Fabio Borini (£11m) - Oussama Assaidi (£3m) - Joe Allen (£15m) - Nuri Sahin (Loan) These are Brendan Rodgers summer signings (exluding Samed Yesil who counts as youth). These players have been here for approximately 6 months now. Only one of them has featured really heavily in the first 11 (Joe Allen), whilst another has been unlucky with a big injury (Fabio Borini). But what are your opinions of these signings after six months? Obviously you need a year or two to really judge a signing (unless they are either incredible or awful), but this is a good mark to make first judgments.
Its 5 months and 1 day since Allen signed. Borini signed first. They are still half way through their first season.
Most transfer seasons bring in a good player and a flop. Allen is the success and Borini most likely the major flop from the summer.
Given the lack of game time for Assiadi and Borini, its impossible to say for them. Borini looked lively, but got injured. He didn't suggest he was going to be prolific, however. Assiaidi also looked lively in the few appearances he's had, but again hasn't had the pitch time to form a propoer judgement. Allen started well, despite not playing in his 'best' position. Tailed off during October time and has recently come back into the side, which he has looked tidy in. For the money you'd want more than we are currently getting. Sahin - another player getting played away from his 'best' position. Looks useful and had a good level of energy, with a decent eye for goal. Movement was good. Only question was reallly to his 'committment', but I guess when you're on loan, as opposed to a perm, its hard to feel that kind of affinity. I would like to see him at the club, but I think he's competing with Suso, Shelvey and Pacheco for the 'Gerrard' role (late arrival into the box) in the longer term, so question the need.
I think that Borini will prove to be an underestimated player, and will fulfill a role similar to Dirk Kuyt. You need that type of player in your squad for certain games, and I feel that he will prove that when he comes back. Joe Allen - In my mind he doesn't make our best XI at the moment. He is talented and I reckon he will become a big player for Liverpool in the future, but at the moment imo he's nothing special. Nuri Sahin - imo he;s too lightweight to play in his preferred position, and not suited at playing further up the field where BR has "deployed" him. Since he's only a loan signing I see no point in keeping him and would prefer to bring in a player that can either be more useful to us now or in the future. Assaidi - If his performance against West Brom is anything to go by then we have a player with enough raw talent to be a useful player at Liverpool. If Ince does come in then he should definately be loaned out to get more game time.
Mmmm...overall I think its too early to tell. With the two big buys, Borini has been injured so can't rate him good or bad. Allen for all BR's talk is a player we'll get the best out of when the team is the finished article so to speak. I don't think he was bought to cure immediate ills other than have someone on training ground already familiar with techniques (not saying that's the reason he was bought lol).That said, its done him no harm to taste an ego dint and being out out of his comfort zone. Will stand him well in the future. Look; it has taken Hendo a year to shake off the shackles of price tag/expectation. I'll give Allen the same time. Assaidi: too early to tell: he hasn't been used much, so hard to judge other than the opinion he's not exactly fighting his way on to the team. Only 3m though so won't cry. Sahin: gamble gone wrong for whatever reason but then that's the only upside of loan deals. Just give him back.
At the moment it is as if he only made one signing as only one is playing. His squad is the same as Kenny's.
For me, at least it feels like there is some logic behind all of Rodgers' signings. What I couldn't grasp with Kenny's big blow out was what the tactical basis and strategy was for those signings to be made. I think, (with the exception of Sahin who looks out the door and has been given nowhere near enough time to prove himself), all these players can come good for us. They're all young, have only been here a few months, only one of them playing regularly. Sure, they might not turn out to be 'star' players but they can play a decisive role on the pitch, teams need service players to allow the bigger talents the freedom to play their game and be creative. I think we have a bias/tendency in these days of rapidly increasing transfer fees and absurd wages to try and see star quality in every new signing and this leads to over-expectation or our trying to see an exceptional talent in just a good one. No doubt we will always need more exceptional talents in our squad and I hope we find them sooner rather than later, but we need just the 'good' players too, from a financial and footballing perspective.
I'm pretty happy with all his signings so far, all of the said signings have improved the overall squad it will be time to add the quality in the Summer we already have the numbers.
thoughts. 1. borini... italian international at euros... hendo wenth there too so was he worth it? nope.. is he good... not that good really, he just looks bad in front of goal but does take up good positions..... he's not a good finisher by the look of it... 2. Assaidi.. looks ok against weak europa opposition and looked like he could run bit but didn't look like he had a final ball. decent for the money. 3. allen - disappointing he's dropped the head, making a lot of errors but started very well.... needs to find a role, needs to get back to moving the ball like he used to. 4. sahin... disasterous waste of precious cash seeing 4mil went on him which was more than bid for dempsey. 5. YESIL... fsg quoted him in open letter so he has to be looked at... looked lightweight in senior action but hot in nextgen... needs time to develop to english game and learn english. could be a much better player than borini. Overall... had lucas not been injured i have to wonder about whether any really answered any questions we needed answered. no lb, no senior striker, midfield already had 3/4 players who are now ahead of allen..... not great but its easy to paint it that way... just as kenny's great signings are ignored a enrique, suarez and hendo all show. no huge big spending disasters so no carroll and downing so i guess rodgers job issafe despite 8th being where hes at
