What's needed to move forward?

[richwilks]

Who should we be looking at now to move us forward in the summer and will the money be there to spend?

 

In reality I don't see the need for another big money forward to come is as the Gerrard/Torres combination is clearly working. What we do need though is suitable replacements for both players if injuries catch up with them again.

 

Benayoun is more than capable of playing the off the striker role, he's very different to Gerrard but would offer good back up. I think Pacheco is another, who given the chance, could offer another type of cover in the hole position.

 

We just don't have anyone in the side who can offer what Torres offers. Personally I'd like to see us go for Daniel Sturridge who is on a free at the end of the season, is strong, direct and quick and would provide good cover for Torres as well as being a player with massive potential.

 

I think we're well covered in goal, we've got 3 good left backs fighting it out now and providing we can keep Agger and Sami wants to stay for another season then we don't need to move for anyone in the centre of defence.

 

At right back I think we need competition for Arbeloa rather than a direct replacement. Arbeloa has proven himself this season in my eyes but he does need somebody to keep him on his toes and Degen isn't that man. I think Micah Richards would be a good shout although could be expensive and would probably look for regular football, maybe David Wheater as well who could cover both positions or Kuba who could cover right wing as well.

 

Central midfield is another area we're well stocked in with Masch, Lucas, Alonso and the ability to drop Gerrard in their if needed but I get the feeling that we might see Barry come this summer, hopefully not at the expense of Alonso though. We don't necessarily need improvement there but Barry would offer cover on the left side if he does come.

 

Left wing I think we need to improve. Riera had a cracking start to his Liverpool career but has dropped off at an alarming rate and Babel just doesn't look to have the ability his attributes says he should have. It would be good to look at someone like David Silva, with Valencia struggling for cash a move could materialise and he'd certainly improve our starting XI and is an incredibly skilful player.

 

Right wing again needs improving with only really Kuyt as an option, Benayoun isn't the same player when asked to hog the line. Someone like Lennon would be ideal and offer a real drive that we have lacking at the moment, someone who can offer us real pace on the flank and give us another option which we haven't got at the moment.

 

Realistically we'd be talking in the region of £20 million for Silva, £10 million for Lennon and maybe £7-8 million for Wheater/Richards (although there are probably better options we should be looking at at right back) and Sturridge on a free.

 

Would that sort of money be made available? If so then I think that would address the real issues we have at the moment and push us forward.

[Bailo]

We just don't have anyone in the side who can offer what Torres offers. Personally I'd like to see us go for Daniel Sturridge who is on a free at the end of the season, is strong, direct and quick and would provide good cover for Torres as well as being a player with massive potential.

Don't tell me you're writing off N'Goals?

[Swipe]

More attacking players near the level of Gerrard and Torres in short.

 

There's a few positions that we maybe need a bit more depth in, but i think if we have money, Rafa should go all out in assembling a formidable attacking cavalry to help Stevie and Nando.

 

Imagine if we had a world class left winger/midfielder, supply more bullets for the front two, as well as contributing goals as well. How many more points would we have right now?

 

I think all top teams need a Kuyt, and while i'd like to see more options on the right (although Benni is doing no harm to his cause this season) I do think that you need more quality in at least one of the wide positions.

 

At the moment, Reira is too workmanlike and not providing the flair and threat that we need, while Babel is too inconsistent.

 

I always think of the Pires/Ljunberg set up when i think of what we need at Anfield. One inspired, one industrious.

 

That'll do for a kick off!

[Jarg Armani]

Do we need another one of these threads?

 

NYR thinks we should sign Ribery.

[Joxer]

Do we need another one of these threads?

 

NYR thinks we should sign Ribery.

 

Agree on Ribery, match winner number 3.

[Gilps]

NYR thinks we should sign Ribery.

 

Does he? He hadn't mentioned it.

[New York Red]

Yes, it's true. I did say Ribery. But you know me. I could easily change my mind.

[Knox_Harrington]

Yes, it's true. I did say Ribery. But you know me. I could easily change my mind.

You'll be sure to tell us.

[GWistooshort]

I would try to sign the following in the summer:

 

* Robin Van Persie (1st choice on the left of a 3 behind Torres & back up striker for Fernando - I would let Babel go to Arsenal to get Van Persie if needs be)

* Joe Cole (1st choice on the right of a 3 behind Torres with Gerrard in the centre of the 3)

* Gareth Barry (if Villa don't qualify for the Champions League)

* Glen Johnson

 

I would sell/let go Itandje, Degen, Pennant (out of contract), Voronin, Leto & also Lucas & Dossena if we got Barry.

 

This would give us:

 

Team

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

----------------Arbeloa or Johnson----------------2 of Agger, Carragher & Skrtel-----------------Aurelio or Insua------------------

----------------------------------------------------2 of Alonso, Barry & Mascherano----------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------Joe Cole-----------------------------Gerrard----------------Van Persie----------------------------------

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

 

Rest of squad

Cavalieri, Darby, Hyypia, Spearing, Kuyt, Reira, Benayoun, Ngog, Nemeth & possibly Babel (although I'd be willing to sell him to Arsenal to get Van Persie)

[Gilps]

I would try to sign the following in the summer:

 

* Robin Van Persie (1st choice on the left of a 3 behind Torres & back up striker for Fernando - I would let Babel go to Arsenal to get Van Persie if needs be)

* Joe Cole (1st choice on the right of a 3 behind Torres with Gerrard in the centre of the 3)

* Gareth Barry (if Villa don't qualify for the Champions League)

* Glen Johnson

 

I would sell/let go Itandje, Degen, Pennant (out of contract), Voronin, Leto & also Lucas & Dossena if we got Barry.

 

Nice to know you're keeping your targets realistic and affordable.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

- Good back up for Torres/Gerrard - not Kuyt.

 

- Make a call on Babel full stop. Is he a striker, a winger or should we sell and use the proceeds for someone that can hold down a position.

 

- Sell Lucas and get someone else in as back up in midfield.

 

- Back up for Arbeloa.

 

- An attacking right midfielder/winger to compete with Kuyt especially in games where we look to break teams down or when we need a different option off the bench.

 

Get your change out lads for the whip round to fund this

[richwilks]

I think Silva has to be our main target as someone who'd be reachable and available and somebody who would add massively to our first XI.

 

Unless people like Ribery are available at reasonable prices ofcourse.

[_00_deathscar]

- Sell Lucas and get someone else in as back up in midfield.

 

Unless we either upgrade or promote from youth/the reserves, is that really something worth doing?

 

We'd get what - £8m - £10m for him max? Would the back-up be on wages as low? Would he be as good (no sarcastic jokes please)? Would he adapt? etc.

[GWistooshort]

Nice to know you're keeping your targets realistic and affordable.

 

* Joe Cole & Van Persie are both are nearing the ends of their contracts & haven't signed new ones

* Van Persie has said he wants to be winning trophies & Arsenal haven't won anything for 3 seasons & may not win anything or even qualify for the Champions League this season

* We potentially could include Babel in any deal for Van Persie given that Wenger was very interested in him before he came to us

* Cole was apparently very unhappy earlier in the season when Scolari wasn't picking him regularly & I think it's worth seeing whether he has become disillusioned with the managerial merry go round at Stamford Bridge

* Johnson will be costly, but should be within budget & could be cheaper if Portsmouth go down

* Barry's contract situation means he should be relatively cheap & his ability to cover left back means that we could sell Dossena as well as Lucas meaning that he shouldn't actually cost us that much

 

We should also get at least £15m in from Voronin, Leto, Lucas & Dossena. Itandje & Degen would probably go on frees.

 

Personally I think Joe Cole & Van Persie are more realistic & affordable than Ribery, Silva, Villa etc.

 

It won't be easy if we do try to get them, but that goes with the territory now where we just need a few top quality players to add to our 1st XI. Unless we unearth a gem, we need to buy other teams top players, but without being able to throw silly money at them, & they're not going to be keen to let them go.

Edited March 16, 2009 by GWistooshort

[surf]

This Silva guy, strikes me (purely from watching the Euro's) that he's an in the hole type player. Could he play in the Riera/Kuyt role?

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Unless we either upgrade or promote from youth/the reserves, is that really something worth doing?

 

We'd get what - £8m - £10m for him max? Would the back-up be on wages as low? Would he be as good (no sarcastic jokes please)? Would he adapt? etc.

 

Cant see anyone shelling out much more than £6-7mln for him and thats with a down payment of maybe £5mln and £2mln in add-ons.

[Magic8Ball]

I would try to sign the following in the summer:

 

* Robin Van Persie (1st choice on the left of a 3 behind Torres & back up striker for Fernando - I would let Babel go to Arsenal to get Van Persie if needs be)

* Joe Cole (1st choice on the right of a 3 behind Torres with Gerrard in the centre of the 3)

* Gareth Barry (if Villa don't qualify for the Champions League)

* Glen Johnson

 

I would sell/let go Itandje, Degen, Pennant (out of contract), Voronin, Leto & also Lucas & Dossena if we got Barry.

 

This would give us:

 

Team

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

----------------Arbeloa or Johnson----------------2 of Agger, Carragher & Skrtel-----------------Aurelio or Insua------------------

----------------------------------------------------2 of Alonso, Barry & Mascherano----------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------Joe Cole-----------------------------Gerrard----------------Van Persie----------------------------------

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

 

Rest of squad

Cavalieri, Darby, Hyypia, Spearing, Kuyt, Reira, Benayoun, Ngog, Nemeth & possibly Babel (although I'd be willing to sell him to Arsenal to get Van Persie)

Still not sure about Cole though, wouldn't Silva be better there ? - Otherwise I thin it's ace

[yellow jumper]

above the players and the money we need conscientious owner(s) who understand and respect the real significance of what they've got and want to take the club forward with the heritage, ethos and fanbase of the club in mind. as well as that they should be looking to back the medium to long term vision of our manager on all football matters.

[Gilps]

Everyone in all of the umpteen threads discussing variations on this theme has got Degen amongst the probable departures. Who is going to take him off our hands and why would they?

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Everyone in all of the umpteen threads discussing variations on this theme has got Degen amongst the probable departures. Who is going to take him off our hands and why would they?

 

 

We should give Hertha Berlin a call

[Gilps]

We should give Hertha Berlin a call

 

Ha!

 

But seriously - many people have criticised the decision to take on a player with his fitness record in the first place, even on a free. Well there's bugger all happened this season that would make other clubs likely to repeat the error.

[GWistooshort]

Still not sure about Cole though, wouldn't Silva be better there ? - Otherwise I thin it's ace

 

Personally I'm concerned that Silva's too lightweight for the Premiership

 

There's also the questions about how long he would take to acclimatise (No concerns on either of these issues with Cole)

 

I also think he would cost £15-20m (I reckon Cole could be available for about £12m)

 

Cole is also another locally trained player which is important given our current Champions League squad is 2 players short because we don't have enough locally trained players.

[Sion]

What is it about Joe Cole that gets so many forumites frothing at the mouth? it's certainly can't be his goal or assists record. Just what we need, another decent player who'll get 5 goals, 5 assists a season...and who's had his fair share of injuries in recent years...

 

We need a wide player to take the burden off G&T in terms of assists and goals, JC isn't such a player

add to that I really doubt Kenyon would sell to us

[Magic8Ball]

Personally I'm concerned that Silva's too lightweight for the Premiership

 

There's also the questions about how long he would take to acclimatise (No concerns on either of these issues with Cole)

 

I also think he would cost £15-20m (I reckon Cole could be available for about £12m)

 

Cole is also another locally trained player which is important given our current Champions League squad is 2 players short because we don't have enough locally trained players.

Sounds like a good argument. But he's a Chelsea fan and I'm not sure he'd move.

I'm trying to think of his delivery. I can't remember him in on the right much, more on the left. I'd say he was better than Benyoun, but not by that much. Wonder if he has a footballing brain, that's one of the key things needed to succeed under Rafa. I can't help thinking there has to be someone out there that can do what we need from the right. a sort of Van Persie for the RHS..... no it's not Walcott who I rate the same as Babel.

Edited March 16, 2009 by Magic8Ball

[Alonso]

Think we need a RB to compete with Arbeloa, a LB to replace Dossena, 2 first choice wide men, someone to replace Lucas and cover for Torres. Considering there's a real chance of the need for English players then I'd consider the following:

 

RB - Richards, G. Johnson

LB - Emmanuelson, Monzon, Hanlon

CM - Delph, Barry, M. Johnson, McCarthy

Wingers - Walcott, Ribery, Van Persie, J. Cole, Young (if Villa don't qualify), Silva, Cazorla, Di Maria, Capel

CF - Owen, Sturridge, Agbonlahor (if Villa don't qualify)