CARELESS TALK COSTS LIVES Some of you need to get over yourselves! You glibly wite-off players as "weak", "lack quality" or "two-a-penny" without identifying why, who could replace them in the role they are currently fulfilling and at what cost. Let's take Coates as an example. The majority of you want to get rid of him. Yet he's young, not lacking in skill but certainly lacking in experience. So what are you going to sell him for and to whom? Show me another CB of his age and level of experience who is better? Then follow the same type of evaluation to the others who you glibly write-off. Now some of our youngsters need more regular 1st team football than we are able to give them at present. I would suggest Suso, Yessil, Morgan, Shevely, Robinson are classic examples. If we do give them the opportunities that they need on season long and shorter term loans then we do need more experience in the squad. Should we stick or should we twist? I come down on the twist side. But only a limited number of top quality players who will (not could) improve the squad. So pay the money but for 1 0r 2 players.
I did explain in the OP but as usual everyone has gone off on their own idea of it but that's fine. I just want someone other than me to click on stick.
As it's you I'll vote STICK. Now US Supreme Court judges have to resign if the are forced to reverse a decision that they have made. I wonder what my fate will be?
And that should be the start off point Dave. I'm not naming a player or a debate will start. Realistic assumptions. 1)We assume a modest budget. 2)We assume we won't attract the very very best in the world over league winning CL teams. So: No point in moving on a player to replace them with a player equal or only a slight improvement in quality. Its just extending a problem more years as the new players contract will be longer than the existing players. For what benefit? No point in moving on a young player to replace them with a player that although better right now due to experience but still isn't good enough to be chosen In a first 11 we would like to compete with the top 4. So identify targets first, have the deal practically stonewalled before you let the replacee go if the replacee has to go first to fund the new player. (Not the summer past in other words lol) While we can't have 2 world class 11's we should only buy a player if existing players in that position aside, we could hand on heart, say he'd be good enough in a starting 11 to compete against the top 4 sides/Europes best. That doesn't have to mean number one in the world but good enough to live with no 1 in the world on the pitch. Otherwise what's the point in the purchase? So I can name 5 players I under the best circumstances I'd like to replace but only if the conditions above are met.
Our top priority is a quality wide attacking player and a centreback. First team starters. Need to hit the ground running. Selling Carroll and Downing (possibly Skrtel too if he wants to leave, but I'd prefer he stayed) will fund this. Second priority is squad depth. We have no goals on the bench and that needs fixing. We have limited cover in midfield and that needs fixing too. Our cover can't be an inexperienced 20 year old. I remember having the likes of Smicer, Berger, Litmanen and Anelka on the bench in 2001. Big game, international experienced players who would come on and make a difference or guide young players through cup games. Basically, our youth is ****ing quality but not ready yet. Our third priority should be identifying who are ready to be involved in the first team (Wisdom, Sterling, Texeira potentially and a few others) and keep him rotated in, give them 20min cameos and play them in cup games. Get them involved with our best players and used to playing together. The rest, loan them out - players like Suso, Shelvey, Morgan, Yesil - they need game time which they won't get here, in order to progress.
Quick skim through the thread.. Reina (hope he stays), Jones to be moved on and a better #2 bought in. Johnson, Wisdom, Kelly can play right back, cover beyond that from the youth team? Enrique, Johnson can play left back, we need more cover here, not a fan of Robinson. Agger, Wisdom, Kelly, will need a buy or two here, think Skrtel will be off, along with Coates. Lucas, Henderson (we'd be MAD to sell him, I think he's a smashing player with a great attitude!), Gerrard, Shelvey (potential there, hope we don't sell, rather loan him out to a Prem. side), Allen, midfield is OK but I'd like a Diame type player here. Henderson, Gerrard, Shelvey, Suso, FORD, Sterling, Downing, advanced midfield role is covered here, wouldn't say no to an Erikson type player. Downing (may leave, if so, his recent up turn in form should help us get a better fee!), FORD, Sterling, Borini (won't leave, boys not had a fair crack of the whip yet), Sturrige, Suarez, attack, would like to add an out an out finisher who's happy to play second fiddle to the SaS! Think we don't need to make whole sale changes, but 4/5 right additions (not all these would be immediate first teamer's) can set us up well for next year.
Can anyone name the last striker we signed who was really good that wasn't really good almost immediately. Defenders... yes... midfielders... yes. It just seems really rare strikers improve after a bad start. Crouch is closest I can think of... although whereas he didn't score many goal initially he was contributing strongly to the team overall. Our best strikers all hit the ground running. I don't buy that after 16 games (one goal) Borini hasn't had enough chances. Sturridge isn't much older and made an immediate impact. Torres, Suarez, Owen, Fowler... what do they have in common... started out great... stayed great (till injury permenantly knackered some or they got old) Morientes got lots of starts... didn't improve. Voronin got his chances... didn't improve. N'Gog, El Zhar, le Tallec. Don't recall them reaching greatness in anyone other than Mitos mind.* Strikers who have bad first seasons have bad follow up seasons. Strikers who start good tend to stay good at least until injury robs them of pace. Defenders... midfielders... yeah, they need bedding in time. Strikers typically arnt of same mould. * MITO still owns and wears N'Gog heart pajamas
Btw... I do concur that Drogba at Chelsea was an exception to my above rule.. He was a bit of a donkey at first until he learned how to dive.
What do people actually think BR will do, not would they would do This is what I think BR thinks I think Coates is gone no pace,can only see him staying to keep Suarez happy or if Skrtel goes and we cant get another replacement CB in,may be loaned out Carroll is gone not mobile enough Spearing gone, we have better players 3 yrs younger Downing depends on the offer we got £6m, BR would accept, if he stays likely to be squad player and would be told so. Skrtel again £6m BR would accept, if he stays likely to be squad player and would be told so Borini, think BR would accept offer of £7/8m, hes not shown anythin,was left out v West Brom when DS was unavailable,again would be squad player if stayed, may be given another yr but if we were offered £7m+ , I think he would be gone. Assaidi, impossible to say,b4 Zenit I wudda said gone, but all of a sudden picks him b4 Suso and RS,could be used as bait to get player from Dutch League,depends on how he does from now til end of season
Don't know what BR would do DDx3 but we couldn't get a player of equal quality as Skrtel for £6/7 mill. I'd want a min of 10.
... and even 10 would be a fire sale... would need to do some shrewd transfer biz wo the Liverpool tax to get someone as good.
Buy a Centre back who is not afraid to bark. Sell Spearo, Carroll Dunno about the rest...... Alot depends on us holding on to the top names. Especially Luis
