2015 and beyond

[keniget]

I guess with the new year we could do a typical 2014 in review but it's all been done to death by now and it's more interesting to look into the future.

It's been a horrible start to the season and much has been said about our signings and our squad overall but what's clear when you look at our squad is that there is a lot of youth and hopefully plenty of room for improvement given time.

22: Coutinho, Moreno, Alberto

21: Suso, Flanagan, Wisdom, Ilori, Teixeira

20: Can, Markovic. Manquillo, Sterling

19: Ibe, Origi

I think we pretty much know where we're at with the guys around the 24-25 mark like Henderson, Allen et al and in one or two cases above we can guess with some degree of certainty who things are going to pan out but for the rest, how are the players above going to influence our team / squad over the next season or two?

Do we have our future spine already or do we still need to go out and buy?

 

[Buddha]

Jeez, it's easy to forget that Can is only 20.

 

[cloggypop]

It's easy to forget Alberto.

 

[leftpeg]

Let's not forget the manager. He's not yet 42 and he's in what, his seventh year of management? In career terms, he's the equivalent of a highly promising 20 year old player. He's got one of the biggest club jobs in the world and he's learning his trade in the full glare of the media. He's bound to make mistakes with transfers, selections, tactics, man-management and even his handling of the media. He came into the club to replace a legend who was himself appointed to clear up the mess left behind by a disasterous short-term appointment. The club itself was still reeling from the turmoil of the previous ownership. He's also had to deal with Suarez and all of that baggage.

I'm as frustrated as anyone by the start we've made this season but let's not lose sight of the scale of the task Rodgers has faced and the overall relative success he's made of it so far. As Keni's original post makes very clear we've got some special talent at the club and I genuinely believe that in this manager we have an outstanding young leader to oversee their development. The club is in good hands from top to bottom.

 

[Wiberg]

We need a class act at HM and probably 2 strikers.

Obviously a keeper. I don't think we can judge the back 3 or 4 until they have apt cover from the engine room.

As long as the Gerrard joke is allowed to continue all bets are off.

 

[dmishra]

GK, DM and the two first-choice CBs are the most important part of the spine, so I don't think we've identified it yet. At least with the GK and DM. I do expect to sign players for those positions in the next 6 months though.

The CB positions are a much bigger concern, as I'd highlighted in the thread I started yesterday.

 

[StevieM]

GK, DM and the two first-choice CBs are the most important part of the spine, so I don't think we've identified it yet. At least with the GK and DM. I do expect to sign players for those positions in the next 6 months though.

The CB positions are a much bigger concern, as I'd highlighted in the thread I started yesterday.

I think in Lovren, Sakho, Can, Wisdom & Illori we've got some decent defenders there.

The problem is not so much the players, but poor coaching & a system that exposes their weaknesses.

 

[Ryan]

I guess with the new year we could do a typical 2014 in review but it's all been done to death by now and it's more interesting to look into the future.

It's been a horrible start to the season and much has been said about our signings and our squad overall but what's clear when you look at our squad is that there is a lot of youth and hopefully plenty of room for improvement given time.

22: Coutinho, Moreno, Alberto

21: Suso, Flanagan, Wisdom, Ilori, Teixeira

20: Can, Markovic. Manquillo, Sterling

19: Ibe, Origi

I think we pretty much know where we're at with the guys around the 24-25 mark like Henderson, Allen et al and in one or two cases above we can guess with some degree of certainty who things are going to pan out but for the rest, how are the players above going to influence our team / squad over the next season or two?

Do we have our future spine already or do we still need to go out and buy?

There's maybe 1 world class player in that list. Maybe.

I'd prefer two 26 year old superstars than a continued list of a dozen 20 year old 'potentials'.

 

[MaBigTip]

I don't think any are world class. But 7-8 of them have the potential to be world class in their position. One of the top 10 in the top 5 leagues.

Coutinho and Sterling have flashed that level of ability in a Liverpool shirt from that lot.

If you can be patient it should pay off. Our youth teams look littered with potential PL class footballers.