I realise asking a question like this may bring out all the wums but I was wondering if once everything settles down and we reflect at our season do we really need that much to challenge for fourth. I actually dont believe we will be in a position to challenge for the title for a long time now as City should start a long period of dominance having gotten the first sorted yesterday. A few seasons back under Rafa we finished 30 odd points off the leaders, having had a frustrating season at home, drawing a lot of games with teams we should have been able to beat. The following season we challenged for the title. Both chelsea and qpr have shown in last few weeks that parking the bus can be very effective and we have had a lot of good goalkeeping performances at Anfield this season. It is well documented how well we have played without getting results, we have hit the woodwork on many occaisions . Lucas s injury proved costly, as did Suarez s lengthy ban. I think we only need one player in each area to put a challenge for fourth in. However, I am pretty unsure about Reina and I know this is sacraligeous but I think Stevie needs to be pushed back in terms of number of games as his time is now coming to an end and we need to think about replacing him. I did think Henderson was going to be his long term replacement, he has the potential, but that can be said with most of our players now. Yes i realise we should not be talking about challenging for fourth but we just do not have the financial fire power or the rep to bring the players to challenge for title, we have been overtaken by Spurs and if we are not careful Newcastle and possibly Everton will follow. Of course the plus side is maybe just maybe this is the start of the end for someone.....
What do you think about using Gerrard out on the right, his best season for us (goals scored)despite all the pundits saying he was wasted out on the right under Rafa? But I agree only I would throw in a left back, reason being as good as Enrique was at the start of season, Valencia exposed his apparent weakness to speed really badly and I dont think he was the same after that match, nothing he could not sort but if he doesnt anyone with speed will get the better of him.
I would have agreed with Gerrard RW a couple of seasons ago but his speed is not what it was. Enrique will play well in 90+% of games so I'm happy with him there and I expect Robinson to be used as cover next season.
I disagree - I feel that we need 4-5 signings if we are to compete. Our squad depth has improved but the first team quality has decreased. Unfortunately, the players we brought in last season i.e. Downing, Adam and Carroll were supposed to be first teamers who would increase the quality of the first team but it has had the opposite effect. However, I do believe that they are good squad players. Players that we need: Striker - without a doubt. Ideally someone with pace as I believe defenders are more worried about playing against fast strikers as opposed to a battering ram like Carroll. Either way, a fast striker will give us another option/dimension. Failing that, just a predator in the box with good movement will do! Jackson Martinez/Luke De Jong Right Winger - again, we need pace in our midfield. At times, it looks so static and slow when we're on the counter. We fail to support the striker and the move breaks down. Not only that, when they do provide support, the final ball is simply not good enough. Gaston Ramirez, Milos Krasic, Hoillet, Moses Central Midfield - this is a massvie area which is has been hit ever since the departure of Alonso and Mascherano. That partnership was amongst the best I have seen for LFC. With Lucas playing the Mascherano role very well, we need a playmaker to play alongside him. Adam should have done this and to be fair, he was doing well up until Lucas was injured. And then he have poor cover for Lucas. Spearing is simply not good enough and Shelvey is one for the future. We don't seem to assert any authority in the centre, there's no creativity, no pace. Ever Banega, Moussa Sissoko Defence - without Agger, our defence is pretty much screwed. So another experienced, ball palying defender would be nice which would allow Coates/Kelly to develop at their own pace rather than thrusted into action.
Enrique is amongst the quickest and strongest players in the Premiership but since the new year, he looks slower and a little weak. Really strange, but at least he showed us consistently (first half of the season at least) that he has talent unlike Downing.
Striker, winger and midfielder. Luuk de jong, munain, sissoko, Ramirez, elm, benega, isla. Just off the top of my head, can't think of too many strikers we would be possible to get though.
I think Big Andy has started to show why he was bought from around January I just hope we dont have to wait for him to hit the ground next season. Downing will definately improve, I am certain. I agree Spearing is not good enough, but I really do not think Adam is good enough, nor do I think he is a good squad player, gives the ball away way too much and is terrible in the tackle, and has little to no speed (plus i have met him on a few occasions at parties and he is a total !@ob ), but my personal opinion of him may be clouding my judgement on his ability. But a fair enough assessment. Cheers, I think the biggest signing we need is A Bit O Luck tho, no way does it balance up over a season, I want him in the no. 9 shirt
I can see Kelly switching to Center back next season we also have Coates so don't see a problem in that position. I can see the sense in another central midfielder if we are going to sell Adam.
Carroll has certainly improved and looks a beast. But will he score us 20+ goals? I'm not sure. I do feel that he is a good player for us and adds a new dimension to our team. Adam has been extremely poor in some matches so I understand why people want rid of him. But I remember hitting good form alongside Lucas where he scored a few goals and got some assists. It would be good to compare Adam's and Gerrard's stats this season and I think it will be pretty close.
Coates and Kelly are still raw talents. Srktel and Agger are our main pair but no doubt that Agger will get injured. As we've seen from this season, our defence goes to pieces without Agger so I feel an experienced CB is needed. Even if we don't sell Adam, we need more quality in the centre. It relieves the pressure on Hendo and Shlvey to deliver all the time.
If this season has shown us anything it is how much off the pace we are, forget about Utd & City we should be aiming to match Spurs & Arsenal first. The squad isnt nearly good enough judginig by our league perfrmance, We need at least 4 players to get competitive in my opinion. Andy Carroll has come into some kind of form but should he be considered 1st choice when there are quality replacements available ? Are spearing, shelvey, henderson, Adam 1st teamers ? Do we need another centre back, DO we need a quality winger ? I think the answer to these are quite obvious.
We need a couple of options in the centre of the park - losing Lucas was a severe body blow, we were challenging for top 4 at the time. Adam/Lucas didn't work too badly imo but Adam was exposed once Lucas was out....so it's about pairings for me. I have confidence in Downing.....but on the Left!! We need a right winger! We also need quality back up if, as expected, Kuyt and Maxi leave (I'd rather they stayed). Carroll has started to show his potential but we need another option with pace up front imo. Hope we don't lose either Agger or Skrtel as both have been quality. Reina has had a strange season but still one of the best imo, so don't want him to leave either. Kenny needs to lighten up a little; I think we needed a siege mentality when he first arrived but it has been more detrimental than beneficial recently - the journo's smell blood with him and he seems to always bite.
That was the point of my post, as i stated before title way off but not fourth, we all seem to be in and around the same mark, less quantity more quality, we seem to be happy with our squad, but not the first 11. I was trying to find out whether it was just my humble opinion, but I don t think we are a million miles from challenging for cl entry. Which is where we need to be (not deserve or have divine right wums) but need, like any club with any hopes of one day pushing for title again. I do like a lot of the suggestions for players and it good to see names coming up over and over, lets hope we are somewhere close.
The criticism of Reina and Enrique is justified, but we shouldn't assume that what may be a dip in form is an irreversible decline. Enrique's form, in particular, coincided with the general slide that took over the whole team. Reina has been patchy, but only by his own high standards- I still can't see anyone available who I'd rather have. I agree with luv, a striker and RW are definitely needed. Other areas need strengthening, but imo only gradually. Wholesale changes are almost always disastrous because they start a long period of gelling and I don't think we can afford to do that again.
Rumours are that Xavi Valero, who was the GK coach who brought in by Rafa will be back at the club which is good news. Will hopefully get Reina back on track. I think striker, RW and CM are all equally important.
How does it feel to have spent 20m on a winger who has less goals than Tim Howard and hasn't provided one assist in the league this season in which he featured 36 times?
