A Year on the Liverpool Offside: The British Experiment

By: Ed | December 28th, 2011

BuyingBritish

After the wild final day of the January window and a finish to the season that was reason enough for optimism, all eyes turned toward the summer. Even with the relatively disappointing end to the campaign, Liverpool looked to have the opportunity to strengthen a squad that seemed just a few pieces away from truly challenging the league leaders on a consistent basis. With all the pieces in place off the pitch, the summer promised continued movement in the right direction after things had started so poorly just nine months earlier.

The action outside of England couldn’t start until the first of July, but on June 1st the rumor mongering started in earnest. Early reports had Liverpool going after a range of targets across the globe, with plenty of British targets connected to the club to go along with a range both on the continent and off. The connections to Stewart Downing and Ashley Young wouldn’t go away, and ties to young English defenders—Scott Dann and Phil Jones among them—seemed to fit with a shift in Liverpool’s focus.

That shift was more apparent as the days wore on, with more than a few sources placing Liverpool’s aims on Jones and Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson. The desire for the two players was understandable, given that both were young and successful at their respective clubs, but the narrative took a twist as the bidding for the players reached heights that have traditionally been reserved for big-time talent, both British and otherwise. Between Henderson, Jones, and rumored Liverpool target Connor Wickham, there was £40 million on the table for three players that, while promising, hadn’t done much to warrant the cost.

Things partially came to fruition a week into June, with Phil Jones heading to Manchester United and Jordan Henderson confirmed as a Liverpool player. Cost was again the main focus, with Jones’ price tag roughly equivalent to Henderson, who at that time was supposed to be one part of a deal that would see David Ngog headed in the other direction. With the lust growing for Juan Mata and anyone that wasn’t a British product, the collective reaction wasn’t necessarily one of disappointment, but one of concern that Liverpool’s focus was too narrow.

We got actual insight into the club’s plans as June progressed, as Damien Comolli addressed the movement towards homegrown talent:

Yes and no. It’s not because a player is English and young that we are going to go for him. We go for a player because he ticks all the boxes. It’s what we need at this time in this window. If a player is English or British or has played in the Premier League we’ll look at that over someone who is abroad but it could be any nationality as long as they tick the boxes and is what we need for this window and going forward.

More of those boxes were ticked with, as Noel put it, a version of Charlie Adam “whose raking passes picked apart the club he seems set to join when they met at Anfield.” Talk of Adam’s arrival had been ever-present since a deal fell through at the end of the January window, and it was one of the more divisive conversations throughout the summer. His actual signing wasn’t confirmed until the first week of July, which left plenty of time for using the hard data to analyze just how well Liverpool’s summer had actually been going.

Unfortunately it also left plenty of time for the growing “in the know” phenomenon, which swept through the collective conscious and provided us with more than a few panicky moments as we waited to see what came next. It was all talk, though, and it was one of the more maddening narratives of the summer—have a player that’s been identified as somebody that’s possibly connected to Liverpool by a thread, throw out a few catch phrases and refuse to drop names because you’re too connected, and all of a sudden we had hundreds of sources intricately connected to the club. And stuff.

Things rounded out with the signing of Stewart Downing, which was almost less surprising than the Adam transfer given that he’d been linked to the club since the 2010-2011 season ended. Given Liverpool’s lack of width over the past few seasons, as well as the club’s focus on both creating chances and getting players that had a good track record, Downing fit the mold and was generally accepted as an addition that would only serve to make Liverpool better.

The decision to spend so much on British talent was a statement of intent to be sure, but one that left many wondering just how Liverpool were going to look moving forward. They had three new pieces, all of whom were in some way Premier League proven. The price tags would prove to be major talking points down the road, and while Liverpool weren’t done for the summer, June and July found them front and center in a conversation focused on just how much players were worth.

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Category: Special Features, Team News, Transfer News

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Waiting for Sterling

If there's one thing to say about this bad 'British Experiment' can I just say one name? Gareth Bale. It might seem like Henderson hasn't come good yet, nor Carroll, but if just one of them turns into Bale or more, I'll be more than happy to live on the same street as Damien. Before Bale became Gareth F*****G Bale he was known for only playing for Spurs when they lost. Then, all of a sudden he was moved up to Winger and he looked like something good. Now look at him, any club in the world would love to him in their ranks. Yea, he was 17 when they bought him, but when you buy a lot of players that aren't Messi and Ronaldo, throw them in a team and hope that they'll bring instant results (I guess I'm stating the obvious) it might take a little more time to blossom.
Tony

One game to go before the midseason report. During the new year weekend, the top 5 teams play teams from the bottom half of the table & likely all of them will win. LFC hosts Newcastle who will be fighting like dogs. We win & we are still hanging on with that glimmer of hope. We lose, no, we can't lose, right? Right? In all likelihood, we wl be 6th starting the 2nd half of the season chasing Chelsea & Arsenal. Chelsea wl have Cahill and most likely Kaka in a few days. I don't know about Cahill. But Kaka, even not in top form, will be an upgrade. Kenny better give us some surprises.
Liz

People who complain about Downing being crap and don't mention that Charlie Adam is a fucking disaster baffle me. How many inch perfect crosses does Downing have to put in that Suarez/Carroll etc mess up before you idiots realize he isn't the problem?
Ed

Well geez, you don't have to get all sentimental about it.
Luis Suarez dentist

Well apart from the obvious (no g**** and no a******) I think you only have to compare Downing to the wingers at clubs who we want to fight at the top of the table.

Would you take Downing over any of the following?

Juan Mata
Silva
Nani
Gervinho
Bale
Walcott
Johnson
Young
Malouda

All of the above are statistically and more importantly actually better than Downing.

Now Downing has put in a lot of crosses but most of them have been floated in the general vicinity of a loan 5'8 tall striker! How many through balls, clever 1-2, incisive passes has Downing made?

Downing is what he has always been a mid to lower table player. Seriously is this how far we are behind? Stewart Downing! Never, never good enough to be a Liverpool player.

Fair point regarding Adam he's not much use either!
Liz

Of course I'd rather have Mata or someone else but he's being made into a scapegoat. Lack of finishing can't be blamed on him solely.
Luis Suarez Dentist

I don't think anybody is blaming Downing solely (not even me!). But he is not Liverpool quality. I'm sure he works hard, is a model pro, and cuts his elderly neighbours lawn! But the problem is that he is simply not good enough to play for Liverpool.
purify_the_body

Downing did put in 2 match-winning crosses that teammates failed to convert -- against Norwich and ManU. So he should have at least 2 assists...not that I expect that to change your mind...
Luis Suarez Dentist

Half a season and created 2 half chances! Sorry not changing my mind! ;)
Redarmy

Idiots?
you are his sister or what?
purify_the_body

To be honest, one of the frustrating things about the 'British Experiment' is I feel Dalglish is more committed to Charlie Adam than he is to the club. We are in no danger of relegation, but I think if we were that Dalglish would still start Adam every game right to the end...and then he'd be first on the team sheet again down in the Championship.
Redarmy

..where he actually belongs!
purify_the_body

I feel you, but despite him costing us the 4 pts we needed to be in 4th all by himself in the last 2 games, he is a Premiership player. He just shouldn't be the pillar in the center of our lineup is all. The league was fun with him last season. He's a wild card player where anything could happen -- that's entertaining for neutrals.
Suarez from the car park...

doh, how many easy points have we dropped. Crazeeee!

It's been a horrible December with 7 points dropped, where I was looking for near maximum points. Being forked by the French, the FA and Fulham, FFF'kd!

The only positive I can make is gradual progress should be more permanent and if things get noticeably better then we'll look back on this and accept it as growing pains.

Dalglish bemoaned squad strength last year, so went out and bought a load of squad players!!

He was right about depth given the creation but not about the finishing where we're a busted flush.
Luis Suarez dentist

I've said it before and I will no doubt say it again. We need to stop the buy British policy. Downing, Adam, Carroll and Genderson are not Liverpool quality players. I think King Kenny needs to bite the bullet and get rid. We 'may' get about half back of what we paid for them.

The only British players that have made a significant contribution to Liverpool since Kenny's first spell in charge have been home grown scousers (Carra, Stevie, Kelly, Macca and of course God). We have spent Hundreds of millions on British players since then and not one of them has been good enough.

We are a giant. We should not be buying overrated middle of the road British players from middle of the road English clubs.
Tony

Can we buy Lennon, Bale, Rooney, Ashley Young, Sturridge? That wouldn't be too bad a British policy......Just kiddin'
Luis Suarez Dentist

Well you can keep Lennon and Young! But in a way it proves my point. There are a mere handfull of good British players and most of those are at clubs who wouldn't sell to a rival, or who would demand way over the market value to sell.
Redarmy

I think it's fair to say Glen Johnson has been good enough, no?
I agree with everybody else though.
Luis Suarez dentist

Glen is good going forward but poor defensively. He is also fairly injury prone. I'm not sure that he is a better defender than Arbeloa who we had previously.
Redarmy

I see that you want to make a point of british players not contributing, and I totally agree with that. But I can live with an exception like Glen, I see no reason to talk him into the ground.
Luis Suarez dentist

I think with Glen it's down to personal preference. He has been good recently but I prefer Kelly.
McrRed

My guess is the buy British thing comes from Kenny as the legacy of his management last time round. Also wouldnt be surprised if Commoli wasn't behind Suarez & Coates ...
NotTooXabi

Calling it the British Experiment is flawed, to be fair. Let's call it the British Phase; it's part of a process to get us back near the top and challenging for honors whilst securing a long-term future via Melwood. C.H.A.D. are not and will not be the end all of Creepolli's transfer strategy and Kenny's squad development.

And even "British Phase" is mislead as it does not account for the other half of LFC's transfer business. I don't think anyone is calling the Suarez, Coates, Enrique, and Doni arrivals the Latin Project.

Request: Can someone do a quick recap of every "prodigy or starlet" we've signed in the last 12 months?
Ryan

JOE COLE. He's just, he's just. Oozing.
Ed

But if we don't have catchy titles, we don't have anything.
Redarmy

the last prodigy we've signed that I can think of was Shelvey. Thx Rafa!
Luis Suarez dentist

It would be simpler to call it the British F*** up!
Redarmy

the uruguayan experiment getting another ban, this time for one game only ;-)

now it's: Improper conduct - 9 vs. Goals - 5
Bla

I hate to admit, but the British experiment has failed. Downing (no goals, no assists) is crap. Adam is in-sensible and Henderson is too raw. Carroll doesn't suit our philosophy of play under Dalglish. We need good chance finishers..
Marque Pierre Sondergaard

The British experiment has failed since England failed to learn the lesson taught by the golden team in 1953. You want players who can think and play with more technically advanced moves than long balls into nothing, pushing and shoving? Sorry, gotta look to the leagues where technical and creative ability drives the game.

Yes, the difference between these two worlds were aptly demonstrated at Wembley 28th May 2011.
Fonzie

Inb4 people comparing to Woy era
Redarmy

It makes me feel uneasy to realize that the future of LFC is very much in the hands of this guy Comolli. I don't understand his appointment, he's no LFC man, he's a mercenary, how does he fit with the King?
I have a hard time trusting his judgement of players, yeah I know he's linked with some good players in the past, but he's also linked with buying players coaches didn't agree with or didn't want (Jol, Ramos)

The man I'd personally love to see in his position is Gerard Houllier, he loves the club, and I'm sure he'd love to work for the future of LFC...

I know I know - daydreaming -
Marque Pierre Sondergaard

I like the news of Comolli working to get us a pipeline into Uruguayan talent development - seems like he has similar initiatives going in Asia as well. Hopefully that will result in reasonably price world class players from areas, which although rich in potential, does not feature heavily among the top4 clubs of the top4 leagues.
Ed

Don't be uneasy, he's typically dressed very well while he watches you sleep.
Redarmy

Now I'm scared. The evil looking bad guy from my future nightmares staring at me ;)
Dfruk

Adam was more or less worth his price but since losing Lucas he has become useless.
Downing is a failure, as is Henderson but he may have time on his side. Then we have the enigma that is Carroll, I have no animosity towards him he was forced to leave Newcastle for a crazy transfer fee and to play for a team that didn't have the natural wide player to suit his game (round hole square peg syndrome). What do we do? replace Downing, Henderson, Adam, Carroll and Comolli, write another season off then start again? I wish I knew the answer. I kow one thing I wouldn't want to be in Kenny's shoes at the moment.
alex_snow2

When played centrally Henderson is no failure, not by a long shot. He covers a Kuyt-esque amount of ground and regularly has passing completion % of over 85, higher than any of our other midfielders by a long way apart from Lucas.
Marque Pierre Sondergaard

Henderson's age speaks for him as well. Henderson carefully groomed over the next few years could be a Gerrard'esque centre piece in our midfield. He is a man for the future.

Adam on the other hand... there is just no excuses for all the silly sloppy passes he throws away. Not at this level, not with the amount of minutes he gets, not with the pay cheque he collects.