Let's be honest mito Rodgers will be well gone in 2020 if he doesn't start bringing in silverware considering his spending, and any potential new manager will have a completely different squad than what we have now.
The pressure on Brod to do something next season will be much bigger too IMO. Sure, we finished second last year so some quarters expected more this season but we overachieved last season. This is his third season in charge and both Brod and Ayre made it clear that part of the 'five year plan' was getting back into the CL by the end of the third season. That looks a long shot at the moment but its the fourth season expectations that will be concerning, I don't know what they were but they would have been greater than just gaining a top four finish!
Flanagan is a journeyman There I said it so deal with it If lfC revert to 4 at the back at the start of next season we will be looking at bloody Johnson again or a new signing If we stick with 3 I reckon we will be found out cos it seems to me most sides in prem seem to do their planning and research into players over the summer and this is why some players have big impacts in January and fade then. Is the rough and tumble of prem and own analysis taking up so much time you can't do in depth opposition analysis I dunno?
Agreed that we won't stick to the 3-4-3. I'd argue that we do need full backs. I know Enrique and Flanno are fans favourites but truth is, neither have the required quality to command starting places. Manquillo does but not sure he'll stay. Moreno is a starting left back. Who will play right back?
I'd agree 90%. I don't think moreno can defend at all and would not count him as starting left full. if rafa was in chrage he'd be now playing left wing ala risse. I can't see wisdom play rb for us as i think rodgers doesn't trust him.... flanagan is not as good IMO as allen so if i call allen average then flanagan is a journeyman pro. I can see someone paying 25 or 30mil for clyne and hope to **** it is not us.
Moreno is raw and I think he will develop further - I would have preferred Ricardo Rodriguez. Clyne is a good all round full back and I wouldn't mind him playing for us - the only issue I have is the price and no doubt we'll get ripped off. We'll go back to a back 4 next season so it's important to have full backs who can actually defend which is why I would be happy with someone like Manquillo.
I think personally he's been woeful at the basic art of marking a player even at set pieced so if he develops fine but rodgers was so exasperated he started off his 3-4-3 with markovic at LWB and moreno on the bench. He's got to take this season and come back next year with a lot of prospective and learning imo. clyne IMO is a classic english "athlete" i think he's big,power ful and quick ...and bit of of a donkey too. surely to go for 25mil theres 100 pleayers we could buy that are better for our style especially. we will have to see cos my opinion is the decision at the back will be made base on what we have up front and at CM. If we get a genuine striker then to play 4-1-2-1-2 we need the DM and striker and full backs to do it and to play 4-3-3 we need the right CMs and full backs. all in all it'll be abot getting the very bes tout of coutinho as he grows into a player and same for sterling if he stays, ibe and whomever takes over from the crock sturrdige, and the 3 turds we call reserve strikers I imagine henderson, sahko and a couple more are must picks too so.... really if we get another attacking RB then if we play a 4 i can see us being terrible at the back
Henderson is a must pick because he's the best out of a band bunch. If we strengthen that area properly, then Hendo will be reduced to squad/utility player.
If we go back to a back 4 Rodgers has to drop this idea of the DM dropping in between the CB's whilst the full backs attack, creating a back 3 if we get counter attacked. It just doesnt work. Yes having a middle CB has clearly helped us with dealing with crosses and the like but we have seen our DM's flapping around hopelessly in that position to often. Gerrard, Lucas and Allen just have not been comfortable doing it and I cant imagine many other players being comfortable in this DM+CB role either. And ofcourse Skrtel is never going to work in DM either, though he is great in the middle of a back 3, he is no ball player. We must play a high line with a DM patrolling the area IN FRONT of the back 4.
Henderson deserves his place, even if we sign a star CM. Henderson does so much all over the pitch and helps to link every thing together. He makes his team mates jobs easier whilst making opponents jobs harder. He also never lazes or cowers out of a game.
that not a crime though... improving is the aim. For me: top 4 potential: Sahko for sure. he is french first pick and a decent player. got the attributes for competing in england and in CL. Coutinho: young and developing. I feel in 2/3 years he will be much sought after around europe. a right bargain for us. erm..... Sterling? Not too sure cos his end product is woeful. At his best he is very good but he doesn't get in the positions where he is lethal enough but is only 20. Players of potential for top 4: Henderson: Ok he is england player, ok he is first pick for us... but... it really depends how he is used. If he is freed to run about madly he is very good at what he does... but.. he thinks he can take frees and corners like gerrard and thinks he can score too. He's good player but is he really all that... I don't think he is. Is he top 4 or just a good player? Sturridge: IF IF IF.... If he was fit he might be a 20 goal a year man and our line leader. No way anyone can call him top 4 when he's made of glass right now. Can: At 21 we have to say so far he's shown a lot of qualities playing RCB. thats all well and good but we'd all like to see him in CM and then say whats what. another potential bargain buy.. but is he a top 4 player no not now... many in 2 years time. Good senior players: Skertl: Sorry but he is a good player. He is not top 4 but he's able to complete in the air and can be aggressive. He is certainly more than average Worrying players: Mingolet: At he's best he's a good keeper but he's not good off his line nor in the air nor at distribution. Moreno: Decent runner, fast but he cannot defend for ****. he is yuong but he's made so many basic errors Allen: too light weight, too many injuries to be CM in a top 4 outfit Lucas: Legs are still gone... end of. Would be good solid reliable player had ne not got those injuries. Lallana: F me he is lightweight and I worry that we are looking at a guy who just is not up to the top level Lovern: Who knows he is 25 maybe he will step up and be more comfortable next season and settle down but so far he is all over the place and not soild. Others: Markovic.. up and down first season. He is expensive but young. he's shwon flexibility and work ethic though.. we'll see where he is next year i suppose Ibe: very young potentially very good indeed The rest are really squad players we could just sell on and not notice half the time. .......................................... My point is that in the cold light of day is that we don't have many really top players at anfield, we have some potential so I think if we buy in any area we should be improving our team. the only area I've listed above is prob CB controversially. We could buy just about round the whole pitch and improve us if we are doing our job right (which is unlikely given our track record)
I think you have been a bit harsh on a few. Lallana, Allen, Markovic, Moreno and Lucas are at a minimum very useful squad players. They will put in solid games but not in every game and are not complete footballers. Mignolet has improved a lot and has been very reliable, so deserves the chance to continue.
Top class CF should be main priority with a CM next in line. I wouldn't be overly concerned if we had similar defence as this year with Enrique and Flanno back to bolster the flanks. Thought Immoble looked decent when came on against England yeaterday, quick and strong and full of running, looks to be heading out of Dortmund as well so could be available on the cheap. If we spent £20m on a CM and £20-£25m on a CF would be happy.
I'd agree in principle for sure with targeted signings. Think we need strong spine first of course but I think we will struggle a bit for fkexibility
