But we didn't try and replace it - that's the issue. Rodgers went back to playing with 1 up top last season with Sturridge as a lone striker. He actively tried to change the style. He is hell bent on using a target man and playing with 1 up front. But if that's the style he wants - then fair enough and I will back that because he has a clear idea of how he wants to play which is consistent throughout his career. I just don't agree with the personnel choices he's making. Bony would have been ideal.
But at the end of the day - he's pretty much a LFC player so contrary to what some may believe, I will back him and want him to succeed, as I did with Lovren and Lallana.
Granted I would have preferred Bony. But I don't see too many differences between the 2 if I'm honest. I have a feeling that you'll be pleasantly surprised with Benteke. Fingers crossed anyway
I will support him when he's here 110%, I just think there is players more suited to us who would cost a lot less.
He's the best tried and tested striker we could realistically have hoped for. I think he will dove tail nicely with sturridge eventually as well. He will hopefully be what we all hoped balotelli would have turned out like. Good at set pieces, handful in the box and a natural finisher. Too often last season we'd see lallana, markovic, sterling hit the byline only to come back inside and slow down the play or lose possession. Ibe and Milner always keen to get the ball in box early which will only benefit benteke. I think he will turn out to be what we all expect, a solid if not spectacular signing.
Volland, Michy, Son - 3 better strikers and would have cost half a Benteke. And would compliment our best two creative outlets. Benteke is a marquee signings and I suspect Rodgers and the Board think this is a big name signing to appease fans.
Other than Sturridge and Henderson, which other players have we signed from the PL which have been successful? I'm sure there are a few in the following list: Downing Carroll Adam Enrique Allen Borini Buying from the domestic market is suicide but we never learn our lesson.
We didn't sign Borini from the Premier League. Mignolet has also arguably been a success (somewhat up and down). Enrqiue did alright for a while. Sterling and Ibe technically came from England, if not the PL. I think the point is more our poor transfers in general. We have simply wasted far too much money for far too many years.
Agree on Borini. Good shout on Migs - forgot about him. Won't class Ibe and Sterling as they were brought in at young ages - spending money on youngsters at that age is good IMO and we need to do more of it to avoid paying inflated fees later down the line. But if you look at the list, these players were supposed to come into the first team and make an impact - what I didn't include were the prices. These PL players have arguably the worst impact to fees (if you can calculate such a thing). There;s also Glen Johnson, Lallana, Lovren and Lambert. For me, it's pretty conclusive - we need to stop shopping in the domestic market.
Whether they are better or not is subjective, All I can say is they are unproven in the premiership. You know as well as I that Rogers doesn't have the time to make anymore mistakes, as he's got the shortest odds at being sacked first. It's a calculated gamble on a player with proven premiership pedigree, Who can play upfront by himself and with sturridge when he's back. Given the games sturridge will miss, some fairly big ones, we need someone to hit the ground running who knows the strengths and weaknesses of who he is up against. For that reason alone I'd take Benteke over the options you have mentioned.
You missed a few... Migs Toure Lovren Lallana Lambert Balotelli (as much as Borini which you mentioned) Also these but obviously too early to say... Ings Clyne Milner Edit: it appears some of these have since been mentioned.
Or we should just buy the right players from the domestic market, which is good advice in whichever market you're buying from. Impact to fees: Downing - Babel (and Markovic so far) weren't much better Carroll - Granted Adam - Aspas was worse Enrique - We paid around 5m for him? Surely not that bad impact to fees. Worse: Alberto Allen - Can't think of a good foreign-league equivalent. Balotelli?
The PL proven theory is the worst thing in football IMO. Our best signings in recent history have come from overseas. As we saw (from the list above, these PL proven players came with big price tags and did not offer anything). That's not to say all PL players are rubbish - there are plenty of players I would happily take. Unfortunately, their values are inflated which is why we need to look elsewhere.
Let's be honest I don't think any of us would have tried to sign any of these players. Personally I'd have actually gone for Milner, Clyne, Henderson, potentially Migs and Enrique and potentially Benteke . The rest were just bad buys. I cringed at the thought of 80% of the remainder mentioned.
Milner a bargain even on the wages. Clyne is a bargain for a fast little RB that's decent, we can sell him for more no prob. Henderson our captain. Ffs he could be sold to city for 50 Mil too. Mins I don't rate much
