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| Charlie Adam was uninspiring for Liverpool in the 2011/12 season. |
The arrival of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool marks another
new era for the club, so who needs to be shown the door at Anfield to make way
for new talent? Here is a list of five players who should hang up their red
shirts:
Charlie Adam
The former Blackpool star arrived at Liverpool last year
after impressing in his first season in the Premier League with the Seasiders.
Liverpool were quick to snap up the midfielder for a fee of £7million, one of
their cheaper acquisitions from the summer of 2011, however, the Scotsman
failed to live up to even that price tag.
Ever since Xabi Alonso parted company with the Reds in 2009,
there has been a lack of creativity coming from midfield and many thought Adam
would be the man to fill Alonso’s boots. The Scot managed just two goals and
six assists in 31 appearances in the 2011/12 season and failed to make an
impact in midfield as Kenny Dalglish had hoped. Adam has a tendency to give
away unnecessary fouls in dangerous positions and appeared to look off the pace
of the Premier League. He didn't
stand out in a red shirt and Brendan Rodgers will do well to replace him with a
more talented creative midfielder. Perhaps he is better suited to Championship
football.
Verdict: Sell
Jay Spearing
Jay Spearing, a product of the Liverpool academy, certainly
plays for the shirt and has all the right motives when playing for his club,
however, he just doesn't cut the mustard. The miniature bulldog like player is
exactly what the club needs in terms of coming up from the ranks and being a home-grown
product, but unfortunately he is not a player that will help the club challenge
for the Premier League and a Champions League position. His passion and energy
is his best asset, perhaps best suiting him to a position on the bench, at
best. At 23, Spearing could still develop as a player, so a season playing
first team football at a smaller Premier League team could do wonders for the
midfielder. It will provide Liverpool a chance to monitor any progression made
and give them another year to decide on his future at the club.
Verdict: Loan.
Jamie Carragher
As much as it would pain any Liverpool supporter to admit
it, our steely and ever reliable centre back is getting on and the cracks are showing
in this old rock. If the club are going to pose any real threat of becoming a
top four side again, they need to find a long term replacement for one of the
best defenders they have ever produced.
Carragher has created a legacy for himself and will always
be remembered as a hero by the Kop for his services to the club. The
experienced centre back may only have a season left in him at best and it is
hard to say whether Brendan Rodgers will consider him for a place in his
starting 11. Carragher may have to get used to life on the bench, as the
touchline is where he should be when his playing career comes to an end. He can
become a great asset to the coaching staff and his claxon like voice would be
sorely missed otherwise.
Verdict: Retire and become a coach.
Stewart Downing
Stewart Downing was another of Kenny Dalglish’s signings
that failed to make an impact in the 2011/12 season. The winger, who signed
from Aston Villa for a hefty fee of around £20million, managed just two goals
and two assists in 46 games for the club. Perhaps if the strikers converted his
crosses and passes, he might have had much better statistics from the season
just gone. At times, the England winger looked threatening, but most of the
time you couldn't help but think this is a player that at 27, isn’t going to
get any better. Is this someone that is going to help the club push forward and
get back into the Champions League? Brendan Rodgers will have to answer that
one for us, but there are plenty of wingers out there that could offer more
than Downing did last season.
Verdict: Sell
Jon Flanagan
Jon Flanagan is not a player that Liverpool should consider
getting rid of completely, but one that would greatly benefit from a season out
on loan. With England defenders Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly both in front of
him in the pecking order, young Jon Flanagan will be a bench warmer at best
next season. Two seasons ago the Liverpool youth product showed his potential,
but when called upon last season he showed he isn’t quite ready to mix it with
the big boys in crucial games. A chance to develop as a player and gain as much
playing time as possible next season would be a blessing for both Flanagan and
Liverpool, because this is a player for the future.
Verdict: Loan
