Soooooooo what do we need?????

[The Birdman]

Realistically as money is bound to be tight we need a back up striker to Torres as Rafa is bound to stick to 4-2-3-1 so that is someone good enought to contribute but who accepts he won't play 90 mins every week as Torres is clearly the boss man.
I think we need a right sided player, not neccessarily a winger but someone who will actually stay wide, stretch the pitch and make it harder to defend against us. I would also like to see us buy a top quality right back, I think Aurelio and Insua have us covered at LB and I'm happy with Arbeloa as a cover for both positions but I think he is just a notch below top quality

[DKRA2004]

New manager.

As a squad is the standard that bad .... would a Jose M or Gus H get more from our squad ...... er yes they would.

Its the collective attitude and tactics that has killed our title challenge ... even with Nando having a stop start season we should have won most if not all the games we drew so as a squad its not far off ... take Lucas away and we would have at least 3 or 4 more points !!

A goal scorer to cover and more quality out wide should improve us but a better approach to home matches would see us go further ... our home form is not defendable by any of the coaching staff ... and it was almost as bad last season so what did Rafa learn for this season ??

This has to stop ..

[Imy]

With the way Downing tore us apart, whats the odds on Rafa's spend all his pennies chasing him in the summer? Rafa did the same with Benayoun and Crouch (both inconsistent but had good games vs us )

[pondus]

We need messiah.

from the rev himself

[the rev leeroy brown]

We need messi.

[Imy]

Ok on the premise that we'd play a 4-2-3-1 formation.

At the risk of sounding like AF11 i'd start with signing Aguero, he can play along with Gerrard and Babel behind Torres, they'd give you plenty of creativity and hopefully goals.

I'd keep the axis of Alonso and Mascherano (lets hope that Mascha regains his form)

Id then sign TWO marauding full backs who'd provide the width (god knows who though )

I'd also sign another backup striker in case Torres becomes injured again (such a shame we sold Flo Po), possibly even give Nemeth the nod.

If i was Rafa i'd put a lot more energy in to attacking as opposed to the current organised, defensive principles he currently shows.

[Elvoz]

your damn right

[pondus]

im in conversations with villa pretty regularly

it may or may not happen

And I visited Aguero yesterday, it may or may not happen as well

kiddo

[Imy]

We need man utd to resign from the league!

[Elvoz]

A couple of things need changing but overall, a new manager (if we picked the right one) would make the biggest difference.

Other than that, one of Villa or Aguero would be a good start.

im in conversations with villa pretty regularly

it may or may not happen

[Craig_H]

A couple of things need changing but overall, a new manager (if we picked the right one) would make the biggest difference.

Other than that, one of Villa or Aguero would be a good start.

[PTP]

3 players needed for me - a top class full back, a top class winger, and another good striking option who could either partner torres well or cover torres if out.

Nothing against either Aurelio or Arbeloa, they are solid players but they lack a real 'attacking' threat which would help open up teams at home - i mentioned this before as an example - a few weeks ago watching chelsea, they were playing **** at home but won one nil - anyway, their right back had the ball coming over the half way line in space and the commentor said "chelsea had SIX men in the box" - one of which was ashley cole! - we struggle to get one man in the box, and i am shocked if we get two, and sometimes when torres drops deep to get the ball we have NONE. That for me, tactics wise, is one of our major problems at home - we just don't cause the opposition defenders enough to worry about

Ideally we would have to get the balance right - ie i'd be happy with Kuyt as the right mid and say Aurelio at Left back, if we had eg Alves at right back and Joe Cole left mid - or the other way round Arbeloa at right back with some one class in front of him, and a top class left back with say riera in front. - Hope that makes sense

Now if money was now object and we could have anyone - well Lionel Messi for a start, then maybe someone like an Adebayor or when he was unplayable a Drogba - someone big strong, skilful and can score and a top class full back that i can't think off.


we must hold onto the following players who for me in their positions can compete with the best of them

Reina
Carragher
Agger
Skrtel

Mascherano
Alonso
Gerrard

Torres

- i am fine with keeping say Arbeloa, Aurelio, Insua, Riera, Kuyt, Hyypia maybe Benayoun - you need solid squad players and I would only sell them if offered good money and more suitable, better replacement was available

anyone not included above can go - and be replaced with the three top players needed as I mentioned above - if our squad looked like


Reina
back up GK

Top right back
Arbeloa
Darby

Carra
Agger
Skrtel
Hyypia

Aurelio
Insua

Alonso
Mascherano
Gerrard
and either lucas or a good replacement

Kuyt
Benayoun

Top class left mid
Reira

Torres
Top class striker


And then the odd gap look to try and promote some of our 'highly promisings ressies' as cover

I think we would be ok.

[the rev leeroy brown]

need a new manager who doesn't play negatively every game.

need a new striker.

need new right winger.

need to sell lucas.

[Kenneth]

Offload:

Babel
Dossena
Ngog
Lucas
Voronin
Degan
Plessis

Wouldn't be sad to see the following sold:
Yossi
Agger
Kuyt

Need:
Strikers x 2
RM x 1
Creative attacking MF x 1 maybe 2 (preferably one who can move out wide if required)
CM x 1
RB x 1

[nebbers]

A back four of Arbeloa, Agger, Skrtel, Insua

An in form Alonso, Mascher, Gerrard and Riera

An injury free Torres

Sell Babel, Lucas, Kuyt

Buy a world class right winger and a second striker in the Beardsley mould that can form a partnership with Torres.

Oh, and Rafa to stop being so bloody cautious.