Liverpool FC Forum

by **JC_81** » Wed May 06, 2009 1:42 pm

bigmick wrote:
bavlondon wrote:I think at a time when we are so close to catching Utd in the league we simply cannot to choose 2nd best for a new striker, otherwise we risk going backwards come next season. With more pressure on Rafa now after Parrys departure he will also feel this more than anyone so im sure Rafa will bring in someone of more quality. Even if Hertha can't afford him some other Bundesliga team should be able to fork out a few mil for him.

Surely though while everyone is talking of new signings, getting rid of this bloke and that bloke, moving X to Y's position and asking Y to cover, someone has got to ask this:

We are going to finish very close, and we've had Torres injured for much of the season. Had Torres been fit all season long, it's fair to assume we would have got more points. If he stays fit all season next term, it's fair to assume we'll go pretty well again. Why then is there an urge to change, why not just add to the squad?

If we sign Barry for instance it would make us stronger. Sign him and tell him he's got to try and get past Alonso/Masherano/Riera. At the very least he can play the last half hour each week when Riera gets tired.

It seems to me that despite many people denying till they're blue in the face that we had favourable circumstances this term, they are concerned that next season we won't and we'll need big improvements to even get close.

For my part, I've said all season that circumstances were extremely favourable to us this time, and on reflection we really ought to have won the thing. I think we'll need to improve next season as our rivals (particularly Arsenal and Chelsea) certainly will. My guess is though, if we don't change too much we'll improve anyway.

If ever there was a time for stability, it's now IMHO.

Agreed.

And I'll go back to a point I've made several times. One of the reasons why we've done better this season is because of minimal changes to the team last summer. Only really Riera has been a regular fixture out of the new signings. We have been fortunate in that Aurelio, Alonso and Kuyt have played much better this term.

But to change absolutely nothing would be daft imo. Get a decent striker in at the very least. But I wouldn't like to see any more than 2, maximum 3 signings this summer.

by **Rush Job** » Wed May 06, 2009 5:12 pm

Two big signing`s would be nice, and one deffo has to be a forward.
Maybe one of the youngsters will stand up and make a name for their selves, we can all wish lol.

by **DanAn** » Thu May 07, 2009 7:07 am

I also agree that wholesale changes would do more harm than good. I can understand sugestions like a new LW and backup players at RB, ST, CM, CB. That's just replacing our poor performers (Keane, Babel, Lucas, Degen) and the loss of Hyppia. It really has minimal effect on the starting 22.

The talk about replacing Alonso, Masherano, Aurelio and Kuyt seems crazy to me though.

by **Owzat** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:17 am

I read the other day that Rafa won't let the Keane fiasco put him off big name/money signings. The thing that I liked least about the Keane signing was we changed our system to accommodate him and I hope we don't do the same next season. That is why I am quite keane on Tevez, he can play opposite flank to Kuyt or as a striker pairing with Torres. Even if 4-4-2 was successful, there is every chance that the two strikers would reduce each other's output anyway, how often do two strikers score 20+ goals? So I would prefer someone who can play LWF, with Kuyt and a LWF scoring maybe 10 goals each next season and Torres and Gerrard playing familiar and successful roles scoring more, then we just need the defence to have a few less lapses and maybe even try man to man marking against some teams if not all teams (unlikely to happen)

But we always have the same, some talk of minimal changes and yet most will trawl out a wishlist or need list of half a dozen players. We do need a LWF, RB and then a few players, maybe younger players, to fight for places. Do we need Barry? As back-up maybe, but if that means spending £10m+ then perhaps not. I do wish some on here would quit talk of him playing LM or RM, he is not proven in either position and not better than Riera or Kuyt. He would be different to Mascherano and in some ways an improvement, but other than that I doubt there is a position on the pitch that he would be better than options we already have. And why would he leave villa to sit on our bench? Because it will either be that or change our central midfield set-up. Sign a "quality striker" and we could switch to 4-4-2 and how would he get in that side?

by **Festy** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:23 am

We need a Yossi type of player (with increased qualities of course) who can fit in any of the 3 positions behind striker in our 4-2-3-1 system. That's where we should spend heavily IMO.

by **oreilly** » Fri May 08, 2009 1:18 pm

Gudjohnson anyone ??! Might be good with Torres or Gerrard

by **allred** » Fri May 08, 2009 1:31 pm

Festy wrote:We need a Yossi type of player (with increased qualities of course) who can fit in any of the 3 positions behind striker in our 4-2-3-1 system. That's where we should spend heavily IMO.

David silva could do that

by **Redman in wales** » Fri May 08, 2009 2:57 pm

I'd take Gudjohnsen has experienced back up for Torres

Gudjohnsen hints at Barca exit

Eidur Gudjohnsen is set to leave Barcelona in the summer after quickly becoming disillusioned with life at Camp Nou and will have a host of interested clubs ready to offer him a chance.

The Iceland international has regularly stated that he knows he cannot expect to play every week for the Blaugrana, but has enjoyed playing more often than not in the starting line-up or as a substitute.

But with the club playing several vital encounters in recent weeks the former Chelsea forward has been squeezed out of the picture more and more by coach Pep Guardiola and is now unhappy.

"Of course I am happy about us being in the finals of the Champions League, but I do not deny that I am rather unhappy about my status and I can very well imagine that this will be my last season with Barcelona," Gudjohnsen told Icelandic newspaper Morgunbladid.

"I do not understand why my status [within the team] changes this suddenly because I thought I was doing well. This is difficult to swallow.

"I will look into my affairs when the season is over. It is very enjoyable to be with a large club, but it is not very enjoyable to just watch and sit on the bench."

Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Newcastle United are all said to be monitoring the 30-year-old's situation and could make a move when the season concludes later this month

---

Very Interesting.... as long as we can guarantee him a few games and sub appearances, he'd certainly be a good back up and a good striker if Torres is injured. - He's the sort of quality we could do with - he has prem experience - and he doesn't mind selective starts, or being on the bench.

I'd definately make enquires..... :blues:

--
edit, sorry : link

by **aCe'** » Fri May 08, 2009 3:15 pm

Gudjohnsen isnt a bad shout but he wouldnt offer anything drastically different to our squad and he isnt even prolific enough to be counted on in-case Torres gets injured... hes better than Ngog and Babel but we could and perhaps should be doing better in that department ... I dont know why everyone seems to be trying to find a player who could play the Gerrard role as well as the Torres role... We have Benny who has (atleast to me, in patches) proven that he could cover for Gerrard... Just bring in a decent backup striker and we can always switch to a 4-4-2 if Gerrard-Benny arent available or cant play for some reason.... There arent many who can play both the Gerrard and Torres roles, Cassano springs to mind as probably one of few quality, proven players in both positions, maybe even Totti but the views of many about the pair have been discussed at length and its fair to say they wouldnt be the most popular of choices... not that Totti would go anywhere anyways...

To me, we either bring in a big target man who offers something different to what we have, a Carew or Milito sort of player... or bring in a clinical finisher who knows how to put the ball in the back of the net.. a Trezeguet or Owen... nothing too expensive, nothing too unexperienced and unproven.. just a solid backup who can be counted on to do a job..

by **tubby** » Fri May 08, 2009 3:26 pm

Gudjohnsen is average. I thought we wanted proven quality?

by **Redman in wales** » Fri May 08, 2009 3:42 pm

Well this is the big debate isn't it.

No big name striker with proven quality will want to come here and warm the bench with torres starting a majority of games.

Yes, we could do better than Gudjohnsen, but would they come to us, and would they be happy spending so much time on the bench.? - Gudjohnsen's said he doesn't mind doing that as long as he gets some time on the pitch.

For example we've been linked with Negredo, but even he's said he wont move here to sit on the bench... link

- the other option is to go young... ie I like Sturridge of Man city. He seems like he's got something to him

by **sgs** » Fri May 08, 2009 5:23 pm

A great pity Olic has signed with Bayern.

by **JoeTerp** » Fri May 08, 2009 5:40 pm

allred wrote:
Festy wrote:We need a Yossi type of player (with increased qualities of course) who can fit in any of the 3 positions behind striker in our 4-2-3-1 system. That's where we should spend heavily IMO.

David silva could do that

so can Yossi, who we already have.

by **JoeTerp** » Fri May 08, 2009 6:18 pm

Redman in wales wrote:For example we've been linked with Negredo, but even he's said he wont move here to sit on the bench... link

- the other option is to go young... ie I like Sturridge of Man city. He seems like he's got something to him

It seems like Negredo would not want to come if we brought in another striker in addition to him. It seems like he is willing to be just under Torres, and like his quote about Real, he wouldn't want to be 5th choice, he didn't say he wouldn't go if he was going to be 3rd choice. And you can hardly blame Negredo for that type of attitude.

As for young strikers, we already have N'Gog, Nemeth, Pacheco, and Dalla Valle, don't think we need Sturridge too (although I think he is pretty decent, but doesn't have the best of injury records)

by **bunglemark2** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:09 pm

FFS, why do we HAVE to play with only ONE up front ? Is it only me who thinks that since Rafa had an epiphany and let the lads loose to go and score bleedin' goals, that our fortunes have turned around ? (bar the CL exit and the 4-4 at home to Arsenal)
What IF....and it's a BIG 'IF'....Rafa played two hungry strikers up front, and reverted to one when Torres, or the other, was injured ?

Liverpool FC Forum

Striking options - Realistic suggestions?

Who is online