Liverpool FC Forum

by **maguskwt** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:10 am

Let's assume that we do not buy anymore players. I have a feeling that our squad may not be in as bad in shape as alot of people are making it out to be. let's see what we have right now (I've separated the players who are cack or still need to improve from the players who could do a job for the first team):

GK
Reina
Jones

DF
Kelly
Carragher
Agger
Skrtel
Glenn Johnson
Aurelio
Insua
Flanagan

Konchesky
Kyrgiakos
Wilson
Ayala
Degen

MF
Gerrard
Lucas
Spearing
Meireles
Aquilani
Joe Cole
Maxi
Henderson

Shelvey
Poulsen
El Zhar

FW
Kuyt
Suarez
Carroll
Pacheco

Jovanovic
Ngog

Obviously for the GK department we only have 2 keepers and if Reina is fit all the time we will not have any issues in that department. Back up plan is to use reserve squad keeper Gulacsi.

In the DF department, I've named 7 players who are good enough and who can do a job for us for the first team. The rest are still a bit too soon or just not good enough. 7 players to fill 4 positions is not that bad. The key here is for Kelly, Agger and Aurelio to be fit. I'm sure Kelly is recovering and he is not really considered a glass player, but if we have Agger and Aurelio fit, I believe that we have a strong enough defense.

In the MF department, the worrisome area is really the left wing area. I believe the two candidates to be playing there are cole and maxi. If maxi could continue his good form that he exibited in the last quarter of last season, we don't have to worry too much. Aurelio could fill in that position as well. As for Joe Cole, I've lost faith in him. So I believe this is the position we should really be prioritising.

In the middle, we have plenty of cover; Gerrard, Lucas, Spearing, Meireles and the Aquaman. No worries there.

On the RW, it may well be Henderson that will be starting and his cover would be the invincible Dirk. Not much worry there as well.

Up front, we've got Suarez and Carroll as the main strikers. And Kuyt could fill in as either second striker or also as the main striker. Even though we could make use of another good back-up striker, and I was hoping Wickham would be that striker, I believe that we can get by. The key here is for Carroll to regain his full fitness and form and fire on all cylinders.

The dark horse we might all have forgotten is Pacheco. He might just suprise a few of us and have a break-out season. If that happens, we don't need a back-up striker anymore.

So even though I believe that we could do with some additions of a winger and a good back-up striker, it seems that our squad is not as weak as alot of people are making out to be. I agree though that certain key players need to regain their physical fitness, otherwise we will have a weak sqaud.

My priority, if we are to strenghthen the squad, would be to buy a winger (Adam Johnson my first choice) and a back up striker (Agbanlahor comes to mind).

by **Basil** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:02 am

I tend to agree BUT Aurelio and Agger will unfortunately pick up injuries throughout the season and they are perhaps the 2 most skilfull defenders. With Carra getting on a bit, that leaves us needing a good LB and a ball playing CB, Scott Dann, Zapatta, Enrique ?

In CM, I'm not a fan of little Jay and would prefer to have Shelvey in the squad as cover. I'm glad to see Aqua back and hope we keep Meireles as well but I think we need somebody new in the middle who can sit, tackle and pick out passes, generally hold it together, Charlie Adam ?

I agree we need a new player to come in and play wide left, like Riera. Didn't Maxi talk about going back to Argentina ? I hoped Cole or Jovanovich could have done that job but it looks like they failed. I reckon Downing would be good if we could get him for a decent price, he seems to have the right attitude and doesn't make many mistakes. On the right we seem to be ok ?

Up front, I think we need a decent backup striker with a bit of composure and pace, I thought Wickham would have been ideal and don't understand why we didn't stump up £10M.

by **Roger Red Hat** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 11:23 am

Flannagan needs taking out of the cack list and putting into the good list and I believe ngog has gone.

by **maguskwt** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 11:27 am

Roger Red Hat wrote:Flannagan needs taking out of the cack list and putting into the good list and I believe ngog has gone.

I kinda agree so I've changed that. Another one who is marginal is Wilson... but I think he needs to improve.

As for Ngog, he's not gone yet mate...

So it seems like our priority should be even more so on a winger and a striker... we seem to have alot of options for defenders especially if Agger and Aurelio are fit...

by **metalhead** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 11:28 am

The squad is still not good enough, we still need a quality left back, winger, a top center half and a good backup striker to get back into the top 4.

by **maguskwt** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 11:32 am

metalhead wrote:The squad is still not good enough, we still need a quality left back, winger, a top center half and a good backup striker to get back into the top 4.

I have to disagree there MH... it seems like we're stronger than last season and Kenny and Commoli would have a full pre-season to indoctrinate the players on their methods. I think that we have a strong enough squad to be in top 4. I would also have to point out that much of our disillusionment comes from the underperformances under Hodgson's reign of chaos. It seems like under Hodgson's system all our players seem to be cack!

I also disagree that a quality left back is urgent. We have Johnson, Aurelio, Insua and Flanagan who can play there. If we get someone with real talent who can clearly improve on what we have and could serve the club for years, then I'm all for it. But we shouldn't rush into buying a flavour of the season left back...

However, if we want to challenge for the title, then yes, the positions you mentioned would need strenghthening...

I myself am optimsitic about the coming season, firstly because we have Kenny in charge. Secondly because we managed to strengthen our squad with the addition of Suarez, Carroll and Henderson. The re-building is not complete yet but we're going in the right direction...

And screw all those players we're supposed to be signing who didn't want to play for us...

by **metalhead** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 11:44 am

We can't rely on a liability (Insua) all season and an injury prone player who spend most of his time in the medical room (Aurelio) in left back position. It's very clear that we need a quality and consistent player in that position. Even playing Glen Johnson or Flanagan there will limit their abilities because the it is not their position.

As for center backs, we have one who is made of glass, the other is so prone to mistakes and the last one who is a veteran and getting older. We need a top young CB who can provide competition and improve our defense.

You have to remember the league is getting harder by the year, Man City's squad is still better than ours and they will invest heavily next season, so will Chelsea and Arsenal, so it will be very difficult to break into the top 4 if we don't improve key positions in our team

by **Thommo's perm** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:13 pm

maguskwt wrote:Let's assume that we do not buy anymore players. I have a feeling that our squad may not be in as bad in shape as alot of people are making it out to be. let's see what we have right now (I've separated the players who are cack or still need to improve from the players who could do a job for the first team):

GK
Reina
Jones

DF
Kelly
Carragher
Agger
Skrtel
Glenn Johnson
Aurelio
Insua
Flanagan

Konchesky
Kyrgiakos
Wilson
Ayala
Degen

MF
Gerrard
Lucas
Spearing
Meireles
Aquilani
Joe Cole
Maxi
Henderson

Shelvey
Poulsen
El Zhar

FW
Kuyt
Suarez
Carroll
Pacheco

Jovanovic
Ngog

Obviously for the GK department we only have 2 keepers and if Reina is fit all the time we will not have any issues in that department. Back up plan is to use reserve squad keeper Gulacsi.

In the DF department, I've named 7 players who are good enough and who can do a job for us for the first team. The rest are still a bit too soon or just not good enough. 7 players to fill 4 positions is not that bad. The key here is for Kelly, Agger and Aurelio to be fit. I'm sure Kelly is recovering and he is not really considered a glass player, but if we have Agger and Aurelio fit, I believe that we have a strong enough defense.

In the MF department, the worrisome area is really the left wing area. I believe the two candidates to be playing there are cole and maxi. If maxi could continue his good form that he exibited in the last quarter of last season, we don't have to worry too much. Aurelio could fill in that position as well. As for Joe Cole, I've lost faith in him. So I believe this is the position we should really be prioritising.

In the middle, we have plenty of cover; Gerrard, Lucas, Spearing, Meireles and the Aquaman. No worries there.

On the RW, it may well be Henderson that will be starting and his cover would be the invincible Dirk. Not much worry there as well.

Up front, we've got Suarez and Carroll as the main strikers. And Kuyt could fill in as either second striker or also as the main striker. Even though we could make use of another good back-up striker, and I was hoping Wickham would be that striker, I believe that we can get by. The key here is for Carroll to regain his full fitness and form and fire on all cylinders.

The dark horse we might all have forgotten is Pacheco. He might just suprise a few of us and have a break-out season. If that happens, we don't need a back-up striker anymore.

So even though I believe that we could do with some additions of a winger and a good back-up striker, it seems that our squad is not as weak as alot of people are making out to be. I agree though that certain key players need to regain their physical fitness, otherwise we will have a weak sqaud.

My priority, if we are to strenghthen the squad, would be to buy a winger (Adam Johnson my first choice) and a back up striker (Agbanlahor comes to mind).

DF
Agger and Aurelio are always injured. Insua not good enough

MF
Spearing is a squad player. Cole and Maxi are surplus. Miereles looks to be leaving. Shelvey has potential but no consistancy

FW
Pacheco is dodgy and lightweight. Carroll needs to step up to the plate

Still, the basis of a good squad

by **stmichael** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:17 pm

it's not necessarily the strength of the squad i'm worried about, it's the balance. we still seriously lack any sort of genuine width and seem to be overloaded with central midfielders. i don't want another season of central midfielders being shifted out wide to accomodate others. ideally i'd play gerrard wide right but we know that will never happen.

by **Ola Mr Benitez** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:19 pm

I've said this from the end of last season, the position wee need to fill the most is a quality centre back. as MH said earlier, Agger is injury prone, Carra is still our no1 CB and he is starting to look a little slow and Skrtel just isnt good enough. I would love to see Cahill as he would slot in easily.

After that I want to see a world class winger for the left and a good left back. Sort those positions out and we look a lot stronger.

Don't forget if the season had started when Kenny took over last year, our points total that we gained would have taken us to 2nd in the league.

By strengthening these key positions and with KD's excellent man management skills and Steve Clarkes proven successful training there is no reaon why we cant do well next year.

Will we win the league? I don't think so (but never say never), but next years season should be about getting back into the Champions League which will makle it easier to tempt the "real" top players to our club for the following season.

This is going to take a few seasons - we cannot expect, nor do I want, our owners to go out in the first proper transfer window and just buy all the top players. We are not Chelsea or Manchester City. We need to invest, but carefully buying the right players to fit into our team.

Improvement every season is what we need, the title is still 2 - 3 seasons away.

by **RedSi35** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:31 pm

12/13 players there that are surplus to requirements. If only we could offload them, not only for the half decent sell value but also for the massive wage reduction. Easily 200/300 grand a week?

by **Johnny Boy** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:07 pm

I would swap Insua and the Greek around personally, as a back up centre half I think he is okay. Insua is slow and needs to be sold.

by **Rush Job** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 2:24 pm

Its looks like we are trying to off load a few before we buy again. Cant really argue with that otherwise the wage bill will be through the roof. As fans I think the best thing we can hope for this coming week or so is just that, trim the squad down, then fill in the gaps with quality.

by **JC_81** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 2:29 pm

stmichael wrote:it's not necessarily the strength of the squad i'm worried about, it's the balance. we still seriously lack any sort of genuine width and seem to be overloaded with central midfielders. i don't want another season of central midfielders being shifted out wide to accomodate others. ideally i'd play gerrard wide right but we know that will never happen.

Nail on head.

Balance is key.

Too many central midfielders, no reliable left back (Aurelio is good but not reliable based on his injury record), not enough quality in the wide midfield areas, not enough quality in central defence. We could also do with another striker imo - Carroll, Suarez and Kuyt is not enough for a whole season especially with Carroll's injury record.

by **parchpea** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 4:19 pm

All those players and yet theres 7 or 8 that are good enough and then your talking half dozen with potential and after that its the deadwood. We need a situation where you have 15 that are the real deal and then we are talking about having a squad ready to compete with the big hitters.

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