Liverpool FC - Loic Remy Is A Good Signing But He's Not Meant To Replace Luis Suarez

Thanks to his record at Marseille, Queens Park Rangers and at Newcastle United, Loic Remy should turn out to be a shrewd signing for Liverpool FC. It should be noted, however, that he is not meant to be a replacement for Luis Suarez.

Luis Suarez is now no longer a Liverpool player. Ten days after the Uruguayan maestro left Anfield for the Camp Nou, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is looking to wrap up anAi??A?8.5m deal with Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy for former Marseille striker Loic Remy, who spent the 2013-14 season on loan at Newcastle United. We take a look at how Loic Remy’s entry into Anfield will benefit Liverpool FC, as well as his weaknesses that the Reds will need to work around.

What does Loic Remy brings to Liverpool?

Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez receiving the Football Supporters' Federation Player of the Year award — There is no like for like replacement for Luis Suarez, but Liverpool must replace him somehow

In assessing how Luis Suarez’s contribution to Liverpool should be replaced, one must take into account the fact that he did not just score goals. Suarez was directly or indirectly involved in nearly half of Liverpool’s 101 goals they scored in the 2013-14 Premier League season. That being said, he did score 31 of those goals himself, so it is of paramount importance to replace some of those goals first.Ai??Bringing in a striker who has scored goals for two Premier League seasons over a period of 18 months is one way of doing so.

Adjusting to the physical demands of the Premier League as well as the emotional challenges associated with moving to a foreign country has often been a concern with foreign footballers, but in Loic Remy, Liverpool are poised to bring in someone who has already served his adjustment period and served it well, despite the turmoil surrounding QPR’s relegation from the Premier League that was confirmed months after he joined. In fact, prior to the sale of Yohan Cabaye, Loic Remy had scored nearly as many goals in the Premier League in 2013-14 as Daniel Sturridge.

Loic Remy’s impending arrival into Liverpool FC has shades of the deal Liverpool struck with Chelsea for Daniel Sturridge in January 2013. Daniel Sturridge also joined the Reds with a similar reputation of being a selfish player, as well as someone that was lazy and not willing to work as hard enough for the rest of the team. However, there is likely to be a two-fold upside to him joining Liverpool, for both player and club. First, Brendan Rodgers primary strength is improving players he feels have yet to fulfill their potential – esp those in forward positions.

Secondly, Loic Remy, like Daniel Sturridge is capable of playing on the wing, thanks to his pace and willingness to take on opposing full backs. Comparisons have often been made between him and Thierry Henry in terms of playing style – the former Arsenal striker was himself a winger before being converted into an out-and-out striker. Add to that the wicked coincidence of Sturridge himself acknowledging that Henry was the striker he looked up to during his younger days, and in many ways, Loic Remy is a right-footed Daniel Sturridge.

18 months is not the longest time to judge a player’s ability with 100% accuracy, but it must be noted that Loic Remy’s goals to games ratio increases depending on how well the rest of his team performs. A conversion rate of 0.43 at QPR increasing to 0.53 while at Newcastle United could be correlated to the final placing of both teams in the league in respective seasons. Statistics can be used to back up an argument rather than be an argument; but if Remy keeps the same conversion rate after joining Liverpool FC, he will prove to be a successful signing.

But Loic Remy is not Luis Suarez

Hard work is the prerequisite for any footballer to make it in the big time, but what set Luis Suarez apart from others in the league and even from the rest of Liverpool’s squad was his work rate. He was simply extraordinary in that aspect, and Loic Remy’s lack of work rate prevents him from even coming close to replacing Suarez.

Loic Remy - France striker/winger | Liverpool FC - Loic Remy A Good Signing But Not Meant To Replace Luis Suarez — Loic Remy’s lack of work rate is seen to be an issue

This could well be a reason why Remy only played 5 games on the wing while on loan at Newcastle United.Ai??Lack of work rate is what infuriated Liverpool supporters about Victor Moses this past season, and Loic Remy could so easily go the same way. It could point to a lack of fitness on the part of Remy, or a much more harmful attitude problem – one cannot jump into conclusions. The lone centre forward in Rodgers’ preferred 4-3-3 is the one position where lack of work rate can be compensated for, so this is one weakness that can be worked around.

Loic Remy suffered an inexplicable dip in form following the sale of Yohan Cabaye, scoring only 3 goals from then on until the end of the season. He was serviceable but did not set the world alight at the World Cup either. Liverpool supporters would hope that he rediscovers his scoring touch from 2013, Luis Suarez was capable of creating/scoring goals out of nothing, while the departure of Cabaye from Newcastle is an indicator that Remy needs better service in order to thrive. Hence, his success/failure at Anfield will depend on the performance of the likes of Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson.

Loic Remy’s likely position at Liverpool FC

Daniel Sturridge - Liverpool FC striker | Liverpool FC - Loic Remy A Good Signing But Not Meant To Replace Luis Suarez — Daniel Sturridge, worryingly, does not complete 90 mins very often

Over the period of 18 months since his arrival, Daniel Sturridge is the most prolific striker still playing in the Premier League. The only thing that stops Liverpool supporters (and possibly the manager) from fully trusting him is his injury record. But unless Brendan Rodgers decides to go in for a glamorous signing to appease the fan base, one can expect to see Daniel Sturridge to be assume the status on top of Liverpool’s pecking order of strikers. In addition to his questionable fitness record, Sturridge has been subbed off 12 times out of the 26 games he started in the 2013-14 for the Reds, while Suarez almost always completed 90 minutes whenever available.

Considering that strikers are substituted more often, it isn’t such a bad thing.Ai??While Sturridge attempting to make that step up to Luis Suarez’s position among strikers at Anfield is still feasible (to some extent), Rickie Lambert is not convincing enough to assume Sturridge’s status as a second choice at Liverpool, even though his 28 goals over two seasons of Premier League football represent a significant upgrade over a man who is more “fondly” remembered for taking a corner (yes you, Iago Aspas). This is where Loic Remy’s presence will be of significant benefit.

Remy is primarily a centre forward, and since Brendan Rodgers is less likely to feel the need to shoehorn two strikers into his game plans, Remy is the ideal player to make fill in on those occasions when Sturridge does not finish 90 minutes. Remy could even be sent on earlier in the second half in order to “protect” Sturridge.

Brendan Rodgers could still wind up playing two up front at times, but it remains to be seen how Daniel Sturridge and Loic Remy could link up together. Placing Remy on the left wing is one way of fitting both of them into the starting lineup – with 4 out of 14 goals being scored while playing on the wing, Remy offers a goal threat from the wing too, thanks to his pace and finishing ability. Versatility is one of the buzzwords Brendan Rodgers has often splashed around, and Remy is a player that seems to fulfill that criterion.

At a rumoured wage of GBP 90,000 a week, Loic Remy at age 27 does not completely fit the stereotype of a Liverpool signing under the ownership of John W Henry, but his prior record in Ligue 1 and in the Premier League makes him a risk worth taking.

Liverpool FC – Loic Remy Is A Good Signing But He’s Not Meant To Replace Luis Suarez

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