Liverpool Football Club: £215m on NOTHING

Football Express News’ Craig Muncey takes a look at Liverpool’s transfer business over recent seasons and their failed signings.

Been a lot of talk about transfer committees at Liverpool, and how that process works, who has the final say etc, which is fair, however, I personally think Liverpool as a football club, needs to look at some of its decisions it makes on who is suitable for the club and who will make a positive impact.

All football clubs who delve into the transfer and loan market have there share of successes and fails, but in my opinion for a team steeped in history and a team regularly top 6 and striving for more, there are far too many failures.

If we take a look at last 10 years, failures of players who a decent amount of money was paid for or who came in on loan, expecting to increase the clubs chances of getting Champions League Football, by position.

Goalkeepers

Not their worst area of fails. Dudek and Reina, had the odd calamity in them, but overall Reina in particular was an excellent servant. Brad Jones is not up to Premiership standard, Mignolet has improved as the season went on but not convinced. And as for Charles Itanje who they bought the least said the better, seen better keepers in my local park.

Defenders

Players who were not good enough, Josemi, Degen, Dossena, Konchesky, Cissokho, Kyrgiakos and Paletta. Jury still out on Sakho, Lovren, Coates and Ilori. Toure looks shot to me and Enrique has been a big disappointment.

Midfielders

Players who did not perform or not good enough, Poulsen, Sahin, Aquilani, Jovanovic, Assaidi, Leto, Gonzalez,Nunez, Babel and Downing. Jury still out on Alberto and Markovic, but not promising signs on either.

Forwards

Players who did not perform or not good enough, Morientes, Cisse, Keane, Kewell, Ngog. Jury out as still currently at club on Balotelli, Borini, Lambert and Aspas, but of those last four does anyone really think they could be a success now at Liverpool even if they remain next season?

Liverpool have qualified for the Champions League three times in last six years, and have only made the knockout stages once in those six years. The above list has cost a small fortune with very little returns when eventually sold. Rodgers alone in three years has spent £215 million, how many genuine successes? Coutinho and Sturridge, that is about it to date.

I may well have missed one or two, but that list alone is far far too many, accept been some great successes, such as Alonso, Mascherano, Suarez, Torres etc, (all still playing, all now in La Liga), but for a club that does not have unlimited funds, they need to eradicate the number of errors being made and get it right.

For me it is too easy for fans to say that the owners have to stump up cash for transfers, look at the record of transfers, would you be happy with Rodgers and previous managers over last 10 years having your money to do business?