The Skwad

[mark1975]

Regardless of squad depth, I think two players of real quality could make a significant difference to us. People keep identifying Insua and Lucas as the weakness, but the two key areas of real concern are Insua's position and attack.

Obviously we do need depth, I'm not going to counter that, but regards the 'team' I still think two additions, and the correct ones at that, could provide a huge facelift to the side.

GK - Reina (covered, though we could maybe do with an experienced ageing back up)

LB - Insua + a new quality signing.

CB - Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Zorba. (perhaps a replacement for Zorba in a young commanding CB, but otherwise no real concern, just an adjustment to our flawed marking system)

RB - Johnson (covered by Kelly or a reasonably priced backup option)

DM - Masher or Lucas. (I'd take that, I know many will argue the toss but Lucas is adequate cover for Masher, but should be utilised alongside him less frequently)

RM and LM - Kuyt, Babel, Maxi. (We definitely need quality here, those three I would keep hold of right now, mainly because we're short on numbers, and not forgetting Yossi can cover. QUALITY needed)

AM - Gerrard, Aquilani and Yossi, with Pacheco hopefully being allowed to step up. (No real cause for concern. Assuming we're going to do away with having two defensive midfielders all of the time, that leaves two berths available to those mentioned).

ST Torres - (No real quality beyond that. We need a top addition, who can either partner or cover for Nando. It's a big ask but someone quick and versatile would be ideal, someone who could cover one of the wide attacking berths would be even better).

We need cover, no question, and I'm not going to bring our annual lucky-dip free transfer into the equation, it'd be pointless putting any faith in the lad. But regards the first team, the main positions of priority should be left back and attack, with a couple of lesser priced additions elsewhere, and Kelly and Pacheco being allowed to show what they can do.

And as said, I think a change in the marking system and a shuffle of numbers between DM and AM is just as essential. Assuming Rafa is still in charge, I think it's hard to see what's going to happen on that note.

 

[cochyn]

*awaits brendan's lucas related tirade*

 

[TheBunnyman]

We desperately need a proper LW.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39509.msg1076827#msg1076827 date=1269612170]
We desperately need a proper LW.
[/quote]

Yeah, in hindsight, make that three top additions, though surely we can get a good left back at a reasonable price? Surely we don't have to what we did with Johnson?

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I think LW is our biggest priority at the minute.

 

[vikas]

I'm still amazed that Rafa hasn't tested Agger at left-back, in theory he should be quite good there..

 

[localny]

What about Milan the Serb? I think he's one more striking option, but I feel like we need another guaranteed striker...

 

[Jürgen4PM]

I tend to agree with most of that Mark.

I wouldn't bother to bring in another CB personally (i might even bomb out the Greek lad tbh), hopefully Kelly and Ayala can be used to cover those spots.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=localny link=topic=39509.msg1076832#msg1076832 date=1269612923]
What about Milan the Serb? I think he's one more striking option, but I feel like we need another guaranteed striker...
[/quote]

Yeah I was going to add him, but like I said we can never really tell, given our record with these type of signings.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

You'd hope that our "big" signings would be for the LW and striker positions. We should be able to pick up a LB and a back up CM for reasonable money.

 

[ibromurph]

[quote author=cochyn link=topic=39509.msg1076820#msg1076820 date=1269611748]
*awaits brendan's lucas related tirade*
[/quote]

*awaits Keni's response*

 

[ibromurph]

I'd really like Ashley Young, Cissokho and Doyle/C.Cole. Not that we have much of a chance of getting the first two.

 

[franklyfrank]

What about Kevin Doyle, would you take him Mark?

I certainly would. He leads the line well and his movement is top class.

 

[Squiggles]

We really are filling the gaps because of Rafa's terrible recent record in the transfer budget.

Really there are 3 key positions which need desperately filling;

LW - Cole/Milner
LB - Anyone
Back up striker - Bent

And all this is providing Aquilani comes good.

This will be an extremely big challenge for any manager.

 

[Buddha]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=39509.msg1076860#msg1076860 date=1269618307]
We really are filling the gaps because of Rafa's terrible recent record in the transfer budget.

Really there are 3 key positions which need desperately filling;

LW - Cole/Milner
LB - Anyone
Back up striker - Bent

And all this is providing Aquilani comes good.

This will be an extremely big challenge for any manager.
[/quote]

Spending 15-20m to play Milner left wing would be a ridiculously Rafa-esque transfer and still leave us devoid of a pacy out-and-out winger in the squad.

Bent would not come to us to sit on the bench in the hope Torres picks up an injury. He left Spurs in the pursuit of regular football.

I like the choice of left-back though..

 

[Squiggles]

Milner's better than anyone we've got, and when our squad is so shit, versatility is no bad thing.

He can play all the positions to a high level, unlike Benitez's crew. He's also English, which now makes a difference.

With regards to Bent, I'm tired of saying this - had he been he the last 2 years he would have played way, way more games than Fernando Torres. At Spurs he had 4/5 strikers keeping him out the team. We've got one. On a more general note, all this 'second fiddle' stuff is bullshit. A good striker would get enough games here and it should be within our interests to keep them happy.

We lost Crouch because of it. I hope we've learned our lesson.

 

[Buddha]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=39509.msg1076866#msg1076866 date=1269619648]
Milner's better than anyone we've got, and when our squad is so shit, versatility is no bad thing.

He can play all the positions to a high level, unlike Benitez's crew. He's also English, which now makes a difference.

With regards to Bent, I'm tired of saying this - had he been he the last 2 years he would have played way, way more games than Fernando Torres. At Spurs he had 4/5 strikers keeping him out the team. We've got one. On a more general note, all this 'second fiddle' stuff is bullshit. A good striker would get enough games here and it should be within our interests to keep them happy.

We lost Crouch because of it. I hope we've learned our lesson.

[/quote]

Milner's a cracking young player and i'd love to have him at Anfield (I started a thread about it when he went to Villa) - but with our budget constraints I'd rather we spend that type of money on exactly what we need (and what Rafa still hasn't addressed), the lack of genuine width.

I'm not saying I wouldn't want Bent here (although I'm more ambivalent than yourself), just that I think you'd have some trouble convincing him to move. Sure, he'd get games with Torres always likely to have a period of injury, but I think he's made the decision to play somewhere where he's top dog.

I wish Crouch and Bellamy were still here too.

 

[aquaman4]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39509.msg1076827#msg1076827 date=1269612170]
We desperately need a proper LW.
[/quote]

right wing is even more desperate i am fed up of dirk kuyt as a right winger he is a striker who can play along side torres in a 4-4-2 system.babel can play lw if given a confidence jab and kept in the side long enough to establish himself as number one left winger in the team .

 

[Squiggles]

Yossi is a great on the right. Nobody can say this for anyone on left, especially now Riera's off, so the left has to be the priority.

Although someone who care play both would be great.

 

[the_khl]

Good post Mark.

A few thoughts.

If we were to replace Zorba with a young commanding CB we are going to use probably every bit on our transferbudget in that specific area. The only way I can see us go for someone who's worth it we'll need to sell someone in the back too who can actually fetch a fee. Sadly.

We really need wingers capable of both beating their marker AND create goals - with pace*.

Kuyt, Maxi and Benayoun are very much alike really hence I'd be selling at least one and perhaps two of them alongside Riera. Kuyt and Benayoun probably. If Babel can keep improving untill the end of the Season I'd be less tempted to ship him off.

*Copyright Brendan.

 

[keniget]

[quote author=ibromurph link=topic=39509.msg1076848#msg1076848 date=1269616324]
[quote author=cochyn link=topic=39509.msg1076820#msg1076820 date=1269611748]
*awaits brendan's lucas related tirade*
[/quote]

*awaits Keni's response*
[/quote]

Haha, I did wonder if anyone had picked up on me replying to cochyn each time.

Is it just me that never notices cochyn unless he's slagging Brendan off?

 

[keniget]

It's hard to say how much investment is needed for two reasons:

1) Aquilani currently represents one of the biggest question marks in the squad and until we can determine whether a) he's a suitable replacement for Alonso or b) the formation can be changed (and is actually worth changing) to accommodate him, we need another central midfielder in the summer.

2) On paper the squad isn't as bad as it's been made out to be this season, so there is room for improvement even without purchasing new players. The question is to what extent can we afford to leave ourselves in the position of relying on average players to up their game as part of a performing team - particularly if Rafa stays on.

In an ideal world regardless of the points above, I'd like to see a LB, CB, CM, LW and ST coming in. And that's going to take a City / Madrid type summer to pull off, which isn't going to happen. So if we were to prioritise the positions, I'd go with:

1. LB - Aurelio will go and Insua needs to be a backup player.

2. LW - Riera and potentally Babel will go, leaving Yossi, Maxi and Jovovic who can play on the left and none of them are naturals in that position. We need a top class first teamer here.

3. CB - Our defence has been inexcusable this season and they need too much babysitting by the midfield. I don't know about a Skrtel / Agger partnership either.

4. CM - This is largely dependant on how Aquilani fits into everything. If he can't play alongside Masher or a midfield three isn't on the cards, we need a new central midfielder and Lucas, who wouldn't be too bad as a squaddie, would have to make way.

5. ST - This would be higher, but we're not going to sell Kuyt, so a complement of Torres, Kuyt, Jovovic and N'Gog doesn't seem too bad on paper, particularly as we only play one up to. That is, unless we see Kuyt and Jovovic on the wings most of the time in which case we do need another striker and it should be higher up.

RB is another question mark I suppose, but I think we can get away with Kelly at RB, so there isn't much point buying another RB unless we plan to spend a good amount on someone like Azpilicueta and potentially move Johnson up to RM, which seems very unlikely.

 

[darkstarexodus]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=39509.msg1076917#msg1076917 date=1269634292]
[quote author=ibromurph link=topic=39509.msg1076848#msg1076848 date=1269616324]
[quote author=cochyn link=topic=39509.msg1076820#msg1076820 date=1269611748]
*awaits brendan's lucas related tirade*
[/quote]

*awaits Keni's response*
[/quote]

Haha, I did wonder if anyone had picked up on me replying to cochyn each time.

Is it just me that never notices cochyn unless he's slagging Brendan off?
[/quote]

Nope, you're not the only one and yes I had noticed you reply to him every time. heh.

And I essentially agree with your analysis below. Left back is definitely looking high priority. I just haven't heard any good, realistic options bandied around lately.

 

[KopKing]

We need a top drawer striker and wide player and a decent left back. the extra competition alone will 'up' the other players' games. My names? I said it in my post, David Villa, Arda Turan and 'Decent left back'. I'd move Gerrard right wing and keep it solid in the centre.

 

[peterhague]

[quote author=KopKing link=topic=39509.msg1077003#msg1077003 date=1269681320]
We need a top drawer striker and wide player and a decent left back. the extra competition alone will 'up' the other players' games. My names? I said it in my post, David Villa, Arda Turan and 'Decent left back'. I'd move Gerrard right wing and keep it solid in the centre.


[/quote]


as things stand, there's zero chance of us getting anyone like villa. in fact, that's the general reason i'd ignore the striker position: you just don't get much for your money, and other positions are equally pressing (more so because LB & LW, for example, are problems in the first team rather than reserve).

if we can't realistically rely on torres playing most of the season then we need to seriously question whether a part-time wonder player's really a luxury we can afford in our current situation. i'd hate to see him sold but his injuries are a real concern imo.

 

[KopKing]

[quote author=peterhague link=topic=39509.msg1077005#msg1077005 date=1269682613]
[quote author=KopKing link=topic=39509.msg1077003#msg1077003 date=1269681320]
We need a top drawer striker and wide player and a decent left back. the extra competition alone will 'up' the other players' games. My names? I said it in my post, David Villa, Arda Turan and 'Decent left back'. I'd move Gerrard right wing and keep it solid in the centre.


[/quote]


as things stand, there's zero chance of us getting anyone like villa. in fact, that's the general reason i'd ignore the striker position: you just don't get much for your money, and other positions are equally pressing (more so because LB & LW, for example, are problems in the first team rather than reserve).

if we can't realistically rely on torres playing most of the season then we need to seriously question whether a part-time wonder player's really a luxury we can afford in our current situation. i'd hate to see him sold but his injuries are a real concern imo.

[/quote]

There's no such thing as 'zero chance' in anything in my book, though I understand what you're saying. We don't have all the facts though. Maybe the owners will stump up some money this summer as they did go on record as saying that the January market is of no value and that this summer will 'big'

David Villa wouldn't be as expensive as we may think. He's about 28 now I think and if he expresses a desire to leave, but only for Liverpool in a similar way to Torres did, then a deal could be done for say, 25m or less. Still major wonga admittedly, but not beyond the realm of possibility.

I just want a team that can win the Premiership and unless we bring in a couple of big players in attacking positions, we have *almost* zero chance of doing so 🙂

Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Decent left back

Gerrard Masher Aqua/Lucas Turan

Villa Torres

That would win the league and be probably the most entertaining team we've had since the Beardsley Barnes & Aldridge days

 

[keniget]

David Villa is being talked about in the 40M bracket with Barca, Chelsea and City all interested. Now you may be of the glass half full anything is possible persuasion, but general logic regarding the unlikelihood of securing a massive star along with an entire new left wing aside, I really don't see how this sits with your views on the owners. Blind hope?

 

[KopKing]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=39509.msg1077021#msg1077021 date=1269685603]
David Villa is being talked about in the 40M bracket with Barca, Chelsea and City all interested. Now you may be of the glass half full anything is possible persuasion, but general logic regarding the unlikelihood of securing a massive star along with an entire new left wing aside, I really don't see how this sits with your views on the owners. Blind hope?
[/quote]

Forget newspaper talk, what do they know? The same thing was said about Torres. When you're in a desperate situation, blind hope is all you have left! There's a lot of power in 'hope', it's the flipside of despair and it works too. 🙂

 

[the_khl]

As one of the biggest clubs around if we can't raise £10M to transfers following a 09/10 Season where we had a NET SPEND of £3M then we're royally fucked.

I'll asume in the following that we are indeed not.

OUT
Skrtel £8M
Riera £6M
Benayoun £6M
Babel £9M
Aurelio Free
Youngsters like perhaps Spearing, Plessis; Darby, Barragan (or was it San Jose) and a few more £5M

£34M

IN
Kjaer £9M
Jovanovic Free
Joe Cole Free
Arda Turan £12M
Christian Eriksen £14M
LB £8M (Taiwo perhaps)?

£43M

Done.

 

[ibromurph]

[quote author=KHL link=topic=39509.msg1077043#msg1077043 date=1269689903]
As one of the biggest clubs around if we can't raise £10M to transfers following a 09/10 Season where we had a NET SPEND of £3M then we're royally fucked.

I'll asume in the following that we are indeed not.

OUT
Skrtel £8M
Riera £6M
Benayoun £6M
Babel £9M
Aurelio Free
Youngsters like perhaps Spearing, Plessis; Darby, Barragan (or was it San Jose) and a few more £5M

£34M

IN
Kjaer £9M
Jovanovic Free
Joe Cole Free
Arda Turan £12M
Christian Eriksen £14M
LB £8M (Taiwo perhaps)?

£43M

Done.
[/quote]

Or we could just sell Torres for 80m (don't know who to).. and then buy Villa for 40m.. and buy all those u listed above without needing to sell anyone (save balancing the wage bill).