Charlie Adam A Player At The Crossroads

There is no doubting the skill of Charlie Adams  and his ability to be a match winner.  He a rare breed of footballer in the British game, one that can land a 60 yard pass into the stride of winger or striker running at full pelt and of the reverse ball he has no equal in the British game.

So why then should this undoubted talent struggle to get into Brendan Rodgers Liverpool team?  The 4-3-3 formation relies on the essentials of running power and movement and heart to keep pressuring the opposition to regain the ball.  The set up allows only one player Suarez to not have to much of a defensive attitude.  Pace has never been the part of the Adam’s game.  It’s arguable whether as good a dead ball specialist as he is whether his delivery’s trumps that of the Liverpool captain, who on at the European Championships showed just how special he can be whether on the run or from a dead ball.

Charlie Adam’s is to good to be an impact or bit part player in any team and with the arrival of Joe Allen for £15 million, only two vacancies in the Liverpool midfield remain and one of those is automatically filled by the club captain and the other by Lucas Leiva.  The great strides made by Jonjo Shelvey whom by all accounts has greatly impressed the manager suggest that barring injury playing time might be of a premium for this talented player especially as Rodgers is a self-confessed fan of Joe and seems determined to bring him back into the fold.

Could his Liverpool career being coming to its conclusion?

Rumours suggest Adam could be used as a makeweight in a deal for Fulham’s Clint Dempsey.  With Danny Murphy having left the club Adam could be just the player to fill the void left by the former Liverpool favourite. Murphy played a pivotal role for Fulham over the last few seasons where others providing the legs in the engine room he was more the quarter-back figure masterminding, scheming and probing which is not unlike the role Adam’s played for Blackburn.

Liverpool ended last season with the dependable Jay Spearing as the midfielder enforcer and go into the new season with two additional midfielders which increases the competition for places with Gerrard, Allen, Lucas, Spearing, Shelvey, Spearing, Adam, Suso and even Joe Cole who probably sees can fill a central birth at a pinch vying for three places.  And with the possible additions of Sahin and Tello a few more maybe looking over their shoulders as squeeze becomes tighter.

Charlie Adam is not a quitter and one feels he will have to dragged out of Liverpool feet first rather than go quietly to a club where medals will not be the going concern.  But at an age where a footballer is considered to be moving into their peak, Adam as a Scotland international will not want too much bench time.

On a separate note, Daniel Agger’s recent pronouncement that he is happy to stay Anfield, hints at the board looking to raise monies for transfers, which is certainly not what Liverpool fans looking for stability want to hear.

Agger said: "I haven't heard anything. That is how the club wants to do it. I would prefer to stay but that decision is not up to me at the moment.  "I can't imagine playing for other clubs in England. But, you never know if the club prefers to sell me. “Liverpool can do a deal even though I have two years on my contract. But I haven’t changed my mind on the subject. Sometimes you can end up in a position where it’s not your decision. “I don’t want to be somewhere I am not wanted but I would prefer if they want me to stay. That is my priority. I am fine with my situation.” 

Agger is not just a firm favourite with the fans, but last season they finally saw a footballer who could be ready to fulfil his world class talent and move up an echelon to that of a world class footballer. 

What separates Daniel Agger from most centre-half’s is his ability as a footballer and it’s the reason why he has been linked to the likes of Barcelona and Liverpool should fight tooth and nail to hang on to a player who could help make fans believers of the Rodgers football philosophy. 

The news that Liverpool are awaiting Martin Skrtel’s decision on the offer of a four year contract means the next week or so will be crucial in the development of Brendan Rodgers plans both in the short and long term.