Our problem area

[dww]

I tend to agree that left back is a problem area. Aurelio is potentially the player we need but like Kewell further forward he is too injury prone to be relied upon as our only option. Riise I like as a player and as a squad option would be fine but we badly need a player more comfortable on the ball, who can cross in that position.

I think Finnan/Arbeloa are good options for the right but we could do with a younger more attack minded player coming through for the future. However for now they provide excellent options in that position.

In the attacking areas I'm not sure it is the width that is the problem. It is finding the right blend of players who will make space & chances against the best teams. For me we have moved on a great deal in our potential to score against crap teams. However the team we sent out against United lacked guile and the calmness to keep the ball on the deck.

This is not an easy problem to solve but part of the answer may well already be in out squad in that Alonso and Lucas are ideal players to add this to that team. However there is a problem in that against United none of Gerrard, Kuyt, Kewell or Benayoun were able to consistently make inroads despite our levels of posession. For me we need an experienced attacking player who can play any of the three attacking positions not occupied by Torres who brings other into play. Gerrard is usually the personality who has most influence on our attacking on the pitch and against United that was a bad thing as he was was playing well but with too much emphasis on playing long balls. We need someone with the personality and experience to calm us down in that situation and also the ability to score crunch goals in the manner of Luis Garcia.

[kev776]

Mica Richards and the young lad at Reading, cant remember his name

[Imy]

Mica Richards and the young lad at Reading, cant remember his name

Shorey?

[captainfog]

right is more of problem. At Kewell has done it before. Benny and Pennant never have.

[southern red]

having watched a few of the ressies games this season on LFCTV, I have been impressed with Insua. I'm surprised that Rafa didn't give him a game or two in the Carling Cup. What is the point of having the reserves, if none of the players are ever given a chance to step up to the First Team?

[Kopite_Colin]

I'd say the biggest problem area is currently the Boardroom.

[AFII]

having watched a few of the ressies games this season on LFCTV, I have been impressed with Insua. I'm surprised that Rafa didn't give him a game or two in the Carling Cup. What is the point of having the reserves, if none of the players are ever given a chance to step up to the First Team?

Rafa is doing the right thing with our young players. If you play them to early in tough games to often then they will end up with injury problems later on.

Insua are probably our best left back right now but he isn't ready yet. It's better to wait and don't gamble on his long term fitness.

Just look how careful Rafa is with Lucas for example.

[Slinky Skills]

It's not just the left side that's the problem area though, yes it needs strengthening but there's other positions all over the team that need strengthening too.

We need two strong quick central defenders for starters as we're desperatly lacking in that area, we need someone with creativity and pace who can drift all round the midfield, someone who can take players on, carry the ball and score themselves and we need some decent attacking, quick wingbacks and a goal poacher. Obviously the money to buy these type of players is the major obstacle which for at least a good few years we won't have.

The only players I can think of to cover these positions at this present tim are Lahm as a left wing back, Dani Alves as a right wing back and Alfonso Alves as the goal poacher, all the other good players are content at their respective clubs which makes it doubly difficult to prize them away. We'd have a real chance at the league if we could sort these positions out but until we do we're going to keep getting beat by the top teams year in year out which is frustrating.

[Red_Al_77]

We need real wingers. How long have we been saying that on this forum? Babel is great but I see him more as a striker to be honest. Kewell just doesn't have the pace to beat his man on the outside. Benni cuts in most of the time, and JP doesn't offer enough attacking quality. Until we sign a top class winger who can hit the line then we will fail to maximise the goal threat that the likes of Torres possess.

[AFII]

We need real wingers. How long have we been saying that on this forum? Babel is great but I see him more as a striker to be honest. Kewell just doesn't have the pace to beat his man on the outside. Benni cuts in most of the time, and JP doesn't offer enough attacking quality. Until we sign a top class winger who can hit the line then we will fail to maximise the goal threat that the likes of Torres possess.

I wonder if Valencia would be prepared to take £6m-£7m plus Riise for Silva or Joaquin?

Would be a good deal.

[Charlie_B]

Arbeloa is our best option at leftback, as Riise is ... I don't want to say SHOCKING, but he's not great is he? Aurelio isn't fit long enough to make an impression. We definitely need another option at LB; Kewell has been impressive since he's come back into the side, and of course Babel has been in great form in recent times. I don't think we need out and out wide players in all four of LB/RB/LM/RM, as there aren't many sides that do, and it isn't imperative to success, but we definitely need more options in the width area.

[Sir Bob]

I don't think we have just 1 problem are, we aren't as good in a few areas to be honest. we aren't far behind but theres 2 or 3 areas where Utd & Arsenal in particular beat us. Put that all together and it adds up to a enough of a difference for us to trail them over 38 games.

The areas we need to improve for me.

Defence - As pure defenders we are as good as Utd and better than Arsenal but we are behind in terms of distribution and offering any sort of attacking threat. Agger apart our defenders aren't comfortable on the ball. Also our full backs offer little attacking support. We don't have a clichy, Evra or A Cole.

Wide positions. - we still aren't good enough out wide. Ronaldo & Gigs, Hleb & Rosicky, Malouda & Cole/SWP, against Pennant/Yossi & Kewell/Babel. No comparison I'm afraid.

2nd striker - Tevez, Van Persie, Kuyt. No need to add anything else.

In our strong areas we are not that far ahead of them. Reian is better than Van Der Sar & Almunia but both of their keepers are still pretty decent. Our central midfield pairing is excellent but so are Scholes/Hargreaves, Fabregas/Flamini. Upfront Torres is excellent but so are Drpgba, Rooney & Adebayor.

In summary they are strong all over the pitch whilst compared to them we have 3 weak areas.

[AFII]

I don't think we have just 1 problem are, we aren't as good in a few areas to be honest. we aren't far behind but theres 2 or 3 areas where Utd & Arsenal in particular beat us. Put that all together and it adds up to a enough of a difference for us to trail them over 38 games.

The areas we need to improve for me.

Defence - As pure defenders we are as good as Utd and better than Arsenal but we are behind in terms of distribution and offering any sort of attacking threat. Agger apart our defenders aren't comfortable on the ball. Also our full backs offer little attacking support. We don't have a clichy, Evra or A Cole.

Wide positions. - we still aren't good enough out wide. Ronaldo & Gigs, Hleb & Rosicky, Malouda & Cole/SWP, against Pennant/Yossi & Kewell/Babel. No comparison I'm afraid.

2nd striker - Tevez, Van Persie, Kuyt. No need to add anything else.

In our strong areas we are not that far ahead of them. Reian is better than Van Der Sar & Almunia but both of their keepers are still pretty decent. Our central midfield pairing is excellent but so are Scholes/Hargreaves, Fabregas/Flamini. Upfront Torres is excellent but so are Drpgba, Rooney & Adebayor.

In summary they are strong all over the pitch whilst compared to them we have 3 weak areas.