Official Summer Signings / Rumours / Information Thread

Would like Diame and De Vrij, out of players we're linked with.

 

I think we need to strengthen in a number of positions.

In a 'perfect' world, I would like to see the following:

- 2 centre backs: With Carra on his way out, and Skrtel and Coates's futures both in the air, we need cover. De Vrij and Ashley Williams would provide leadership, aerial and physical presence and good technical ability.

- Left back: We need cover for Jose and I don't want to keep moving Johnson over there because we then lose a big attacking threat on the right. Also, there are talks about Enrique leaving in the summer (hope this isn't the case).

- Defensive mid: We go to pieces when Lucas isn't in the team, and we have no one else at the club who is strong enough and has the game intelligence/spacial awareness that Lucas possesses.

- Central midfielder: I see Henderson has the natural successor to Gerrard but I believe we need someone who is more refined at this moment in time. Kevin Strootman would be a great shout but I think he could be out of our range.

- Classic Number 10: Suso and Coutinho could both play this role but again, I would like someone who is more refined and has the capability of making a difference right now. We have been rumoured to be scouting Eriksen (for quite some time) and he would be perfect. We still have a problem with breaking down stubborn teams and creating genuine clear cut chances.

- Winger: Someone to replace Downing and provide more pace and attacking intent in the front 3. We don't have too many players who are quick off the blocks and can run quickly with the ball, which can stifle our counters. I presume we will be in for Tom Ince in the summer, however I would like someone with a bit more experience.

- Striker: If Sturridge is out and if Suarez is having an off day, our attack is toothless. More options required.

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As you can see (in my perfect little world), I think we need around 8 players to get this squad ready for a serious Top 4 challenge.

Whilst I don't think we will be getting all of the above, I do anticpate we'll be bringing in 5 players. If I were to prioritise positions, I would say the defence and the front 3 need more options.

I also forgot to mention GK as well ...

 

Id try and use Borini to get Jovetic in the summer
Id try and use Assaidi to get Alderweireld or De Vrij
And Id be tempted to try and use Carroll to get Ben Arfa

I think we need

1 CB if Coates goes ( De Vrij, Alderweireld )
1 CB if Skrts goes ( Williams , Diakate )
No CBs if neither go, but I suspect at least one will go, if none go Kelly/Wisdom cover Carras loss
1 LB ( Martins Indi, Willems)
1 DM ( Diame,Capoue,Wanyama )
1 CF ( Jovetic,Gameiro,Kiessling)
IMO we dont need a 10 is Suarez stays, it looks like Luis is gonna play 10 and not as a wing forwrad now Sturridge is here
1 TOP CLASS winger ( Feghouli, Mertens,Rodriguez,Gaitan )

 

I think Jovetic would be a great signing but I fear we may be priced out by the competition. I hear Arsenal are interested in him as well.

Ajax were interested in Assaidi before we signed him so I think they could be after him again. If so, we could use him to get Eriksen. I think we need a player like him (number 10) even if Suarez stays.

Suarez is instinctive, unpredictable and tries to go for it on his own. We need a calm, composed player who is comfortable with the ball in tight spaces. Quite often, we overplay and/or make the wrong decision which results in wasted opportunities.. We need a player who can thread the perfect through ball and unlock defences (Coutinho showed this when he played a peach of a ball to Sturridge against Swansea).

 

I have already said mine in my hope article.


I don't beleive in playing the name game so i just state positions. we need one CB, a real one not a child. a genuine midfielder, not a donkey, not a destroyer... a alonso type.. and another forward. forget the winger rubbish.

After that the order of priority disintegrates into a pot of get cover please type players... LB, GK etc etc

 

I think if we use Borini to bring in another player like Jovetic we will have to sign another striker or versatile forward as well.

Dzeko any one?

I think we need 4 proper strikers with at least one who is comfortable playing as a wide forward (more like Kuyt on RW than Suarez on the wing).

I think it could be worth searching the free transfer for an experienced striker like we did with Bellamy. Bellamy was not able to play every game but he added experience, leadership and extra depth to our attack. He also scored some important goals.

In the past we have seen Fowler rejoin us, Larsson join United and Kevin Phillips join about every team in the lower half of the table in similar deals. They all had positive impacts with out being able to play every game or pull off spectacular skill.

Not Michael Owen.

 

having 4 would be lovely....

i would say suarez on the wing is world class though....

I would just like to know we have 4. If borini is our hernandez I'd be worred though. the lad can't shoot.

In reality we must again say we are paying wages for 4. carroll, borini, suarez, sturridge.... I think we should be actually saying one out one in from here.

Then if we look to the wings we have downing, sterling, countinho assaidi and even suso. Its a stretch but thats 4 in my book. again one in one out.

In midfield we have gerrard allen henderson lucas shevley. so again one out, one in?

In fact i could go on but the CB and LB positions are weak... we are at the point where we need not be talking more more more, just better better better!

No body leaves without a replacement, nobody is replaced by dross!

 

D's...

I've made this the official summer transfer thread


PS...Neymar!

 

Id be looking to ship out possibly Coates ( not done it,too slow ) Skrtel ( can get better,will still get decent fee),Downing( get better for same money on less wages),Assaidi( if he aint playin, use him as bait to get someone who will),Borini (not done it and Fiorentina want him),and Carroll n Spearing as well

 

I'm not going to cover names as I think most posters will do this to death. However, what I will say is that i expect us to have a fairly busy summer. Last summer, BR arrived and didn't get a lot of time to assess the squad after the European Championships and Olympics. The January window is often a quiet affair and we very rarely see a lot of activity. Therefore, this summer is the first big window that Rodgers will get having entirely assessed the squad. The end of the summer is where BR should be starting to have a squad, albeit it for one or two alterations maybe, he wants. Next season should see us playing in the BR style (whatever that may be) and bring better results. IMO, the pressure on Brendan starts from August

 

I dont think a midfield has to leave for one to come in. We often play three in CM, so I would say we should have a well balanced 6 in total.

DM - Lucas, ........
Box to box/CM - Gerrard, Allen.
AM - Henderson, Shelvey.

For our front three I am say:

Proper striker - Sturridge, ...........
Wingers - Downing, Sterling, Assaidi.
Play Makers - Coutinho, Suso.
Versatility/impact forward - Borini
All of the above - Luis Suarez

A proper striker is a must for me. The rest has enough options to work with.

As I often only expect one or less wingers to start each game I do feel three may be a crowd when other areas need strengthening so much.

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Que a long list of players by Bluff...

 

you are right about midfield, if its a genuine 3 again... however with sturridge rodgers seems to be ending up in a 4-4-2 which is kind of worrying at times. it seems to be his chase the game mode.

I just don't agree with the very concept of a DM. the reality is 90% of these types are destructive donkeys and the 10% genuine quality players like martinez or even to some extent lucas have far more in their locker and could play further up as well. peopel would call vieira a DM i suppose with good reason but he was a box to box player... look at keane? classic clogger but played with scholes in s 2 which meant he too was a box to box dynamo.

players like scott parker and garth barry with the best will inthe world are just donkeys... parker workd hard but is a sideways merchant and barr yis an out of shape left full journeyman.. when i think of players like alonso or keane or vieiea or back in the day when we had enforcers like mcmahon or souness, god there was no way they'd take being called just a DM.

I equally don't but the AM role.. thats a cop out for players like stephen ireland to swan about frankly. shelvey is an average enough player with a bit of potential who believe his hype and is in big danger of headed out the door like ireland. If you look at lampard at cheslea you might call him an AM seeing he scores like crazy but he played in a midfield 3 and dug in with the rest when at his best. Mata is an AM. a second striker. You create the position to allow someone to roam about, you don't create it by putting 3 in midfield then allowing one to swan baout as he pleases. In other words i think AM really means one of the front 3.

anyway... I just think we focus on the quality and then the coaching and tactics make the players fill the required team shape.... eg Henderson could play a sitting role easily cos he'll work at it.

 

From Fifa

 

I suspect you've started this thread WAY too early, 6Ds. You may live to regret it

 

Im blamin it on Gerrez, hes the one whose made it all official an all

 

Fair enough. Everything the twat touches turns to ****

 

Leave it to the realistic types for now....

Ben Arfa
Diakite
De Vrij
unknown/out of nowhere signing.

 

Like ummm ... Assaidi?