Despite Liverpool seemingly going into this summer’s transfer market with a sizeable war chest, in addition to money accrued from sales, there is still however a need to prioritise the sort of players we need most. I have underlined below the positions in the team which we will need to reinforce if the Reds are to compete on the big stage, starting with the most important:
1. Wingers – I could go on all day about this subject but the Reds have lacked any genuine wingers for well over a decade. Attempts have been made in players such as Albert Riera, Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez to correct this deficiency, but the lack of real quality and pace on the wings in recent years has hurt the team badly. The failure to break down lesser team’s defenced was a massive problem during the title challenging season in 2008/09, and I am inclined to believe that if we had at least one more winger in that team, we may have won the title that year. 11 draws only needed to become 8 for the Reds to have won the Championship. With the arrival of target man Andy Carroll, the need has become ever more urgent.
2. Left Back – Playing Glen Johnson out of position, as well as youngster Jack Robinson, says it all about the problems we have in the position. Paul Konchesky was never good enough for the Reds and was immediately loaned out by Kenny Dalglish. The 2009/10 season’s first choice left back Emiliano Insua was also loaned out, and there are no were real alternatives in the position other than the injury prone Fabio Auelio. The Reds have never truly replaced John Arne Riise, and this summer, with the cash available, it gives the Reds a tremendous opportunity to find a great full back.
3. Holding Midfielder – It was apparent that when Jay Spearing went off against Aston Villa with an injury last week, that the Reds midfield was overrun. Although Lucas is the team’s player of the year, he will need support, and although Spearing looks a decent squad player, a commanding physical presence is needed to ensure security in central midfield. Protection of the back four, with so many sides playing 5 man midfields these days, means at least two top class holding midfield players in the squad are essential.
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Before signing any players, Kenny and Comolli should get rid of all the players who are just a waste of space. These players not up to the task of playing for Liverpool and should be sold as soon as possible. As many as 12 players need to be sold this summer to make space and boost funds for new signings. The following players should be sold:
Jones
Darby
Degen
Soto
Konchesky
Poulsen
Ngog
Jovanovic
Ngog
El Zhar
Aquilani (no less than the agreed price)
The club should forget about signing a centre back and a striker and simply use Ayala and shift Kelly into centre back while Morgan should be promoted to replace Ngog. In addition, Liverpool should be looking to buy the following players. They are all relatively young, can still improve and fits in with FSG’s transfer policy:
Baines – quality left back. Very solid defensively and excellent going forward with great crossing ability. Good free kick taker as well.
Moussa Sissoko – young defensive midfielder. Lucas has done a great job but we need one more player in that position. Sissoko fits in perfectly with the transfer policy and a hard tackling midfield destroyer like him is what we need.
James McCarthy – for now and for the future. Easily one of the best midfielders in the league in 2 years time. At 20, he can become a great player for us for the next 10 years. A quality all round centre midfielder, I would have him over Aquilani. Liverpool should do everything they can to get this guy, and before Chelsea come sniffing around.
Ashley Young – for the right price. He will provide the ammunition for Carroll with his crossing while he can also play behind the striker.
Charlie N’Zogbia – I rate this guy highly. Has been fantastic for Wigan for the past 2 seasons. He’s got the pace, can dribble, can cross, can shoot, just an excellent left footed attacking player. Can play on the left if you want him to cross, on the right to cut in and shoot and also as an attacking midfielder. He single handedly rescued Wigan from relegation and is an excellent player overall.
I am sure the Liverpool scouting staff have a much better idea than you
Amen! It’s like Ground Hog day on this site… Same discussion day after day.
Gurj, add some insight buddy. What are your thoughts?
i think for wingers we should sign hazard or johnson or navas or mata and for the other winger we should buy douglas costa this guy has got loads of pace and skills and conterao for LB We have ayala at CB and kelly also and we dont need a midfielder also we have lucas , spearing, shelvey, mireles and gerrard and we have conor coady and suso also what we can do is buy affelay or payet as a back up winger who can also play behind the striker
My opinion i would sign F Coentao for LB with Arelio as back up, im unsure about CB, if possible i would try and sign young and downing and if downing wasnt available i would try navas, charlie adam as a deep lying playmaker and if there was money left over i would try for aguero as we cannot rely on ngog to cum on and change a game when our strikers arent preforming
totaly agree,also think young players if loaned out only to prem league teams! do you agree?
My favourites
1. Wing (Alexis Sanchez)
2. Left back (Fabio Coentrao)
3. Holding midfielder (Fernando Reges)
4. Centre back (Neven Subotic)
5. Striker (Radamel Falcao)
Likely
1. Wing (Ashley Young & Sylvain Marveuax)
2. Left back (Jose Enrique)
3. Holding midfielder (Blaise Matuidi)
4. Centre back (Phil Jones)
5. Striker (Sergio Aguero)
Very excited to scout Falcao, Reges and Coentrao. I think I can still get Porto games on XBOX or ESPN3.
PLEASE PLEASE go for Fernando Reges he is real quality. WE DESPERATELY NEED HIM
Finally somebody who can see what should be so obvious to us all!!
I agree we need in order 2 wingers, a left back (that one is done Enrique), centre half, and a 4th striker. I would love a defensive midfielder but lets look at our centre midfield options
1. Stevie G
2. Raul M
3. Lucas
4. Spearing
5. Shelvey
6. Aurelio (yes I can hear you screaming he’s an unfit left back but Kenny used him as a playmaker v Stoke.Obviously his inevitable disappearing act injured for half next season vastly reduces the chances but you never know)
7. Conor Coady
Even if you disregared the last 2 for next season, we have 5 options which means I can’t see a defensive midfielder coming unless one of those 5 leaves which I’d say is unlikely.
No one of those 5 needs to leave, every top club has at least a couple top quality holding midfielders as stated, only two we’ve at the moment who’d be fully quailfied for it are Lucas & Spearing, agree on Coady he’s going to be a top player but until then we could really use a fast & physically dominant midfielder as in Matuidi or Sissoko.
We’ve got a tough job ahead to attract top quality players from outside the club because we’re not in the Champions League.
Whoever we buy, we need players who want to play for the jersey, not the money. If we cannot get top quality from outside, I would rather give the chance to youngsters from within the club than bring in more average, highly-paid bench warmers.
Aldo made a lot of sense earlier this week.
we do have a tough job but if we can get the right players we could be in the champions league next season these are my players that i think we should buy
LB-Fabio Coentrao
Winger-Eden Hazard or Lennon
Striker-Mario gomez or Sergio Aguero