Amidst all the uncertainty and speculation about Liverpool’s finances, I questioned myself as to what kind of additions do we need in our squad to actually compete with the other top clubs in the league. After all, with the precarious position we are currently in, we’ve to make sure that the money is invested in the right areas. So I made a kind of a personal analysis on what areas we HAVE to strengthen this summer.
I feel we need additions in 4 positions for sure.
1. A striker to compliment Torres, a target-man would be a favourable option.
2. a left winger.
3. a right winger.
4. a left back.
we currently play kuyt, benayoun, riera, babel, maxi, el zhar, on the wings. out of these we might cash in on benayoun, riera, el zhar, and if a good offer comes in, babel. The cash generated should hopefully be with the idea of filling up the above mentioned positions to add to our kitty. Those of our current wide-men not sold should be relegated to the bench as back ups (for good quality additions), probably with the exception of maxi.
Also, the need for a left winger is more as compared to the right, cos I feel that if we play kelly (who has been superb in the time he has played in the 1st team) as a RB and put Johnson as the winger, our right side could actually look quite menacing, with glen having little defensive responsibilities, yet having the acumen to defend the way rafa likes his wingers to. There’s no real need to elaborate on the striker and Left back part, cos they’re positions simply crying for reinforcements and we have to get them. Fact.
In my opinion, we don’t need any more midfielders if Rafa uses plays Gerrard in the middle, thereby dumping the exasperating 4-2-3-1 tactic. A classic 4-4-2 would be a sound n’ effective formation cos both mascherano and gerrard are not the type of CMs that would go forward irresponsibly and GJ if put in as a RM would also do a decent job when defending. Indeed if we do need to play with a lone striker, a 4-1-4-1 makes more sense with the players at our disposal. Keeping our players is also of utmost importance so that our squad doesn’t fall apart. Gerrard, Torres and Aquilani who have been linked to various clubs need to be retained in our squad at ALL costs.
I feel that our squad needs quality in certain positions that were toothless this season, and if managed the right way, can surprise many of the people who feel Liverpool is a spent force on the pitch. Off the pitch, well I need a gun to blow hicks’ n Gillet’s brains off and feed em to the dogs.
YNWA
You lost me in all honesty suggesting Glen Johnson in midfield.
He is a good attacking RB for a reason…..he plays in defense and he overlaps the RM and attacks from deep.
Why is it that everyone can voice their opinion be it wrong or right, in this case the former, and be published on the site.
I think it gives this site a bad name ? aren’t the comments enough for fan feedback ?
As for the article. it’s total bollox. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MONEY. if any transfers do occur it’s a swap for swap. It’s been like this for the past 3 years!!
And I simply can’t fathom how you suggest we should sell Benayoun who has been one of the best players these last two years. It’s beyond me.
Yeah I agree with Gavin. I don’t see his speed being a factor. I also don’t see why you need to replace Maxi on the wing, when he is one of our top players there. I would only ever swap him for someone like Arda Turan (if he can perform in the EPL).
As for defensive matters, Insua has to be on the bench or sold. We need a much more experienced and cool-headed LB. I don’t feel Insua does much as he rushes most passes and defensive tackles. A striker is needed to compliment Torres (and even replace him when he’s out).
Jovanovic will be hard to slot into the team. I hear he plays mid but can play striker so we shall see where Rafa (or whoever the manager is) puts him! YNWA~!
dogs won’t even feed on such stinking yanks
Gavin, I was comparing the need for players on either wings. We don’t have the finances to buy 2 wingers, which is why I was considering the possibility of having Johnson as a winger to compete with Maxi. He may do a good job, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t try him, when we’re lacking in funds to such a large extent.
Kev, I haven’t suggested that Benayoun ‘should’ be sold, just suggested that he ‘could’ be, after his comments and rumors about him.
“A striker to compliment Torres”? Why waste money on one of those when he has all of his fans to do that?
Oh, you meant “complement” … duh.
Agree with the “needs” being LB,LW & ST
But I think that Benni is a very good option @ RM and if he is sold it should only be for someone who is better !!! Maybe selling Benni and replacing him with JCole on a free could work ?
We cannot afford to spend 15m on another fullback ! Knowing this Aurelio has to be signed for another season and with the form Agger has shown, coupled with a more experienced Insua we can cope @ LB
Jovanovic is a LF/ST, he can play wide left but its not ideal, he could be a great backup winger and great 3rd choice ST.
As a ST I agree we need a target fwd, who can take the big hits from the CBs!! John Carew is an option ? So to Carlton Cole, even Santa Cruz. Fernando Llorente could be another to surprise in the EPL.
I would have a look @ Stephan Ireland’s situation @ City, if he is available, even if it means off loading Lucas, we have to be in the mix for him!
Hopefully Kelly,Pacheco,Bruna,Nemeth,Ayala and Ngog can really progress this offseason and push the 1st team squad to higher levels!!!
not really…not never….in my opinion at least one striker plus one winger and a full back is needed. If jovaovic is shinede already then i would like to see someone like l. Lopez of lyon come in aswell. Maybe joe cole or van der vaart as a winger. Also a right full back not a left one. Look what happened when glen j. got injured…..crisis! Cash in only on riera our squad in thin enough without having to sell more players.
not really…not never….in my opinion at least one striker plus one winger and a full back is needed. If jovaovic is signed already then i would like to see someone like l. Lopez of lyon come in aswell. Maybe joe cole or van der vaart as a winger. Also a right full back not a left one. Look what happened when glen j. got injured…..crisis! Cash in only on riera our squad in thin enough without having to sell more players.
well a right winger is not required coz kuyt rules out at da right maxi is also gr8 but needs tym to settle
v need sm1 instead of lucas like xabi or silva
I kinda like Brazil’s 4-1-3-2, and with the players we currently have it’ll be solid yet attractively attacking.
Reina; Johnson, Carra, Agger, Insua; Mascherano; Benayoun, Aqua, Gerrard; Torres, Kuyt.
I’d get a new DC and ST though.
Carra is aging and can’t be expected to be fresh for 52 games a year, so some younger legs will be needed. While waiting Ayala maturing, I’d sign someone like Shawcross or Cahill, who are also home-grown. Other option is out-of-contract William Gallas, who’s still pacey and strong enough for 2 more years.
For ST, I’ve always wanted to have someone tall with a good finishing. Pavlyuchenko will be my top on the list, but Higuain or loaning Bojan can be good options too.
If there’s still a chance, I’d sign a backup for Mascherano. Lassana Diarra?
Without a fairytale change of ownership, we’ll see none of these players play for liverpool, because right now, our club is sinking because of 2 dirty business men. If we don’t get super rich owners soon, we’ll fade away. Damn the yanks.
Glen at RM is a mistake.
Even the worlds greatest attacking fullbacks, Maicon and Alves, both looked bad when played at RM.
If you can play Mascherano at RB then I dont see what it would hurt trying Glen up the wing…
lol @ Luke
People who are saying we only need 1 or 2 players, wake up we finished 7th. It wasnt bad luck, it wasnt poor ownership, it was bad playing/management. We need at least 4 first team start players which at least would give our bench some depth. As for stikers if Rafa hadnt sold them all we wouldnt havea problem, would give my right arm to still have crouch at the club.
Anyone this is all fntasy, no money – no players.
Mark
i don’t see why there is a problem with putting Glen up there on RM…
I don’t want us cash in on Benayoun,Maxi(these two are well experienced and had been outstanding)maybe we cash in on El-Zhar,Riera,Degen in the summer transfer window then wait till January maybe we cash in on Babel that is if he(Babel)doesn’t up and improve his game.We need a quality and confident left back to bring balance to our back four Insua is still learning not good enough being in the first team yet.In honesty I have expected Rafa to play Glen Johnson up on the right wing and maybe play Mascherano as right back in some matches just to change tactics that is if Kelly wasn’t injured otherwise Kelly should slot in,we all seen what Tottenham did with their left back Gareth bale playing him left wing and he did fantastic job.In my humble opinion we need a Kwality Left back,Kwality left winger good at roaming in between left and right wing,Kwality striker good at playing as a second striker or in the hole or upfront alone then we keep the experience players as spine of the team maybe next season would become Aquilanii’s
All this about putting Mascherano at right back,are you MAD his game is breaking the game up around the pitch ,helping whoever to put pressure on opposition, not stuck at right back . Have a look at were he was at when Forlan finished us off at anfield , we need a solid right back , Johnson’s and Insua defensive calamity’s are something we can do without next season .