The Scot started brightly in Steven Gerrard’s absence, but his form has been of mixed quality of late. Does he have what it take to be a star at Anfield?
There has been a lot of debate over the past few days on our website as to whether Kenny Dalglish or Rafa Benitez would be the best man to take Liverpool forward as a club.
One of the key arguments put forward by Dalglish’s detractors is that he has bought badly.
While Enrique is seen as a good buy, Henderson, Downing and Carroll are each seen as an expensive waste of money, even if time is on their side to prove the many doubters wrong.
One man who falls in the middle is Charlie Adam, a £7.5 million signing from Blackpool.
Adam started brightly, and was asked to take the mantle from Steven Gerrard, who was expected to be out for around a month at the start of the season.
He excelled in a 3-1 win at home to Bolton in August, scoring from 20 yards and providing an assist from a corner for Martin Skrtel to head home.
Gerrard in truth took far longer to return from injury, scoring in an aborted comeback draw at home to Manchester United from a free-kick with Charlie Adam won.
In truth, of late Adam has been pretty disappointing, scoring a comedy own goal against Blackburn in a 1-1 home draw.
He was bought for his creativity, which stood out in a limited but attacking Blackpool side, but Liverpool have been too easily held at home by opposition they would expect to beat.
Adam is yet to really build up a relationship with Suarez, Carroll or Bellamy, which would be important if his long passing game is to really flourish.
His creative passing and eye for goal would have been expected to break down at least one of Norwich, Stoke, Blackburn and Swansea who all claimed draws at Anfield.
Nevertheless, the statistics show he has provided 10 assists this season, a very good return putting him in the top five in the Premier League.
Fans would argue he needs to show more in his general game, dictating the midfield and needs to build a relationship with the now returned Steven Gerrard.
The biggest hindrance to Adam has been the injury to Lucas, who so effectively anchored the midfield, allowing him to be more effective early in the season. Without him, Adam has had to take on more of the less showy roles, and the attacking part of his game is not currently flourishing.
Still Adam is clearly talented, and for £7.5 million provides very good value compared to most of Dalglish’s other buys.
The question is, if you were building a Liverpool side for the next two or three years, would Charlie Adam be a part of it?
Liverpool fans, let us know what you think of Adam’s progress.
image: © k1ngk0ng
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