It's strange isn't it? No Degan, no Babel, no El Zhar! Hell we don't even have Poulsen! As far as I am aware we've not had rabid calls for the expulsion of a single player this season... great isn't it? However there will no doubt be movement in the summer window, and I thought I'd share my opinion on a couple of outs. 1. Fábio Aurélio - Could have been a real hero, but has been so frustrated by injures and has never had a decent run. Now getting on, and we are not dependant on his cover. 2. Maxi RodrÃguez - Has had his little heart broken, by losing his place to the English influx last summer, and his heart just hasn't been in it, when he is given a run-out. 3&4. Aquilani & Cole - As good as out the door already, I'd love Aquilani to stay, but if he wants to be in Italy, then so be it, but I would still want to see some of that money we spent on him! 5. Stewart Downing - The only new signing I'd want to release. I have just not seen any improvement all season. I don't know what went wrong, but he seems incapable of even trying to correct it, maybe just one of those players that is not a Liverpool player, and will need to go elsewhere to shine.
- Carragher. But only if it's his choice. I think his value to us now really would be as a coach/mentor/ambassador, I don't think he really has a place in the starting 11 and for CB subs we really need to be playing Wilson and Coates if they are going to gain experience, so I don't see where Carragher will fit in for us. Realise not everyone will agree - Downing. Has been such a dissappointment and I don't know what he brings to the table. Not once this season have I even seen flashes of brilliance. Even as a squad player I don't see what he would bring to the team as a super sub. - Aurelio, for obvious reasons. All in all not too many to go TBH. Although some players (Adam for example) I'd like to see more as squad players as we continue to strengthen. I think maxi should stay as I do think he changes the team dynamic when he comes on off the bench. He's not great but he definately offers something different and has a habit of being in the right place at the right time and getting goals. I also think if we were to get offers of 25+ for Carroll (anzhi I'm looking at you) then we should take it. Sure he's got potential and at the right club could be a solid first teamer but I don't think he'll ever be a truly great player for us and won't come close to making us a return on what we payed for him.
If Downing shows nothing more this season then I think the club just isn't for him and he should move on. Apart from that though, there aren't many obvious players that we need to get rid of with exception maybe to Carragher and Aurelio.
pretty positive tbh isn't it?? A far cry from the days of Konchesky, Poulson, Degen, el zhar, voronin and babel to name just a few where everyone would literally groan when their names were on the teamsheet.
Just had a look at the squad list on the Liverpool website and there are a few names I feel won't be able to get in the team and should be moved on in the summer. Brad Jones: Currently our third choice goalkeeper. Brought by Hodgson for about £2M if I remember correctly and won't play. Has got Reina, Doni and probably Gulacsi ahead of him by the time the summer comes around. Needs to be playing first-team football at his age and won't get it here. Fabio Aurelio: Like others had already said, great player runied by injuries. I expect him to be released in the summer as he's got Enrique ahead of him and Robinson pushing him as well. Alberto Aquilani: Currently out on loan to AC Milan. Good player but doesn't want to be here. Should get a good fee for him because he seems to be performing in Milan. (I read a few weeks ago that he has around 7 assists and a couple of goals in about 17 games) Joe Cole: I still think he's a good player but it hasn't worked at Liverpool. On big wages and I expect him to complete a permanent move to Lille in the summer as he seems to be enjoying his football there. Stephen Darby: Local lad who is currently out on loan at Rochdale. He is a right-back so has Johnson, Kelly and Flanagan ahead of him in the pecking order. Hasn't been able to push for a first-team place so I suspect he needs moving on and playing regular football. Dani Pacheco: We all had high hopes for him. Hasn't worked. Loaned to Atletico Madrid who then sent him on loan Rayo Vallecano. I feel he needs a permanent move away to kickstart his career again.
the thing with Carra is, I don't want him to go away from the club, he is a one club player, and I'd like to see straight progression into coaching at the club, I wouldn't want to see him go down a division or two for a couple more season of playing.
It's looking like this: Aurelio Cole Aquilani Darby Jones Downing (please!) Carra (to retirement) Maxi (Adam) (Kuyt) I'd like to add Adam and Kuyt to the list, if we get the right offers/replacements. Kuyt is a workhorse but in the years he's been here his first touch has probably gotten poorer, he's clumsy and he doesn't suit our style anymore. He's been a great player for us, don't get me wrong, but if we can replace him we should look into any offers we get. Adam hasn't impressed, hasn't been poor either- but he's not a game changer. He's alright and solid most of the time, but he makes stupid decisions compared to Gerrard and even Hendo/Spearing. A replacement from Europe should be looked into. On a stretch, with an incredible offer, Johnson should maybe even be allowed to go if the price is right. He is a great attacking option but he went missing in many matches this season, his shots are generally wasted too. He is at fault on that side for some goals. Still, i'd rather keep him for the moment.
Speaking of which, how is Cole getting on? Are we likely to get anything for him? Aqua never worked out, which is gutting because he showed flashes of brilliance. Kuyt's time has probably come, Downing gets 60 minutes a game so I feel a bit sorry for him. Adam I like, he has guts and annoys the opposition with his his typical Scottish charm (not being racist mind you). Maxi is reasonably enigmatic and pops up with important goals every now and then. I'd want to keep Johnson as he's improved immensley defensively under Kenny and SC.
1. I agree with noble. it is good that in tht regard the team has improved. the no hoeprs rafa and roy built up were a disgrace. I'd erosnally have preferred that they protested G&H by playing kids than waste moeny like they did. 2. I agree with nobles list as well. 3. I also agree with the additions of jones and darby. 4. I'd add kuyt ot the list as he's too bloddy slow and technique generally is poor. Overall... I would hope to see 6 more quality signings come in to improve the team radically again. I feel Gk is covered. I feel rb is covered I feel CB is covered but one guy could come in. An Lb is needed, though we could just get by. CM - need one at least RW need a real quality player LW need to improve again St need at least one player
18 games in which he has started 12. (This is in the league) 3 goals and 1 assist. Scored a hat-trick in the French F.A Cup as well. So 6 goals and 1 assist in around 20 games this season.
On the coming in's I wouldn't buy 6! We are covered at the back, with Johnston able to swap wings with Kelly coming in. If we were only to get one new player, I'd say midfield. We need an Alonso/Aqualani type person to evoke creativity in front of goal. I might, I repeat might swap Downing for Eden Hazard. I'm not 100% about Hazard fitting in to the English game. All you need is some bitter manc coming in with a two footer to put him out for 6 months and destroy his confidence. And besides, for all his fancy footwork, there is as little finished product as we have now. For all the crying for more width, I think it is over-rated, as all the good defences can cope with crosses into the box. I think the future is with quick footed players like Suarez and Bellers creating their own chances. Keep it down and dribble it in, defences can't deal with that without giving away penalties. So I'm all for Sterling stepping up to the first team with Connor Coady. I think Kuyt has another season of good work in him, and I am far from convinced he is not good for this team. So for me, one maybe two new signings, and blooding of young talent from within.
I hope he becomes assistant manager to KK. Lets face it, liverpool are 1-0 down leading up to half time, you look across and see Carra standing by the tunnel arms folded, face glowing red, do you really want to go into the tunnel 1-0 down??!!!
We ended last season well and most of us said at the time we didn't expect too many changes, just strengthening in one or two key areas. In the end I think we brought too many new players into the first eleven- it upset the rhythm we'd established and meant it would take a long time for the team to gel. In some respects it is beginning to now-Carroll, for instance, has at last begun to show a glimmer of the ability we all hoped he'd show from the outset. If we end this season as well as we did the last, I would hope we don't go making wholesale changes again and repeat the whole process over again. Also, we need a squad, not just a first team, so I wouldn't get rid of the likes of Maxi and Kuyt just yet (although either or both may decide themselves that their days here are numbered). Aurelio I'd agree with-could have been a quality player but, god love him, I've spent more time on the Anfield pitch than he has, running on after the games when I was a nipper. I want Carra to stay in some capacity- but he might feel he's got a season or two left in him with another club if he's not figuring in our plans. I agree the young CB's should be providing the back up now. I'm afraid Glen does get caught upfield too much for me to be entirely confident in him, but he's become pretty solid when he's actually in position and I wouldn't let him go at all. Downing- what can I say that hasn't already been said? He really needs to start taking people on otherwise why is he there?
Downing 100% Probably Fabio sadly. Carroll and Adam can have one more season. Carra one more year as cover.
