Anyone still think a striker is still priority?

[mom]

We score goals. Plenty of them.
I'm sure Klopp said when he started with us that defence is key. And it is. But, ours still falls short.
Surely getting a quality defence is priority now over the need for bettter strikers and wingers.
Yes, we still need another striker as I'm sure Sturridge is off, but a new defence is where most of our funds need to be invested.

 

[binomial]

We have so many priorities I don't think we know where to start.

This club is a shambles.

 

[mom]

Hardly a shambles mate.

 

[binomial]

Hardly a shambles mate.

It is, we have a serious disability to play the shit teams.

 

[Fallon]

Based on tonight LB and GK have to be near the top of the to do list, but hardly a surprise on gameweek 30.

 

[binomial]

We have a perfectly good cb on loan at Palace...but no let's bring Klavan in to cost us points.

nice 1 klopp, put your favouritism aside you bellend. or should I say putting your favouritism before the club.

 

[HC]

goalkeeper ,left back, a mean ass rambo dm , a decent cb, a decent forward to provide depth

that's the minimum, if we want the opportunity to achieve with added el/cl fixtures next season

 

[Skullflower]

I get that sakho wasn't being professional and all that but I think the fact he's not klavan more than balances that out.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Sakho never filled me with confidence either and had plenty of mistakes in him. He's benefitting from the fact that he now plays from a squad with a less dysfunctional defence than ours, neverminding the fact they are/were relegation threatened.

It's hard to get bearings when comparing our defenders because there is no good standard among them. They're all shit. It really is farcical. The mistakes - individual, team, collaborative, unique and repetitious - we get all kinds.

 

[LarryHagman]

Klavan isn't good enough for a top team, that has been evident since he arrived.
We need a new keeper, new CB, new LB, new DM, CM and a forward.
Plus, I don't want Sakho back, Palace is his level.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

We've had a poor defense for four years now. It's getting really annoying watching us rinse and repeat the same rubbish year on year.

It's also annoying watching us do nothing in terms of squad building to actually help the defense at all. In the same 4 year period I mentioned above, we've bought exactly zero defensive midfielders, we're STILL starting with Simon Mignolet in goal, and we've got an attacking midfielder playing left back.

Even Costacurta and Baresi would look shaky with our poor structure and pathetic defensive midfield around them.

 

[manwithnoname]

We score goals. Plenty of them.
I'm sure Klopp said when he started with us that defence is key. And it is. But, ours still falls short.
Surely getting a quality defence is priority now over the need for bettter strikers and wingers.
Yes, we still need another striker as I'm sure Sturridge is off, but a new defence is where most of our funds need to be invested.

Of course a striker is a fucking priority. Josh King has scored more goals than any Liverpool player on the pitch last night.

But while nothing has changed there, the obvious need to buy a GK, CB, LB and defensive midfielder is as desperate as it was in summer. And the summer before that.

Klopp hasn't got a fucking clue how to sort the defence out, so he will have to throw money at the problem.

6 goals conceded in one season against Bournemouth

 

[The Nomad]

In this order for priority

LB
CB
DM
FW
GK (We have Ward on loan, but im not overly adverse to getting a new GK before a forward)

We've been here before though, seen all the likely suspects going to other clubs. And we are left with dross like Klavan.

 

[redhorizon2]

Rodgers bought in Lovren, Sakho, Gomez and Illori. Klopp got in Mario and Klavan all the while we still leaked goals. I honestly think if we got a proper DM our defense would be far better. We definitely need a GK and if it needs £30m plus to solve that issue so be it. Mind you we need one that can turn a save into a swift counter attack. We look short of ideas without Mane and another intelligent winger would not go a miss

 

[Mors]

In this order for priority

LB
CB
DM
FW
GK (We have Ward on loan, but im not overly adverse to getting a new GK before a forward)

We've been here before though, seen all the likely suspects going to other clubs. And we are left with dross like Klavan.

We need a LB, but with Milner there it's not my greatest concern. For me the priority would look something like this:
GK>CB>DM>LB>WFWD>CF

 

[The Nomad]

Rodgers bought in Lovren, Sakho, Gomez and Illori. Klopp got in Mario and Klavan all the while we still leaked goals. I honestly think if we got a proper DM our defense would be far better. We definitely need a GK and if it needs £30m plus to solve that issue so be it. Mind you we need one that can turn a save into a swift counter attack. We look short of ideas without Mane and another intelligent winger would not go a miss

If Matip is our ball playing defender, We need a no-nonsense defender to play along side him. Lovren and Sakho are prone to errors, Klavan is too slow. Illori and Gomez were youngsters.

We need a CB with proven CB experience, someone who is battle hardened. Look at how well Cahill is doing at Chelsea after they plucked him from Bolton. I'd seriously try and get one of the following not necessarily in order
Gibson from Middlesbrough, Maguire from Hull or Keane from Burnley.

Let's not kid ourselves and say they aren't good enough for a top 6/7 team. Each and every one of them is. And all probably available in the summer for around £20-25m (maybe less if their team is relegated).

For however good Van Dijk is, he's too expensive for what we need.

I agree we need a DM too, Carvalho or Parades will continue to be linked.

 

[The Nomad]

We need a LB, but with Milner there it's not my greatest concern. For me the priority would look something like this:
GK>CB>DM>LB>WFWD>CF

I disagree, Milner is not a medium term solution, he'll be 32 next season. We need a LB as #1 priority.

 

[mom]

Of course a striker is a fucking priority. Josh King has scored more goals than any Liverpool player on the pitch last night.

But while nothing has changed there, the obvious need to buy a GK, CB, LB and defensive midfielder is as desperate as it was in summer. And the summer before that.

Klopp hasn't got a fucking clue how to sort the defence out, so he will have to throw money at the problem.

6 goals conceded in one season against Bournemouth

Would you put striker as priority over the defence?
Before a top DM or CB?
Firmino plays his best footy centrally. If Klopp can't find his perfect idea of a centre forward, one to justify moving Firmino to a position where he's much less effective, I can still see him being our main striker next season. Klopp loves him in the role he plays.

 

[Judge Jules]

I disagree, Milner is not a medium term solution, he'll be 32 next season. We need a LB as #1 priority.

Sorry but I don't think LB is even our top defensive priority (l agree with what you said above about CBs and a DM), let alone top priority overall. Milner's in excellent shape, besides which those other changes would help him keep things going decently at LB until we do fetch a specialist in.

 

[redhorizon2]

It's clear Klopp will spend money on several positions, but what budget would you allocate to each position? If something is a priority does it take the biggest part of budget or is it the first signing?
If a defender is priority but all the defenders that are better than the current stock are more than the allocated budget, what do you do then?

 

[manwithnoname]

It's clear Klopp will spend money on several positions, but what budget would you allocate to each position? If something is a priority does it take the biggest part of budget or is it the first signing?
If a defender is priority but all the defenders that are better than the current stock are more than the allocated budget, what do you do then?

Reassess our scouting system accordingly, because the Premiership and other top leagues are full of defensive players better than Mignolet, Lucas, Klavan and Lovren.

 

[Best Believe It]

It's clear Klopp will spend money on several positions, but what budget would you allocate to each position? If something is a priority does it take the biggest part of budget or is it the first signing?
If a defender is priority but all the defenders that are better than the current stock are more than the allocated budget, what do you do then?

Well we've no idea how much we have to spend so that's a bit of a pointless discussion, no? I would hope that we'd have agreed the positions we need to strengthen this summer (pretty much all of them) and agreed that we need to sign the best players we can for each position. They may have a figure in mind but that would probably include wages so it's very difficult to say.

 

[Grjt2]

I'd like a new top drawer striker, but the pragmatist in me says we'll be shopping at the Andre Gray level once the money goes out to cover our Defensive and DM frailties, which is difficult to get excited about...

 

[tombrown]

In this order for priority

LB
CB
DM
FW
GK (We have Ward on loan, but im not overly adverse to getting a new GK before a forward)

We've been here before though, seen all the likely suspects going to other clubs. And we are left with dross like Klavan.

Bring me gently into the 21st century and tell me what a "FW" is, please.

goal keeper, center back, full back, midfielder, winger, striker (or center forward) ... that's all I know, every other position (particularly when it is an acronym) is greek to me.

 

[Mors]

I disagree, Milner is not a medium term solution, he'll be 32 next season. We need a LB as #1 priority.

So you'd think then in recent games where we've let in silly goals or been unable to control the game or score, they've all come through mistakes through the LB position? Not for me.

 

[Oliver Twist]

It shouldn't be a priority. Should be quite far down the list.

 

[Esoteric]

First give me a centre-back pairing that are robust enough to play together week in week out. They don't have to be world class, just competent and robust enough to form a steady partnership over time.

Until we have a decent CB pairing, I can't see any goalie succeeding in our team. However, I don't see anything about our two keepers to suggest they will ever be part of a winning unit, so let them go and buy the best we can afford and bring back Ward - Oh, and if the new keeper think the goalie coach is shite - bin him off too.

Then we need a left back that is first and foremost a defender with the pace to get up and down the flank to add support. Milner has certainly done a job, but he had a massive slump around January and the lad is not getting any younger. I'd also question some of his positioning - though to be fair, I think he sometimes feels the need to defend a bit narrow through lack of confidence in the CBs.

Next for me is a DM. Someone that can actually break up attacks, help defend set pieces and doesn't give away senseless free kicks.

The hardest part I think, is finding players with the quality to at least challenge the forward options we already have. Recruits need to be happy to bide their time and step in - or attempt to make a position their own. We have to be able to replace like for like though to have a winning squad.

Finally, get shut of Studge and buy a new spear-head. Someone that works as hard as Firmino but with more end product. Firmino has to stay to provide cover and option as do Ings (I'd like to see him get a chance if he ever gets fit) and Origi (still got bags of potential)

The only players I'd let go are the keepers, Studge, Ragnar, Alberto and Lucas and possibly but not necessarily Sakho. I don't think we are a million miles away from winning things. Our first team -on song- are enough for anyone, we just need a higher quality of cover and a more steady, consistent defensive unit.

 

[The Nomad]

Bring me gently into the 21st century and tell me what a "FW" is, please.

goal keeper, center back, full back, midfielder, winger, striker (or center forward) ... that's all I know, every other position (particularly when it is an acronym) is greek to me.

Forward

 

[manwithnoname]

First give me a centre-back pairing that are robust enough to play together week in week out. They don't have to be world class, just competent and robust enough to form a steady partnership over time.

Until we have a decent CB pairing, I can't see any goalie succeeding in our team. However, I don't see anything about our two keepers to suggest they will ever be part of a winning unit, so let them go and buy the best we can afford and bring back Ward - Oh, and if the new keeper think the goalie coach is shite - bin him off too.

Then we need a left back that is first and foremost a defender with the pace to get up and down the flank to add support. Milner has certainly done a job, but he had a massive slump around January and the lad is not getting any younger. I'd also question some of his positioning - though to be fair, I think he sometimes feels the need to defend a bit narrow through lack of confidence in the CBs.

Next for me is a DM. Someone that can actually break up attacks, help defend set pieces and doesn't give away senseless free kicks.

The hardest part I think, is finding players with the quality to at least challenge the forward options we already have. Recruits need to be happy to bide their time and step in - or attempt to make a position their own. We have to be able to replace like for like though to have a winning squad.

Finally, get shut of Studge and buy a new spear-head. Someone that works as hard as Firmino but with more end product. Firmino has to stay to provide cover and option as do Ings (I'd like to see him get a chance if he ever gets fit) and Origi (still got bags of potential)

The only players I'd let go are the keepers, Studge, Ragnar, Alberto and Lucas and possibly but not necessarily Sakho. I don't think we are a million miles away from winning things. Our first team -on song- are enough for anyone, we just need a higher quality of cover and a more steady, consistent defensive unit.

Good post, apart from the Sakho bit.

It seems a strange starting point for the thread, though. It's not one or the other. It's clear now, as it has been for years, that we need to spend a lot of money on reshaping the defence and buying a decent DM, which he haven't had since Masher left.

Klopp knows all this, and he also knows we need to spend on the attack, as we are far too reliant on Mane. If we did a poll, 99% of Liverpool fans would say that we need a new striker who is a reliable finisher, so there's no arguing about that point. Klopp will buy one too, as he knows as well as we do that Sturridge is on his way out, and Firmino is slow and isn't a goalscorer - no striker in the premiership has had more shots and scored less goals than him. He does have some qualities, that much is indisputable, but when your striker has a total of 9 goals in April, and the lowest goal/ minutes played in the Premiership, you have to look for better options.

 

[beejay]

The main issue for me is still having a lack of options so we can rotate players and keep them fit with all guns blazing.

The lack of depth in our squad is crazy but we also don't need a wholesale rebuild all over again.

There are far too many players who are not good enough to step in (eg Karius, Moreno, Klavan) or have had their time and need to move on (Lucas, Sturridge) or are on loan and won't come back (Sakho, Markovic) or are too young & inexperienced (TAA, Woodburn, Wilson). As a result, when we have a few injuries like now the cracks appear.

We've played some scintillating football this season but it's clear as day that we can't maintain the tempo and once there's a drop-off, we hit a wall. I would still prioritise the centre of defence because we need a stand-out leader there, with the replacements for the players we sell to be of a better quality (which shouldn't be too difficult).