A maximum of 3 players in my opinion - I'd be happy with 2. The last thing we want is to bring in a load of players and unsettle what we have. 2 more in January, and we'll be fine. The positions we need - Well I'll happily leave that call to Rodgers
Normally I'd agree but you only have to look at our bench to know we are already maybe 2 players short of decent squad depth. We've so far (#nojinx) managed to get through it this season, but add in CL football next year and we will need another 2/3 players who are 1st team quality to add to the squad and that's already 4/5 players needed. Then add on any replacements for current players leaving. We don't need to do a spurs and buy 11 new players who are all trying to get into the 1st team, but 2 or 3 who are 1st 11 quality to replace what we already have (FB's, CM) and then 2 or 3 who can be rotated.
If I'm totally honest, I would like to see the following players go; Johnson, Lucas, Agger, Coates, Allen, Aspas, and possibly Enrique. Johnson has lost his mojo needs to move on. Lucas never really came back from his injury the same player and doesn't fit with BR's style. Agger great servant, but we need to rebuild are defense and Turtle is the better player atm. Allen never really improved as I would have expected, we could do better. Aspas not given a chance! probably because not good enough, wouldn't mind giving Borini another go as backup but again probably could do better. Enrique, Great player when fit, but when is that exactly? need some stability in defense and a player that can play 40 odd games a season. So if we get rid of them i recon we need a CB, LB, RB, DM, AM and possibly another winger. I recon at least 3 should be of first team quality (probably CB, RB, DM or AM) and the rest CL squad quality.
06 Lescott 07 Milner 09 Negredo 13 Kolarov 14 Javi GarcÃa 16 Agüero 30 Pantilimon Having a squad this strong should be the target. Man City had these options on the bench against us PLUS the likes of Nastasic, Jovetic, Richards & Rodwell in reserve. Thats the sort of depth you need to compete on all fronts IMO, you just need to be careful you don't overdo it and end up with a squad too big to select a consistent team from.
We shouldn't be too hasty to get rid of players like Johnson, Allen & Agger. They can all be valuable squad players next season. They know the systems & tactics and they are proven PL players. We will encounter problems if we start selling people like this because transfers are never 100% successful, there are always a few flops in each window.
Wouldn't mind if we kept Allen as he has time to improve, the other two are at the end of their careers and on decent wages, IMO we might as well get what we can for them and start blooding in new players.
We'll deffs have more than enough money to spend so i dont see the point in selling for extra funds. We do need to sell those who arent good enough (coates springs to mind) but overall i think our squad is more than capable of competing next season with the other big boys. We needsome new full backs, a cm and a few attacking players. Ill say no more
quite a few who could fall into the not good enough category. Kelly,Asaps,Assaidi,Johnson,Reina(still on books) thats just off the top of my head, could add others like Borini and maybe Agger,Toure etc to the list. i know we are going to need a bigger squad, but if these players are not good enough why keep just to make the numbers up, as they like Moses has done will offer **** all. now you just watch Moses getting the ****ing winner that gets us the title lol #nojinx
We need the following: LB, RB, CM, AM, GK - all should be able to slot into the first team with ease, although may not initially be first choice. I assume Ilori returns and takes Toure's place in the squad. Otherwise we'll need a CB too. I've no idea what our budget will be, so no idea what we can expect to spend. I reckon there'll be one major signing and a few 'bargain basement' type signings as per Studge and Coutinho. Would love to see another one of the kids stepping up, not sure who's ready though.
Some interesting comments above. But are you trying to answer the wrong question? Next season the club faces a very different challenge from this one. Therefore rather than strengthening a squad that was designed to get a top 4 finish (at the expense of domestic cups) should we not now be designing a squad that can meet the challenge of another title challenge and CL football?
Everywhere bar attack ( assuming form continues of course ). New GK, RB, CB, CB, CB, CB ( you will need loads of CB because Skrtel will get a red in every Champions League game without a doubt ), LB Squad players for midfield etc etc. You may even have to replace suarez.
There is no way we should be looking at selling Allen. The game against Norwich showed us how good he is defensively and we did not miss Henderson in that respect. Both and Hendo can rotate depending on the circumstances (Hendo is better offensively and Allen is better defensively). I rather we sell Lucas and get someone like Lars Bender in - I really have lost faith in Lucas in the sense that he isn't the same player after a couple of big injuries. The stupid foul he gave away at the end of the Norwich game really sums him up at the moment. As much as I like Agger, Sakho is our number 1 LCB. Unless Agger is happy sitting on the bench, then we should be looking at getting rid. Between Lucas, Agger, Johnson and Reina - we'll be freeing up £400k off the wage bill.
if we had more commanding CB's goalie wouldn't be such an issue, ie we need another hyypia type, sadly they don't come along very often. i would say RB LB CB and DM. Luis is going no where
The CB's aren't helped by the full backs who are useless in the air. Skrtel and Sakho win the majority of the aerial duels but the full backs either a) don't stop crosses coming in and b) are poor in the air. Johnson, for his size is extremely poor in the air.
If Johnson was the one to fail jumping for the second Norwich goal (Flanagan), he'd be skinned alive thrice over what he has been already for failing to clear the cross. He did have a below-average game (less pronounced than Sakho's and Lucas'), yet he's having more good games than subpar ones after coming back from injury. Also, wasn't he that challenged Carroll's point blank header at West Ham as he hit the bar... It's strange: GJ and Agger get a beat-down from fans for being supposedly lax, while Allen gets one for being the opposite.
Yep, Flannagan had a poor game and his poor effort of trying to win the ball for that goal was awful. Strangely enough, I actually think Flanno is better going forward than defensively. Lucas and Johnson were out worst performers against Norwich - Sakho was actually very good but he'll only be judged on giving the ball away (even though he shouldn't have been given the ball in the first place). Agger is a strange one - I agree that he has been poor individually, but he brings composure, experience and leadership to the back line. He makes others play better and it's not coincidence that he has played in the most games where we have kept clean sheets. Allen is a very good player IMO but he won't get the recognition/praise because what he does isn't glamorous. Statistically, he is our best presser and is the best midfielder we have from a defensive aspect.
