Next season, eh?

[red g]

next year ......as the mancs tell us.....its been next year for 15 years

[wiw]

The thing is it is always easy to say that but for me we are in a similar situation to last seasons Arsenal everywhere but in the fact that they had two forwards who were on the up. We need to find the element that binds our team together and for me that would be a 'hole' player.

For me in a similar way to the pivitol nature of Flamini's blossoming at Arsenal that could have a knock on effect on other players. The difference is where Wenger has had years to collect young players who were candidates for that position (he had Song, Diaby, Diarra & Denilson all in the squad at the start of the season and had already rejected Muamba and Larsson) we have only just started to get that level of possibilities coming through and it may take a few years for Bruna, Nemeth, Pacheco etc. to be ready in the way it took many of the current Arsenal players.

Gotta say, you always talk alot of sense and I agree

[Slinky Skills]

What I fail to understand is why Insua has been loaned out to another club. He's 4th choice at the club and some regular footy would do him no harm. I am hoping to see more of him next season.

He hasn't been loaned out to another club.

[anfieldanfield]

This season isn't a write off.

Wembley and Moscow are still very much on the cards.

[Guest]

I think we should change our anthem to 'We'll Never Win the League'.

[The_weatherman]

This season isn't a write off.

Wembley and Moscow are still very much on the cards.

The league is a write off - hopefully the players will give it their all against Inter and Barnsley ( Inter and Barnsley).

We have been lucky in the FA cup and I think our players are very well suited to Europe, but I can't be bothered about the league though.

[akjs123]

He hasn't been loaned out to another club.

Typo . I meant why he hasnt been loaned out to another club. He's hardly gonna get a look in this season unless we are guarenteed 4th.

[Exiled_red]

I think we need a few more players with creativity and another experienced player someone like Gary Mac who had been there and done it all before, Even our current experienced players have no experience of challenging for titles I think this is also holding us back

[alunevans]

Okay this season's league is a write off. Next year will be our year though. Torres will have a full season under his belt, Gerrard fresh from a good break in the summer, Babel will hopefully be finding his feet along with Lucas and Kewell, Kuyt, Riise and Voronin will be off (fingers crossed).

So we need two fullbacks, two wingers and a very good striker, is that doable?













Trying to look ahead in the sea of pessimism here.

fraid not.

teams outside of the previous seasons top 2 hardly ever win the league. we're yet to become a top 2 team never mind a league winning team. we have to take that first step before becoming champions and its a step we've yet to take.

the league title i'm afraid, is at least 2 years away, but probably more.

[chrispy]

Since 1990 it's always next ****ing season for us and i'm pissed off with it sorry. Rafa's team now is very very good, he just needs to pull his head out of his arse, re-appoint Pako and buy a good left winger, a decent foil for Torres (and not some ****ing doughnut from Germany who no-ones ever heard of) and a left back and we'll be sorted.

Oh, and pack this rotation bollocks in The amount of time our players are rested they should be able to run the New York bloody marathon the day after a match.

[blacky]

I think the squad has 6 banks of players:

We have a spine of a team: Reina,Carra,Agger,Masch,Alonso,Gerrard,Torres
We have raw talent: Lucas,Babel,Skrtl
We have the reserves & academy:Nemeth, Insua, Leto etc
We have some good squad players: Crouch, Arbeloa, Beneyoun, Aurelio
We have players past their best: Kewell, Hyppia, Finnan, JAR
We have deadwood: Voronin, Pennant, Kuyt

The last 2 banks of players can be sold and replaced this summer. We desperately need some flair and creativity in the team. Players who are comfortable on the ball. Two attacking full backs, an in the hole player, a strike partner for Torres and a winger/attacking midfielder.

[Fowler_God]

Although we have been saying 'next season' for the last 2 years, i believe it could be close next year.

Take a closer look at the squad and it doesn't seem as bad.

keeper position - We have a goalkeeper who is the top 5 in the world. He is 25/26 years old, so has about 10 years still in him. Its a position we can forget about and feel comfortable with.
We also have 2 promising keepers coming through. Nikolay Mihaylov is highly thought of as is Dean Bouzanis

Defense - Rafa is currently in the process of making sure we have a smooth transition from the defense he inherited to another one that will serve us for the next 6 - 10 years.
Agger (23) Skrtel (23) Arbeloa (24) are all young and will play for us for many years. Plus Carra has only just turned 30 so has a few more seasons in him yet.
Left back has been an issue for a while, but i think Rafa has held off buying a younger left back because he has high hopes for Insua (19). This is probably the reason he has been looking at older more experienced left backs (Heinze,29 Kaladze,30) instead of his normal route of younger players.

So looking at the defense overall we are short an experienced leftback and possible a young rightback replacement for Finnan who is beginning to show his age this season. Hardly anything that needs major surgery.

Midfield The main issue with the midfield has been the wide areas. Rafa has tried various options since he came but nothing has come off. He has tried a few little punts in the hope they come off, but sadly not. I think Kewell has been a massive disappointment an will be gone in the summer. Pennant (25) has shown some glimpses of what is possible, but is probably more of a squad player.
Rafa will probably be looking at bringing in 2 quality wide players this summer spending proper money on them. This will leave Benayoun (27) and Pennant as the 2 wide back ups.
The centre of midfield is a area that is in a healthy position Gerrard (27), Alonso (26), Mascherano (23) and Lucas (21) will not need any alteration for a few years, yet if Rafa wished he could replace one easily as the fee received for any of these players would be substantial. Add to the fact that there are alot of youth players showing promise we are in a healthy state.

Forwards - Upfront we have a genuine world class player in Torres (23). He will become our main player for years to come. Yet also we have Babel (21) who will become Torres main partner next season. Everyone around the game believes he has the talent and potential to match Henry. Alot of his style of play is reminiscent of Henry. Again these have years ahead of them and can become LFC Legends.
This then leaves Crouch (27) Kuyt (27) and Voronin (29). I personally would like to see Crouch stay with another forward brought in. Plus again with the young strikers starting to make some noises at youth level, Amoo, Pourie and Eccleston the future can be rosy.

Overall - The future of the squad looks good. The average age is low with a few experienced players in there. Rafa has been building away and getting the squad ready for a hit at the league. It has been building to this summer where 2 wingers an experienced left back (Aurelio, 29, could fill this role, but his fitness is a issue) and a striker can make this squad formidable.

I hope he is given the time (next season) to allow his plans and ideas to become reality.
Look past the recent poor form and you can see a plan that is inching ever closer to coming off.

[Sir Bob]

Personally i think we've next to no chance of winning the league next season.

even if we buy a striker a winger and 2 full backs, they'd all have to find their feet immediately which is highly unlikely. Whats even more unlikely is that we get the players we reuire with G&H at the helm.

Top 4 next season.. yes
title winners...not a cnahce.

[Joe King]

Personally i think we've next to no chance of winning the league next season.

even if we buy a striker a winger and 2 full backs, they'd all have to find their feet immediately which is highly unlikely. Whats even more unlikely is that we get the players we reuire with G&H at the helm.

Top 4 next season.. yes
title winners...not a cnahce.

We need serious strengthening if we are to challenge the top three.

Rafa needs to buy better, which means no more 'squad' players but world class players.

[Fowler_God]

Rafa needs to buy better, which means no more 'squad' players but world class players.

Yeah Rafa you should be going out buying 10 world class players for **** all! And stop buying players that are ****e, deliberately!