http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/sport-opinion/david-prentice-brendan-rodgers-gambles-4872972
I agree with the blog poster that this is a risk but managers have been known to go beyond and above to keep their best assets.
I think that may be just what is needed here and to be fair to Rodgers that may be what Rodgers plans to do.
He tried to get his business done early and I think Henriekh was the last piece of the puzzle he wanted in his tool kit (business plan) when we spoke to Suarez and tried to persuade him to stay.
The sources that have suggested he has said a lot of things in the media are all from outside Europe. They have an interest in seeing one of the most entertaining players on the planet go to Real Madrid which is a bigger club with more resources than LFC. I suspect they may have more followers as well but not sure about that one as Barca has been dominant for some time.
Considering half of Spain supports Real and the other half supports Barca (in addition to their local team), a culture that is a lot less prevalent in the UK that may be true.
Having said that I think the PL has more supporters elsewhere in the world than Spain and hence there should be more of a following in Asia and perhaps Africa for the PL teams than the la liga teams.
Anyway, getting off track here...
I think Rodgers plan is to talk to Suarez and want to do it to chat about the plans for next year but his case is a lot stronger if he can promise that Reina stays, Mkhiktaryan stays and if he had the other main signings tied down.
Who knows if there has been more players that we have tried to sign as well and there are more LFC transfer news that have not made it to the media.
I think Rodgers is smart enough to have a target for getting players signed and making his case to Suarez and why he should stay.
Those plans may be changed because of the difficulty to sign players quickly as selling clubs wants to hold out and try to get as many clubs as possible to come in for a player. I thought Tor Kristian Eriksen was spot on in his http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/jul/04/transfer-window-paulinho-fernandinho-mkhitaryan referenced in my last post a few minutes, when he discusses complications of deals with certain sellers. It is obvious that he has a real insight into these dealings and I would love to sit down and have a dinner and a few pints with him.
He gets across the intricacies about transfer dealings and how complicated it can be without revealing specific examples in great detail. That is an art and he is clearly well respected not only for his skill but also for his ability to keep quiet, respect confidentiality agreements and respect the work that the different clubs tries to do in signing the best players for as little money as possible or selling a player at the highest price possible.
It seems to depend on on so many factors beyond clubs, personalities, management and money exclusively and the analysis is far greater today than it has ever been with the money at stake and the gains and/or losses that can come from one or several successful transfer windows.
I love silly season and I love reading news this time of year because there is a new signing every time you check the sites pretty much.
This year has been different in that much business has been done early and I think some stakeholders have been taken aback by the early dealings and the ability to get deals done.
I like that Rodgers have done business early but the marquee signing is still to be completed. That has to be done and I personally hope it is Henrikh Mkhiktaryan and that the deal is done shortly as I think it is one of those deals that may help Suarez stay.
Another marquee signing would not hurt as well but what do I know....
He may have his heart set on leaving.
Just saw this... LFC loosing battle for Mkhiktaryan
Apparently Dortmund have agreed a deal and they have money from the Gotze deal. Bummer if true!
Its not over until its over. Bidding war ahead????
YNWA,
Stian
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