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LFC worst signings 40-34LFC worst signings 35-31LFC worst signings 30-26LFC worst signings 25-21LFC worst signings 20-14
We are down to the final 15 in Beyond the Kop´s worst 40 LFC signings. This installment features a young gun who failed to fire, a Scotsman with difficulty running and a Serb who owes Rafa Benitez-big time! We also feature two of the greatest imposters of all time.
15. Anthony Le Tallec
Le Tallec arrived at Anfield earmarked for big things having impressed at the European U-16 Chamionships where he received the “Silver Ball”. Along with Florent Sinama Pongolle, the French pair were touted as heirs apparent to Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet et al.
Unfortunately, this proved to be little more than a marketing gimmick for Houllier´s knowledge about French football. As we have already seen, Houllier was not slow in bringing in French players as a means to underline his previous connections with the Clairefontaine academy.
Le Tallec managed just one goal-in a UEFA cup tie against Olimpija Ljubljana-in 32 appearances for Liverpool. He did make an unlikely appearance in the Liverpool side for a home Champions League tie against Juventus in 2005. However that was to be his last contribution of note at Anfield.
A loan move to Sunderland saw him receive the accolade of club top scorer in 2005/06. Unfortunately that was the season when Sunderland recorded a worst ever points tally for a Premier League side, Le Tallec´s contribution of four goals never likely to convince Rafa Benitez he was worthy of a place in the LFC squad.
Adam´s form for Blackpool in 2010/11 almost inspired Ian Holloway´s side to unlikely survival in their first ever Premier League campaign. Indeed Alex Ferguson remarked that Adam´s corners “were worth £20 million alone.”So it was that Kenny Dalglish recruited Adam for a fee of £6.75 million after Blackpool were relegated on the final day of that season. Adam´s performances had Gary Neville comparing him to a “Roy of the Rovers” type figure during his time at Blackpool.
Predictably enough, however, Anfield appeared too exalted a stage for the Scot, who was patently out of his depth in the centre of the Liverpool midfield. To compound matters, his set piece acumen also seemed to desert him. Adam was to become synonymous with a group of over-rated, over-priced flops that marred Kenny Dalglish´s second spell as manager.
Adam´s lack of mobility and carelessness in possession were never likely to be conducive to the style of new manager Brendan Rodgers, and he was quickly shipped out to Stoke for £4 million pounds after a hugely uninspiring year at the club.
It is quite possible that Brendan Rodgers now regrets his description of Joe Allen as “the Welsh Xavi”. While that was an unfortunate remark in Rodgers´ over-enthusiastic first few months at the club, the manager can rest assured his is far from being the most ludicrous comparison made by a Liverpool boss.That award can surely be given to Gerard Houllier, who remarked that Bruno Cheyrou was “ the new Zidane” after signing him from Lille in 2002 for £4.5 million. Quite what the French legend made of the comparison is anyone´s guess, but Liverpool fans were quickly becoming aware of Houllier´s penchant for PR, and Cheyrou´s signing was to become another grave misstep in the transfer market.
Cheyrou briefly threatened to live up to the hype in 2003/04 with a flurry of goals, but it was to prove yet another false dawn. A player capable of some sublime touches, Cheyrou wasn´t quick to shirk out of a challenge, much to the chagrin of many Liverpool fans.
The arrival of Rafa Benitez at Anfield heralded the end for Cheyrou, who was loaned to Marseille for the 2004/05 season. He failed to impress and moved on to Bordeaux the following season where his mediocre form continued. Has been without a club for the past 14 months since being released by Nantes in summer 2012
Liverpool fans could have been forgiven for imagining they were about to witness the reincarnation of the French World Cup winning side with the signing of “The new Viera”. Diao was signed by Houllier in the wake of an impressive campaign for Senegal at the 2002 World Cup.His signing was –and remains- a cautionary tale about the folly of signing players off the back of tournament performances. Liverpool have had their share down the years, but few were quite as depressing as Diao. He couldn´t pass, was cumbersome in his attempts to tackle, and you would be hard pushed to find a Reds fan that could name a standout performance during his time at the club.
His £5 million signing yielded a total of 61 appearances and three goals. Loan moves to Birmingham and Portsmouth were unsuccessful before Tony Pulis decided Diao´s “gifts” would be ideal for his Stoke project in 2006/2007. Played intermittently for The Potters until 2012, thereafter vanishing from the face of the earth.
Rafa Benitez recruited Jovanovic on a free transfer in 2010. The Spaniards departure that summer cast the move into doubt, with speculation rife that Jovanovic might follow Benitez to Inter. As it was, Jovanovic chose to honour his agreement with Liverpool. Although in hindsight, most fans may wish he hadn´t.A player who spent most of his time sheepishly hugging the left touchline, Jovanovic could otherwise be spotted taking up positions in which he was least likely to receive the ball. Think of a left wing version of Fernando Torres at Chelsea, and you´ll be close enough to the mark.
Jovanovic was clearly not helped by the aura around the club during the ill-fated reign of Roy Hodgson. That said, with wages of £60,000 per week, Liverpool supporters were entitled to expect more bang for their buck. Thankfully, the club managed to offload him to Anderlecht after a miserable season, with Liverpool having paid out a hefty sum to get him off the wage bill. Ultimately a mistake that Benitez must take the blame for.
