Have our best 11 played together yet? For me, this is our best setup: -------------Reina------------- Johnson--Skrtel--Agger--Enrique Gerrard--Lucas--Adam--Bellamy -------Suarez--Carroll--------- Not that I recall. Gerrard injured start of season, Lucas out since november, Adam currently out, Bellamy not reliable to start, Suarez banned for 9 games, Agger injured lately along with Johnson. That's our best 11, in my opinion, which would have been very strong if we had it available all year and it's a shame we've not seen it once, nor will we see it. Why won't we? Next season will be all change though. Bellamy will play less, Suarez will probably be allowed to leave if a 35mill bid comes in (maybe even 30), Carroll likewise for 20mill, Johnson could be available to offers and Adam is uncertain. Then there's the bench of Maxi and Kuyt who'll likely be free to leave, Doni is off to brazil and Carra shifting further to the retirement home. Along with all that, Kenny's position will be reviewed and is uncertain. Worst case scenario, we need to replace the manager, suarez, carroll, kuyt, maxi, adam and doni and find long term replacements for bellamy and carragher. That's an awful lot of change for one window and requires alot of investment which, so far, the owners haven't really been providing. I mentioned a while ago that they seem quite passive and I believe that's down to how they view kenny as an 'intern' manager, not a long term option. I think they want a young manager with passion and exciting plans for a long term job and it's he who'll get the full backing of 'no budget' if the player 'matches the policy'. If Kenny stays, I see a summer of sales and replacement buys; eg Carroll + Suarez for two other players of similar value, Johnson's sale going towards a right winger since Kelly and Flanno can step up. But overall, another relatively low spending window for such ambitious owners. If kenny leaves however, and the owners get their man, it could be a very busy and exciting window. How do you see the owners' position on Kenny? Long term or short term? Backable with funds or passive like last summer? In or out, does it depend on the FA cup? A summer of big squad changes isn't ideal, especially since last summer's buys are still settling in. Is it needed? Will it mean another year of sub-par performances?
Our strongest eight of Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Gerrard, Lucas and Suarez have not played in the same side all season so that will be a no
I can't see all of those changes though JJ, maybe half. Making all of those changes would start from scratch and they already gave Kenny a good chunk of change to try and build this. I can see only one of the two going in Suarez or carroll not both in the summer.
I should probably clarify the Suarez position. He's likely to leave for several reasons; his initial behaviour and playacting which draws into question the clubs image. For his failing to to drop the matter when the situation was available. for defending an interview given in Spanish by saying no one in England would understand it as it was in Spanish. For causing problems between the club and its sponsors. Plus Suarez can't be overly happy being a villian and constantly criticised by the media, being booed at almost every stadium, for being branded a racist when even Evra says otherwise + playing in an underperforming side. Then you have the large interest in him from the likes of Juventus, PSG and other big European sides....and it's not looking like he'll be here next year.
They effectively gave kenny 40mill. Peanuts for a big rebuild project with their ambitions. Hence my questioning of their backing of him... Of the names I mentioned, who won't leave and thus won't need replacing?
I agree on the points, I just can't see our owners or manager letting both Suarez and carroll go at the same time leaving Kuyt and Bellamy, old and broken down a bit there! I can see one of the two going, kuyt, maxi, promote some youth and buy the replacements as well.
Firstly, the owners have provided investment of around £35m to £40m so I think we should be grateful for that. Secondly, the owners are now restricted when it comes to investment considering the FFP rules. Initially, a club is allowed to incur a £34m loss over the course of three seasons to be able to play in Europe, this will eventually become less. We have already achieved that loss last summer! Finally, we won't see all those players go. We certainly won't be seeing three recognised forwards (Carroll, Kuyt and Suarez) going in the same window!
I can see Johnson going before Suarez and Carroll for some reason, not sure why just a gut feeling. probably due to Kelly, flanagan and could probably buy a rb. LB we def need some cover for Enrique as Aurelio will probably go as well and Robinson is still a bit untested ( did well in appearences but maybe more time?).
See, you both say that's alot of change...but for me Suarez is really looking likely to go. That leaves the aging Kuyt, the tame Carroll plus the broken Bellamy. Is that really what we have for next season? Alarm bells should be ringing.
If we let Suarez go, we should use the money to buy two top replacements. He shouldn't go for anything less than 35 and you can easily buy two strikers to fill the void along with Carroll. But then again, You ahve coates here to keep him company and the gaston Ramirez rumors are getting bigger and that is another Uruguayan to add to the mix. We shall see though, it is not the best spot to be in but we do have Morgan who could be promoted next year ( not sure how old he is? Know he scores goals though).
Therefore...and back to my original thoughts, are we looking at a mass squad clearout in order to finance change this summer? If 'all those players' don't get sold, where does the money come from? Mass clearouts aint gonna help us settle, but we won't be buying anyone of sufficient quality without doing so. Rather than just questioning every little thing I write; what do YOU think will happen this summer?
Maybe FSG seem quite passive because they don't squawk like Chicken Licken that the sky is falling in at a few losses. They're long term thinkers with a long term plan. That plan has already taken into account the new FFP rules, which I'm sure is as far away in your mind as the Malvinas is from the Isle of White. They will have investment plans already worked out long before all the "Who should we sign this summer" posts showed up. They've had the progress they wanted to see and silverware to show for it. That silverware and another semi-final may not be enough for some muppets but it's a pretty good start to their entry into football.
Getting rid of fringe players such as Kuyt, Bellamy, Maxi, Aquilani, Cole, Aurelio, etc should release a lot of funds whether we get a transfer fee for them or not, they are all on large wages! I'd guess thats at least £350k per week which equates to £18.2m per annum! Like Bluff said, if Suarez goes then I'd expect £35m, that would be enough to buy a couple of good players.
So to try make your comment relevant to my post instead of coming across as trying to belittle me with other parts of it; Is Kenny that long term plan? Unnecessary. I go on what they've said themselves. Top 4 expected. They failed to get that. Is that the progress they wanted? Silverware is nice, but it's not what they insisted upon as a first year. Again though, comes across like you're just trying to belittle me when all I'm doing is trying to start an honest discusion about our summer plans, finding a balance between mass clearout through necessity (age), poor performance or simply too good an offer to decline, and a low turnover of players to build on what we have. Also the Kenny factor and if our owners back him to be a long term manager here. Has this forum degraded so much that we just attack eachother now? Great.
If you go by what they say then you should know that their comment regarding top four was not focused on this season. They want to get into the top four but they also said there was no targets for Kenny to hit this season.
I believe that DC was telling the truth when he said that LFC would not be limiting their targets during the Summer. I believe that it will be a Summer of evolution and not revolution. Those certain to be leaving us will be Doni, Aurelio and Maxi. The question of Kuyt's future remains unclear. Typically LFC would have retained him but our new owners may take a different perspective. He has been a good servant to LFC and I would be sad to see him go but if we can find somebody with a similar work ethic then sentiment cannot stand in the way. The same can be said for Carra. If he is prepared to bench warm and direct his focus towards coaching then there is a future at LFC. If he demands regular football then, I believe. we must ship him out. Of the 'old guard' Gerrard is the more interesting. He has not returned to anything like his 'old self' - even though he now has game time under his belt. Is this because injuries have now caught up with him or is his attitude now wrong? IF the management team are convinced that he will not recover his form then I would not be surprised to see LFC accept offers - that would then change the focus of the Summer signing campaign. My major concern will be Lucas. Can he return to the standard he was at before his injury? If not then a DM is a very necessary purchase in the Summer. I'm not knocking Spearing but he already shows signs of vulnerability when he is exposed to too many games. Trouble is we will not even have an idea of Lucas's recovery level until the pre-season games. I strongly doubt that there will be any movement with regard to Henderson, Carroll, Adam or Downing. As for Bellamy. I think that the extent of his injury will make the decision for him. If we are to employ him as an impact substitute then he has to remain fit. If the management cannot be assured of that then his place in the squad is very insecure. Finally, Dalgliesh. If he can convince the owners that his development plan is likely to be effective next season then he will keep his job.
I think a DM (well, CM) is a very necessary purchase regardless of whether Lucas can recapture is form. I agree with the four newbies not moving on
