LFC must repeat January transfer window success and bring in quality, not quantity
Liverpool FC's players and fans can't be happy about finishing seventh but there is plenty to be positive about going into the summer.
Liverpool’s form in the second half of the season was very good and now we have to ensure we build on that progress this summer.
It’s just a shame looking back that we started the season so slowly.
Transfer deadline day last August killed us really. Not replacing Andy Carroll meant we were very short on firepower and that contributed to a poor start.
It wasn’t made any easier by a tough run of fixtures and the fact the players were adjusting to a new style of play.
Too often we didn’t have enough quality to change games and we found ourselves playing catch-up.
Over time there was real improvement and that was partly due to Liverpool having their best transfer window we’ve had for a very long time.
The January arrivals of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho gave everyone a huge lift.
It was probably the best we’ve had since 1987 when John Barnes, Peter Beardsley and myself joined Liverpool.
Sturridge has really impressed me with his pace and power and his scoring record is excellent.
I don’t want to put too much expectation on Coutinho but he is a very special player.
At £8.5million he’s been an absolute steal and we’ve not been able to say that about many signings over the past 15 years.
Far too often we’ve paid over the odds and dished out big wages to average players but Coutinho has been a great investment.
The challenge facing Rodgers is to repeat the trick in the transfer market this summer.
We need three or four players to strengthen the squad. It’s about quality rather than quantity.
Obviously with Carra retiring and big question marks over the futures of Martin Skrtel and Sebastian Coates, he needs at least one centre-back and possibly more.
We also need more height and strength in midfield. I’d like to see the manager sign someone with a physical presence who can get around the pitch.
We still need another option up front – a goal scorer to compete for a place with Luis Suarez and Sturridge.
If we achieve all that then we will go into next season with real optimism.
It was good to see the Kop show their appreciation to Brendan Rodgers on Sunday. He took on a tough job last summer and he was never going to be able to do everything overnight. But he speaks sense and is very likeable. The players clearly enjoy playing for him.
Too many managers have come and gone in recent years. We’ve got to stick with Rodgers and give him time.
We’ve had to be patient but after the way we’ve finished this season I’m convinced we’re heading in the right direction.
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