Team blend, squad depth and trophies. Priceless.
Fenway Sports Group and Sabermetrics.
Much has been made of Liverpool Football Club's transfer policy since Fenway Sports Group dramatically completed their purchase of the club back in October 2010. John W Henry, the leader of FSG is a well-known believer in Sabermetrics, the use of statistics to gather useful information which then makes it easier to find and recruit players that might not have been spotted otherwise.
In 2002 Fenway Sports Group bought American baseball outfit the Boston Red Sox. Since the takeover, the Red Sox have won two World Series Championships. Prior to FSG's takeover, the Red Sox had not won the World Series in 83 years. A lot of FSG's success with the Red Sox can be put down to their use of Sabermetrics as their main recruitment strategy.
What does this have to do with Liverpool?
Not long after Fenway Sport Group's purchase of Liverpool, they appointed Damian Comolli. Comolli was brought in to add an extra bit of football knowledge higher up in the club's hierarchy while FSG were learning about the game.
Damian Comolli has the same ideas about recruiting players as Fenway Sports Group. For example, Jordan Henderson, Liverpool's first signing this summer created the 5th most goal scoring chances last season and at the age of just 21 he has plenty of room for improvement. £16m for the individual might look a bit steep, but for what he will bring to the team he could be worth it.
Summer signings so far.
So far this summer, Liverpool have brought in three players. Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing.
Henderson a 21-year-old midfielder signed from Sunderland burst onto the scene at the start of the season earning himself an England debut against France. As I've said Henderson's statistics from 10-11 are very impressive. Despite playing as a central midfielder for England at the the European Under 21 Championships this summer, Sunderlands fans are of the opinion that his best performances come when he plays on the right side of midfield. For this reason, I think that Henderson has been bought to be Liverpool's right winger for the next 10 years.
Charlie Adam was the main man for the Premier League's surprise package last year, Blackpool. The 25-year-old midfielder had a stand-out season last year, at times running the show for Blackpool, the sign of a great captain. When rumours started circulating that the Scotsman would be joining Liverpool, I have to admit I was completely against the signing. However, if Adam continues to play like he has in Liverpol's pre-season friendlies so far, £6.5m could prove to be a steal.
When Stewart Downing officially joined Liverpool last week, many eyebrows were raised at the reported £20m fee. This is because throughout his career, Downing has been branded "average". Last season, Downing had his best season yet. Voted by Aston Villa fans as their best player in 10-11, some Villa fans even say he is a better player than Manchester United's new signing Ashely Young. Aston Villa fans reasoning for this opinion is down to Downing's consistency. Last season, Young would be brilliant for a couple of matches and then do nothing for the next few matches, Downing would play well in almost every game. Another reason Liverpool will give to justify Downing's price tag is that he gives them balance, something they have been lacking in recent times. Liverpool haven't had a consistently reliable left winger since Steve McManaman. By purchasing Stewart Downing, Liverpool are filling that massive gap.
Conclusion
By using sabermetrics, Liverpool are now looking at players that they might not have looked at otherwise. You only need to look at the fact they have not won a league title since 1990 to realise that a new approach was needed anyway. Liverpool's new signing are not superstars by any means, so maybe some fans will be disgruntled that the likes of Mata, Aguero and Hazard won't be wearing Liverpool red in 11-12. What these signing do give is team balance, comittment and squad depth. Don't write these players off until they have actually played together.
