Liverpool FC Forum

by **aCe'** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:03 pm

Ok... Most down here seem to be think that it would be crazy if Rafa decides to abandon his 4-5-1 for next season... Regardless of whether Alonso is around next season or not, it seems to be something of a given on these boards that our attacking displays of the second half of the season need to be reproduced next season, and that it would be enough for us to sign a top quality attacking player or two and we'd be all but there...

BigMick has made it clear more than once that his top priority signing for the summer would be a CB...

Now, im not saying i agree with Bigmick here.. but if we arent going to go out and buy top quality attacking players in the Silva, Robben, Teves bracket then we'll have to go out and throw bodies forward leaving our backline pretty exposed like we did in the last couple of months in the league or so...
Obviously, we can expect to score more frequently in games against the smaller sides if we produce displays similar to those we did towards the end of the season... BUT and its a big but.... would it mean that we'll necessarily be beating those sides ?

Brings us back to our backline.. specifically our 2 centerbacks... I've been pretty critical of Agger and Skrtel ever since they signed... Still think they arent good enough for a top side yet but they'r good players to have in the side with good potential to improve into top players some day... For now though, i think we'll need better if we'r going to play our attacking football ..

names ?!

Carvalho for one wants out of Chelsea... doubt theyd sell him to a rival but if they would then we should be in for him... one of the best in the world imo...

Albiol, Chivu, Mexes... others...

by **mjlfc09** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:06 pm

Raul Albiol is the obvious choice because he's spanish, an international player and Valencia need to sell.

by **tubby** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:09 pm

I think Albiol could be an option but I think the wing backs need to take some blame for leaking goals when we came forward so much towards the end of the season. The Arsenal game was a good example. All those 3 above mentioned would be good for us though.

If we have any money left over we should go for another CB and with Hyppia gone I think Rafa will have this in the back of his mind. But I think his priotity will be more attacking players first.

by **DrPepe** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:19 pm

bavlondon wrote:I think Albiol could be an option but I think the wing backs need to take some blame for leaking goals when we came forward so much towards the end of the season. The Arsenal game was a good example. All those 3 above mentioned would be good for us though.

If we have any money left over we should go for another CB and with Hyppia gone I think Rafa will have this in the back of his mind. But I think his priotity will be more attacking players first.

is that ever Rafa's priority?

I think a new CB will be upmost in his mind tbh

We don#t really have anyone in the reserves ready to step up and play a good number of games next season (after all, hyypia played 18 games this year)

by **tubby** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:21 pm

Well if we do bring someone in I can't imagine it being anyone high profile what with Carra still pretty much a 1st team choice.

by **aCe'** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:24 pm

If it was upto me i'd be selling Skrtel (8mill or so i reckon) .. add a few mill to that money and bring in a top defender like Carvalho or Mexes or Albiol... would leave us with Carra and the new guy with Skrtel and one of the youngsters as backup... Arbeloa could do a job there too i guess so not like we absolutely need 4 top CBs ... remember we only have one recognised first team RB and one Striker....

by **DrPepe** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:28 pm

aCe' wrote:If it was upto me i'd be selling Skrtel (8mill or so i reckon) .. add a few mill to that money and bring in a top defender like Carvalho or Mexes or Albiol... would leave us with Carra and the new guy with Skrtel and one of the youngsters as backup... Arbeloa could do a job there too i guess so not like we absolutely need 4 top CBs ... remember we only have one recognised first team RB and one Striker....

have you been drinking?

I'm not at all convinced with skrtl either (yet?), but i can't see rafa selling a mostly-succesful player like skrtl

by **tubby** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:30 pm

Rafa won't sell Skrtel.

by **burjennio** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:33 pm

yes we need a new centre half, but if you think mexes is the answer you've been sniffing glue, HES HIDEOUS! seriously ive say Roma 3 times this season in the CL, and watched them a good bit in the last few seasons when Seria A was being shown over here and Ive yet to see him have a good game

by **GYBS** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:35 pm

Agger has just signed or is signing a new contract so thats one cb , rafa already highly rates skittles so thats another cb then there is carra who is the heart of the backline - a top cb as a priority in a team that has one of the best defensive records over the last 4 season ?? cant see it in a million years - he may well get a young up coming cb or look to one of his ressies to step up but as a main signing this summer ? not for me and i dont think for rafa as well - cb will be the lowest priority compared to other areas that need strengthening

by **Ace Ventura** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:36 pm

The young lad Martin Kelly is supposed to be a decent player but sure as hell wont be ready this season to be a player to step in like Sami was.

Its very difficult this - i said this in the Sami farewell thread as we were very fortunate last season to have a top pro with so much experience that could come in for the odd game and who hardly ever let anyone down.

His performace at old trafford when he stepped in at the last minute was superb.

Where do you find a player who will do that ?

by **tubby** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:40 pm

You don't. They only come around once so often. Unless you are lucky to be able to afford quality all over the shop. We just have to hope all 3 CB's stay fit.

by **Bad Bob** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:45 pm

aCe' wrote:Now, im not saying i agree with Bigmick here.. but if we arent going to go out and buy top quality attacking players in the Silva, Robben, Teves bracket then we'll have to go out and throw bodies forward leaving our backline pretty exposed like we did in the last couple of months in the league or so...
Obviously, we can expect to score more frequently in games against the smaller sides if we produce displays similar to those we did towards the end of the season... BUT and its a big but.... would it mean that we'll necessarily be beating those sides ?

Not wanting to deviate too much from the initial question about buying a new CB (which I'll come back to) but I wanted to respond to this question. Will we be beating the smaller sides if we throw greater numbers forward and expose ourselves a bit more at the back? I'd say that, by and large, we will. I say this because I think there's a bit of a myth circulating about our play during the run-in--as though we were so cavalier going forward that we put ourselves in serious jeopardy at the back. I think this myth can be traced to two matches: Chelsea away in the CL (4-4) and Arsenal at home in the league (4-4). In both of those matches, we poured forward with gay abandon and to great effect, only to see our excellent attacking work undone by the concession of soft goals at the back. But, I would suggest that there were some important mitigating circumstances in those matches. The must win nature of both was one and, in the case of Chelsea, it was a must win by three goals situation. Obviously, in those circumstances we went for broke in a way that we might not ordinarily do. The other mitigating circumstance was "the Arshavin factor" four silly defensive errors were punished in the most clinical way possible by the diminutive Russian. But, it strikes me as a pretty obvious one off. First of all, we won't defend that poorly as a unit too many times a season and, more importantly, most teams won't punish us quite so ruthlessly. Hell, I doubt Arshavin would be able to repeat the feat if gifted each of the same chances again.

What I'm saying is that when we take those two anamolous matches out of the equation, it's pretty clear that our greater attacking verve during the last 2.5 months was NOT undermined by greater defensive frailties. Keane managed to spring the offside trap on us on the final day of the season and Geovanni caught Insua napping when we were in cruise control mode late on at the KC Stadium but otherwise we've been keeping a lot of clean sheets against the mid and lower table clubs. Arriving finally at my point, I think it's fair to say that most clubs outside the top four will lack the quality to make us pay when we gamble a little getting forward (bar the odd goal, of course, which our attacking play should more than compensate for). It's a different matter against the Mancs, Chelsea and Arsenal but, in those matches, I don't expect we'll be nearly so gung-ho.

Coming back to the original point about buying a CB, I think it's essential we do so to replace Sami. I'm yet to be convinced that we need to sacrifice precious funds to shell out for someone out of the very top drawer given the other areas of the squad that need addressing. For me, an Agger-Carra partnership should be the plan for next season barring injury and that pairing should keep a steady ship at the back. As such, I'd like to see us look at a promising young CB who won't cost the moon but who has the potential to grow into something special (and, no, that's not David Wheater IMO). BY the time Carra's nudging closer to the exit door this new lad should be ready to step in to the void (Skrtel would be a back up, IMO).

by **burjennio** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:49 pm

bavlondon wrote:You don't. They only come around once so often. Unless you are lucky to be able to afford quality all over the shop. We just have to hope all 3 CB's stay fit.

thats the thing mate, remember when Agger got injured a couple of seasons back and it was just Carra and Sami with feck all cover? We cant afford to have a repeat of that if we realistically expect to push for the title this coming season. Strength in Depth is what the Mancs have and Im sure what the Chavs will have again come the start of 09-10.

by **GYBS** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:50 pm

The one thing that i remember was during the 06/07 season when agger and carra formed a great partnership and was the tightest defence in the prem with sami only playing a bit part role that season - im guessing skrtel was brought in to replace sami but played more of a role due to aggers injuries - with agger signed up and fully fit again im hoping we see him back with skrtel as back up and he is now an experienced back up both in the prem and europe . Add an another upcoming youngster from ressies or someone bought will give us a very good cb selection imo.

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