According to sources at the club, Liverpool Director or Football Damien Comolli is set to have a busy summer as the club look to overhaul the playing squad. Despite spending over £50 million in the January transfer window, new owners the Fenway Sports Group look set to open the chequebook again to fund numerous acquisitions. But, following a resurgence since the reappointment of Kenny Dalglish as manager and the emergence of some bright young talent such as Jay Spearing, is a complete overhaul exactly what the Merseyside club need?
Admittedly Liverpool is a club still in transition after the departure of Rafa Benitez and ill-fated reign of Roy Hodgson. Despite a superb recovery to sixth in the table and the recent acquisitions of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, there are still many squad members still to prove their worth. The likes of Milan Jovanovic, Paul Konchesky and Christian Poulsen have failed to make any real impact whilst many fans would be glad to see the back of Sotirios Kyrgiakos and David N’gog. Worryingly for fans, iconic academy products Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard are both the wrong side of 30 and there will soon come a day when they fail to play week-in week-out. But, the club must be careful to avoid a repeat of the constantly revolving door and poor signings that appeared under Rafa Benitez.
Following a turbulent year and a change in ownership, the club must first look for some stability. For example, the club are yet to confirm the long-term future of Kenny Dalglish with his current deal expiring at the end of the season. And, whilst Damien Comolli looks to be directing current player recruitment, if it is Dalglish who will manage the club next season then surely he should have a great deal input into transfer dealings.
But Dalglish has done well to transform the current squad into one challenging for European football. The likes of Spearing, Martin Kelly and Jonjo Shelvey have successfully broken into the first team, whilst the new strike partnership of Carroll and Suarez have only been at the club for a short period of time and will come good with time. Alberto Aquilani and Emiliano Insua could still return from their loan periods. But, with new owners keen to make their mark on the club and with a new record kit deal worth a reported £25 million a year, expect signings this summer.
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Of course we want wise signings, doesn’t that actually go without saying? Who would want to sign bad players on purpose? Well, maybe Roy who bought his former players without thinking if they could really cut the mustard! Who can be sure that players will make the grade? Some players seem more possible than others but mistakes will be made by everybody. Camolli made mistakes too at the Spurs. Kenny seems to have a good record with his buys and so we must rely on him to do the right thing. Fenway will hire him!
yes liverpool badly need a overhall, the average players are only playing well now because there is no pressure on them to perform and liverpool will be in the exact same position next season as they have been for the last 2 years.
also the other big teams have been poor this season so they will more than likely make big signings this summer leaving liverpool futher behind if they dont spend big this summer
sorry billy…you’re wrong! We need to inject the youth and if many of you don’t attend the academy games you wouldn’t know! We need a winger may be two [2 of](Turan, Lavezzi, Greizmann, Lennon, Brunt) and a LB (Izaguirre, D. Santon, Yuto Nagatomo, Enrique) and two impact players to come off the bench: Park Chu Young (Monaco) and Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea-I was dissapointed when he wasn’t incl in the Torres deal!! Look at him now!)
And I hope everyone stops with the Honda and Contreao thing! They both said that they will not be coming!
It’s quite amazing how easily some fans get blinded by a few good results/performances, and immediately forget all that has come before then! Even if we somehow managed to luck into the Champions League again the squad would still need massive changes.
But then again, my ambitions for the club do seem to be a lot higher than the bloggers that are posting all over the place. I don’t want Liverpool to just be good enough to battle for a Champions League place, but to be good enough to be considered amongst the front runners for the major trophies.
So no, on second thoughts, a major overhaul isn’t necessary to fulfill your ambitions of seeing Liverpool elevated back into also-ran status again…
I don’t think there is any need for Fenway to throw money at the club in the same way as is happening at Chelsea and Man City. It’s been stated time and time again that they took over with one eye on the Financial Fair Play rules.
With the young lads coming through under Kenny already, I’d say we only really need to bring in a defender or two and a proper winger and we’ll be fine. We’ve got 4 young defenders (Flanagan, Robinson, Kelly and Wilson) who are raring to go, plus Skrtel and Agger, and Carra for a year, maybe two at a push. Let Soto go.
We’ve got Shelvey and Spearing in midfield, with Spearing really shining of late – I think he could be a possible replacement for Gerrard long term. Lucas isn’t that old yet either. Nor Meireles. And both of our strikers are quite young too. Kuyt can still make an impact, and we’ve got Joe Cole, who I still think can turn things around for himself.
By the end of next season, I’m sure, we’ll have a strong team of young players, most of whom will have come through the academy. We just need a couple of players to help us get through this next year.
So you think bringing in a couple of defenders and a winger will get us back challenging at the top? You mentioned the 4 young defenders but completely ignored the fact that we still have Mavinga and Ayala. And what makes you think that an average-at-best squad player in Jay Spearing can be a replacement for Gerrard?
We ABSOLUTELY need new signings. Benitez said that the 1st 11 of liverpool can beat anybody in the prem. He’s right. BUT, that also implies that the substitute bench does not possess the necessary quality to sustain a league title challenge. We need at least 15-18 class players. BTW, Im really happy the way King Kenny has blooded Flanno, Robinson, Spearing and Kelly. They’re performing up to or rather beyond the standard under King Kenny, but I want to see Conor Coady and Suso given a run too. If you’re good enuff, u’re old enuff. 🙂
Clever buys is what we need, a winger and defence is what’s needed. our attack is showing real sign that they are going to gel and we still to see Stevie, Luis and Andy all playing togther. throw in a left winger, with johno or Kelly down the right and Kenny’s drive we can attach anyone.
Control without the ball is where we need to address, once this is done and a couple of strength in depth players and we should be OK for next season.
As far as I see it, we dont need nothing Major, in terms of overhaul, we just need strengthening in certain areas.
Would could do with a CB such as Rolando, Mertesacker, Kjar or Sakhi and lose Soto, as we would have Martin Skyrtl, Carra, Agger and Kelly could fill in at either RB CB, so it leaves us with a LB to fill, Coentrao would be good.
Up to now we need CB cover and LB.
We will sell aquaman, so we need a CM, possibly 2, I think a box or holding player – someone who could do both would be Scott Parker, failing that Adam, Banega or Mata but we also need creativity so I would plump for Turan or Aquero, we need some Marquee signings to make a statement..
Ok so we now need 2 Defenders & 2 Midfielder, bear in mind though, there will be some departures from these areas. Such as Insua, Soto, Aqua possibly Maxi & Jocole.
Now Wingers, alot has been written in relation to these, but there is Navas, Marveraux, Young amongst others. But we do need these more than anything at the moment.
Bringing us along to Strikers, if as expected N’goals goes, we would need a replacement, Comolli always said Carroll & Luis would come if we had FT or not so we would then need two. I fancy the dutch lad Van Wolfswinkel, there is also Lukaku who is Raw but an English version in Connor Wickham would also be acceptable!
Such busy times ahead, i said at the start we dont need Major overhaul but I have skimmed and we need 2 Defenders, 2 Midfielders, 2 Wingers and possibly 2 Strikers. We will probably lose that many through loans, sales and releases but if we went either or with some of the above we would have a decent squad in place to make a tilt next season if they all bedded in…
Team
Reina
Johnson
Carra
Mertesaker
Coentrao
Navas
Banega
Gerrard
Turan
King Luis
Carroll/Wickham/Lukaka/Van Wolfswinkel
I dont envy the team doing the work this summer but imo Mertesacker, Banega and Turan would be my prime targets, along with Young.
Wouldnt it be fantastic if FSG done what they did with Red Sox and gave us 100m to spend 🙂
Nope! We are LFC and don’t need to buy the league! I loathe ManCity, Chelsea and ManU and the last thing I’d want is to become spenders like that! It would be nice to sell and get 50 million to use. ie: Aquilani (14m), [maybe] GJohnson (16m), Ngog (6m), Cole (4m), jovanovic (5m), Agger (7m), Konchesky (2m), Poulsen (2m), Elzhar (200k), Insua (4-5m)…Thats over 50m and we can buy whoever Commoli and Kenny thinks who has the “it” factor.
I see what you mean and I agree but it would be nice to have a spree after the years of hardship we have had! – I am not saying we a re buying the league, on that arguement you could say that when we went out and bought Barnes, Beardsley, Aldridge, Houghton (the last team Kenny assembled) – thats a similar point, City, Manure & Chelski are doing a similar thing to what we done in years gone by the difference being we didnt do it by having a Sugar Daaddy and in fairness to Utd, they havent either..Insua is out of contract soon so where do you get 4-5m. On N’Gogs form 6 million, i dont think so Agger and Johnson sales would weaken the squad and cost more to replace. Maybe a little evaluation on your part may have been needed..
The fenway group will only spend money on revenue produced by club. We still have money from last window of @30million as outgoings balance incomings. Currentlybthe club are debt free and bring in approx 30 million profit per year. With club sponsors Standard Chartered and new kit deal on the way, revenue at the club will increase. I understand that a decision is iminent on stadium plans. We then need to secure more funds for transfers by selling squad players that are not able to offer a future at the club. That said finds available will not be known till these plans are done. The club seem to want to secure young talented players like Carrol, who are rough diamonds that could turn into next Shearer/Drogba. There will always be a risk to this type of recruitment. Like the interest in Jones 19 year old Blackburn CB who could turn into next John Terry or not make that level at all. But with young players coming through the future is exciting but unpredictable. We need CB LB , strong midfielder, winger and one striker to compete with Suarez and Carrol. We must not block development of youngsters who are good enough for first team duty.
Kenny n Camoli have already show the gravity by bringing 2 well talented players together with the Academy graduates it’s fantastic they already have the knowledge of the kind of players needed it’s so easy YNWA GUD CONTINUITY
we absolutely do not need an overhaul..11 transfers ???what is it with all these people, too much fifa manager i suppose..
all we need is 4 or 5 quality signings in a few areas, couple of wingers, couple in defense(priority being left back) and a combative defensive midfielder…
if the “fans” have their way, we would turn into another man city..wouldn’t want that…
knw wat am proud to support such a dream and awasome football club like liverpool because it give you a real and clear definition of team especially at anflied and else where because liverpool have surprise a world since the golden days even though was not presents but am not a fool i can see now sign of golden age in our youngster and i real believe in them because even now i can see themselves smile and that is what made liverpool if you dont understand me watch kenny smile i have a confidence in sir smile kenny and i believe will be there till we take a smile from other fake club like manure,citizens,tochelly etc etc
you need to work on your english..
P.S – ever heard of “punctuations”???
Enough of fif a manager! 18 – 15 quality players? That’s incredible!
LFC only need to strengthen the squad rather than overhaul.
Come to think of it, how many ”quality midfielders” will agree to sign when he can only get to play when gerard is injured?
Red Indian, Dee…
Allow me to re-phrase, strength in depth…. rather than 15-18 class players? Its abt the same I guess.
You have 11 players playing on the pitch at any given time, invariably some of those players will get injured, correct? Now, following that logic, you then need quality substitutes to put in a shift. If we have a centre back injured and the substitute is not good enough in so doing costing us points, (u knw wat i mean) you’re never gonna win titles. Its not Fifa, its REALITY. Strength in depth is very impt. If we had Torres & Gerrard fit the last time we were sniffing for the title, who knows, the outcome wouldve been different.
p.s. I did say i agree that the 1st 11 is good enough, its just that we need DEPTH.
if we bring 4-5 quality transfers, the players who are playing in the first team right now and doing pretty well like kuyt, lucas, maxi, spearing wud be relegated to the bench and add to the depth of the squad..add to that, youngsters like flannagan, robinson, suso, pacheco, sterling and that luks like a pretty strong squad to me..
Thats an interesting view, but i predict that will depend on the circumstances. Lucas I believe, will keep his place and rightfully so. Marveau will surely be slotted on the left wing if the deal goes through. The other possible signing on the grapevine is Alxis Sanchez, a right winger if im n ot mistaken? Kuyt will keep his place on the right if we play a 4-2-3-1. If we play a 4-4-2, i think whoever comes in will play. Lavezzi, a striker, would be back up to Carroll and Suarez. With more signings like these and add that with our youth players, yes, i have to agree.