Carroll was a panic buy, bought while injured at the last minute. If the thinking behind that deal was anything but panic, then someone needs to be shot. You were better of buying no one than buying him
Henderson, one for the future, but again not sure it was the right buy considering you needed quality now, (incidentally, i remember getting shouted down by liverpool fans over Aquilani, I think ive been vindicated on that point, should have treated him better and kept him, yes he picks up injuries, still a better player than Adam).
Downing has been a big disappointment, expected much more from him
Adam, not too much money, but wow he has plummeted.
I don't know about other liverpool fans but I defy you to find a quote from me not defending Aquilani and saying not to bother signing Adam as we already had him. Aqua even looked red hot pre-season before we loaned him out again... Would go as far as to say he was our best player pre season even.
Carroll, we ridiculously overpaid, that's a given. And Downing hasn't been even a third of the player he was for Villa or even Boro (in fact, I think he has steadily gone backward the older he has got). That said, you can see Kenny's reasoning - on paper - Downing is a great crosser of the ball. Carroll, on paper, is a great headerer of the ball, the idea being that stick the two together and you get goals and two players who are the greater sum of their parts. Well I've now learnt on paper counts for **** and the best part of 60 million ****** away.
Only thing that will save Kenny's job is the FA cup win, but I have to admit even then I'd be dubious about giving him more money to spend.
We clearly miss Lucas in the middle dictating everything and Charlie Adam is simply not good enough to be starting week in-week out. Henderson is goig to be a very good player for us, as is Coates. Mladen Petric has stated he is leaving in the summer with his contract expiring so I think we should try to snap him up on a free as well as another striker within the £7 - £15 million range. Get the youth involved too, especially in Europe next season. Sterling, Suso and others are crying out for game time, but i do believe Sterling will be getting some soon as he has been in a few matchday squads, such as Arsenal.
Petric sounds like a very typical Football Manager signing, IRL you would be signing a 31 year old who, at his peak, never managed above 19 league goals... playing in Switzerland. This season apart, his best in the Dutch league, notorious for high scoring centre forwards who don't exactly have a great transition rate for goals at our club (as much as I love them, Suarez, Kuyt were scoring for fun before making the moves) is only 12 goals. But hey, he is great on FM...
Sterling, as amazing as he sounds, is still going through puberty. Suso probably still has his voice breaking.
Maybe being harsh but I'm ever so slighty ****** off after today's result and normally see things rationally. I just thought after a cup final win and Sunderland getting thrashed in their last game then the result would be pretty obvious...
*Germany, I'm not going to delete that but ignore all the bollocks I've just spouted about the Dutch league. His goal record isn't great was the point I'm getting at.