Why do people think Milner will be a squad player?
He will be a first 11 regular.
My concern is not Ings and Milner, it is Benteke, because Benteke is not a Rodgers style player, which makes me think he is not Rodgers choice.
Rodgers has said time and time again that all signings must fit his vision. Sturridge fits it and has been a success, Suarez was aperfect fit and incredible. Balotelli did not fit at all and failed.
Our system rellies on pacey strikers who run behind, not target men. When Sterling played as a striker our style instantly improved because he ran behind. Even though he struggled himself to score goals his runs gave Coutinho and Lallana some thing to work off. It made Rodgers system click a bit better again. Coutinho was crap when Balotelli was his striker target and Lallana was none existent.
We all no Rodgers did not want Balotelli but the club betrayed Rodgers and signed him, and because Balotelli did not fit our style it caused big problems.
Balotelli is a better striker than Sterling when the team he is in plays to his strengths, but our squad is built to require a certain type of striker, so playing the wrong type of striker hinders it almost fatally.
Benteke does not fit our style because he is a target man. He runs more than Balotelli but is not the flexible runner that Coutinho and Lallana love to work off. As a result I feel things will continue to not click if Benteke becomes our main striker. Ings does fit our style because he is quick, runs in behind and is flexible. He does not seem to be as good at scoring goals, and is not as skillfull as SAS, but I'm certain he will get better form out of Coutinho and Lallana than Benteke. Part of me has more confidence in Ings than Benteke.
Personally I say signs Ings and one of Jovetic, Tevez or Lavezzi. Partner one of those three with Sturridge, Ings or Origi and our style will click much more than Benteke up top alone. Hopefully Sturridge will have better luck with injuries next season, but if not, Ings could be a reliable deputy with a good skill team around him.
If the club are going to carry on with Rodgers they must continue to support and invest in his vision. Saying 'you ca stay but we are going to make you do things different' is pointless.