Potential new signings...

[alias75]

Up until a month ago most fans agreed on where we needed to improve, a right winger, a partner for Torres a left back maybe even a left winger has that changed slightly with the new formation?

 

Stevie and Torres really do have something special between them but i still think we need a partner for Torres in those games where we want to go 4-4-2.

 

I also think that right wing / right forward position is one we could strengthen, im not convinced by Pennant and while Kuyts played well in that role i think we can do better there, i think that position is more suited still to a right winger rather than a forward thats going to play out wide although there are some forwards out there that are specialised at playing that type of wide forward position, Farfan at PSV is one example.

 

I also think the fullback positions are now much more important in the new formation, im happy with Arbeloa and he can play right or left but at least 1 top quality attacking fullback is a must.

[Swipe]

If money is no option, we need a backup keeper, two new full-backs (esp a LB), at least one winger and replacements for Kuyt and Voronin up front.

 

IF money is no option!

[safe]

Playing this system utilises the strengths of our squad right and also it lessens our summer needs. The spine of the team is very strong

 

As of right now I thnk we need a quality RB (I'd be willing to give Insua a go at LB) A midfielder especially if Xabi is off and essentially a WC right sided attacker to play the Kuyt role

Edited March 8, 2008 by safe

[alias75]

Playing this system utilises the strengths of our squad right and also it lessens our summer needs. The spine of the team is very strong

 

As of right now I thnk we need a quality RB (I'd be willing to give Insua a go at LB) A midfielder especially if Xabi is off and essentially a WC right sided attacker to play the Kuyt role

 

Id agree with that our better players are all playing in this formation and its getting the best out of key players like Gerrard, Alonso, Torres, Babel, Mascherano. I think Insua will get games next season but im not sure hes ready to be our #1 left back, but this formation certainly suits his style he loves to get forward and has good quality delivery from out wide.

 

The wide right position is the obvious one, if we get the right player in that position the team is looking very, very strong.

[Rimbeux]

One player who can play 10, play wide or play up front. Van Persie would be an identikit.

 

Two fullbacks

[Benzo-13]

One player who can play 10, play wide or play up front. Van Persie would be an identikit.

 

Two fullbacks

 

The 3 I'd go for that are suited ot our system are VdV, Alves and Villa but if DIC wanted to add in a pot of money then why not go after the goofy one from Barca?

Edited March 8, 2008 by Benzo-13

[alias75]

The 3 I'd go for that are suited ot our system are VdV, Alves and Villa but if DIC wanted to add in a pot of money then why not go after the goofy one from Barca?

 

Dos Santos?

[Guest JV]

Alves or a player like him is a must.

[MickeyDocs]

Alves or a player like him is a must.

 

 

We need one top class attacking signing. The 7 shirt is available and there is a new home shirt on the way, please let it be someone worthy of this special number

[alias75]

We need one top class attacking signing. The 7 shirt is available and there is a new home shirt on the way, please let it be someone worthy of this special number

 

Think Stevie should be wearing number 7 but thats a different argument we still need that number 10 type player thats flexible enough to play off the striker or as a wide forward.

[Frosty Jack]

I can't wait til we have a fully fit and firing on all cylinders Harry Kewell in the side, he will make that number 7 his own once again.

[Jarg Armani]

negativland, you'll get in trouble saying that sort of thing on here without any smilies.

 

michael owen is the 20 goal a season striker we've been crying out for.

[genghis]

I can't wait til we have a fully fit and firing on all cylinders Harry Kewell in the side, he will make that number 7 his own once again.

 

 

Similarly, I can't wait for the rapture, the second coming, and first contact with aliens from another galaxy. Oh and a car that runs on air.

 

 

Don't think you're going to ever see a "fully fit" HK at Liverpool. I think he'll leave, and retire in the summer.

[Cisse]

--------Reina-----

Alves-Agger-Skrtel--Downing

-----Alonso----Masch-----

"Ronaldo-clone"--Gerrard---Babel--

---------Torres---------

 

That would be one hell of a team.

Edited March 8, 2008 by Cisse

[stressederic]

Stewart Downing?

[Foxtrot]

--------Reina-----

Alves-Agger-Skrtel--Downing

-----Alonso----Masch-----

"Ronaldo-clone"--Gerrard---Babel--

---------Torres---------

 

That would be one hell of a team.

Agreed! But the big question is, with Skrtel and Agger - if he returns as fit as he was - what do we do with Carra?

[FakeNewsBear]

---------------------Reina--------------------

-------Arebola----Carragher----Skrtel----Insua----

--------------Lucas------Mascherano---------------

---Gerrard----------Kaka-------Babel--------------

------------------Torres-----------------------------

 

i mean if we aew gonna go big

[ChrisC]

Playing this system utilises the strengths of our squad right and also it lessens our summer needs. The spine of the team is very strong

 

As of right now I thnk we need a quality RB (I'd be willing to give Insua a go at LB) A midfielder especially if Xabi is off and essentially a WC right sided attacker to play the Kuyt role

 

Have we not got enough toilet right-sided players??

 

[Guest ziggystardust]

--------Reina-----

Alves-Agger-Skrtel--Downing

-----Alonso----Masch-----

"Ronaldo-clone"--Gerrard---Babel--

---------Torres---------

 

That would be one hell of a team.

 

 

im glad your not in charge of our scouting department. Stewart Downing is sh!te for starters but then your want to play him left back?????????????????????????

 

and who is this ronaldo clone you speak of????????? no carragher???????????

[The_MC]

I think Maxi Rodriguez would be excellent in the current formation in the role Kuyt has been playing. He gets a few goals, and has got a decent mentality (Atletico captain if im not mistaken?). He's 27 i think, so in his prime and hopefully wouldnt need long to settle in.

 

[Guest Prongsy]

Stewart Downing?

 

surely not!

 

 

 

 

[fantasyfootballwarning]

 

 

 

I think we need more players than most are predicting, but mainly because we have a fair amount that need getting rid of. We need the option of playing this Valencia style formation and a 4-4-2, so need to have the right type of player to fit into those systems. Babel is a good example because he's massively less effective in a 4-4-2 with lots of defensive work to do than he is in the 4-2-3-1 where he is a wide striker when attacking.

 

We'll need certain players to play in different areas, Arbeloa can cover either left or right back in any formation with a back 4, babel can play striker, withdraw striker or on either wing, Gerrard can play central, right or attacking in the 4-2-3-1....

 

Crouch

Voronin

riise

pennant

benayoun

Finnan (shock horror!)

 

 

 

Then with two players for each position...

 

 

4-2-3-1

 

 

GK

Pepe

Itange

 

RB

New

Arbeloa

 

 

CB

Carra

Agger

 

Skrtel

Hypia

 

LB

New

Aurelio

 

RW

New

 

 

LW

Babel

New

 

DM

Mascherano

Alonso

 

CM/AM

Gerrard

Lucas

 

ST

Torres

New

Kuyt

 

 

Which makes that look something like this

 

 

----------------------------Pepe

 

Arbeloa----------Carra-----------Agger---------------New

 

------------------Masch----------Alonso

New----------------------Gerrard----------------------Babel

 

--------------------------Torres

 

 

 

4-4-2

 

 

 

GK

 

 

GK

Pepe

Itange

 

RB

New

Arbeloa

 

 

CB

Carra

Agger

 

Skrtel

Hypia

 

LB

New

Aurelio

 

RM

New

Babel (cover only)

 

LM

New

Babel (cover only)

 

CM

Gerrard

Masch

 

Alonso

Lucas

 

ST

Torres

Babel

New

New

 

 

 

 

So we need to look at the right players to fill those gaps. I've written 'new' 11 times, now it's obvious we don't need 11 players (even with 6 leaving). So, in my opinion we need a left back, a right back, a right winger, a left winger, one new striker and one new withdrawn/hole player, that's 6 out and 6 in. They need to be able to play in position for both 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 (which looks like it will be the main stay, like it was for Rafa in Valencia).

 

6 out and 6 in one summer period isn't going to work very well, it'll lead to another season of settling in, so I think we should do 4 and then the next summer do 2, starting with the most important attacking positions.

 

So this summer. I'd get rid of Finnan, Yossi, Riise and Crouch (voronin would be happier to sit and float around if we need him than crouch, we'd also get more money for crouch). Who Rafa wants to bring in is up to him and how much cash he has on top of raised funds but I'm going to just put down the players I would like us to challenge for...

 

Diego Ribas to replace Yossi. This would give rafa an option for 4-4-2 when playing the withdrawn striker, and it would also be a player that could play in Gerrards position in the 4-2-3-1 (doing what Aimar did at Valencia). He's also pretty great (swwwoooonnn). He''d give us a creative player that we've been lacking since luis Garcia was at his very best.

 

Riise replaced by... Not sure, Lahm would be ideal and probably way out of all but the richest clubs price range. Under DIC it's unclear if what the funding arrangements will be with the 49% situations etc etc. So maybe Vargas... Also not cheep. Both top players, and lets face it, top players are the only players that are going to improve the team now. Money need to be spent or Insua given the trust his talent deserves.

 

Crouch replaced by... Take your pick, there are loads of good strikers around.

 

 

Finnan replaced by... Rafinha. It's all in the name.

 

 

[/fantasyfootballwarning]

 

 

 

 

It's pure 'what I would do' fan talk, and pure fantasy. But it's where I'd start.

[Cunny]

we don't need a left back, Insua is good enough and should be given his chance alongside Aurelio and Arbeloa

[Guest Prongsy]

we don't need a left back, Insua is good enough and should be given his chance alongside Aurelio and Arbeloa

 

I'd say it's one of our most needed positions. Aurelio is crippled every 10 games and Insua is not what you'd call experienced.

 

It could come down to it that we have one young, inexperienced teenager being our only left back. Not ideal.

[Cunny]

I'd say it's one of our most needed positions. Aurelio is crippled every 10 games and Insua is not what you'd call experienced.

 

It could come down to it that we have one young, inexperienced teenager being our only left back. Not ideal.

 

 

How does he get the experience?

He should be looking to play a dozen or so league games next season, with Arbeloa and Aurelio playing the rest.

We need a right back and right sided midfielder more than a left back.

[Romario]

I wonder if SWP could be an option now they have a new manager etc. I think he'd do a brilliant job for us as a RM in a 4-2-3-1 formation. He seems the kind of player that needs to be playing every week to be at his best.