Soooooooo what do we need?????

[Craig_H]

Good post Brian, welcome to the site

[BrianF80]

Good post Brian, welcome to the site

Thanks mate.

[dww]

IMO we've struggled in those games as much because we've played with two holding midfielders neither of who understand how to participate in attack and because both of the much vaunted attacking wing backs have for one reason or another been a bust.

The plan at the beginning of the year sounded good Gerrard could play in attack or central midfield, we had Keane so we could play 442 and have Gerrard in CM. We had inside forwards (Kuyt, Babel, Bennayoun) who could cut in and be paired with proper attacking wing backs whose strengths were overlapping and crossing. Even the Barry option would have given more mobility in midfield if you really wanted to attack and pair him with Gerrard.

It all sounded really good on paper

I think we are likely to see another attempt at putting together the same sort of game plan because the super winger we all crave either doesn't exist, his team won't sell or we can't afford him. Admit it super wingers wise there is only Ribery and Silva and I just don't see us being able to get them, so we have to find a way, again, to improve using 2nd tier players.

On the bright side though, the next transfer window cannot possibly go as bad as the last.

I would suspect that if Rafa stays you are broadly speaking right (I think he also wants a more dynamic second defensive CM too - much as last summer). I can see it working in many ways but I think depending on who the second striker is we are almost certain to be left without enough pace in attack.

I'm not a huge fan but predict a bid for Glen Johnson.

I think at left back our options are pretty decent even of late Dossena has played fine. If he is willing to stay and fight for a place I think I would let him on the basis that Aurelio is broken so often.

I wouldn't really class Silva as a 'super winger' either. He is a very, very good player but he is more a current Arsenal style wide midfielder than a real winger. I agree with the thrust of your point on that topic as well though.

[magicalbarnes]

Many of you wont agree with me on this but in my book we are 6 players short of a title winning team. Im not going to name potential targets, i'l leave that to Rafa!

We need a top class center back to play with Carra, im sorry but Agger and Skertl for whatever reason are not up to the job. Keep the pair of them though as they both have great potential

We need a top class full-back on each side. Players who are solid at the back but can also offer quality going forward i.e. Evra

We need two top class wingers, one on each side.

Finally we need forward that can play alongside or as a replacement for Torres.

[Roboklopp]

Realistically, without spending mega-money, I think we will not realistically win the league as it stands. It's incredibly frustrating, but the Mancs and Chvs have much more expensive squads than us & the type of player we need (pacy & creative) to change games cost money we simply do not have. Add to that the fact that the Scum have the most experience PL manager by miles plus arguably the best attacking player in the world in Cockface & Cuntface, it's just too much to ask for.

I've been as frustrated as anyone by some of the seeemingly ridiculous decsions & horrendous performances this season & withour doubt there are real improvements that could & must be made in these areas, but without an investment in the squad which is totally unrealistic under the Septics, number 19 just aint gonna happen in the short-mid term. It's ****ing heartbreaking & soul-destroying (especially if, like me, you have the misfortune to live in Scumsville), but these are the facts we have to deal with in the cold light of day. For the moment, we are the 3rd best team in the country, pushing for 2nd, and probably in the best 5 in Europe/the world. We need to live with that, however uncomfortable, realise just how dominant the Prem is at the mo & what we are up against domestically.

[dww]

I think there is a case that United have an almost unassialable position but the Chelsea squad is aging and suffering injury problems. I see no reason why we shouldn't be able to end the next transfer window with a better squad than them.

[BrianF80]

I would suspect that if Rafa stays you are broadly speaking right (I think he also wants a more dynamic second defensive CM too - much as last summer). I can see it working in many ways but I think depending on who the second striker is we are almost certain to be left without enough pace in attack.

I'm not a huge fan but predict a bid for Glen Johnson.

I think at left back our options are pretty decent even of late Dossena has played fine. If he is willing to stay and fight for a place I think I would let him on the basis that Aurelio is broken so often.

I wouldn't really class Silva as a 'super winger' either. He is a very, very good player but he is more a current Arsenal style wide midfielder than a real winger. I agree with the thrust of your point on that topic as well though.

Agree on the winger terminology but not sure I agree on Johnson though.

10m is a lot of money for a full back and I'm not convinced Arbeloa, Degen and Darby don't offer enough options. That 10m could be better spent further forward as to my mind we need to looking at getting more from the LW and as you say someone in behind / in place of Torres. Those positions tend to be more expensive to fill and I'm looking for 20m pound players these days no more 5-10m pound incremental upgrades for me

[Craig_H]

Only thing is, Degen is never fit and Darby is untried and unproven so with that in mind, we only have one reliable and proven option at right back.

I quite like Glen Johnson as a fullback but i agree that £10m for a defensive position where we already have Arbeloa, might not be the wisest move. Especially if cash is tight.

[BrianF80]

Only thing is, Degen is never fit and Darby is untried and unproven so with that in mind, we only have one reliable and proven option at right back.

I quite like Glen Johnson as a fullback but i agree that £10m for a defensive position where we already have Arbeloa, might not be the wisest move. Especially if cash is tight.

Yeah, it is definitely a bit of a risk. Most of Degen's injuries have been breaks though have they not, I didn't think it was anything chronic or recurring more bad luck so hopefully we'll see more of him next season.

Darby is also less than ideal another board I used to go on had a guy that was close to the academy and he told us that Darby is like a lot of the players that came out of the academy in the heighway's days, in that they were focused on a specialized thing too early. Apparently Darby did very little work on the attacking side of his game and that is what he is working on now trying to catch up if you will.

When you think that 10m is the difference between a Kuyt and a Torres where would you rather spend it. Up front or on a full back that will add a couple of goals and assists? And it's not like we have the option of not bringing in someone up front.

[Craig_H]

I'd definitely rather spend it in attacking areas, and have Arbeloa and Carragher as our reliable options at RB.

[BrianF80]

I'd definitely rather spend it in attacking areas, and have Arbeloa and Carragher as our reliable options at RB.

Seems that decision will have been taken out of your hands if the rumours are to be believed. Still anything which forces benitez not to pair Mascher and Xabi against "small teams" is good by me

[Craig_H]

I'm still holding out hope that the Carra request to not play RB was just a one-off based on his legs being particularly ****ed at that time.

[BrianF80]

I'm still holding out hope that the Carra request to not play RB was just a one-off based on his legs being particularly ****ed at that time.

I worry that either his legs are going, or that our conditioning isn't what it was when Ayesteran was here. You could see during the Everton game that he was basically out on his feet after an hour. It was said that he had to come in on his day off and have massages and ice baths and all that kind of stuff to help him recover in time for the next game.

[The_weatherman]

We need Voronin back ASAP He just scored a hattrick for Hertha to put them 4 points clear, he has 7 goals in his last 5 games....is the Bundesliga that much weaker or different?

[BrianF80]

We need Voronin back ASAP He just scored a hattrick for Hertha to put them 4 points clear, he has 7 goals in his last 5 games....is the Bundesliga that much weaker or different?

Check out his last goal http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/2184091/