Front 6 depth without Suarez

[rurikbird]

So if Suarez leaves, our squad in the front 6 part seems to be shaping up like this:

Strikers:
1. Sturridge (full-time CF and now the undisputed alpha dog)
2. Sanchez (or Pedro or another relatively big name forward/wing forward)
3. Lambert ("Plan B")
4. Unclear (Borini or Origi, or maybe no one)

Attacking midfielders/wingers:
1. Sterling
2. Lallana
3. Coutinho
4. Markovic (or another similar top young signing)
5. Ibe and/or Teixeira

Central and defensive midfielders:
1. Gerrard
2. Henderson
3. Allen
4. Can

I'm assuming Aspas, Lucas and Suso won't be here next season.

How does this look to you?

For me, the quality of Suarez is not possible to fully replace (unless Sterling really becomes our Messi) and no matter how you slice it, whenever Suarez leaves we'll take a step or at best a half-step back. On the good side, this squad seems to have more balance and depth to it than last year's. And if we get someone like Markovic, then the long-term prospects will also look bright with an abundance of top-tier young talents. 2 more observations about the AMs:

1. They are all very young (except Lallana), but the strikers are all near the peak of their powers – I have to say that makes a lot of sense when I think about it.
2. None of them are pure playmakers or wingers, instead they combine qualities of both. Speed, energy AND creativity. I think that's great and bodes very well for our style of play. We will have this constant source of creativity to build the game around and it's not going to come from several players, not one.

 

[Ryan]

For me, relying on Sturridge as your main man up front is a risk.

Suarez carried that front line, and Sturridge - even though he got 20 odd goals- still played second fiddle.

You can have all the number 10's, attacking mids, and quality wide players you like - but you still need someone to lead the line well and score a fuckload. For all City have got in midfield, Aguero's still the absolute dog up front. And on the flip reverse, Spurs did fuck all without a great number 9 last year.

I like Sturridge, he's really good, but he's not Suarez - and I'm not convinced an array of sexy attacking mids and him will cut the mustard.

 

[localny]

Yup - if he goes we need our next gen striker

 

[Modo]

Can't disregard Sturridge's injury records either.

 

[rurikbird]

To be fair, Sturridge is a lot better than anything Spurs had up front. And I think we are getting Sanchez - unles he has some inexplicable desire to return to Italy, the stars seem to be aligned perfectly for this to happen. Plus - and this is important - we actually have an attack-minded manager to coach all these sexy attacking mids, instead of the defensive and formulaistic Villas Boas. Unlike him, Rodgers will actually know what how to build an effective attacking system from the attacking talent in his disposal.

I get your point, Ryan, nobody will be able to replace Suarez fully, just like you can't replace Messi or Cristiano (or Ibra - I think he deserves to be named in the same category). Our players will have to realize that if they don't create and finish chances themslves, there will be no genius to create something out of nothing for them. In fact they will have to realize it whether Suarez goes or stays, because he won't be here until November anyway...

 

[rurikbird]

This comparison of Suarez and Sturridge got me thinking about the different "tiers" of strikers in football now. This is how I see it at the moment:

Tier 1: "Genius" Messi, Ronaldo, Ibra, Suarez.
Tier 2: "World class" Neymar, Falcao, Aguero, Cavani, RVP, Lewandowski.
Tier 3: "Top class" Sturridge, Pedro, Higuain, Benzema, Sanchez, Diego Costa, Müller, Dzeko, Negredo, Immobile etc.

Obviously we can't replace Suarez with anybody from Tiers 1 and 2. We're lucky to have already one Tier 3 forward (and if we sell Suarez we can possibly buy another). Remember that half of this year's top 4 in England don't even have one...

 

[keniget]

If Suarez goes I think we need another striker. Sturridge doesnt have the best of injury records and Sanchez (or Pedro) hasn't got much in the way of evidence to show that he can lead the line.

Imagine Sturridge is out for 10 games. We have someone more accustomed to playing wide and Rickie Lambert. That's not good enough.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Well definitely need another extremely good, if not top class, striker should suarez go. Definitely.

 

[Frogfish]

I imagine that next season we will not be scoring as many goals, however that needn't be such a negative if our overall play improves to the level that we are not conceding as many goals either.

That IMHO is likely to be the scenario if Suarez leaves (odds-on) and we conclude deals for both a CB (Lovren - also odds on, in fact this could be 2 new CBs if the rumours are correct in our interest in Mangala, and both Agger and Toure leave, as seems more than likely) and a LB (according to Pearce this is not dead and is still likely to be Moreno).

However whether it's Moreno or another LB we will also have Enrique back and Flanno in reserve if absolutely necessary, so the LB and CB positions will have been strengthened, a lot. And for the Johnson detractors there is always the possibility of Flanno becoming the starting RB.

A lot though depends on acquiring Sanchez (it seems, my knowledge of Markovic or Shaqiri and Sanchez being rather lacking except for what I've seen at the WC).

With better ball carriers more capable of retaining possession, more creative talent on the pitch and much greater strength in depth so that in close games when we make substitutions we are not weakening the team, I imagine our creative stamina will last 90 mins and not start to fizzle out around 70-75 mins.

 

[doctor_mac]

I'm certainly happier at the thought of Lambert as another option as compared with Aspas, but lets not fool ourselves, any team in the world would be impoverished by the loss of a player like Suarez. I do like the idea of us having a team that brings more goals from a variety of positions, but ultimately, it would be great to sign a top forward.

 

[FoxForceFive]

@Frogfish That 'creative stamina' is something I've been giving thought to, there's an argument both ways.

The counter argument to yours is that we won a great deal of matches in the first half an hour & for all intents & purposes (or intensive purposes if you're that way inclined) could take our foot of the gas in a big way, which enabled us to have the energy to go on that staggering run before staggering over yards from the winning line at the last when that energy ran out.

Undoubtedly though, playing one up top gives Rodgers the ability to flood the midfield, in similar fashion to that which he did when he first stamped his mark on the team, play more possession football & still have some incredible pace from sturridge & sterling, as well as creativity from lallana & coutinho to rely on for goals.

On paper & in theory it works extremely well.

In reality, I fear the side will suffer some mental block after having such a talent as suarez creating space, worrying defenders & pushing them back, & may suffer withdrawal symptoms. It may also mean opponents fear us much less than they did last season, & that renewed fear teams felt when coming to anfield was invaluable last season.

 

[gkmacca]

Can't disregard Sturridge's injury records either.

Yes, that's what worries me. After enduring Owen and Torres' frailties it was pleasantly weird to have a striker in Suarez who seemed almost indestructible. Now we'll be back to having a forward who is never that far from being a worry. I think we need a very good fourth striker, a bona fide striker, not a winger who can do a bit further up, because we'll certainly have enough games.

 

[doctor_mac]

Are we being linked with any strikers? We seemed to be vying with Arsenal for Remy at one point, but I've heard nothing on that for ages.

 

[mark1975]

Are we being linked with any strikers? We seemed to be vying with Arsenal for Remy at one point, but I've heard nothing on that for ages.

If Suarez goes I hope we are looking at someone who's got the potential to be top drawer and who is up and coming, it'd be nice to nab the next exciting young South American, before they inevitably end up at Porto or Atletico.

 

[keniget]

If Suarez goes I hope we are looking at someone who's got the potential to be top drawer and who is up and coming, it'd be nice to nab the next exciting young South American, before they inevitably end up at Porto or Atletico.

Too late!

 

[FoxForceFive]

If Suarez goes I hope we are looking at someone who's got the potential to be top drawer and who is up and coming, it'd be nice to nab the next exciting young South American, before they inevitably end up at Porto or Atletico.

We'd need to find a way through the draconian visa rules this country has to do that.

 

[mark1975]

I wonder how much Deulofeu might cost? We'd obviously need a striker aswell, but if Suarez goes to Barca, I'd take him as part of the deal, at the right price.

 

[mark1975]

We'd need to find a way through the draconian visa rules this country has to do that.

True!

 

[doctor_mac]

I wonder how much Deulofeu might cost? We'd obviously need a striker aswell, but if Suarez goes to Barca, I'd take him as part of the deal, at the right price.

Hmmm. Me too.

 

[Athens]

We'd need to find a way through the draconian visa rules this country has to do that.

No voting UKIP for a start.

 

[Frogfish]

The counter argument to yours is that we won a great deal of matches in the first half an hour & for all intents & purposes (or intensive purposes if you're that way inclined) could take our foot of the gas in a big way, which enabled us to have the energy to go on that staggering run before staggering over yards from the winning line at the last when that energy ran out.

Undoubtedly though, playing one up top gives Rodgers the ability to flood the midfield, in similar fashion to that which he did when he first stamped his mark on the team, play more possession football & still have some incredible pace from sturridge & sterling, as well as creativity from lallana & coutinho to rely on for goals.

On paper & in theory it works extremely well.

In reality, I fear the side will suffer some mental block after having such a talent as suarez creating space, worrying defenders & pushing them back, & may suffer withdrawal symptoms. It may also mean opponents fear us much less than they did last season, & that renewed fear teams felt when coming to anfield was invaluable last season.

I'm never going to live that down am I ? It's going to be my 6CM persona until I die. Frogfish Intensif has a little more allure though.

Of course, we are still going to have that pace from Sterling & Sturridge ... and hopefully add to it with Sanchez and Markovic (or Shaqiri). We could be even more powerful/rapid on the break and maybe that will see teams sit deeper (and be less of a threat) in which case we will need the additional creativity, both to start and late on, to prise them open.

Mental Block - if Suarez leaves hopefully the likes of Sanchez, Markovic (or Shaqiri) and Lallana will be the pick-me-up we need. The fact that this is all happening now is a massive positive in that if he leaves within the next 2-3 weeks then we will have nearly 2 months to integrate the new players and get everyone feeling hap, hap, happy again. Far far better than him leaving at 5 to midnight on the last day of the window.

Opponent's Fear - maybe no Suarez but Sterling and Sturridge alone can instill it with their pace and trickery, add in Sanchez, Markovic (or Shaqiri) and Lallana and now that fear is of more than one or two men. It could even work in our favour. A lot depends on the first 5-6 games. Get off to a flyer and Suarez will soon be out of mind, though he will never be forgotten by the fans.

 

[Frogfish]

I wonder how much Deulofeu might cost? We'd obviously need a striker aswell, but if Suarez goes to Barca, I'd take him as part of the deal, at the right price.

Definitely - however I doubt another striker is on the agenda. Sanchez is the replacement and Lambert the backup.

 

[Frogfish]

Are we being linked with any strikers? We seemed to be vying with Arsenal for Remy at one point, but I've heard nothing on that for ages.

Another one I'd definitely have (real pace & skill), and after all our other expenditure probably one we could still afford. Think we are still 2nd favs for his signature after Arsenal. Just don't see it happening though.

 

[Modo]

I'd take Iker Munian or Fischer.

 

[Red Astaire]

This comparison of Suarez and Sturridge got me thinking about the different "tiers" of strikers in football now. This is how I see it at the moment:

Tier 1: "Genius" Messi, Ronaldo, Ibra, Suarez.
Tier 2: "World class" Neymar, Falcao, Aguero, Cavani, RVP, Lewandowski.
Tier 3: "Top class" Sturridge, Pedro, Higuain, Benzema, Sanchez, Diego Costa, Müller, Dzeko, Negredo, Immobile etc.

Obviously we can't replace Suarez with anybody from Tiers 1 and 2. We're lucky to have already one Tier 3 forward (and if we sell Suarez we can possibly buy another). Remember that half of this year's top 4 in England don't even have one...

I like that a lot. @rurikbird you post ace stuff. Keep doing it 🙂

 

[Red Astaire]

Well definitely need another extremely good, if not top class, striker should suarez go. Definitely.

That is very true but who? Suarez is simply irreplaceable.

 

[FoxForceFive]

That is very true but who? Suarez is simply irreplaceable.

He is indeed. Doesn't mean we can't try to get another striker in who can do a job & get maybe 10/15 goals a season. Sturridge is injury prone & blows hot & cold at times, so relying in him plus an older striker who may need rest more than a younger counterpart is madness.

I still think Borini should stay & can continue to improve next season, but whether he's the answer to that problem I'm not sure.

 

[cloggypop]

I'd take Iker Munian or Fischer.

Fischer is not good enough at the moment. He had a poor year. He is also injured.

 

[Modo]

Fischer is not good enough at the moment. He had a poor year. He is also injured.

He might be cheap then

 

[mark1975]

He is indeed. Doesn't mean we can't try to get another striker in who can do a job & get maybe 10/15 goals a season. Sturridge is injury prone & blows hot & cold at times, so relying in him plus an older striker who may need rest more than a younger counterpart is madness.

I still think Borini should stay & can continue to improve next season, but whether he's the answer to that problem I'm not sure.

Or two strikers/attackers who could bag 10/15 goals over the course of the season, which I'm sure is feasible with a £50m outlay.