One thing that always gets lost when transfer chat heats up is the time horizon. Clubs don’t sign players because they’re available for three weeks in September, or because someone’s away at a tournament, or because an injury has delayed their start. You sign them for the next four or five years and you live with the consequences.
That’s why the whole “he’s not as good as X” stuff can be a bit lazy. Nobody truly knows whether a player will fit Liverpool’s squad better or worse than another option until you see him in our shirt, in our system, with our expectations. You can have a strong opinion on attributes, sure, but writing someone off as a poor player just because he isn’t the current favourite feels a stretch.
Flavour of the month doesn’t mean guaranteed fit
There’s always a “flavour of the month” in football. Right now that seems to be AS, and to be fair, he’s done well so far this season from what supporters have seen. It’s easy to admire obvious qualities: pace, confidence, end product, whatever it is that catches the eye in highlights and big moments.
But admiration isn’t the same as certainty. Players like AS, and others in that bracket, can be brilliant on paper and still not suit the rhythm of Liverpool’s game. Same goes for someone like Marmoush. It’s not a judgement on quality, it’s just the reality of fit: role, pressing work, decision-making under pressure, and whether the whole thing clicks when the tempo goes up a notch.
We don’t get to make mistakes the rich way
The other point here is the comparison with Manchester City. Pep can bring players in because he likes them for a specific idea, and if it doesn’t work, they can move them on quickly. That isn’t moralising, it’s just the market they operate in.
Liverpool don’t have that same luxury. Our recruitment has to be closer to right first time, because the knock-on effects are bigger if it isn’t. Wages, squad balance, resale value, and the simple fact you might block a pathway for someone else. It all matters.
The real frustration: the manager call
Where the real edge comes in is the manager discussion. Missing out on a particular forward is annoying, but it’s survivable. A squad can be tweaked over a couple of windows.
If you believe Iraola is the best possible appointment and available now, then not getting him feels like the bigger miss, because the manager sets the identity: how we press, how brave we are off the ball, how we control games when the crowd is restless. Transfers should follow that plan, not replace it.
So yes, move on if some names simply aren’t happening. But don’t pretend the biggest decisions are always the ones with the most compilations on social media. Liverpool’s next step is about structure and direction as much as it is about the next exciting attacker.
Related Articles
About Liverpool News Views
Liverpool News Views offers daily Liverpool coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, EFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
