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After a long courtship and warding off interests from other potential suitors and eventually, impressing the Dad (Karl Oyston), Liverpool have finally succeeded in bringing the bride (Charlie Adam) home. Pardon me for the jibber-jabber, but that is how I perceive this lengthy pursuit of our prime summer target, Charlie Adam.
So what’s the fuss all about? Why did Kenny and Comolli leave no stone unturned to bring the Tangerines’ skipper to Anfield? Well, the answer is simple: we miss Xabi Alonso. Not that Adam is our new Alonso, well trust me there is only one Alonso, but he is the only one in the league who can pass like Alonso. Adam is a good central midfielder, with excellent passing range, good technical ability but at times tries to repeat the extravagant pass a little too often. Well trust Kenny to cut the showboating bit!
With Adam on board, our talismanic skipper Gerrard will be relieved of his defensive duties and he can terrorize defences with his clever runs and incisive shooting, the way he likes and the way we love to watch him play. Undoubtedly, he is the best passer in the game but what we want are goals. Gerrard needs to get into his groove and we need our skipper to provide us with a 20+ campaign. It would be a dream come true for every Liverpudlian around the globe if Adam can rise up to the expectations and held the reign from midfield, just like Xabi Alonso did.
Besides his astute and audacious passing, Adam is deadly from set-pieces. His final day set-piece last season against Man Utd was a testimony to the man’s free-kick taking ability. With Suarez and Adam on board, now Liverpool have two deadly set-piece takers who can bend the ball. Add to this deadly mix, Gerrard’s bullet-load of free kicks and we have a side which will kill its opponents from set-pieces. But Gerrard now has another understudy in the penalties department alongside Kuyt and Suarez. Charlie Adam is brilliant from the spot and his inclusion is an improvement on the existing squad, in virtually all respects.
The former Rangers’ man is a born leader and has an inbred ‘Never say die’ attitude that has been an integral part of Liverpool’s folklore for many a years now. Well, the only thing that I am concerned about as a Liverpool fan with this signing, is the growing rumours of an impending Raul Meireles departure. Trust me and fellow Liverpudlians around the globe, we will hate that. After having an impressive first season and setting no foot wrong, the stylish Portuguese midfielder finds him on the fringes of the squad. It does not look good for Liverpool as potential targets may not feel safe with a move to the Merseyside. To add to it, Meireles was one of the few stars in an otherwise-dismal campaign for the Reds and it would be a shocker, if he is sold.
To end things on a happy note, let’s look forward to some more marquee signings soon enough and let’s hope for a trophy-filled next campaign.
