Liverpool FC Forum

[monkey 20]

okay, question: simao or quaresma on the right? ?

[aCe']

you talk about big names coming in, but do we really want to become like real madrid and chelsea and man utd? liverpool is unique, and i'd like to see us bring in world-class up and coming players. if there are too many stars in a squad things can become difficult. i also have the feeling rafa is not the type to buy big name players like kaka (even tho id love to see him in the famous red shirt). its an interesting theory, not buying any1 so that we can get off to a flyer. but i think we will need to sign and get rid of a few players in the summer. id like to see us bring in a player like toni, huntelaar or even a cheeky bid for trezeguet. i would love to see us bringing in players like vincent kompany, rafael van der vaart and nuri sahin...and if we do have the money, a player like giovanni dos santos( doubt barca would ever let him go after wat happened with fabregas though)

ahhh....trezeguet would be perfect !
where would you play van der vaart though ?!
change to a 5 man midfield or throw him in the left wing ?!

[aCe']

okay, question: simao or quaresma on the right? ?

quaresma has the skills and technique.... not much of a team player though....
simao is more of a 'pacey winger' kind of player... has skills too, and is a good shooter from distance. more established and consistent than quaresma.

sooo.... Quaresma all the way mate ! 

[monkey 20]

you talk about big names coming in, but do we really want to become like real madrid and chelsea and man utd? liverpool is unique, and i'd like to see us bring in world-class up and coming players. if there are too many stars in a squad things can become difficult. i also have the feeling rafa is not the type to buy big name players like kaka (even tho id love to see him in the famous red shirt). its an interesting theory, not buying any1 so that we can get off to a flyer. but i think we will need to sign and get rid of a few players in the summer. id like to see us bring in a player like toni, huntelaar or even a cheeky bid for trezeguet. i would love to see us bringing in players like vincent kompany, rafael van der vaart and nuri sahin...and if we do have the money, a player like giovanni dos santos( doubt barca would ever let him go after wat happened with fabregas though)

ahhh....trezeguet would be perfect !
where would you play van der vaart though ?!
change to a 5 man midfield or throw him in the left wing ?!

ha ha...i dunno...was just throwing his name out there. think he'd be my first choice left wing, with gonzalez as a squad player. van der vaart tends to drift in alot but can stay wide if we need him to, amazing player. gonzalez can come on wen we need as out and out wide player. one guy i forgot to mention, although its been said many times. if we have the cash, we NEED to buy aaron lennon....pace and skill like that dont come along often... 

[monkey 20]

have you guys seen gago play? centre mid for boca. could be awesome back up mid, but argentinians are always a bit of a gamble...

[monkey 20]

people need to stop going on about david villa...the guy has just signed a new deal and it would take a miracle and millions and millions to get him

[Big Niall]

If Rafa stops rotating the players every game it would be a good start.

[stmichael]

Yes, only Lucas Neil for now though.  Lucas Neil Left back instead off Johhnnnn Arnie Hoooof the Balll Riiise.  Or JOhn Arnie out off position Riiise.  Or John Arnie PAsss the ball to the oppostion Riiise. 

Merrry Xmas Riise, ya ginger ninja.

When Riise dives in to a tackle and misses the ball, the player is away and we're in trouble - particularly if it's Sami who has to run across to cover.

When Neill dives in and misses the ball, he collects the player and a yellow card. On balance that option is usually better.

[LFC #1]

Don't know about no new players, but we certainly don't need many. We've had Pennant, Gonzalez, Bellamy, Kuyt, Paletta and Aurelio to bed in  as well as Agger who had only a handful of games before this season.

It seems Neill will be coming in January but I'd stop the spending there for and then re-evaluate at the end of the season. If Pennant doesn't shape up I think he should be sold come July and I have a feeling Rafa may release Robbie as well and maybe bring in a young new striker. I'd like to see Sinama get a go, but I'm not sure Rafa rates him tbh. Although that being said if we coudl sign soemeoen liek Huntelaar it woudl be fantastic. Zenden could be on the way out too.

If Pennant goes then we'd probably need a new right sided midfielder and thats about it (depending on the striker situation). Of course it may depend on the likes of Aurelio and Gonzo, but if they can turn into consistently high perfotming first teamers, then very little needs to be changed. The fitness and from of Harry might be another facor in Rafa's plnas. A starting lineup like this doesn't look too bad.

                                 Reina

Finnan            Carra              Agger         Aurelio


Gerrard/new player       Momo/Gerrard     Xabi      Harry/Gonzo

                   Kuyt          Bellamy/Crouch/(Huntelaar?)

Add to that the likes of Riise, Garcia, Hyypia, Neill then the sqaud doesnt need much work.

[monkey 20]

if we get these investers, we'll need lennon..........

[66-1120597113]

if we get these investers, we'll need lennon..........

Lennon...Neil Lennon

[account deleted by request]

if we get these investers, we'll need lennon..........

Lennon and McCartney   

[ivor_the_injun]

A huge problem we've had the last couple of seasons is that the first 2 or 3 months after summer, we've had so many new players in that it's taken ages for everything to start gelling. Only now, just before Christmas, are we starting to see some real sustained form from the team.

If we make wholesale changes in January, it'll happen again.

People forget that it's not just new players that need time to bed in - existing players need to learn how to play with the new signings as well, and it does take time for the team to strike up an understanding. Some slot in more easily than others - Kuyt's a good example - but I still think even he has more to bring as his striking partnerships mature.

Change little, and keep the continuity there - that's the key. If we just sign a competitive back-up for Finnan, I'll be happy with that. We should give the existing squad (including the injured players who will hopefully be back in the coming months) time to show their worth, and hopefully there'll be the cash in hand come summer to sort out any troublesome or weak areas in the squad.

[aCe']

our squad is simply not good enough.... all the " lets not change our currnt squad of players " and "give the team a chance " talk will get us nowhere.... rafa knows that (hence the # of trasfers/season) , and quite honestly anyone who isnt a liverpool supporter knows that too...
We need new signings that will command first team slots (now that we are expected to have decent financial backing)....its not like our starting 11 are all undroppable ?! ...some are...i must say... the likes of gerrard/alonso/kuyt/carra and perhaps sissoko & reina... but all the other players seem to be ones we can do without...
why would we be signing backups if we can afford players who are better than our 1st team players ?!
with new signings who are better than our 1st team starters, id expect our team to be closer to the likes of chelsea and man utd next season...

[wrighty (not mark!)]

This is an interesting topic and well definately discussing. For now as we are talkin about the january window here I, like a few on her think its not necessary to go wild with the spending as of yet due to are resurgence in form.

I understand exactly where ace is coming from in some respects. Maybe, next season we may need cover for Carragher and Agger due to my sneeking suspicion that Hyypia may have gone somewhere else and that Paletta won't quite be ready to step up to the plate in Premiership terms. Your guess is as good as mine who could possibly come in there.

As for central midfield, I would like to see some better cover for xabi/momo/gerrard. Right wing? We only have one recognised winger in Jermaine Pennant and i know what two names are on most ppl's lips in regard to that position.

What do you lot think could possibly be improved come next season?