Problems - what to do?

[NicoBernetini]

OK, So at the moment Liverpool FC are not doing to well.

So, its time to try and find the problems.

Firstly, the main problem at LFC is the board and management. A club cannot feature without a solid hierachy and this is the first problem. The owners lied to us, they are lying to us and problems need to be sorted out. Things are NOT ok and we have seen this over last few months.
You do not see any problems with the boards in any other top clubs at the moment?

Secondly, the squad, we all thought we had a great squad and have such depth which we have found out is not true. Our first team cannot beat Wigan never mind a reserve team.
We know we need centre back cover and a left back, possibly someone who can play both if possible.
We need ATLEAST one winger and ATLEAST one striker.

Goodbye Voronin, Kuyt and Sissoko. These are definately not good enough. Everyone else in the squad is decent enough to make a good squad. Definately not the 1st team but atleast the squad. I do not like Pennant or Riise but they will do until summer.

Now, Rafa, what are you playing at? 5 in midfield at home?
We really should be playing Gerrard on the right wing, he is the best option we have there and until we sign a good enough winger then put him there and try Yossi behind Torres.
You are partly to blame for the draw against Wigan, but there is only so much you can do. A team including Carragher, Masha, Alonso, Kewell, Gerrard and Torres should make an embarrasment of Wigan. Is the commitment there from the players?
I have my doubts...

Overall, until the board (if they ever do), decide to stop messing around with one of the biggest clubs in the world, we are going nowere.
They have messed us around so much, Stadium? Signings? They have no idea..

The atmosphere inside Anfield is shocking. Possibly the worst i have ever seen and heard. I am 20, and have been going to games since i was 8 and i can never remmeber it being so silent. I had a phonecall and could actually speak on the phone...What is that about. I would never even dream about speaking on my phone inside the ground a few years ago mainly because i wouldn't be able to hear anything..but now its crazy, all you hear is people saying how bad players are etc etc.

I am really dissapointed, i am seeing possibly 60% of my life going downhill and i cannot do anything about it. There is nothing WE can do as fans, since we have been taken over by some selfish, arragant ******s who have lied their way through all the pre investments tests.

We have problems and they need to be sorted. If we win our next 5 games there will still be problems, the club is lagging behind the Top 3 teams in the league.
We are a laughing stock at the moment and i do not like it one bit.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Do you know what I’d like to see?

Rafa growing a ****in spine for one.

But mostly a ****in clear out of the mediocres NOW.

You hear most people say we need a clear out/restructuring/getting rid of the deadwood whatever you want to call it, but in the summer. My question is; why wait? It's obvious that there are players who are quite frankly appalling by the standards required to compete on all fronts - especially in the league - so why shouldn't they be axed now?

No doubt people will bleat on about continuity, which is a weak excuse, because let's face it there isn't any out there on the pitch at the moment.

People might blame rotation, but that’s another fallacy. The likes of Torres, Reina, Carra, Gerrard, Madcherano and Agger always play because they’ve earned their places through strong consistent performances, and also partly because there’s nobody else good enough to replace them with.

But the rest of ‘em? Oh dear. It’s a lack of quality compounded by the manager constantly chopping and changing the second raters, and formations, in hope, rather than expectation that they’ll perform.

Surely by getting rid of the wasters you actually improve the team because you no longer feel the need to “give them a go” “because it’s their turn”.

You tell me, would we miss Harry Kewell at all if he was ****ed off out of it and Ryan Babel came into the side? Or Pennant, with Benayoun getting an extended run in the side? Likewise Voronin, and especially Kuyt, who continue to let the side down?

And of course we can always sign players in January.

Who cares if some are cup tied in Europe? We’ll still have enough players left over to be competitive in that. Plus we’d use them in the league for the rest of the season giving them time to adjust for next season.

Look at what the scum did a couple of years ago, won **** all, out of the European cup before Christmas, yet they went and made changes in January, bought Evra and Vidic and gave them 6 months to settle into the team then pushed on next season.

Surely we should be doing the same?

Time for the Yanks and Rafa to grow some bollocks and be brave.

Or are we going to waste another 6 months using this current ****e, wait until the summer, make changes and hope they work right from the start of the season?

That’s enough mindless rambling from me…..

[glynner]

I'm all for culling a few players to bring in new blood - but a January clearout?

I'm as frustrated as **** after the Wigan game but I just don't think that's the answer.

Ultimately I wish the transfer window was scrapped, or at least expanded.

[Red Chilli]

No clubs are particularly interested in these players, especially not in January.
Plus, you don't sell a player unless you can replace them. Rafa will always rotate his squad so as long as Rafa's here we need a big squad.

I'm all for selling 3-4 players who contribute very little, but not more than 4.

[Kopite_Colin]

Given we're only 3 days into it Charlie, I'll give you Post of the Year for that. It's certainly what I would do.

If I was Rafa I'd be on a telecon to Montreal & Texas ASAP DEMANDING the necessary investment to make this work. If they didn't budge I'd be off.

If I was G & H I'd be wanting to know why Rafa was messing about with the team - but their biggest conundrum is whether they can provide the necessary funds RIGHT NOW and whether to spend the money with Rafa or a new manager.

Only Rafa can convince G & H that he is the right man long term for LFC. But he's constantly shooting himself in the foot when trying to build confidence to convince the owners he's the man to trust in this job. Only Rafa can change this. But is it too late?

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Given we're only 3 days into it Charlie, I'll give you Post of the Year for that. It's certainly what I would do.

If I was Rafa I'd be on a telecon to Montreal & Texas ASAP DEMANDING the necessary investment to make this work. If they didn't budge I'd be off.

If I was G & H I'd be wanting to know why Rafa was messing about with the team - but their biggest conundrum is whether they can provide the necessary funds RIGHT NOW and whether to spend the money with Rafa or a new manager.

Only Rafa can convince G & H that he is the right man long term for LFC. But he's constantly shooting himself in the foot when trying to build confidence to convince the owners he's the man to trust in this job. Only Rafa can change this. But is it too late?

Let's say we sell Sissoko, Carson, Riise, Pennant, Kuyt, Alonso and Voronin in this window. That's surely £50m right there? Crouch is another who could go.

With that money buy Mascher, a top attacking player (winger or playmaker) and a top defender.

And if the Yanks would sanction more spending money, all the better.

[Taffy]

The real problem about selling in January is that you don't get the true, or should I say full, value of a player.

Clubs don't really want to sign players that are cup-tied that much and the price offered usually shows that. Yes, we could sell to clubs that aren't any longer involved in cup competitions this season, but it can stop the clubs that ARE in the cups from being interested, and especially not interested at the full market price of the player concerned.

There is also the worry that you can't get adequate cover for the departing player, if you require one, so for me, the January transfer window isn't the ideal time to sell your players.

That's just my opinion though, and even after saying that I would always be delighted to see new players arrive, be it in January or during the summer months.

[Red Chilli]

Let's say we sell Sissoko, Carson, Riise, Pennant, Kuyt, Alonso and Voronin in this window. That's surely £50m right there? Crouch is another who could go.

With that money buy Mascher, a top attacking player (winger or playmaker) and a top defender.

And if the Yanks would sanction more spending money, all the better.

Alonso?

What's the point in selling Xabi

[Kopite_Colin]

Charlie... what do you think of the idea of selling Momo AND Lucas (if we could only keep 3 CMS right now) and keeping Xabi, SG & Mascherano? What does Lucas bring to LFC's 1st 11 right now that Xabi doesn't ? (other than he's approx. 5 years younger).

We need delivery now..not in 5 years time.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Charlie... what do you think of the idea of selling Momo AND Lucas (if we could only keep 3 CMS right now) and keeping Xabi, SG & Mascherano? What does Lucas bring to LFC's 1st 11 right now that Xabi doesn't ? (other than he's approx. 5 years younger).

We need delivery now..not in 5 years time.

Alonso has the biggest resale value other than Gerrard.

Gerrard and Mascherano are the first choice central pairing.

What do you reckon we need more: 3 top central midifelders with ****e wingers, or 2 top central midfielders, and one youngster with a lot of ability backing him up and £20m plus in your back pocket from selling Alonso to find a boss winger or playmaker?

[lfcruleus]

You are all deluded, ill be surprised if we sign anyone this window, and as for selling players we have maybe 3 or 4 people might be interested in and we will not be selling SG, FT, PR or Xabi. I love Dirk but at the mo his value is low as would be Crouch, Riise,Kewell, Pennant etc. They are on the books at a cost and we would take a massive hit again. As ive already said i dont think they will back him and he will either walk or go in the summer.And tbh at the mo i dont blame G+H.

[kurtangle01]

I would have thought that Rafa wouild make changes if he's permitted to do so.

I agree with what you're saying, Niall, but I think it's more a case of the owners have a bigger say in how much we can spend this January. I really don't see what you expect Rafa to do if the owners don't sanction deals.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I would have thought that Rafa wouild make changes if he's permitted to do so.

I agree with what you're saying, Niall, but I think it's more a case of the owners have a bigger say in how much we can spend this January. I really don't see what you expect Rafa to do if the owners don't sanction deals.

He can sanction deals by selling the players I mentioned above.

All this talk of rotation and needing a squad of 22 players plus is all bollocks.

Fact is we use the same core of first choices every game, and some second rate dross who get rotated because they aren't consistent.

I think we should start rebuilding for next season.

And if G+H think Rafa isn't good enough, fine, get the next guy in now and let him get on with it.

Though I'd like to see Rafa have the chance to rebuild now for next season.

The summer is leaving it too late for me.

[Kopite_Colin]

Alonso has the biggest resale value other than Gerrard.

Gerrard and Mascherano are the first choice central pairing.

What do you reckon we need more: 3 top central midifelders with ****e wingers, or 2 top central midfielders, and one youngster with a lot of ability backing him up and £20m plus in your back pocket from selling Alonso to find a boss winger or playmaker?

Good arguement Charlie, but I don't think we'd get £20m for Xabi. With regard to Xabi's re-sale value compared to Lucas's:

Xabi is 26, Lucas 21

Xabi is months into a 5 year deal (signed June 2007), Lucas similarly (I think)

Xabi is better known in Spain, Lucas has potential and is captain of the Brazil Under 20 side.

Xabi is a regular full international, Lucas isn't yet.

I dion't think we'd get more than £12-14m for Xabi, but you are right, probably more than Lucas for whom we'd probably get £10m max.

All in all the next major move for Xabi will probably see the best years of his career, so if he did want to play for Barca or the like, the move now or in the next 12 months would be his best time, and our best financial return.

But for me £10m for Lucas + £8m for Momo would pay for Macsher. I still maintain all 3 of GS, XA & JM is the best combination to keep right now if we're struggling to raise funds.

[kurtangle01]

He can sanction deals by selling the players I mentioned above.

All this talk of rotation and needing a squad of 22 players plus is all bollocks.

Fact is we use the same core of first choices every game, and some second rate dross who get rotated because they aren't consistent.

I think we should start rebuilding for next season.

And if G+H think Rafa isn't good enough, fine, get the next guy in now and let him get on with it.

Though I'd like to see Rafa have the chance to rebuild now for next season.

The summer is leaving it too late for me.

I'm sorry, mate, but that's not the way I interpret things. I thought that most of their fallout was about Rafa not being allowed to sanction any deals without their say so.