Make or break transfers, and shaping next season’s squad

ANOTHER Premier League season has come and gone, and certainly there are much more positives to take away than negatives.

While we have failed in our bid to hold on to a European spot, we can take heart from the fact that Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers have looked like they have figured out their mistakes in the transfer market.

With the players brought in during the January transfer, I like many, am impressed by the displays of both Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge.

With that said, comes one of the most important transfer windows in a long time. It is obvious by watching Liverpool FC’s games that we need a decent centre-back in addition to an effective, quality wide player and possibly a decent striker to keep the likes of Sturridge and Suarez firing. However, the transfer window has always been our Achilles heel, in fact, it has been our somewhat embarrassing as a Liverpool supporter with the kind of business we have done over the years.

I, like many a Liverpool Supporter doubted Brendan Rodgers and a few of his purchases, namely Fabio Borini and Allen, because I do not think Allen is worthy of a place in Liverpool’s starting eleven – in fact I do not see him as being much better than Jay Spearing, and Borini seems not to be able to get over his injury woes.

However, I have since removed those fears and once again thrown my trust completely behind the man who I think will certainly take us back to the pinnacle of European Football.

Rodgers will no doubt have his hands completely full come transfer time, for the main reason of lack of European football, which is a much needed ingredient to attract top class players.

Nevertheless, Liverpool FC is still a massive club with a rich history and there are a lot of quality players out there who need to be playing regular football, and would welcome the opportunity to be a part of a club such as this. However, I think most of the work has already been completed; indeed, Rodgers would be certainly wise to conduct his business as early as possible, with the likes of Ericksen, Ince, Sinclair, and Ben Arfa all rumoured to be on his shortlist to fill the midfield and wide positions respectively.

There is a lot of talk of Ashley Williams to fill the void left by Jamie Carragher’s retirement, but that seems unlikely. Without a doubt Williams is a good defender, but so is Martin Skrtel. What we need is a top class defender; someone in the mould of our own Jamie Carragher, one who not only has game intelligence but also one who is a leader on the pitch.

Certainly, one can’t help but thinking that if Liverpool FC is to mount a serious and meaningful assault on the top four at all, then now is crucial, this transfer window is paramount.

Liverpool already have a core of very good players, only needing the two or three missing pieces and most importantly consistency. In fact if Rodgers, can get this team to play at a consistently high level, then there is absolutely no doubt that we will finish in the top four next season and seasons to come.

My LFC squad for 2013-2014 season …

Reina – staying put

Agger

Tiago Ilori – Strong, reliable

Johnson

Kelly – Better at defending than Enrique

Gerrard

Lucas

Ericksen – If Agger can convince him to join

Couthinho

Suarez

Sturridge

Subs.

Jones

Skrtel

Enrique

Downing

Henderson

Sterling

Shelvey

Ince/Scott Sinclair – Sinclair desperate to play regular football

Remy/Carroll – Remy if he can manage to stay out of jail

What says you?
[ad_pod id=’pubsquared’ align=’right’]
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com

Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook