[Football] Liverpool Transfer Window Analysis

There’s renewed faith in Liverpool these days, and not simply because Rafael Benitez’s side have been doing quite well. God, who goes by the name of Robbie Fowler among mortals, is back in red in what most probably was the most surprising transfer this January.

It is undeniably a good move on all fronts. Fowler was visibly eager to move back to Anfield whereas Liverpool have got a good striker for free with the added benefit of having boosted morale and merchandise sales.

Benitez, however, would do well to have a little chat with his predecessor about such win-win transfers. When Gerard Houllier brought Nicholas Anelka on-loan for the final half of the 2001-02 season it was deemed a masterstroke: Liverpool were getting a world class striker for virtually nothing with the possibility of signing him for a reduced fee.

And indeed Anelka played decently enough in his six months on Merseyside so much that everyone expected his signing to be a mere formality. Houllier had other thoughts however and opted against tying up the deal thereby giving his army of critics another stick with which to beat him. That he chose to sign El Hadj Diouf instead didn’t help.

Come June, the pressure will be on Benitez to extend Fowler’s stay. Whatever he decides, there’s little doubt that he’ll bee looking to get in a striker with a better record than those available. Actually, make that a striker who can actually score goals seeing that the current collection of Crouch, Morientes and Cisse have managed just eleven goals between them.
The last minute bid to sign Jermaine Defoe – apparently in a straight swap with Djibril Cisse – confirms not only this desire but also his disaffection with the French striker. As with Baros last season, you get the feeling that the club’s record signing doesn’t fit in Benitez’s plans which probably is due to the fact that apart from pace he’s got very little to offer the team.

Another area which Benitez wanted to strengthen but failed to do so is the right of midfield. The pairing with Benfica in the Champions League, as well as Chelsea’s rumoured interest, killed off any hopes of getting Simao Sabrosa whilst a move for Deportivo’s Vicotr failed to go through. Which means that Steven Gerrard will have to spend most of the rest of the season playing out wide, a position that he is good at but where his effectiveness is limited.

For some time, it seemed that Benitez would also be frustrated in his other main objective, that of providing good cover for Sami Hyppia and Jamie Carragher. When the Croat Nemanja Vidic moved to Manchester United it looked as if Liverpool had lost out on their prime target. Days later, however, they brought in young Dane Daniel Agger.

£5.8 million is a lot to pay for a twenty year old, even one who is considered to be among the most gifted young defenders around so it will take time to confirm Benitez’s judgement.

There are less doubts about the arrival of Jan Krompkamp, even though he arrived on Merseyside as a relative unknown. The Dutch international right back is what Benitez would rightly term as a ‘clever’ signing as indeed it was quite a crafty move: Liverpool shipped out the inept Josemi and got a player who will surely provide better competition for Steve Finnan.

Otherwise, Benitez continued bringing in young players to strengthen his reserves. The transfer of 17 year old Paul Anderson from Hull was formalised whilst goalkeeper David Martin – son of former West Ham defender Alvin – came in from MK Dons.

Both are long term additions just as Florent Sinama Pongolle was when he signed from Le Havre three years ago. Liverpool’s decision to allow the young Frenchman to join Blackburn on loan was something of a surprise as he had been playing quite well whenever given the chance. Apparently, Benitez felt that Pongolle needs regular match practise something that he should get at Blackburn.

Match practise is also what Neil Mellor needs. The striker who came through the youth ranks is a natural born striker but his lack of pace – ironic as that might seem given Morientes’ recent showings – has also cast doubts over his ability at this level. Six months at Wigan should help clear those doubts.

Gaining experience could also be the motive behind the other two players sent out on loan – midfielder Darren Potter at Southampton and right-back David Raven at Tranmere – although in all probability both would have left permanently had concrete offers been received.

Stated Targets: a central defender and a right midfielder.
Actual Targets: a central defender, a right midfielder and a goalscrorer
Got: two defenders. And God.
Transfer Window Rating: a divine 7.

This article first appeared on http://www.squarefootball.net/article/article.asp?aid=2745 on the 3rd February 2006.