Considering Arsenal held the advantage of being able to offer Nuri Sahin Champions League football, this is quite a coup for Liverpool – the Turk definitely adds something to Brendan Rodgers’ midfield.
By definition, Sahin is a deep-lying playmaker, and would function best between Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard. He provides control in possession and some added creativity from deep, something Liverpool have needed for quite a long time now. In short, he could be the player that Alberto Aquilani was never given the opportunity to turn into.
What are the knock-on effects of his arrival? Well, Joe Allen might not get quite as many starts in his first season as he’d previously hoped – for all the Welshman’s neat football, Sahin is just a better player and capable of bringing more to this side. That’s not to say that Allen won’t develop into an equally important player, just that he loses out within the context of a short-term comparison.
Obviously, Charlie Adam now looks even more redundant at the club, and regardless of what Brendan Rodgers had to say about two days ago, surely he has to be leaving in the very near future – he’s a player who serves no obvious purpose. Jordan Henderson is another who now might see his starts limited to the Europa League and Carling Cup, although he is potentially capable of playing as a wide-right midfielder and as such probably retains semi-useful status.
Sahin is a great signing, and a steal on a loan deal. Ignore his truncated career at Real Madrid, and look back to two seasons ago when he was voted the best player in the Bundesliga. This is a cultured midfielder, and one who theoretically upgrades Liverpool’s midfield. It’s a really astute signing from the club, and Rodgers is gradually replacing all the dross that Kenny Dalglish brought in with better players for better value.
Exciting times, and the fans should get their first glimpse of Oussama Assaidi tomorrow – good news for everybody apart from Stewart Downing.
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Think Gerrard will push up alongside borini and suarez with lucas sahin and allen the 3 midfielders, sort of a Spain formation where there is no out and out striker…
Allen is still developing, and could probably do without the pressure of being a guaranteed starting XI player (look at how the pressure devoured Henderson last season). This is a great signing. Allen will develop with the spotlight on Sahin, and will become a better player for it. Although,LFC are blatantly skint and had this deal gone through earlier in the transfer window, you can’t help thinking that we wouldn’t have forked out £15m for Allen and the cash could have been spent on a striker
—————-reina—————–
Johnson-Skrtel-Agger-Enrique
———–Allen—-Lucas—————
Suarez——Sahin——-Gerard-
————-Borini———————-
Subs: Ousama, Sterling, Downing, Jones, Kelly, Carroll, Morgan
Whoops remove Lucas for Allen
Disagree aswell, Rogers hardly spent 15m on Allen to park him on the bench
Lucas and Sahin DM
Dempsey Gerrard Borini AM
Suarez FWD
“Joe Allen might not get quite as many starts in his first season as he’d previously hoped”
get a grip ! Liverpool have just spent £15 million on him, so considering they are skint, Allen will play more the majority of Liverpools matches if fit and will also play more than Gerrard
Assaidi to play on the left replacing Gerrard, Suarez on the right.
Can’t say I agree. I see allen playing in the midfield 3 with sahin and Lucas with Gerrard pushing up along with borini and Suarez.
—————-reina—————-
Johnson-Skrtel-Agger-Enrique
———-Allen—-Lucas—————
Gerrard——Sahin——-Suarez-
————-Borini———————-
Good news