planet, but he's the ultimate mercenary footballer.
ReplyDeleteThe peculiar thing about Manquillo is that when you watch him on youtube...he doesn't actually look too appealing. Feels like a good omen.
ReplyDeleteMany people have criticized both RB and Ayre's , especially Ayres regarding our transfer policy, I am hoping they have now realised they were wrong.
ReplyDeleteNot only have they brought players who have improved the squad and can have an effect now, but they all have massive potential to get better.
Manquillo - 20
Morerno - 22
Can - 20
Markovic - 20
Balotelli - 24
Lovren - 25
Lallana - 26
When you look at the ages of the other players we have
Sakho - 24
Flanagan - 21
Couthinho - 22
Allen - 24
Suso - 20
Sterling - 19
Sturridge - 23
Mignolet - 26
We have a squad which is already good but has massive potential to improve and grow together.
Yeah he felt like an underwhelming and unnecessary signing at the time but I've been mightily impressed by his application. Should keep Johnson out of the side if he keeps it up.
ReplyDeleteThings might have changed but I'm sure there's a good tax incentive for high earners in France, so his wage would no doubt increase once he starts 'working' in England because he is taxed more. Falcao isn't taking a pay cut that's for sure, the amount of money is just crazy. But, United did have to loan Hernandez and sell Welbeck to make it happen. Or at least, that's what it seems.
ReplyDeleteWith Blind in the middle, I think they have a decent team and can come back and cause everybody some problems. But, if they stick with 3/5 at the back, forget about it. The system is hopeless and the players they use for it are too.
I think that credit goes to FSG. Their emphasis on 'buying them young' strategy was up for debate when they initially took over the club. However, it was always going to look good in long term. Am just glad that Liverpool as a whole (fans and owners) had patience and didn't make any knee-jerk decision after BR's first season at the club.
ReplyDeleteI think you are both right, but you just summed it up pretty well. If Manchester United come calling, 99/100 players are going to accept the offer. LVG is successful though and certainly has an international profile and reputation, unlike Moyes.
ReplyDeleteBut it does seem like United are just throwing their money at anyone. Do you want Falcao? Yes, but I appreciate LFC's approach.
Blind's a good buy, a versatile player. Wouldn't have minded him at Liverpool that's for sure. He'll improve their midfield, but Utd seem to have a chronic lack of pace running throughout the side and he won't do much to address that. I honestly would have kept Wellbeck. We'll see how stubbornly Van Gaal sticks to this 3-5-2 system but he must have realised by now that he can't make it work, particularly with his current crop of defenders.
ReplyDeleteIt takes more than three games ti make a change. The Van Gaal factor is already evident from the signings he's made. Give it three months, and he will (unfortunately) turn it around. Guven the major surgery required on United's poor squad, a bad start was inevitable. You don't discount a guy who's won titles in threw different countries.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Mobile
Agreed there after an ACL injury which had Falcao sidelined for quite a while he is a massive gamble just shows ya they are Desperate!
ReplyDeleteif there is one regret from me it is not signing alexis sanchez
ReplyDeletehe would ahve won us the title i am convinced of that
hopefully baloteeli makes that snub a blessing in disguise
he will be this, he will be that! Leave the guy play and lets see!
ReplyDeleteWhy not? the games all about results especially at big clubs and nobody is immune to failure.
ReplyDeletealso really disappointing that borini is still here
ReplyDeletehe should go and get game time but instead is just happy to sit around and collect his wages , he is even worse then ryan babel
what we should do now is make borini work in the cafeteria as a dinner lady or stadium as a Stewart
then he can earn a bit of his wages
exactly allen was our best player in the first 5 games of rodgers career
ReplyDeletehe is still good but not lived up to that initial promise
i could win the title with barcaloena and bayern munich
ReplyDeleteI was thinking he could clean the filthiest toilets in England and if that does not move send him to Russia to do the same.
ReplyDeleteokay that is taking a bit to far
ReplyDeletemaybe he could learn cooking it should be natural for him being italian and all
Shows how tight and together the squad is when your competitor in the squad praises you.
ReplyDeleteLovren is looking like a pretty good signing too.
ReplyDeleteOverall I'm pretty happy with the signings this window, and we still have Lallana to get back to fitness.
our team with all our new signings:
ReplyDelete.........................................balotelli.................lambert
.....................................................markovic
......................................can...........................lallana
....................................................gerrard
.......................................moreno.....................manquillo
....................................................lovren....skrtel
...........................................................migs
with obviously origi being a massive potential despite his dip in form recently
got it he can be the u21s main striker
ReplyDeletei am a genius
I like that. We could put all of our new players into a team together and it looks competitive, in fact it looks pretty damn good. Balotelli, Lovren, Lallana and Moreno look the pick of the bunch but the rest of them are certainly capable of playing for Liverpool and doing the club proud. I think we've done really well this window. No mega-star players but still unquestionable quality. A few expensive youngsters who may or may not develop into great players, but still enough for them to contribute and be a part of a good team.
ReplyDeleteInstead of Mignolet you could add Valdes whom i think is coming.
ReplyDeleteZero criticism to be levelled at Ayre this off-season. Not that it was particularly valid in any other window, but fans always want someone to blame when rumoured players don't end up at the club. The reality is that sometimes transfers work out and sometimes they don't. It's very much to do with the circumstances, not the guy handling the paperwork.
ReplyDeleteHe played for Monaco, tax free principality. So just imagine how much Utd had to offer him. Reports of 350,000 p/w are being dismissed but i wouldn't say they are far off the mark.
ReplyDeleteUtd have spent a lot of money to improve their starting 11. But IMO they haven't bought the two players they really needed, a commanding CB and a CM with some guile and flair.
ReplyDeleteFalcao feels like the Mata of last year, an excellent player, but is he the urgent player they needed? If i was a Utd fan I would have preferred to see that kind of money being thrown at Fabregas to get him in.
Seems to me, like last year under Moyes, they have ignored the glaring weakness in the team, and i think they will end up in the same position as last year.
By the way, we will win the league this season..
ReplyDeleteAgree, he is a good player, can't argue, but like you, don't think it is whats missing from their team. Feels like the same buy as Mata last year. They won't struggle to fit him in as much, but the service is not there for any of their forwards, Herrara? Not the answer to their midfield problem. Blind? not either. Think it will be another season of mediocrity for the mancs, LVG or not.
ReplyDeleteYou know if the Rojo deal went through? Their transfer business seems like it was done by a giddy kid. Ooooh I want to sign him daddy. Please! So presumably they will have to change tactics with these new players but are they going to play three strikers? If this were us a certain website would be talking about the potential trouble of keeping all these players happy with about fourty odd games. I am right in thinking Van Gaal.has lost dressing rooms before I think.
ReplyDeleteGuardian podcast peeps mentioned a deal worth thirty odd million for the loan. That would presumably be fee and wages. Not sure how accurate thatbfigure would be.
ReplyDeleteIf Manquillo and Moreno do work out over the whole season, Johnson is a goner. Let's not forget Flanno is pretty tough in his own right and a keeper !!! Johnson should be the first to leave ASAP. I would play Flanno and Manquillo ahead of Johnson who used to be good and give a crap. His form of the last two and a half seasons screams otherwise. Time to move on....
ReplyDeleteYeah I would worry about them next season but not this one. Feels like City buying Robinho.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Moreno cost us two goals vs City but was solid vs Spurs. He looks like a fast learner; time will tell. His goal and the heist he pulled on Townsend just prior was a great display of skill on both ends.......
ReplyDeleteIn hindsight, it isn't disappointing that Borini is here. Getting rid of him would have cut the striker depth to 3 strikers. He's a decent player, and he obviously has a passion for Liverpool, so I don't see how it's a disappointment.
ReplyDeleteAt no point has Aldo compared Mareno with Nicol... Simply stated that Moreno could become the best left back LFC have had SINCE Steve Nicol...
ReplyDeleteMind you I thought the same when we signed Ziege from Middlesbrough
I also have high hopes this time...
Emre Can?
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely staggering money for a loan fee and why I was so
ReplyDeleteagainst us going for that deal. I think United have actually been quite irresponsible this transfer window. I can't believe how much they've spent and there's still huge holes in their squad
The Mata signing is looking more and more pointless with each passing day. I feel a bit sorry for the guy. Played totally out of position last season by Moyes, and presumably he will now be the player who suffers most from Van Gaal's mega money signings.
ReplyDeleteIf Rafa Benitez were appointed as Utd manager, would you be going on about this 'Rafa factor'? Because, relatively speaking in terms of Rafa's career length compared to LVG's, Rafa has won a similar amount.
ReplyDeleteDid Ziege pull a player's pants down, run 50 metres with the ball and then bang it into the far post? XD
ReplyDeletePlayed out of position or not played at all. Always liked Mata, but wondered at the time how Mourihno could sell him to a rival, even to a team in decline. Good stroke as it turned out. Agree with Greg below, Falcao feels like Robinho.
ReplyDeleteExactly.
ReplyDeleteHow many much do you spend on left backs before you realise you don't have a dedicated CB worth shit, or a midfield. Been a very strange window for them.
ReplyDeleteIf that's true then the won't have a club next year if they don't get CL.
ReplyDeleteHyperbole yes, but I can see the Galziers re-evaluating their position, which could be a bad thing for everyone else, some Chinese billionaire will snap them up.
Both full backs look good, Manquillo is probably a bit more cautious with his passing but nice and safe and Moreno has arrived!
ReplyDeleteNot that long ago I had heard (on the same podcats) that their hierarchy were quite worried about no CL next season. It will affect their sponsorship deals as well as the money that they will miss from the comp which is going up I think. Add to that that their share price also dropped with last season and it does spell trouble. Apparently according to the Independent the Glazers have been taking money from the club for a while too.
ReplyDeleteThere could be trouble ahead.
They signed three LBs this window for a combined £60m. I think Rojo is more a CB and Blind can play central but they have all played more LB. Also is there a formation anyone can think of where Mata actually plays?
ReplyDeleteNot for want of trying though. I remember strong rumours early on that FSG were sounding out other managers. Sometimes doing nothing, whether by design or accident, can be the best policy.
ReplyDeleteYes but you'd have to change the rules to allow 12 players.
ReplyDeleteI just wrote that too. Can't see him dropping Rooney and the new signings should come in. It might be that the two injury prone strikers covering for one another.
ReplyDeleteSturridge is actually 25, just turned.
ReplyDeleteSeeing Alberto's improvement in only second game against Spurs I think he has the pace and skill to be up there with the likes of Sterling ...
ReplyDeleteCracking goal and hope the first of many !
He is also a dead ringer for Stevie which is a dam good start anyway ;-)
Not yet ready for too much footy! Manu will play in 2 competitions only. - Nice wee rest while he gets fully fit again and gets £350K/week for showing-up. Good one RaFa!
ReplyDeleteBen item has not won league titles in 3 different leagues. He hasn't taken a national team to a world cup SF. There's a difference.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Mobile
I have said from the beginning that Alberto .M (??) has a scouse look about him. We should check his family tree.
ReplyDeleteHe hasn't been a national coach in fairness to him. Benitez has won trophies in three different league though and he hasn't taken over clubs who were one of two of the best in the league at the time either. AZ being the difference but even McClaren won the Eredivise with Twente.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think his name will attract players but I think there has been far too much credit given too soon to him. The fixtures he has had have not exactly been the hardest yet two draws in four games and looking quite poor for those draws too. There is taking time and then there is looking worse. And looking worse than a Moyes United is quite bad, and funny.
Just decided to watch MOTD2 to see the highlights again and I had a thought (a rare occurrence). Does anyone see our season panning out a bit like the mighty ducks or something along those lines. We are the underdogs, written off by most quarters get beat early by one of the best teams in the league, we sign the ringer player with personal problems but Emilio Estevez (Rodgers) gets the best out of the rag tag bunch who go on to win the league.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell I am off work today can't you.
Scolari won a world cup and look at him now. International tournaments are completely different to the club football environment. Rafa won two league titles against the massive duopoly of Barca and Real Madrid. We all know how amazing Atletico's win was this year. Well Rafa achieved the same thing. Twice. Any half decent manager could win at Barca (who he was then sacked from after they were 12th place in January). Any half decent manager can win with Bayern.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone else think we have the scariest squad in the league? Players like sakho and balotelli would give nightmares to the opposition, literally..muhahaha
ReplyDeleteI think we have the most hip hop thats for sure.
ReplyDeleteu still stuck at Lovren-Sakho partnership?? now way thats our best cb pairing
ReplyDeleteExcatly... what I would love to see-
ReplyDelete-----------------------Steven
-------------Hendo------------Lallana
Sterling---Balotelli----Sturidge-
Damn, Real can kiss our red behinds with that and Couts and Lazar on the bench...
Jamie . In an unrelated note , you have great influence over Liverpool fans and I was wondering if it could possibly be put to use for good. I noticed that after more than a year of putting in top drawer performances Daniel Sturridge still doesn't have a song . I'm a tad bemused by that because Suarez got one almost immediately and Balotelli was serenaded on his debut . Is it possible that you could give the fans a little nudge ? #songforsturridge.
ReplyDeleteI hope this doesn't get me banned
Indeed.. What I would like to see is
ReplyDelete----------------------Gerrard
-------Hendo-----------------Lallana
Sterling-------Balotelli-----Sturidge
If we find a good partnership between our three very good central defenders, with those two lightening Spaniards on the flanks, Flano and Enrique as def subs and Couts and Lazar as offensive ones- I say bring on Real!!!
Guillem Balague says Man U hadn't registered an interest in Falcao all summer then came in at the last minute and just said yes to everything. If that's not panic buying I don't know what is
ReplyDeleteselling Suarez for £65m was boss mate. not. nor did we attract any name we had competition for like results for example. Lucas borini should have moved on with gj. pepe and after should have been sold earlier and got a decent fee not chicken feed. mixed feelings
ReplyDeleteIt's all very well having loads of fire power but if you can't defend and you've not got a midfield that can keep possession, you'll struggle to win games.
ReplyDeleteIt'll take them til Christmas to get used to that formation and playing together by which time it'll be too late
You know I don't particularly like any of the centre back pairings we have. Skrtel/Lovren is my preferred but they looked far from solid. Wouldn't be surprised to see us sign another centre back to partner Lovren in the coming windows
ReplyDeleteSpot on mate. For me Johnson would be my fifth choice fullback at the club and with any luck we'll be able to move him on for a nominal fee in January, if not he's a free agent in the sumner
ReplyDeletehe would rather rot on the sub bench , as long as he gets his 90k,THEman as he called himself is too important for qpr
ReplyDeletecan anyone tell me why suarez went for so little?
ReplyDeleteGOOD LUCK FOR SEBASTIAN COATES.... I hope he will show us the best performance with Sunderland this season.LFC will regret if sold him to early.
ReplyDeletehe deserves some credit but surely br has the last say in who he wants and ian donut, imean ayre conclude the final deal ? or do i have it all wrong
ReplyDeleteI really don't think it's fair to quote a £200m figure and say only two of them have been a success when about £100m of that has only jus been spent on a load of players who are only 3 games into their Liverpool careers, hence far to early to called flops, i.e. Lambert, Lallana, Can, Markovic, Manquillo, Moreno, Lovren, Balotelli. Its very misleading
ReplyDeletei wouldnt trust borini to fill the bath
ReplyDeleteHe's got potential but he's not in the same class as Skrtel, Lovren or Sakho so I'm not surprised he's out on loan. To be honest, he's probably even behind Llori in terms of status at the club, the portuguese is more likely to have a future than Coates. Decent prospect though.
ReplyDeleteWell over a half of that 200m has only just been spent so why you're using this as an attempt to be critical of Rodgers' recruitment is unclear. Rodgers almost won a league title despite spending a fraction of the clubs he's competing against. He's an outstanding manager who we're lucky to have. Show a little respect please.
ReplyDeleteDont underestimate Coates mate! Im sure he will have a great run at sunderland
ReplyDeleteHey Jaimie... This is completely off topic but I wanted to request something. There isn't a "message" feature for disqus so I had to find one of your comments...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, is is possible for you to write an article regarding the next LFC Vice-Captain (or a poll at the least)? Agger left, and I think it'd be interesting to see who the regulars on this site think deserve it.
Well BR has to keep some of the dross.
ReplyDeletecan only be one of two things: barca's lying or ayres a cunt
ReplyDelete