It is still very early days in the season, so it is important not to go overboard, but one thing that has pleased me hugely so far is just how well our new signings have settled.
The whole strategy across the summer in terms of players scouted and deals points to one thing: whether it’s a tweak in the committee process, Rodgers dovetailing better with the rest of the committee or just a more common sense approach being implemented; one thing looks clear, finally, lessons have been learnt by Liverpool in the transfer market.
Let’s make no bones about it; last summer was a total and unmitigated disaster. The club were in a pretty tough position as they finished second in the league despite having a wafer thin squad in terms of real quality, so with a Champions League campaign to come, they knew the recruitment needed to cover three main areas:
1) Improve the quality of the overall squad.
2) Improve some key areas in the first XI.
3) Try to replace the volume of goals and the influence Suarez had on the team.
The detail and minutiae of ‘who bought who’, ‘who was to blame’ and ‘who wanted which player’ has been debated to death so there’s no point going over it again, but one conclusion is unavoidable: we failed to tick any of those boxes.
Of the seven players who joined the first-team squad last season (Can, Lambert, Lallana, Markovic, Lovren, Moreno, Ballotelli) it would be hard to argue that any more than one (Can) was any sort of a success.
Moreno looks to have potential, but in no way secured the left-back position and looked awful defensively. Markovic showed flashes but the rest, either due to bad performances, injury or lack of opportunity added very little.
All this led to the summer of 2015 resembling Groundhog Day at Anfield, and again we found ourselves faced with the same problems as the prior close season.
Although, this year also brought the added issue of filling the void left by the talismanic Steven Gerrard. There is a whole different article to be had on whether his loss on the field is damaging or ultimately galvanising for the players left behind, but regardless of that, his leadership, aura and status within the club undoubtedly left a void.
If you look at the work the club has done this summer, it seems absolutely clear that lessons have been learnt. Key positions that needed improvement have been addressed, we have been quick and decisive in getting deals through whilst not being held to ransom and seemingly the major targets have been signed.
If you look at the players one by one you can see logic and reason behind all signings:
Bogdan – Some, myself included, felt that we actually needed to improve the Number 1 slot, but once a decision had been made to recruit a backup, Bogdan was a sound option in that he is clearly superior to the nervous breakdown-inducing Brad Jones.
Clyne – Absolute no brainer. He is pretty much everything Glen Johnson wasn’t in his latter days. Defensively sound, full of endeavour and effort and a willing worker with plenty quality on the ball.
Gomez – The wild card, but what a wild card he appears to be. Signed two months ago as a right-footed centre-half likely to go out on loan, now the club’s first choice left-back and fully justifying that selection with three excellent performances thus far.
Milner – Everything I expected him to be. Wonderful work ethic, great responsibility, a good role model to the young lads around him and a quality footballer. To pick him up for free is excellent business.
Firmino – Only two cameo roles and one start up to now, but I have seen enough to see what he brings. Comfortable on the ball and full of skill as you would expect from a Brazilian attacker, but also brings the work rate and appetite for the hard yards which he no doubt honed in his time in Germany.
Benteke – Gives the attack a focal point, holds the ball up magnificently and has already surprised people with his effort and his willingness to run at defenders. Clearly he is more than just a target man, but his physical attributes give the team a whole new dimension
Ings/Origi – Only have to surpass the ‘achievements’ of Borini and Lambert to be considered upgrades, so let’s say – with respect – the bar is pretty low.
So in terms of the key requirements for the summer we’ve gone some way to ticking all the required boxes.
We have improved a few like for like first team positions with upgraded options; we now have more depth on the bench and in Benteke we have a focal point for the attack which brings us quality and a different dimension when required.
That’s not to say it has been perfect. Despite the three clean sheets at the start of the season, many still think the centre-back area needs improvement, and as mentioned above there are question marks over the goalkeeper.
A defensive midfield option within the squad can be vital in certain circumstances and due to injuries and lack of mobility it’s fair to say that better options than Lucas in the role may be available.
However, that is largely by the by when judging the success of the window and the transfer policies. We may think the team needed a new ‘keeper, centre-back and holding midfielder, but seemingly the club didn’t. They did however identify the areas they believed were in need of improvement, and by and large have identified a target, brokered the deal and attracted the player. Most unusually of all in recent Liverpool terms, they have done it quickly, efficiently and without things going wrong.
So all in all, it would appear that lessons have been learnt behind the scenes at Anfield and the squad, and the fans, can only benefit from that.
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