Dr. Ian Graham, Liverpool former director of research, opened up about the challenges that plagued the club’s transfer efforts during Brendan Rodgers time as manager, exposing the tensions that existed
According to Graham,
“There were frequent clashes between Rodgers and the committee over transfer targets, there were many players who were brought in that were Rodgers’ choices, not the committee’s,”
All these players were committee’s choices and not the manager at the time Brendan Rodgers’, which led to addition of players who were a misfit to the system of play Rodgers deployed.
Graham noted, highlighting the disjointed approach to recruitment that hindered Liverpool during that period.
Graham highlighted how this clash between Rodgers and management led to poor results for Liverpool in Premier League and European competitions.
Liverpool transfer clash between Reds and Rodgers
A prime example of this discord was the signing of Christian Benteke, a player Rodgers favored but who ultimately struggled to make an impact at Anfield for Liverpool.
Graham said that,
“Benteke was a classic case of a player who didn’t fit the system,”
The Belgian striker’s style of play was not a perfect fit for Liverpool at that time, before joining Liverpool Benteke was a sensational striker.
This clash between the manager’s preferences and the team’s tactical needs created path way for broader issues within the Liverpool’s recruitment plan at the time.
Graham mentioned the great players that could have played for Liverpool, a bigger “what ifs” for Liverpool, Alexis Sanchez and Diego Costa were among the list that he mentioned.
“Were identified as ideal fits for the team but ultimately didn’t join due to disagreements within the committee.”
“With Klopp, there was a much greater alignment between the manager’s vision and the committee’s data-driven approach,”
Despite these clash between manager and the club’s recruitment team, the arrival of Jurgen Klopp looked like a sunrise after a dark night for Liverpool and their fans.
Jurgen Klopp will go down in history of Liverpool as man that saved the club from the mid table to the top and Fans will forever remember his name.
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