Which of these players would make our current squad

[PTP]

We've definitely got a better squad but that's not the point. We're probably further away from the big 3 than before Rafa took over but that's not his fault. Yes, we've spent a lot of money but the likes of Utd and Chelsea will always spend more and earn more and therefore spend even more again..........in all likelihood, they will continue to get further away from us unless we get massive investment.

I can't believe it - but i agree with carheex

Liverpool have improved under rafa, he has also brought us no 5 which noone would have predicted when he took over. We are close, but we are close to it every year, every year we improve by 1 step and are still two steps short of united/chelsea. there is only two ways we will get right into contention

1) - imo we are getting there and are 3 players short at the mo(2 would improve us, say keane/barry but one more would really be needed to make us top top top contenders - but we would need to spend say 60m (for arguements sake say barry/keane/aguero) NOW! - we'd have to get the money in and these players signed for this season. Say if we only signed one or two (keane/barry) we'd be justt short again and then next summer chelsea and united spend £50m or whaterv and we are still behind. We will always be playing catch up until we get all our top targets in one go, which i just don't see happening

2) - the only other way we will catch/overtake united/chelsea is for both of those clubs to self implode - either say a match fixing scandal and 20 point deduction for the mancs and some kinda crazy money thing happening to chelsea causing them to go bust

[Carras_Shin_Pads]

Very good post

[Roboklopp]

I don't think he'd have sat on the bench for years and he would not be happy to be reserve striker like Voronin is.

Quite possibly aye, but if we keep it to the like-for-like swap comparison, I'd rather have Floppy

Also his strike rate for Recrativo is not hugely different to Voronin's with us.

Dunno the facts, but will take yer word for it. However, I think the busy Floppy was much better at changing games with his pace, trickery & direct play than the lumbering Cow. Also, you have to remember the Cow plays in a much stronger side.

[Roboklopp]

I can't believe it - but i agree with carheex

Liverpool have improved under rafa, he has also brought us no 5 which noone would have predicted when he took over. We are close, but we are close to it every year, every year we improve by 1 step and are still two steps short of united/chelsea. there is only two ways we will get right into contention

1) - imo we are getting there and are 3 players short at the mo(2 would improve us, say keane/barry but one more would really be needed to make us top top top contenders - but we would need to spend say 60m (for arguements sake say barry/keane/aguero) NOW! - we'd have to get the money in and these players signed for this season. Say if we only signed one or two (keane/barry) we'd be justt short again and then next summer chelsea and united spend £50m or whaterv and we are still behind. We will always be playing catch up until we get all our top targets in one go, which i just don't see happening

2) - the only other way we will catch/overtake united/chelsea is for both of those clubs to self implode - either say a match fixing scandal and 20 point deduction for the mancs and some kinda crazy money thing happening to chelsea causing them to go bust

Aye, our improvement is steady, but always seems to be asymptotic.

[-V-]

We have improved for sure. But our 3 main rivals have also improved massively and will continue doing so.

Didi, Dudek and Henchoz were all brilliant for us at times.

[Mike]

Great Post, would keep Flo and Dudek.

[garymac]

Totally agree about a younger Didi. A superb player and one who could change the tempo of a game to suit us.........


Personally, I'd have Vladi and Cisse back........not because they were especially brilliant for us but for sentimental reasons. Two of my favourite players of the last few years.

Would Djibs have scored more if he been played through the centre a few more times??

[Mattshark]

Totally agree about a younger Didi. A superb player and one who could change the tempo of a game to suit us.........


Personally, I'd have Vladi and Cisse back........not because they were especially brilliant for us but for sentimental reasons. Two of my favourite players of the last few years.

Would Djibs have scored more if he been played through the centre a few more times??

No cos he had the game intelligence of a small frog.

[timmokay]

Would keep Didi in a flash, he was brilliant for us at times

The boy could shhot a bit as well.

[Exiled_red]

Good post, I agree with a younger Didi and Flo or Baros over Voronin.

I've not seen the new keeper play so can't comment on that but I would have taken either Dudek or (a fit) Kirkland over Itandje last year

[garymac]

No cos he had the game intelligence of a small frog.

[Jaymo]

didi, and Pongolle

I dont think pongolle ever really showed us what he could do, and i think he could have turned into a cracking squad player!

[rage]

early dudek was easily one of the best in the premiership. our back 4 from 5 of finnan, carra, hypia, henchoz and riise were the best defense in the league. hamman and gerrard in the middle were ace and owen/fowler and baros were as good as anyone.

we lacked wingers and a second striker/playmaker, shame about litmanen.

are we much different now? sure players have come and gone but we still lack wingers and that second striker/playmaker

[bertie]

Goalkeepers
Dudek, Chris Kirkland, Patrice Luzi

Defenders
Carl Medjani, Stephane Henchoz, Jon Otsemobor, Djimi Traore, John Arne Riise

Midfielders
Dietmar Hamann, Danny Murphy, Bruno Cheyrou, Igor Biscan, Vladimir Smicer, John Welsh, Salif Diao, Richie Partridge

Forwards
Cisse, El Hadji Diouf, Anthony Le Tallec, Milan Baros, Florent Sinama Pongolle, Harry Kewell, Emile Heskey- (I've replace Cisse with Owen because both were really out of Rafa's control.)

Together with Sami, Carra, Finnan & Stevie G this was the squad Rafa inherited 4 years ago.

Out of every one of those players, the only change I would make is Flo for Voronin.

A common complaint in the media and on many forums is that Rafa has spent money since he has been here, but we are no nearer the title.

The fact is we are unrecognisable from the team Rafa took over. He has literally had to start from scratch and create a potential title winning side out of nothing. In the 14 years before he arrived we managed an average of 2 points a game once. In his 4 years we have done it twice and there is a good chance it could have been 3 times if we weren't concentrating solely on the European Cup Final in 2007.

If you look year on year since he arrived our squad always improves and will continue to do so.

We have a goalkeeper and defence that is on a par with any side in Europe. We have possibly the best holding midfielder and striker in Europe. We have a captain who can only be described as a phenomenon who has formed a partnership with Torres (which some incredibly feel should be broken up by moving him wide or back into central midfield) that has the potential to be one of the best ever. We have squad players who are proven internationals and after the reserves exploits from last season, arguably the best collection of youngsters in the country.

Add to that we still have a fair amount of money to spend thanks to Rafa's dealings in the transfer market and he has already mentioned we are going to make further big name signings so again our squad will be better.

These aren't rose tinted glasses or actions of some pro Rafa brigade, these are facts, Rafa has and continues to make Liverpool a better team.

I fully expect us to challenge for the title; and I think for a manager who likes his options, two extra substitutes will make a massive difference this season.

OUTSTANDING post Sir! Could not agree more.

[EwarWoo]

First team, none. Squad, the following would all be possible (assuming we're talking about how they were then, not how they are now):

Goalkeepers
Dudek

Defenders
Stephane Henchoz

Midfielders
Dietmar Hamann, Vladimir Smicer, Harry Kewell

Forwards
Cisse, Emile Heskey

Still a great post but, and wouldn't really argue with the rest of it at all.