Was thinking...

[Walrus]

...about our squad last night, so not a knee jerk reaction to the (almost) meaningless Fulham result.

 

I think the only two that we definitely need to keep hold of are obviously Suarez and Gerrard. And I'm not convinced that Stevie will be up to his high standards anymore unfortunately.

 

Then there's the likes of Reina, Johnson and Agger who I like and would hope will get back to playing to their full potential. Perhaps Skrtel as well.

 

But after that? f*** me! I wouldn't bat an eyelid if anyone else from our playing squad left us this summer and I think that says a lot about how f***ing s**** our squad is at the moment.

 

So you could argue that Suarez is all we've got and yet he might actually be the one player who leaves us this summer.

 

The past 3 years have truly been horrific.

[Epic Swindle]

Always a bit daft these topics after a bad defeat.

[CarraLegend]

Always a bit daft these topics after a bad defeat.

 

Yeah they always end up as pretty much "sell everyone" but theres a lot of players here who can be part of a good squad that has a tactical plan.

[Walrus]

Always a bit daft these topics after a bad defeat.

Perhaps you're right, but I can honestly say that this has got next to nothing to do with tonight's result. In fact I haven't really been interested in our results in the league after the Arsenal game. It's more about the realisation that it's not just the recent signings who are s***, but the players from Hodgson's time and even Rafa's time who are no longer what they used to be.

 

Yeah they always end up as pretty much "sell everyone" but theres a lot of players here who can be part of a good squad that has a tactical plan.

Definitely. But I think we need loads of new players to make us a good squad and then we can fill in the remaining spots with what we've got. Like I said, bar the people I mentioned, we could easily replace anyone else from our squad.

 

oops, need to keep Lucas as well!!!

[Chewie]

Yeah they always end up as pretty much "sell everyone" but theres a lot of players here who can be part of a good squad that has a tactical plan.

 

You're prob right but in each area of the pitch I reckon we can identify players we must keep, those we should have in the squad, and those who we would not cry over if they left... so, here's my stab at it...

 

Keep: Reina

Squad: Doni

 

Keep: Glen, Agger, Skrtl

Squad: Enrique, Kelly, Coates,

No tears over: Carra, Aurelio,

Kids for one more season: Flanagan, Robinson

 

Keep: Lucas, Gerrard

Squad: Henderson

No tears over: Adam, Spearing, Downing, Kuyt, Maxi (with varying degrees of best wishes, especially Dirk)

 

Keep Suarez

Keep / Squad: Carroll, Bellamy

No tears over... frightening that there is no-one else....

 

That's 7 players we should deffo keep (Carroll somewhere between keep and squad) and around 6 squad players...

 

A pool of 14 players with at least 4 signings needed in the first 11 category, and probably 6

 

this transition in itself will mean another very difficult year

 

Who gets to make these changes is quite some other matter...I hoped Comolli would be the one to compensate for my presumption that Kenny perhaps does not have the sort of networks and insights into players across the global game (a presumption I have no grounding in fact for...). Turns out he wasn't doing much of a job...so, is it over to Kenny (every part of my being wants to cry yes, but....

 

Chewie

[Cheesecake]

leagues been crap but save this til after Saturdays game or preferably the end of May, team were crap tonight but lets get fully behind them all for Saturday, yes even those who have not had a good 9 months in the red shirt.

Edited May 2, 2012 by DPD1973

[Walrus]

I think we could build a good team around this lot:

 

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

Johnson-Agger-Skrtel-A

B---------Lucas----C-----D

------------Gerrard------------

--------Suarez----------------

 

The problem is that we can't really fill A, B, C or D from our current squad. Maybe at a push Enrique could be the A, but that's it.

 

And then as we've seen we will never really have all of the above available for any prolonged period.

 

Massive re-building ahead.

[Nottsgriff]

I was absolutely fuming coming out of the ground last night, but on reflection I don't think the squad is AS bad as it appears. We've badly missed all of our key players - e.g. Agger, Johnson, Gerrard, Suarez, and Lucas, for big chunks of the season for one reason or another. We're badly lacking in a couple of positions, but you don't need class in every position to finish in the top four, you need class in key positions with hard working players who can do a job around them. I'd be reasonably confident that we could seriously challenge for fourth with a first 11 that looked like:

 

Reina

Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique (was great until that Spanish squad announcement, has been v.iffy since, but has also been overplayed due to lack of alternative at left back)

New RW, Lucas, Gerrard, Downing (I know he's been mainly s***, but can do a job, and I'm clinging to Friedel's assurance that he takes a daft amount of time to settle anywhere but then eventually comes good)

Suarez, New Striker

 

A creative CM for when Gerrard's out or we want to play different tactics, and a CB who can play the ball for when Agger's out, and I don't think we would be too far off provided those 3-4 new signings are top class. That 11 would still have the likes of Kelly, Coates, Carra, Henderson, Bellamy, Carroll as squad players who are all good enough for the squad.

 

This season has been bizarre, we've absolutely battered half the teams that we lost to. If we'd only won half of those games that we absolutely deserved to then this squad would suddenly be looking a lot better - and with a decent new right winger, new striker and fit Gerrard we'll surely take more chances next year?

 

The tough bit is that we won't get anything much for the players that are leaving (e.g. Aurelio, Maxi, Kuyt, possibly Adam and/or spearing) , so we're relying on FSG giving Kenny a decent kitty to work with.

[Frosty Jack]

You're prob right but in each area of the pitch I reckon we can identify players we must keep, those we should have in the squad, and those who we would not cry over if they left... so, here's my stab at it...

 

Keep: Reina

Squad: Doni

 

Keep: Glen, Agger, Skrtl

Squad: Enrique, Kelly, Coates,

No tears over: Carra, Aurelio,

Kids for one more season: Flanagan, Robinson

 

Keep: Lucas, Gerrard

Squad: Henderson

No tears over: Adam, Spearing, Downing, Kuyt, Maxi (with varying degrees of best wishes, especially Dirk)

 

Keep Suarez

Keep / Squad: Carroll, Bellamy

No tears over... frightening that there is no-one else....

 

That's 7 players we should deffo keep (Carroll somewhere between keep and squad) and around 6 squad players...

 

A pool of 14 players with at least 4 signings needed in the first 11 category, and probably 6

 

this transition in itself will mean another very difficult year

 

Who gets to make these changes is quite some other matter...I hoped Comolli would be the one to compensate for my presumption that Kenny perhaps does not have the sort of networks and insights into players across the global game (a presumption I have no grounding in fact for...). Turns out he wasn't doing much of a job...so, is it over to Kenny (every part of my being wants to cry yes, but....

 

Chewie

 

Fixed that for you.

 

Chewie

[Cam]

Other than Skrtel & maybe Carroll I'd be quite content to see the rest of the starting team last night gone in the summer.

 

As for the wider squad... obviously you don't go chucking world class players like Gerrard, Reina, Agger etc out of the team but I've managed to make mental arguments for all of them to leave in the summer. Sure, I'd be scared of the big names going but I could quite easily reconcile every single one of them moving on (due to age, fitness, long-term form, position, even ambition). I think that highlights how poor our squad is & how far we've fallen.

[The_Adder]

We could replace Adam, Downing, Aurelio, Kuyt for almost free:

 

Keita, Holiett, Robinson, Sterling

 

I reckon with might get around £12m for Downing and Adam as a conservative estimate, put that towards a striker.

 

Piece of Pish.

[Metro]

I think we could build a good team around this lot:

 

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

Johnson-Agger-Skrtel-A

B---------Lucas----C-----D

------------Gerrard------------

--------Suarez----------------

 

The problem is that we can't really fill A, B, C or D from our current squad. Maybe at a push Enrique could be the A, but that's it.

 

And then as we've seen we will never really have all of the above available for any prolonged period.

 

Massive re-building ahead.

 

 

 

 

That'll be interesting. Some of the media have been saying this week that Kenny will have 20M quid to spend this summer (plus sales). If that is the case, I couldn't begin to guess who might fill A,B,C or D!

[The_Adder]

That'll be interesting. Some of the media have been saying this week that Kenny will have 20M quid to spend this summer (plus sales). If that is the case, I couldn't begin to guess who might fill A,B,C or D!

 

C: Keita, D: Hoilett/Sterling and B: Ramirez

 

Done

Edited May 2, 2012 by Aurelio's Heel

[YNWAdownunder]

I was absolutely fuming coming out of the ground last night, but on reflection I don't think the squad is AS bad as it appears. We've badly missed all of our key players - e.g. Agger, Johnson, Gerrard, Suarez, and Lucas, for big chunks of the season for one reason or another. We're badly lacking in a couple of positions, but you don't need class in every position to finish in the top four, you need class in key positions with hard working players who can do a job around them. I'd be reasonably confident that we could seriously challenge for fourth with a first 11 that looked like:

 

Aint gonna win the league if you cant deal with injuries, they are a part of the game - the squad needs to be good enough to cover for them and the 30 points dropped at home this season suggests it isnt,

 

The key problem with our signings is we bought mostly British...if you narrow your scouting to just British players your left with expensive trash

[Gambit]

I'd keep most of the squad. The ones I would move on would be:

 

Doni/Jones (one or the other, nor arsed which)

Aurelio

Carra

Downing

Adam

Maxi

Henderson (on loan)

Shelvey (on loan)

Carroll

Kuyt

 

I'd bring back Aquilani and Joe Cole, they certainly won't be as bad as some of the above.

[Hassony]

We could replace Adam, Downing, Aurelio, Kuyt for almost free:

 

Keita, Holiett, Robinson, Sterling

 

I reckon with might get around £12m for Downing and Adam as a conservative estimate, put that towards a striker.

 

Piece of Pish.

 

Holiett will cost 5m+

 

I would take that swap though, we just need to be clever with how we spend our money

 

 

[The_Adder]

Holiett will cost 5m+

 

I would take that swap though, we just need to be clever with how we spend our money

 

Free transfer mate - nominal fee around £3m - £4m - compare this deal to last summer!

[schmuckdonald]

Get rid of them all, they are well s***.

[blago]

Goalkeepers: Keep Reina and Doni as back up unless Gulacsi is ready to be back up.

 

Centre backs: Agger and Skrtel first choice CB with Coates promoted to third choice as from next season.

Right back: Glen stays first choice with Kelly as back up. Flanagan is shipped out as he will never be good enough. McLaughlin promoted from reserves to 3rd choice in 1st team squad.

Left back: Aurelio sold due to injury record, Enrique to stay as 1st choice for now with Robinson back up. Hopefully Robinson will be ready to be first choice soon which would save us spending further in this position.

 

Central Midfield: Keep Lucas as first choice. Buy another quality midfielder to partner him. Keep Henderson for the squad. Sell Adam unless he is happy to be a squad player.

Left midfield: We need a new signing here as Downing is not up to the task. Sterling should go on loan next season unless management are convinced he is ready to step up (I don't think he's ready yet). Bellamy kept on as backup for LM and backup for striker role. Maxi sold.

Right midfield: Kuyt will probably be sold and Henderson is not suitable for this role IMO. Need to sign a quality new player.

 

Attacking midfield: Gerrard with Shelvey backup. Perhaps Suso will be ready for some action next season.

 

Striker: Keep Suarez and buy a new striker to partner him. Carroll kept on as squad player if he is happy to do that.

[Falconhoof]

I would like us to replace either with promotions or buying better

Aurelio

Carragher

Brad Jones

Kuyt

Downing

Spearing

 

We need to be in a position where there is such quality competition for places that Spearing doesn't get a game next season.

We need another striker.

We need a quick ass wolf winger/ball carrier.

[Gunga Din]

the only ones i would get rid off are Aurelio and Jones. the rest all can serve a purpose, and we need to add to our squad not reduce it. a lot of the players listed as people to go out should be kept on as squad players, but we certainly need to be going in to next season having strengthened significantly in centre mid and up front. I think maybe Sterling could get 15 - 20 games next year and put pressure on Downing. Rid mid, center mid and a striker have to be the priority positions we need to strengthen

[schmuckdonald]

the only ones i would get rid off are Aurelio and Jones. the rest all can serve a purpose, and we need to add to our squad not reduce it. a lot of the players listed as people to go out should be kept on as squad players, but we certainly need to be going in to next season having strengthened significantly in centre mid and up front. I think maybe Sterling could get 15 - 20 games next year and put pressure on Downing. Rid mid, center mid and a striker have to be the priority positions we need to strengthen

 

This.

[jimmylibel]

We're light at centre back (and have been for several seasons).

 

If we're keeping Coates we have Agger, Skrtel, Coates and Carragher.

 

One of those has a bad injury record, one of those is unproven and one is clearly in decline. That's not enough. Then you have the suggestions that Coates is going to be sent on loan next season.

 

Our exposure at centre back at the moment is as glaring as our defensive midfield deficiency last summer. It was clear then if Lucas got injured we didn't really have cover.

 

An injury to Skrtel with those centre back options would be very problematic.

[Snookie]

the only ones i would get rid off are Aurelio and Jones. the rest all can serve a purpose, and we need to add to our squad not reduce it. a lot of the players listed as people to go out should be kept on as squad players, but we certainly need to be going in to next season having strengthened significantly in centre mid and up front. I think maybe Sterling could get 15 - 20 games next year and put pressure on Downing. Rid mid, center mid and a striker have to be the priority positions we need to strengthen

 

Since you can only have 25 players in the first team squad, if you are going to keep everyone apart from Aurelio and Jones, then you've got to hope that either they will significantly improve or be willing to take a huge pay cut to reflect the fact they are no longer part of the first team squad. I don't think either are going to happen.

[Hassony]

Then you have the suggestions that Coates is going to be sent on loan next season.

 

 

Has anyone else (wayne, Jay's ma...) heard anything about this ?

 

find it really strange that we are thinking of doing this