By all accounts, we had a fairly successful January window. We moved on a few players who, for a number of reasons, needed to be moved out of the club and brought in a substantial amount in return (moving Paul Konchesky on alone feels like we gained an extra £50 million). In return, we got our money’s worth and what – I believe – will be a great strike partnership to last us for many years. In many ways though, the summer window could prove to be pivotal for both the club and for the Kenny (let’s be honest, it’s the worst kept secret). In the summer, the club needs to show it is ready to take the next step and invest again in the squad. But given our activity in January, the indications are positive, so let’s look at areas that need to be looked at when the time comes.
Starting with the area touted as Liverpool’s weakest by so-called football experts this season: defence. Many have claimed that the Red’s back 3/4/5 has been poor because of the personnel; that the likes of Agger, Kyrgiakos, Johnson and Skrtel are simply not good enough and that Carragher is a fading force. And while the latter is true, to a certain extent, Jamie is not finished just yet; nor are our defenders individually lacking. For proof of this, you only have to look at the last four games: 4 clean sheets. Kenny has played about with our back line (stop sniggering at the back), given the likes of Agger and Kelly another chance and we haven’t let a goal in for 360 minutes or 6 hours. By anyone’s margins, that’s an impressive feat. The facts are simple: we have good defensive players, they showed on Sunday that they’re capable of shackling a frontline that included Anelka, Drogba and Torres – three of the best there is and not only that, they made it look easy. So you may be wondering why, if I’m so impressed with our defenders, have I even mentioned it. Well, we still need cover. We have good young central defenders waiting in the wings, in Wilson and Kelly but given that Kelly appears to have made right back his own now (and the sad reality that Carragher is a fading force)means we need at least one new CB. We also need a first choice left back. Aurelio is a top-quality footballer but his fitness cannot be guaranteed. Once Konchesky moves on permanently, there will be a hole that needs filling and that must be a top priority.
Into midfield, and you have to say that there’s a handful of players that need to be moved on, either for our sake or their own. Namely: Joe Cole, Christian Poulsen and Jay Spearing. Poulsen was unlucky in that he joined the club too late in his career; when a change in pace was too much for him. He is not a bad player, despite what some will have you believe.
As for Cole and Spearing, sadly, they’re just not as good as we hoped they were. Cole mixes the odd moment of brilliance with total mediocrity. As for Spearing, he has effort and willingness to spare but that alone is not enough. Moving these three on could see us recoup about 10 million, potentially. Which we can put toward an area we are most lacking in going forward: out wide. We need cover for Lucas and probably another squad player that can fill in in midfield – adequately – when needed but if we only strengthen one position in midfield over the summer months then it has to be a wide player. We have enough creativity going forward to cope during this ‘transitional’ period and Suarez can fill in as an attacking midfielder if we were to get totally desperate but we must see the acquisition of a winger as being high on our list of priorities. If for no other reason than to give us something different in attack; to give us an alternative to plan A. Whoever the player is he doesn’t need to cost 30 million. As long as he can beat a man, can cross a decent ball in and is quite fond of the touchline, then our radar should be picking him up.
As for the other two key areas – goalkeeper and up front – we’re not exactly lacking. The January window saw one great striker replaced by two very good (albeit potentially great) strikers. We also have David Ngog who, despite barely playing at all lately, is still one of our top scorers and has oodles of potential. I believe that promoting Dani Pacheco to the first team squad permanently next season would see us quite adequately covered going forward. As for goalkeepers, it is hard to see past Pepe Reina. Should he – God help us – succumb to injury then we’ll need cover. Peter Gulacsi looks a top prospect and I’d be more than happy for him to be number two. The fact that Kenny prefers him as such to Brad Jones speaks highly of the regard the Hungarian youngster is held in. However, two backup keepers are usually required so we might need to bring in a decent, experienced third choice.
We’re in a period of what can only be referred to as ‘transition’, at the moment so sweeping and all-encompassing changes aren’t going to happen overnight. Should we bring in a left back, a wide player and some stronger cover in goal before next season though, that will have marked a successful second step, as far as I’m concerned.
Article courtesy of the excellent Live4Liverpool
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