I agree, that's what I meant by the right players. Newcastle this season are a prime example for me. They're not a team of individuals, they play well together as a unit, in a way they compliment each other. I think we need to do the same with players like Suarez, Bellamy, Gerrard etc. It doesn't matter if they're well known or not, as long as they fit the way they play and can slot in the team and can do a good job.
Exactly, hence another reason why we bought Carroll for that much but wanted a " pass and move, liverpool groove" philosophy was beyond me as he does not fit that. He fits direct, physical, power, more like Roy style than what we want to do now.
Unrealistic to buy a whole new team, we've got the base of a very good first team in Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard & Suarez. Plus squad players like Adam, Downing, Henderson, Kelly, Robinson, Coates, Carragher, Spearing, Shelvey and Carroll make us a very strong team and squad. Our squad is tired mentally from all the missed opportunities and draws in the league plus the Suarez incident. Its bound to take its toll of any set of players. I think people will be very surprised next season, as I've said in previous threads, when we come out next season all refreshed with a couple of additions and some positivity. Got to say though I'd love to see us make a massive signing as a statement. I mean like a Cavani or a Falcao. That would really make people sit up and take notice IMO.
Falcao just moved so can't see it, can't see us getting Ramirez and Cavani but then again Coates, Suarez, Cavani, G. Ramirez, could be little uruguay similar to our spanish years. I would like to see one of Bilbao's players join us as well.
I can see Bilbao players staying for at least one more year to see how the project develops under Bielsa. Especially if they win the Europa and/or the Copa Del Rey. I personally think Ramirez is a very possible target. He's not going to be targetted by one of Europe's top clubs like Madrid/Man City/Barca yet because they like to buy players who have already proven themselves at a pretty high level because they can afford them and their wages. There's also the Uruguay connection going on and I'm sure Suarez and Coates will be telling him all about Liverpool like Mertesacker with Podolski at Arsenal. Cavani would be a hell of a statement though, you gotta admit that. Would be up there with Man City signing Tevez.
---------Cavani-------- Suarez----------Munian ----------------------- ----Shelvey-Gerrard---- ---------Lucas--------- Enrique-Agger-Skrtel-Johnson ---------Reina--------- That would be a quality starting 11, if we could splash big on Cavani, get Suarez and Coates to sweet talk him a bit, doesn't seem as unlikely then and Munian is just brilliant already with bags of potential
Rasmus Elm is looking likely to come in which spells the end for Aquilani. Soldado is a good shout, but so is Adebayor...
I agree with earlier posters - we should be buying players that fit our style i.e. good movement, pass and move, intelligent, good technically and have a good attitude. Again, I cannot see why we went in for Andy Carroll. I think Gaston Ramirez is a very possible transfer to take place. We've had scouts take a look at him on a number of occassions and he scored in front of them as well. In addition, a PL side have made a bid for him and I'm hoping it's us! Cavani would be a dream transfer and is slightly possibly as I believe the Holy Trinity of Lavezzi, Cavani and Hamsik will be broken this summer and possibly Napoli will allow 2 of those players to leave. Failing to get Cavani, I would also like Lavezzi and even though he's not an out right goal scorer, he is still top quality and is similar to Suarez in that he works hard for the ball and is a tricky player. I would consider Soldado as a possible transfer and I would be delighted to have him. Composed, technical and clinical. Lacks the acceleration of Fernando Torres but has the intelligence and skill of David Villa. A cheaper alternative would be Jackson Martinez of Colombia. He is performing very well in Mexico and obviously it is a big step up to the PL but he seems to have the right attributes to succeed. Very pacey, strong, scores with both feet and with his head. I believe we need to bolster the central midfield. I don't think Gerrard is that great at anymore and he should be higher up the pitch. Lucas needs a creative partner (Alonso type) so someone like Martinez or Banega would be ideal. Then a real powerhouse like Moussa Sissoko would be brilliant, just to give us more energy in the midfield, win the ball, assert dominance. Personally, Spearing is not good enough. The lad will try his hardest but simply lacks the technical ability and the intelligence to play in an important area. Buying these two CM's would allow Henderson and Shelvey to develop at a natural pace without being thrusted into the limelight and thus reducing the pressure on them. And finally, a centre back is badly needed. Coates is definately one for the future but we need another ball playing, composed defender like Agger. We saw how vulnerable we are without Agger and there is no doubt that he will be injured again.
Zero chance of Adebayor, his wages are crazy and way beyond what we'd offer. My dream summer would see: Ins - Sissoko, Banega, Soldado, De Jong and taking a gamble on the promising Hoilet (free) and Philips (blackpool). Some sort of young goalkeeper, no idea who though. Outs - Aquilani, Aurelio, Cole, Doni and Jones. Wouldn't be the most expensive set of players, but they strengthen the areas we need for the quick passing game we seem to prefer. I think the likes of Muniain, although we're interested, are simply out of our price range to even consider.
I'd prefer quality over quantity this summer. If we can find a 30 goal striker that'll be enough. Gomes/Huntelaar/Cavani ideally. Play with a front 3 then Suarez free role coming from left or right. I'd stick Sterling in other side as we really need to get someone in the team with pace. Dont really see why we need to sign any midfielders or defenders
we need to sign defenders because were ****ed when agger is injured, and midfielders because adam is ****
We need midfielders because Henderson/Shelvey/Spearing are not good enough (yet) to push us into the top 4, Adam/Downing have failed to deliver so far and Kuyt/Maxi/Bellamy/Gerrard are getting old. Lucas is our only midfielder who is coming to his peak and is good enough to start week in, week out next season. Defense not so much an issue, but could maybe do with a backup LB.
If we play 3 central midfielders like against Norwich we've got Gerrard (couple more years in him yet I think) to play the advanced role, Shelvey as backup for him. Lucas and Henderson are capable of filling the 2 deeper roles for the moment. I know Henderson doesn't contribute that much going forward but I think he's suited to a more defensive role as he has a good work ethic. Nothing wrong with spearing as backup in my opinion as far as defensive midfielders go he aint bad, works hard and makes good tackles. He just needs to learn to keep it simple and not to try to shoot form 30 yards all the time. Fair enough Adam has got to go really but I'd rather us bring through Coady and the excellent Suso through to challenge these guys unless we are going to sign a world class midfielder (which we aren't). In terms of defenders we've still got Coates and Carragher as backup for next year and I think Kelly would do an excellent job there. Again we've got 2 promising centre backs in Sama and Wisdom if we have an injury crisis. Looks like we have quite a small budget this summer and I would hate to see us waste it again on a few half decent players, I would much rather us sign a top striker with the money than an average striker, an average midfielder and an average defender. It's in front of goal where our biggest problem is so surely fixing that is the priority. Quality over quantity like I say.
Sell Henderson? Hell no. I'd make minimal exits personally. We need a big squad. Especially with us in the Europa League. Out: Aurelio Maxi Aquilani Cole Plus the reserves and loaned out players who it seems wont make it. Degen Ecclestone Amoo Darby Pacheco Generall I think we need better attackers. in: Creative, attack minded centre mid. 2 attacking mids/ wingers 1 quick, natural scoring striker. For squad depth: Versatile defender who is solid at left back.
