Last few games, Coutinho has been world class. By far the best player in our team and one of the best in the league. If he stays consistent in a team set up to get the most from him, he'd rival any player in this league. Right now he's absolutely magical and he's only 22!! Add to that, Sterling at just 19. We've all had our say on him so I won't say any more than he also has the potential to be truly world class. And now we see new blood emerging. Emre Can (21) looks like a real gem and Markovic (20), although a tad lightweight fro me seems to be finding his feet and his talent is emerging. Sahko (24) has found his feet and seems to be over whatever it was that kept him out of the team (Rodgers?? ) Moreno (22) is improving in the league all of the time and has flourished in the new formation. Our future captain, Henderson is still only 24 and Sturridge and Lallana are 25 and 26 respectively. Add to that, exciting you potential in Ibe (19) and origi (19), the latter will need time to bed in for sure, and we can hopefully add to the nucleus of 'young and talented' at the club. Like many, I have openly questioned our transfer strategy when it appeared that we'd bought players incapable of performing at the level required but slowly and surely, we are seeing the talent at hand. Whether you rate Rodgers or not, even the most pessimistic fans would get excited about how, if all of these players gel and perform to their potential, this part of the long term strategy is playing out. Surely?
I maintained that in a couple of years, we will look back at this summers transfer dealings and how it will set us up for the future. The team is very talented and needs a few years to develop together and it will become special. The issue is being to keep these players, especially if we don't have CL football.
We need to make sure we don't do an arsenal and buy all this young talent and every year say, in 4 years time they'll all be brilliant etc. Future does look exciting of they can all maintain n hit fo together. Big if though
I think yesterday would be the kind of game where the "young potential Arsenal" would come unstuck. We were absolutely booted for 90 minutes and the non-penalty decision against us was a new low for referee standards. Even still it was a fairly easy win and some beautiful football. A lot of our own fans expected a draw and they weren't all doing it for #nojinx reasons. So we are good now, and we can be good for years to come.
Our young core in the first team is fantastic. I worry about keeping hold of them all though whilst we still need another year or two to add to the group. Sterling is definitely on the radar of some top European clubs and Coutinho can't be far away. If we're not in the top 4 again soon, they might start getting twitchy. My hope is that Rodgers starts promoting more from the reserves to bulk up the first team in the summer. The likes of Wisdom and Ibe should definitely be in there come summer but others should be getting some cup games and tested/given a run out to see how they cope; Ward, Rossiter, Williams, Smith, Texeira, Dunn, Sinclair and Brannagan are all worth of a few cup games next season. It's tough for managers to take the leap of faith in bringing youth into the first team and persisting with them, especially when pressure is high to get results, but it's the best way to learn and the top prospects grab that chance. Rodgers did promise the board that he'd bring through the youth...well he's got a hugely exciting bunch to work with if he's feeling brave.
I think our squad is a perfect foundation to now build some thing special on. We have some really talented young players, including a decent amount of squad depth. We have creatives, technicians, muscle men, energizers, goal scorers and a good balance between left, right, back and front. They also all fit an established playing style. Our squad is not perfect. A bit more flair, leadership, maturity and even more goals are needed to win titles. But just a few new players in the summer could see us in the title race.
you are correct, we have enough wamr bodies but quality would be in question for me and i think we need top players in midfield and up front t compete seriously if you look at it we are shy there but rodger sis willing to fill in with toure and johnson on contracts at the back so.... thats his choice. GK = mingolet and jones - seriously unimpressive but there you go. RB: Johnson, wisdom, flanagan, manquillo LB: moreno, enrique CB: toure, skertl, lovern, coates, sahko, ilori CM, can, lucas, henderson AM: sterling, ibe, coutinho, lallana, markovic ST: sturridge, balotelii, borini, aspas, lambert that 27 names before children. its up to whoever's opinion who goes or stays..... but i see losts of more senior guys i'd not rely on now and a lot of u25 players.... next summer for me i'd want 2 players one cm one striker and several departures. they must berealy quality this time
oh and sure if theres money plase get a gk too but for me a cm and st are 110% vital to make progression real.
I think both have them could be considered world class eventually but they both need to work at it. They both need to do it but I think if Coutinho added goals he would be truly world class now. And I don't use the WC words very often. Maybe a bit more consistency from both too but that usually comes with age.
Just responded to a similar post to this from you but you didn't name the names so much. Why no Joe Allen...?
I'll be honest.... I forgot him... that says a lot as until i saw ibwt mention a team on the summer thread i never thought of him which says a lot i suppose. I'd not even thought to have him sold.
Coutinho will be gone soon I reckon, especially if we don't get CL football. Thankfully, Barca have a transfer ban because he would be perfect to replace Iniesta.
Who would he join...? Can't see him going to any of the English sides, PSG, Barca, Real, Bayern and Dortmund won't be interested. An Italian side...?
on coutinho... think on lads... have you heard of a contract for him? I've not.... since he signed i've never heard of any deal so he must have 2 years left only??
Dortmund are bottom of the league! If we lose any of our top players to them Id be gutted! we should be looking to take advantage of them... What about Henri Ryan or aubergine fella bluff is in love with? Picszeck at RB?
I thought Henry Ryan had done a massive belly flop? I assume you mean Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang...? I'd be happy if we signed him tbh but he'll cost a fair bit, maybe not as much as Lacazette though. Don't know who Picszeck is but we should just buy some aluminium limbs for Flanno
