Florent Sinama-Pongolle: opinions?

[Imy]

Me?

(see opening post)

Offline mode, quiet elsewhere

[Gray]

You're drunk

[Red Chilli]

I don't think that Rafa can get away in either buying potential or an eyebrow raising signing. He has got to buy some serious class.

I think in some ways he has improved what we already had but not in a dramatic fashion. I think that time has run out for buying unproven players.

I'd prefer to ship a lot of players out and play with a reduced playing squad but with better players and should we have injuries, give a couple of the reserves a chance.

You can't have 20-odd world class players, you have to have a mixture of class players and squad players, otherwise you get unrest in the squad.
I'd like us to sign 2 class wingers, but other than that I think our 1st team is fairly sorted. Only other position I'd look at is left back.
I think we need a few more squad players, wingers again and another backup centre mid.

[andyinswinton]

Agree we should give the kids more of a chance, give them a run of games to prove themselves, is this not how the likes of Macmanaman, Fowler, Redknapp made there names under Souness? why buy crap when potentially you have better players already at the club?

Having 7 substitutes next season will help but we have got a very big squad with some average players. Its only normal for those to be picked in the first team squad ahead of some of the reserve squad.

A lot has been mentioned about players like Insua and Nemeth taking the step up at some point but it won't happen with Riise and Voronin (for example) ahead of them with the options of Arbeloa, Aurelio and Carragher also options at left back and Torres, Crouch, Kuyt and even Babel up front.

Souness did bring a lot of youth through which was a good thing. We need to start bringing some youth through now. Who was the last player to come through from the reserves to make an impact in the first team?

[Imy]

You're drunk

Me?

[Red Chilli]

Offline mode, quiet elsewhere

not with you Imy

[-V-]

Maverick just because you dont like reflecting on decisions doesnt mean the rest of us can't

And yeah if you had actually watched him this season he has been brilliant. Considering he has been playing really well and scoring regularly for a pretty poor Recretivo team.

[andyinswinton]

You can't have 20-odd world class players, you have to have a mixture of class players and squad players, otherwise you get unrest in the squad.
I'd like us to sign 2 class wingers, but other than that I think our 1st team is fairly sorted. Only other position I'd look at is left back.
I think we need a few more squad players, wingers again and another backup centre mid.

I'm not talking about having 20 odd world class players but our squad is too big. I'd rather see 20 players and the reserves rather than having two players for every position.

We aren't too far away from having a good side but I'd like two new full backs, two wingers and another striker to compliment Torres.

[Red Chilli]

I'm not talking about having 20 odd world class players but our squad is too big. I'd rather see 20 players and the reserves rather than having two players for every position.

We aren't too far away from having a good side but I'd like two new full backs, two wingers and another striker to compliment Torres.

A world class striker would have to dislodge Torres or Gerrard wouldn't they?

[dww]

Having 7 substitutes next season will help but we have got a very big squad with some average players. Its only normal for those to be picked in the first team squad ahead of some of the reserve squad.

A lot has been mentioned about players like Insua and Nemeth taking the step up at some point but it won't happen with Riise and Voronin (for example) ahead of them with the options of Arbeloa, Aurelio and Carragher also options at left back and Torres, Crouch, Kuyt and even Babel up front.

Souness did bring a lot of youth through which was a good thing. We need to start bringing some youth through now. Who was the last player to come through from the reserves to make an impact in the first team?

The only players to make a real impact in the recent past are Gerrard & Carragher. However I'd be happy for people to have squad roles - we have spent too much until now on people to give us options or fill in this is where the youth setup (and to an extent the 7 substitutes can be useful).

I said when the new subsutitute rule came in that without age restrictions I was unsure about how much it would help develop young players and there is a real danger that as you say it will simply be used to have more of the squad available in a match. However I think there maybe one place up for grabs for a young attacking player next season. I can't see us buying three top quality forwards that we need to really sort the squad however a bench of Kuyt and say Nemeth, Bruna, whoever proves themselves gives a lot of flexibility and someone might just get their chance. Other than that the only hope IMO would be for Insua if we decide to sell Riise as Aurelio's injuries will mean that there will be a decent number of games up for grabs either in the team or on the bench.

[Imy]

A world class striker would have to dislodge Torres or Gerrard wouldn't they?

If Rafa wants to rotate then another world class striker is a necessity, remember when Kuyt, Crouch or Voronin played upfront, it'd look like we'd never score at times.

In an ideal world strikers would be Torres, A N Aguero (type), Gerrard, Nemeth (or a youngster)

[dww]

If Rafa wants to rotate then another world class striker is a necessity, remember when Kuyt, Crouch or Voronin played upfront, it'd look like we'd never score at times.

In an ideal world strikers would be Torres, A N Aguero (type), Gerrard, Nemeth (or a youngster)

I'd be happy with options of Crouch, Babel or Kuyt if we added a couple of players capable of giving pace and goal threat from the wide positions.

I do worry about how we will cover Gerrard in teh squad though.

[Red Chilli]

If Rafa wants to rotate then another world class striker is a necessity, remember when Kuyt, Crouch or Voronin played upfront, it'd look like we'd never score at times.

In an ideal world strikers would be Torres, A N Aguero (type), Gerrard, Nemeth (or a youngster)

I'd use Babel as backup to Torres and Benayoun* as backup to Gerrard.

* unless we bring KING Luis back

[Gray]

We need a WC striker, Nino will get injured at some point

[Imy]

We need a WC striker, Nino will get injured at some point

Thats the worry, him or Gerrard getting injured would hurt us, that is why you need equally strong players in the squad and then Rafa can rotate as much as he wants.

If say both got injured we'd have to play Crouch and possibly Voronin up front