Carragher talks about our signings:Given the changes that have taken place since last May, it is impossible not to draw parallels with what happened in 2009, when Liverpool finished runners-up to Manchester United but failed to take the final step.
For the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona this summer, you had the departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid back then. No matter how brave a face you try to put on the situation, you cannot under-estimate how damaging it is to lose part of the spine of your team.
Suarez, with his 31 goals, was clearly more vital to what Liverpool achieved last season than Alonso was in 2008-09 but the perception around both transfers is the same: you know you are losing a world-class talent and the team no longer looks right.
Our problem in 2009 was the fact Alonso’s replacement, Alberto Aquilani, arrived injured and struggled to make an impact. This year Rodgers has seen his band’s lead singer move on and, so far, it seems as if Suarez has been replaced with backing singers.
Liverpool, however, have spent more than £100million. With nine new faces arriving, there will be a period of adjustment and we have heard how they will need time to settle. I used to feel, though, that you could gauge within a couple of months about whether a signing would be successful.
Think about it: Sami Hyypia and Didi Hamann on to Alonso, Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano, Suarez and even Daniel Sturridge — they were all doing the business almost as soon as they walked through the door. Those who struggled in their first season very rarely turned it around in their second year.
I know it’s early days but, when you have spent £38m on defenders like Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho, you don’t want to be hearing about settling in. You want instant results but Liverpool are shipping goals.
Lovren was brought in to add leadership at the back but Liverpool actually look worse defensively than they did last season. Sakho doesn’t fill you with confidence when you watch him and nor does the goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet. They need to step it up urgently.
Rodgers had the good fortune last season of injuries not making much impact on his team but, with a bigger fixture list, he had to invest to bring in numbers and quality. Of those who have come in only Alberto Moreno, the young Spanish left back, has impressed me so far.
sosyes, i do agree with his opinion.