Evolution of the squad

[Elvis]

Despite what many see as Rafa's tactical eccentricities he has presided over a development of the squad to a new depth and quality - but with some exceptions. We have some fine central midfielders (SG, Alonso, Mascher), some fine central defenders (Carra, Agger and even Sami sometimes), a fine striker (Torres), good utility/option players (Benayoun, Arbeloa, Aurelio) and some promising new talent (Lucas). BUT - the flanks and our bench seem to be where all our problems lie. We have the ageing Finnan - still excellent but not getting any younger and with no obvious replacement of the same quality (i.e. good defender and pace); right-wing - Benayoun - but is he good enough and is he really a winger? Pennant? No. ; left-back...Arbeloa can do a job but again, where is the pace? Riise? No. Is this why we are sniffing around Bridge? Left-wing...Kewell. Sometimes brilliant, often awol or injured. We have problems down both flanks and nobody in the reserves to fill the gaps. Up-front we don't have a partner for Torres of anywhere near the same techncial quality....
BUT - if given time and cash, Rafa can plug those gaps. He has improved the spine of the team (Reina, Agger, Alonso, Mascher, Torres) and now needs to do the same with the flanks. Thoughts?

[Shaggy]

Agreed. I think it's clear our biggest problems are on the flanks - mainly wide midfield but also to an extent full-back.

We need some top quality on the left AND right flanks - but God knows who. Kewell and Pennant just aren't good enough. Yossi is, but to my mind he'd be a squad player rather than someone to start in our strongest XI.

I also think it's pretty obvious we need one or even two more to replace Voronin & Kuyt (and even Crouch who appears to have no future).

[Chrono]

Not that I disagree with this but every thread I read is about how much money he had to spend, what areas of the team need fixing and what formation best suits our squad. Does this mean that we are saying our current crop of players are not good enough to beat Wigan at home for example?

[DannyMan2006]

Not that I disagree with this but every thread I read is about how much money he had to spend, what areas of the team need fixing and what formation best suits our squad. Does this mean that we are saying our current crop of players are not good enough to beat Wigan at home for example?

Are team has proved that they are good enough to beat anyone on their day, never mind Wigan, but it's about concistency.

Without top drawer players on the wings, and a top class partner for Torres, we will never concistantly win games. It comes to money and players adapting to the prem.

There are players there that are cheaper options, that are good enough for LFC, but its finding them.

Remember, When Spurs bought Berbatov, Dirk Kuyt was Martin Jols first choice. In fact, he called Kuyt a 20/20 player.

Martin Petrov has done well at Man City and he didn't cost the world.

[Fowler_God]

Dont expect this thread to have many views because it doesnt have a tabloid style headline and you make a reasoned argument.

I agree with what you say 100%. Rafa needs time and cash

[Tinkerbitch]

Despite what many see as Rafa's tactical eccentricities he has presided over a development of the squad to a new depth and quality - but with some exceptions. We have some fine central midfielders (SG, Alonso, Mascher), some fine central defenders (Carra, Agger and even Sami sometimes), a fine striker (Torres), good utility/option players (Benayoun, Arbeloa, Aurelio) and some promising new talent (Lucas). BUT - the flanks and our bench seem to be where all our problems lie. We have the ageing Finnan - still excellent but not getting any younger and with no obvious replacement of the same quality (i.e. good defender and pace); right-wing - Benayoun - but is he good enough and is he really a winger? Pennant? No. ; left-back...Arbeloa can do a job but again, where is the pace? Riise? No. Is this why we are sniffing around Bridge? Left-wing...Kewell. Sometimes brilliant, often awol or injured. We have problems down both flanks and nobody in the reserves to fill the gaps. Up-front we don't have a partner for Torres of anywhere near the same techncial quality....
BUT - if given time and cash, Rafa can plug those gaps. He has improved the spine of the team (Reina, Agger, Alonso, Mascher, Torres) and now needs to do the same with the flanks. Thoughts?

[KK07]

Stick Dani Alves,Heinze and Anelka in our team and we'd be league champions.


Now where did I put that cheque for £45,000,000

[Elvis]

Stick Dani Alves,Heinze and Anelka in our team and we'd be league champions.


Now where did I put that cheque for £45,000,000

Funnily enough, I completely forgot Ryan Babel in my summary....which is a bit of a worry! I guess he goes in with Leiva as quality potential but not quite ready. The points above about consistency are spot on: only top-quality experienced players will give you 40-50 top-drawer games a season. This is why Arsenal are surprising me a bit at the moment.....

[Armchairkopite]

Kewells totally ****ed at the very highest level, we need him off the pay roll to make way for a big money signing.

[Neil Young]

Funnily enough, I completely forgot Ryan Babel in my summary....which is a bit of a worry! I guess he goes in with Leiva as quality potential but not quite ready. The points above about consistency are spot on: only top-quality experienced players will give you 40-50 top-drawer games a season. This is why Arsenal are surprising me a bit at the moment.....

But they were very inconsistent last season. Perhaps it's not (just) about age but experience.

I think some people want to have it both ways: there are complaints that we need to buy top quality young players yet there are also demands for game-changing players who can make an immediate impact. Short of a budget akin to Chelsea's (or even Man United's) we can't do both, at least not to the extent we'd all like.

So, Babel and Leiva were bought for tomorrow while Torres obviously was bought for today (and tomorrow).

Wenger's policy has generally been to buy young players for tomorrow or even the day after tomorrow (e.g. Walcott). Imagine the reaction on here if Rafa spent £10m on a 16-year old. Some would welcome it as far-sighted but others would decry it as a gamble and that we'd be better off spending it on a player for today.

It's easy to manage when your decisions are never tested.

[Elvis]

It's all about getting the balance right...and having continuity...I still back Rafa...

[Neil Young]

It's all about getting the balance right...and having continuity...I still back Rafa...

Wise words, Elvis. I entirely agree.

One, two, 1-2-3-4...

Bright light city gonna set my soul
Gonna set my soul on fire
Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn,
So get those stakes up higher
There's a thousand pretty women waitin' out there
And they're all livin' devil may care
And I'm just the devil with love to spare
Viva Benitez, Viva Benitez

How I wish that there were more
Than the twenty-four hours in the day
'Cause even if there were forty more
I wouldn't sleep a minute away
Oh, there's black jack and poker and the roulette wheel
A fortune won and lost on every deal
All you need's a strong heart and a nerve of steel
Viva Benitez, Viva Benitez

Viva Benitez with your neon flashin'
And your one armbandits crashin'
All those hopes down the drain
Viva Benitez turnin' day into nighttime
Turnin' night into daytime
If you see it once
You'll never be the same again

I'm gonna keep on the run
I'm gonna have me some fun
If it costs me my very last dime
If I wind up broke up well
I'll always remember that I had a swingin' time
I'm gonna give it everything I've got
Lady luck please let the dice stay hot
Let me shoot a seven with every shot
Viva Benitez, Viva Benitez, Viva Benitez
Viva, Viva Benitez

[Deep]Thankyouverymuch.[/Deep]

[Red_Al_77]

Is he ever going to get the money to improve the problem areas in the team sufficiently? If he isn't then is he the best coach around to get the best out of the money available to him? In the PL I remain to be convinced that he is.

[tomasjj]

Is he ever going to get the money to improve the problem areas in the team sufficiently? If he isn't then is he the best coach around to get the best out of the money available to him? In the PL I remain to be convinced that he is.

Bearing in mind the financial constraints and also how much we would have to pay him and his staff if we sacked him, can you list me an alternative that you reckon would do better than Rafa in the league and CL?

And it would also be nice if the person was not a self-obsessed cunt a la Mourinho.

[Red Chilli]

Bearing in mind the financial constraints and also how much we would have to pay him and his staff if we sacked him, can you list me an alternative that you reckon would do better than Rafa in the league and CL?

And it would also be nice if the person was not a self-obsessed cunt a la Mourinho.

Why do you need a nice guy as a manager? I don't care if he's the biggest cunt in the world as long as he's good at his job