I forgot to mention my envelopes...must have envelopes for next season I've already written the 3 names down to put in them...
Maybe before the start of the season we should have an envelope thread where we each write 3 names. Or maybe that is to pessimistic...
Great thread, very well constructed. It's funny, today I watched the 2005 UCL Final again (needing my injection of good feeling) and it's remarkable how weak our team was at the time, but some of the quotes really rung true with me. "Players change, Occasionally managers change, but the spirit and mentality of Liverpool never goes", and for me, that's what gives me faith that we can push on next season. Over the last few years we've hit rock bottom, almost going in to administration, losing our best striker for many a year and then dropping out of CL. In reality we've finished 8th in one of the top leagues in the world while winning a cup, and that was deemed enough to lose our manager which says a lot about our high expectations. People bang on about progress, and throw a load of stats at you but i tend to judge progress with my eyes. Have we increasingly progressed as the season has gone on? Of course we have, at the start of the season we looked very naive, a team that was struggling to adapt to new tactics and not getting results to match that. Rodgers has continuously said throughout that the season that we will improve, and we have, a lot more than people realize. Remember them chances we couldn't finish last season? The woodwork curse? Well that seems to be behind us now, but of course, with any progress with our club some other part buggers up, but at least now we look like a very attacking, hard to beat side. Went a bit off topic there but back on to the point; Our defense has been shaky, one of the areas that no new signings have been made so in regards to new signings this should be priority with 1-2 new CB's coming and possibly a new LB. But, is the defensive line where we are going wrong? Or is it the overall shape and movement off our team as a whole? For me it's the former, if we're playing either Henderson or Allen one of them is going to have to be schooled intensely to learn the right times to move forward, where to move in certain situations and when to challenge for the ball. As for outgoings; Downing. Yeah he's improved, that's not saying much though, is it? On top of that, I find his interviews very annoying, and if he thinks the level he's playing at now is good enough he's very mistaken, he's not a bad player, but having a winger who is scared of taking players on and opts to play the ball back or sideways (usually to an opposing player) is a recipe for disaster. Assaidi. He's looked decent in the time he's played (considering how little game time he has had) but clearly there's something Rodgers doesn't like in him, whether it be an off the field problem or an attitude problem he's going to more than likely be sold. Coates (loan) I still have high hopes for Coates, and I find the whole situation very frustrating, he's hardly featured in the first team, and on top off that he hasn't been loaned out nor played in any form of competitive football apart from the odd cup games and a game v City earlier in the season (where he played pretty well) As for incomings: Williams The unpopular choice for many LFC fans it seems but I've certainly seen enough of him to know this could be a great signing. He's at his peak, a great leader and organizer, physically strong, not bad in the air nor on the floor and is no slouch either. Of course it's a question for price, anything over 10 Million is too much when you factor in a lot of things, but that aside I reckon he'll prove a lot of people wrong if he were to come in. A Defensive Coach. It's no coincidence that defensively we've been found wanting since Steve Clarke left, under Dalglish we had a very good balance between attack and defense and it's really not too far from what we play this season, but the Tiki Taka brand that came attached with Rodgers has seem to have clouded that. As for who? No bloody idea. Mulumbu Very good DM, and for a big powerful man he's very deceiving as he's surprisingly good on the ball, and there would be no way to throw the "Can't play this formation" BS. He's a class act, and would slip in perfectly in our team. Erikksen A long shot, but we need a marquee signing, some one to really show that we're not all talk. As for the player himself, I'm a massive fan of his, a very classy midfielder who's a bit of a jack of all trades but leans more to the attacking side of the game (remind you of anyone?), A pipe dream of course, but if we were to go out and get Ayre(laugh) on the case then perhaps we have a sliver of hope? Cardozo Very good striker who's currently at his peak with Benfica, certainly able to get due to his age (29) and for me, he's the mature proven player we need up top. We have plenty of quality in Suarez, Coutinho and Sturridge, but Suarez is the oldest (25) and we're certainly crying out for a player who can put the net in when we go long in a game without scoring. As for next season, I'd like us to be much more consistent in playing as good as we are at home, away from home. A lot more cut and thrust on the ball against the more physical teams. Also we need to drastically improve with set pieces which is just stating the obvious. A much more disciplined attitude in midfield, that doesn't necessarily mean defensive, just a lot less naive in a positional sense. Feel like I've just writ a ****ing essay
On phone so I'll keep it brief rather than detailed or it will take me all day. Out. Assman, Borini, Spearing, Carrol for right price. In. Tall pacy CB, Sturridges identical twin brother, wing back... ideally one who can play either side. Philosophy. Simply put... hoofball nor Chicken tikka Masala alone is good enough. Take advantage foremost of what we have. We have some players who can play accurate long balls (such as Gerrard) and others who are great at quick thinking local movements (such as Coutinho). Have players play to their advantages. Jose E and Glen J are ideal wing backs. Encourage them forward... Lucas and Allen can drop back a little to help as needed. I would keep Allen and Coates... Coates strikes me as a Lucas... Allen was our best player pre-injury. Borini is crap and played almost every game early on. He had plenty of time. Strikers that start out crap rarely get better. Voronin had more to his game. Sturridge should be played in a central role. Suarez/Gerrard/Coutinho should play behind Stur and smoothly exchange positions in that 2nd row... attacking as needed.
Some great responses... I forgot about Carroll and Coates, I'd personally keep Carroll, as he can fight with Borini for a spot on the bench/starting 11 if Coutinho/Sturridge/Suarez start to slip. Coates should be played for a LONG stretch of time with the first team. That's the only way players succeed. Look at Savic last year at City - Same type of youngster, got the same amount of time as Coates with the first team and failed, while his replacement Nastasic has played a lot more and looks very solid.
I know what you mean about Coates but the problem is you just can't keep playing a player when he looks such a ridiculously weak link. When you come in and struggle against the likes of Mansfield and Oldham you can't expect to get in the team against Prem opposition. Like you I still think it may just be a confidence thing with him but if I was manager (to keep us on topic) I'd know that a decision has to be made with him this summer. Either find him a suitable loan club or shift him on. Centre back is such a tough and unforgiving position for a young player that a few bad games can destroy confidence long term and sitting on the bench just compounds things especially when you've already played regular first team and international football.
Just adding to Billy's point - strikers can make loads of mistakes, miss loads of chances but if they score one, fans often only remember the goal. Defenders and keepers are the opposite.
I can see Allen being better. But maybe not great. I'm not sure on Sturridge but he has to score regular goals.
On the first point you must understand that he was played despite not getting a shout in for a while, and the players around him/behind him were not first team regulars if I recall. That is not a positive attitude and most youngsters will suffer in that atmosphere. But I completely agree about CB being a horrible position for youngsters.
I think we can do better than Sturridge in time but he is a good option for the now. If we were to sign Eriksen (big if) in the summer then i think Sturridge would be the most effected. BR likes one of his front four to be willing to work hard and track back, this season it has been Downing and/or Henderson. Obviously, Suarez and Ford work hard and track back too but I think we'd rather see them further up the pitch
