Liverpool FC Forum

by **bigmick** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:58 pm

If we assume that the League is as of now probably a bit beyond us, (infact even if we don't the questions are still valid) where do we go from here?

Do we rotate in the League to protect players for the Champions League like we appeared to last season?

Do we do the same for the FA Cup or is it not as major a consideration?

Do we start to have a look at a couple of players with regards more first team action? Is it time to give Babel a sustained run, or Lucas perhaps?

Do we just need a couple more class players to add to the ones we've already got, or are some of our "class" players not quite as top drawer as we've thought all along? If we do buy, do we need more "options", "possibilities" and the like, or do we look to build a "first team" by possibly buying less players numerically but more in terms of quality, is it time to revisit the concept of a preferred first eleven?

Does the squad need sprucing up a bit or a radical overhaul?

If our finances are as stretched as we are led to believe, can we seriously justify spending 17 million pounds on Masherano, while keeping Alonso, Gerrard and Lucas (even assuming we sell Sissoko)? This is given the fact that we don't possess one absolutely top class wide-midfielder with the exception of Gerrard who we don't play there, we only have one top-class striker and are short of centre-half over.

Rotation. Is it too early to say whther it has worked for us this season in the League? Has it had a positive effect, a negative effect or has it made no difference. Had we have played our best team and best players more often would we be further up the table in terms of points or not, or is the whole thing just a red herring?

The manager. If we don't get close to launching a challenge, do we give him some more cash and tell him to go for it or do we call time and look elsewhere? Is there anybody else available who could realistically be expected to launch a team at the Premiership whilst at the same time have experience of winning or going close to winning the Champions League?

Just a couple of things to ponder on.

by **Ciggy** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:01 am

Oh well we are out of it again, atleast its not our Rafas fault tonight.
Our players just arnt good enough, give him time he win us it.
We will win the Champions league now wana bet

by **112-1077774096** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:02 am

he bought the players so he is at fault if they are not good enough

by **LittleHobo** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:04 am

play the kids i say :buttrock

nothing to lose now, we are out of the title race lets have some fun

by **lakes10** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:06 am

bigmick wrote:If we assume that the League is as of now probably a bit beyond us, (infact even if we don't the questions are still valid) where do we go from here?

Do we rotate in the League to protect players for the Champions League like we appeared to last season?

Do we do the same for the FA Cup or is it not as major a consideration?

Do we start to have a look at a couple of players with regards more first team action? Is it time to give Babel a sustained run, or Lucas perhaps?

Do we just need a couple more class players to add to the ones we've already got, or are some of our "class" players not quite as top drawer as we've thought all along? If we do buy, do we need more "options", "possibilities" and the like, or do we look to build a "first team" by possibly buying less players numerically but more in terms of quality, is it time to revisit the concept of a preferred first eleven?

Does the squad need sprucing up a bit or a radical overhaul?

If our finances are as stretched as we are led to believe, can we seriously justify spending 17 million pounds on Masherano, while keeping Alonso, Gerrard and Lucas (even assuming we sell Sissoko)? This is given the fact that we don't possess one absolutely top class wide-midfielder with the exception of Gerrard who we don't play there, we only have one top-class striker and are short of centre-half over.

Rotation. Is it too early to say whther it has worked for us this season in the League? Has it had a positive effect, a negative effect or has it made no difference. Had we have played our best team and best players more often would we be further up the table in terms of points or not, or is the whole thing just a red herring?

The manager. If we don't get close to launching a challenge, do we give him some more cash and tell him to go for it or do we call time and look elsewhere? Is there anybody else available who could realistically be expected to launch a team at the Premiership whilst at the same time have experience of winning or going close to winning the Champions League?

Just a couple of things to ponder on.

In truth it will be down to the owners, they will need to see something for their money this year, they will ask for the CL as they see it as the big prize.

for me it would be the FA CUP, so we can show we can beat English teams.

by **destro** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:07 am

I am going to go out on a limb and say we need to keep Rafa, I agree he bought the players but I don't think they were his first choice of player, he took a gamble on what little funds he had and it didn't pay off, he had to be seen to be doing some spending or people would just say " why isnt he buying anyone".

I say give him the money to buy the players he wants and not the ones he has to make do with and let him carry on. Besides which who would we bring in, we would have to start all over again and who's to say the next Manager will be any better ?

by **LittleHobo** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:10 am

i question the ryan babel and lucas signings, did we really need them when we have been crying out for a world class winger for years

and also i think signing lucas is silly when we already have too many centre mids, lucas is a great prospect and wont get enough games to grow because we are already overflowing in centre mid

why spend big on players for the future when we are crying out for a christiano ronaldo, robben type winger RIGHT NOW

those signings has meant we still have huge problems out wide

by **Dundalk** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:11 am

We can still finish 3rd and should make sure we do. You never know in football and we should still go into every game in the league to win.

I think a run to the final of the FA Cup would be nice. Wembely wont be officially christened until Liverpool take their fans there for a big cup final.

As for the European Cup, well, just go for it and see what happens, as I said football is a funny game and by the time we have to lat inter god knows how the league table will look

by **bigmick** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:18 am

Right well let's have a go.

Yes I think we should rest our best players for the Champions League as of now. Should we drop a couple of points as a result we have a little buffer on those immediately behind us, and if needs be we can find enough to stay ahead of them I would have thought. We can't IMHo win the League now, so it makes sense to concentrate our effots on a comp we can win. Not for the FA Cup though, unless we get to the semi's then I would, yes.

I would like to have a look at Lucas and Babel. Babel up top. Ultimately they represent the best part of 20 million quids worth of pre-season buys. If they aren't up to it, we need to move them on and spend the moiney on somebody who is going to be in the team.

It's definately the time to buy first team, walk into the starting line up players. Those we have who aren't need to be looked at carefully to see how much funds they would release.
The squad needs a radical overhaul IMHO. It is comfortably capable of a top four slot, but not capable of winning the league by a fair amount I shouldn't think. I've said since the Rafa-style started at Pompey that twelve points off the top would be about where we'd be, and I stick to that in my optimism.

If we sign Masherano for seventeen million squid, then either Alonso or Lucas needs to be moved on if we aren't absolutely flush with money. Given theior relative worth on the transfer market, my preference would be to move on Alonso.

Rotation. The whole point is that the players remain fresher later in the season. It hasn' worked, it isn't working and it won't work. Resting players after three games of the season is silly, lets drop it once and for all. It isn't a red herring, had we have played our stongest team in nearly all of the matches we would be much closer as of now.

The manager. If he doesn't change tack or show a willingness to change tack, he will never win the English Premier League.Thjis applies regardless of whether the "options" or "possibilities" are better players. If you "Rafa style" and don't play with a mentality which is win at all costs, you won't win the league over here. If he can't or won't change then we should. We would need a manager who has experience of winning the Premiership and the Champions League and who is currently available. We'll see.

All IMHO of course.

by **lakes10** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:22 am

the Masherano thing with the owners might be dead in the water, i can hear them now "why buy him, you are not getting the results with him in the team, do you think if we buy him he might play better?? no"

I would like us to buy him right now but i can not see him in the team past the loan deal (due to the owners).

by **Pedro Maradona** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:23 am

its the wide players that we need to look at, there is the beginnings of a world class team with reina, carra, agger, mascherano, gerrard, alonso and torres, all through the middle, the rest need looking at whether or not they up to the task, finnan is getting on, arbeola not great, momo not up to it, JAR not good enough, Kewell who knows?, Babel needs another season, Beneyoun average player at best, Kuyt honest player but not clinical enough, voronin not the answer, crouch, too slow and not world class, Lucas potentially looks a great player,.... Personally I think Rafa needs another year to get it right (I know some are his signings but some signings work some dont, some are more stop gap rather than long term buys. I hope that the Fans and the Chairmen are patient enough to see it through.

by **maguskwt** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:24 am

bigmick wrote:We would need a manager who has experience of winning the Premiership and the Champions League and who is currently available.

who might that be? ferguson?

by **LittleHobo** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:24 am

we are 5 players short of a real title challenge

first team left back and right back of real quality

first team left and right wingers of real quality

striker in the mould of berbatov, ibrahimovic to partner torres

by **Pedro Maradona** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:27 am

I cant believe that we dont have money to buy players!!! what was the point in selling to those two clowns in the first place if they werent able to back up their yankee :censored:

with money .... Liverpool Football Club...yet another fine mess you managed to get yourself into.....

by **hello_red** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:30 am

I love the annual 'how can we sort it out for next season discussions' The pain!

I think two players that we should be looking at attacking wise are Nasri and Bentley. Nasri is a attacking midfielder, stick him in the Yossi role and wtach him flourish. Bentley as our main second striker/another wide player as he is great at both ala Kewell at Leeds.

5 mill for the pair. Money well spent and get a left back and centre back in Jan!!!!!!

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