Manquillo’s loan agreement extinguished. Sebastian Coates finally getting his move to Sunderland. Raheem Sterling’s wanderlust granted and Rickie Lambert respectfully put out of his misery with a move to West Brom.
The mighty Steven Gerrard leaving for pastures new in the US with LA Galaxy and Glen Johnson finding his way to Stoke after the end of their respective contracts. Brad Jones was himself released. In addition, Kevin Stewart, Danny Ward and surprisingly Andre Wisdom (for £1.25 million to Norwich) were sent out on loan.
Now for Fabio Borini the end is near and hopefully the soporific pair of Mario Balotelli and José Enrique with their tendencies to want to monopolise social networking sites will join him.
Brendan Rodgers under tremendous pressure following last season’s debacle dismissed coaches Mike Marsh and Colin Pascoe in ruthless fashion, promoting Pep Ljinders (first team development coach) from within and bringing in Anfield favourite Gary McAllister (first team coach) and Sean O’Driscoll (assistant manager) as replacements and Rodgers comments in Thailand added substance to the change.
Rodgers said, 'I decided to make a change. I had two fantastic guys, both Colin and Mike are great professionals and were very supportive. 'I just felt the need to move in a different direction and the decision was purely made by myself. Still under Rodgers spell, FSG approved funds for another summer splurge. Even though Rodgers is still a part of the inner sanctum of the transfer committee, there no doubts whose hand is on the tiller this time around. Adam Bogdan, Nathaniel Clyne, Joe Gomez, James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Danny Ings and Christian Benteke are now part of the Rodgers-FSG Anfield revolution. The question is whether the amalgam with last season’s remainder of Can, Markovic, Lovren and Lallana will make us competitive.
Do we possess the necessary quality for an assault on the top four?
In my opinion we’re missing a midfield controller and of those on offer only Emre Can has the potential to be that creative force after impressing for Germany in the Euro under-21s in the summer. Whether he has the experience to carry it off over a season is another matter?
Milner and Henderson are Liverpool’s legs, but what we require is an experience schemer and whether Illarramendi and Kovavic or someone of that quality can be persuaded to join before the close of the window will test the mettle of Liverpool's pulling power and ambition.
The change of coaches and the acquisition of Benteke says Rodgers is looking to bring in some steel to a team that lacked the stomach for the fight last season. If we are to move in to the top four with squad as it is now, it’s not just going to be through the brilliance of the Brazilians Coutinho and Firmino, but moreover through the industry of Milner and Henderson in support of the workmanlike, but potentially explosive Benteke.
There are questions still being asked as to whether Danny Ings and Divock Origi possess the quality to provide the support in the striking department. Personally, I don’t have a problem with Ings as the third striker and it’s obvious that Benteke was bought to provide a more robust option than the brilliant, but delicate Sturridge.
There has to be a feeling that Daniel Sturridge will break down again and if Rodgers were to go out on a limb and buy Lacazette, it would certainly bolster the striking options and propel Liverpool forward.
In essence, we look a potentially more solid outfit, but ultimately unless Coutinho continues his rise from world class talent to world class and Firmino proves to be the marquee signing we so desperately needed, it could be a bridge too far for Rodgers.
Rodgers seems to have blind faith in certain players like Joe Allen and while the player has his obvious qualities, one doesn’t see him being the difference and the last ditched attempt to move for Diaby suggest that Rodgers knows that there is something missing.
It’s obvious that Liverpool are buying lower down the ladder than the top four clubs, but one wonders if Liverpool had spent £40-50 million on a top class striker and midfielder respectively with the addition of Clyne and Milner, just how better off we would be in terms of challenging for the top three.
If the defence along with Can, Henderson and Milner provide the stability then they may just provide the platform for the creative players to perform and in turn supply the ammunition for Benteke to be the devastating powerhouse we hope he will be.
Brendan Rodgers may feel that his all-out attacking philosophy was flawed and needed rewiring with the battling qualities he now has at his disposal. His teams were constantly out battled last season and the modus operandi now seems to be to adopt an overpowering psyche and that’s where although Jordan Henderson is the captain, James Milner could just be a clever piece of business providing experience and a winning mentality to an inexperience outfit.
The wait is almost over and the first game against Stoke takes on huge significance. Should we lose, then having lost back to back games will be massive psychologically with the outlay from last season to this and as such the pressure will ramped up unceremoniously.
I guess it’s a case of wait and see. Nervous…? I am.
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