Anyone still think a striker is still priority?

[The Nomad]

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.

That's not what I said, sure at time's positionally he's been caught out, but at time's he's been close to sublime.

However my point is we shouldn't be playing a recognised CM in LB. The player stated himself he doesn't like it, but is doing a job for the team. No other top team would be putting midfielders into defence regularly like we do.

We need a specialist LB, heck I don't mind if we have Milner as back up LB so still plays there 15 times or so a season.

So I reiterate, we need a LB (because our Specialist LB currently goes AWOL and our starting LB is a midfielder)
We need a CB (Because Lovren has a mistake in him, Sakho is as good as gone, but also has a mistake in him, Klavan is not good enough, and Gomez can't even break into the team and will be raw).
We need a DM because Lucas isn't the answer in our system, and we have no "back up" despite all the people who think Henderson performs admirably in the #6 role.
GK I've already said we have Ward who's having a good season in the Championship, yes he's unproven at Premier League level, but most keepers we might bring in also will be. We've seen from Karius, Bravo et al. Playing in a top class league abroad does not always guarantee success in the Premier League.

We shouldn't be aiming for "make do's" we should fix the problems with specialist players.

 

[redhorizon2]

We have no influence who the club buys and what they will spend, but if we're discussing transfers and players we need to have parameters the board and management would discuss. I think the budget is £60m net, you might disagree then come up with a different figure and set your budget, your target players within that budget.

 

[The Nomad]

We have no influence who the club buys and what they will spend, but if we're discussing transfers and players we need to have parameters the board and management would discuss. I think the budget is £60m net, you might disagree then come up with a different figure and set your budget, your target players within that budget.

I had between £40-60m net depending on whether we qualify for the CL or not. It's heartening to hear us pushing for inflated fees on players such as Markovic and Sakho, but on the flip side perhaps it means we will have to get used to paying inflated fees ourselves.

 

[Oliver Twist]

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.

I'd about agree with your list and order of priorities. Could do with amother pacy wide player as well. If we're going to chuck money at an attacking player, I'd rather it was at that type of player rather than a typical no 9 who will be out of place, anyway.

 

[The Nomad]

I'd about agree with your list and order of priorities. Could do with amother pacy wide player as well. If we're going to chuck money at an attacking player, I'd rather it was at that type of player rather than a typical no 9 who will be out of place, anyway.

Yes sorry, that's why I put Forward rather than winger or centre forward, one who can interchange.

I put in another thread, but I'd happily buy Gabigol for £15-20m. A front 3 of Gabigol, Coutinho and Firmino is very intriguing.

 

[refugee]

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.

This

And it's unlikely we'll be able to afford / attract world class players in each of those positions, so whichever position we can make the biggest improvement in becomes the highest priority.

 

[FoxForceFive]

We need a top, top quality DM.

I'd break the bank for one, has to be priority.

DM, GK, ST, CB, LB.

That order. You get that top class DM & good keeper & the CB's will look better immediately imo. Milner can do another season at LB.

We do need another striker. Fuck the "scoring enough goals" argument.

Sure, we've lost games scoring goals cos we've let too many in, but in so many games this season we have had tonnes of possession, & loads of chances with zero goals to show for it. A real striker would help in those games.

 

[manwithnoname]

This

And it's unlikely we'll be able to afford / attract world class players in each of those positions, so whichever position we can make the biggest improvement in becomes the highest priority.

Gary Cahill £5m from Bolton Wanderers
Van Dijk: £13m from Celtic
Victor Wanyama: £11m from Southampton
Jan Vertonghen: £11m from Atletico Madrid
Ryan Bertrand: £10m from Chelsea

Other teams seem able to find them

 

[HC]

Im a big milner fan but absolutely do not want to see another season of him at LB!

Itd be criminal if he was starting there come August @FoxForceFive

 

[Brizzle]

Assuming Sturridge goes, then a Striker is a priority in the sense that we need to replace that gap. It might not be the biggest priority, but it is still one that can't be ignored.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I think we'll buy another LB, hell, I think we need one. But it should be last priority imo behind those other positions.

If we get a DM in, then we have a few players who can play in midfield ahead of Milner, so we can leave lb to last knowing Milner is an option there.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

GK
CB
DM

We need top top talent here.

 

[peekay]

Me.

Yes, we need to improve the personnel in our defense. But I also think the issue is exacerbated because of the system we use. I think Klopp has no clue on how to organize a defense. If Rafa or Mourinho coaches this team for two weeks we will see significant improvement in defense instantly.

I think our path to CL and title is the 2013/14 template. Blow teams away with goals. Plenty of 5-3, 6-4.

So given the limited resources, I would still prioritize buying good attacking players with pace and who score goals so that we don't feel the loss of Sturridge, Mane, drop in forms etc. I think that is Klopp's strength.

 

[refugee]

Gary Cahill £5m from Bolton Wanderers
Van Dijk: £13m from Celtic
Victor Wanyama: £11m from Southampton
Jan Vertonghen: £11m from Atletico Madrid
Ryan Bertrand: £10m from Chelsea

Other teams seem able to find them

Not sure what your point is? Do you think we will sign 5 great players for cheap?

 

[redhorizon2]

Gary Cahill £5m from Bolton Wanderers
Van Dijk: £13m from Celtic
Victor Wanyama: £11m from Southampton
Jan Vertonghen: £11m from Atletico Madrid
Ryan Bertrand: £10m from Chelsea

Other teams seem able to find them

Our scouts are shit, but I remember when Wanyama and Bertrand were being discussed 6CM posters were not so keen on them

 

[The Nomad]

Gary Cahill £5m from Bolton Wanderers
Van Dijk: £13m from Celtic
Victor Wanyama: £11m from Southampton
Jan Vertonghen: £11m from Atletico Madrid
Ryan Bertrand: £10m from Chelsea

Other teams seem able to find them

Exactly my point re: Gibson, Maguire or Keane - All three no nonsense defenders all available for a reasonable fee, all would improve our defence.

 

[refugee]

Exactly my point re: Gibson, Maguire or Keane - All three no nonsense defenders all available for a reasonable fee, all would improve our defence.

Are they good enough on the ball for Klopp to utilise them correctly? I can't see Klopp changing his system to suit defenders that aren't suited to building up play from defence.

 

[The Nomad]

Are they good enough on the ball for Klopp to utilise them correctly? I can't see Klopp changing his system to suit defenders that aren't suited to building up play from defence.

I think so, they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Gibson probably more of a ball playing defender than the other two.

 

[Fallon]

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

Quite simply I'd say go and watch the goals we concede, the amount of times we've been done on that side is silly. I like Milner but he doesn't hold the position well, he has no pace for recovery and we're constantly getting targeted on that side because every frigger who plays us knows it.

 

[Hansern]

Gary Cahill £5m from Bolton Wanderers
Van Dijk: £13m from Celtic
Victor Wanyama: £11m from Southampton
Jan Vertonghen: £11m from Atletico Madrid
Ryan Bertrand: £10m from Chelsea

Other teams seem able to find them

Are you suggesting that the players listed above are World class? I hope not. That would make the whole Origi debate seem pointless from your point of view.

 

[Hansern]

Our scouts are shit, but I remember when Wanyama and Bertrand were being discussed 6CM posters were not so keen on them

Bertrand wasnt impressing anyone at Chelsea but several of us wanted Wanyama.

 

[darkstarexodus]

I think we'll buy another LB, hell, I think we need one. But it should be last priority imo behind those other positions.

If we get a DM in, then we have a few players who can play in midfield ahead of Milner, so we can leave lb to last knowing Milner is an option there.

Agree 100% with this.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Bertrand wasnt impressing anyone at Chelsea but several of us wanted Wanyama.

I was the opposite. Didn't think Wanyama was that great (is he?) but saw the benefit to Bertrand.

 

[Judge Jules]

Wanyama may not be a galactico exactly but he'd have been just what we need to put a bit of bite in that midfield, plus he can play a bit too.

 

[Hansern]

Wanyama was very good for Celtic and was a great signing for 12 mill. Bertrand hadnt been that bad for Chelsea but I think most were a bit reserved given his limited game time and rather anonymous loan at Villa. I dont think he's all that good now either but would obviously have been a much much better signing than the hopeless Moreno.

 

[mom]

Ideally, i would love a Firmino

We need a top, top quality DM.

I'd break the bank for one, has to be priority.

DM, GK, ST, CB, LB.

That order. You get that top class DM & good keeper & the CB's will look better immediately imo. Milner can do another season at LB.

We do need another striker. Fuck the "scoring enough goals" argument.

Sure, we've lost games scoring goals cos we've let too many in, but in so many games this season we have had tonnes of possession, & loads of chances with zero goals to show for it. A real striker would help in those games.

A top notch striker would indeed help, but then you'd lose Firmino up front and all he brings. Anyone who watches the matches carefully will see just how vital he is to the formation. So yeh, a good striker will add, but then moving Firm out wide will subtract. It's hard to gauge the overall net effect. Ultimately, id want Firmino to score more goals and keep him there. He needs to be more clinical when he does get his chances.
Of course you can argue that scoring more goals will win more games, just as you can argue conceding less goals will do the same. But how good are we at scoring compared to how good we are at defending? We've scored more goals than any other team in the league. How much higher do you think we will perform in that respect? How much room for improvement is there?
I think it's safe to say that this defence is bloody easy to improve on.
As far as the law of diminishing returns is concerned, putting the defence first will yield more return.
But do we need a striker? Yes, we do. But it's not at the top of my list, and I don't think it's at the top of Klopp's either

 

[manwithnoname]

Are they good enough on the ball for Klopp to utilise them correctly? I can't see Klopp changing his system to suit defenders that aren't suited to building up play from defence.

Keane is a very good passer, for a start. But he will cost at least £20m

 

[manwithnoname]

Are you suggesting that the players listed above are World class? I hope not. That would make the whole Origi debate seem pointless from your point of view.

They're not world class. They don't have to be. They're all better than many of our current options and are all very good players

My point is that we don't need - and can't afford - to spend £30, £40, £50m on every position that requires strengthening, and it is entirely possible to get good players for less that would easily improve our team

Spurs have spent less than us on building their team, and it's better

 

[peekay]

They're not world class. They don't have to be. They're all better than many of our current options and are all very good players

My point is that we don't need - and can't afford - to spend £30, £40, £50m on every position that requires strengthening, and it is entirely possible to get good players for less that would easily improve our team

Spurs have spent less than us on building their team, and it's better

Chelsea, Tottenham, and Southampton all pay far more attention to the defensive side of the game than us. They all play with DMs. Do you think those four will look as good in our system?

Of course, if the question is, Will they look better than Klavan?, answer is a resounding yes.

Two out of those four may help alleviate the issue a little bit but I don't think they will fix it.

 

[manwithnoname]

I wasn't even specifically talking about those players. Just trying to correct the bizarre notion that to improve our team would require 30m spent on every position