The New Manager Thread

[PTP]

I don't think we do need to spend that money to get us back on track for fourth. It will be hard but I think that replacing Babel and Riera with players who a/ contributed and b/ complemented the rest of our squad is very possible on a smaller budget and the only necessary addition is a left back. We would still be a bit short of numbers but with some of the younger players developing it might become less of an issue.

I do agree with everyone who says that without investment (and almost as importantly a sense of stability at the club) it will be very difficult to challenge for the league. Realistically our only hope if for all of City, United, Chelsea and Arsenal to fail in the rebuilding they need, Spurs to fail to strengthen and us to make three perfect transfers which is a massive long shot on pretty much all counts.

With regards the numbers/squad size – i’m hoping, as mentioned before somewhere, that next season we just worry about the league – 38 games – keep the best players fresh and fit. We shouldn’t have the need for an overly massive squad for that imo – i think my 26 man squad above (edit: sorry not above, it's in the other thread about if we had some investment to spend) would be about right. One issue we seem to have is reoccurring injuries though, to first team players and the lack of any adequate cover – Johnson, Agger, Torres for starters – 3 vitally important players for different reasons. All seem to suffered with a break down.

We need both a bit of luck combined with managing these players well.

As i have said before – i will be ****ing fuming (and i know it’s going to happen – certainly if rafa stays cause it’s how he works) – if the likes of reina, johnson, carragher, agger, mascherano, maxi, gerrard, torres, and hopefully a first choice left back, a striker and a left winger – play in a tough league game on the Sunday - are then asked to go to places like Zagreb away on a Thursday night and back for another league game on the Monday. Similarly if these playere are used for Scunthorpe away in the fa cup 3rd round. I’d be disappointed. –

We don’t have much money, we don’t have the resources in terms of the squad size to compete in the league and all the cups, and we have to get back into the top 4 next season, steady the ship a bit, and build from there. We won’t finish 4th or better next season by knackering players for 1-0 wins on a Thursday night and then struggling at home on the sunday

I want to see something like this for those games in Europe the cups.

----------------------------cavalieri/other----------------------

Kelly/other-----------skrtel------kyriakos/Wilson-------------insua

Kuyt(c)----------------lucas---------Shelvey---------------Jovanovic

--------------------------Ngog--------Pacheco


With the subs made up of anyone squad players i’ve missed (yossi) and youth players coming through (dalle valle?)

Giving the squad players and youth playing time. And who knows, some of the youngsters might gain some valuable experience, some of them might show some form, build up some confidence – so that when needed they can step up to or challenge for the first XI!!

PTP for manager

[PTP]

It may sound foolish given the season we've had but I still believe our team (first 11) is better than that of Spurs or Man City. The problem is the have more strength an depth. We've had a disproportionally large number of injuries this season which have exposed our lack of strength in our most vulnerable areas. I think if we can address these problems we will be in the battle for 4th as long as we don't get a larger than average number of injuries. We are better than we showed this season

Obviously it also depends what the other clubs have to spend in comparison to us (and how wisely they spend it). BUt as far as I'm concerned a title push would require a large investment in the squad. But being in the battle for 4th is realistic IMO

as above - aye, the starting XI on paper, bar maybe one or two additions should be more than capable of challenging for 4th. And i have said this, and hate saying it but i'd reckon that alex ferguson would have had that same squad of players even with the injuries well in the top 4 without an issue.

[Guest]

is Craig H on holiday?

He's in my pocket.

[dww]

I think we saw signs this season that Rafa rates some of the young players as nearly at the level where he will trust them. I don't see us playing anything that Rafa would think of as a reserve side in any games. I agree that there are some players worth protecting though for the league.

[Frenchie]

Not in the banned sense of the phrase. he was on here at 10 this morning.

Oh ok cheers, was missing his Rafa out antics......

[Frenchie]

He's in my pocket.

...er that would make him your penis

[Baracus]

Other forums ITK's still claim Rafa is going to leave.

Here's hoping the LFC Broad do a Gerrard Style 'U-Turn' give Rafa 1 season, 100 million, 1 Chance for the Title

Is it to much to ask.

[PTP]

...er that would make him your penis

you keep a penis in your pocket - where dya keep your change?

[barnes10]

Other forums ITK's still claim Rafa is going to leave.

Here's hoping the LFC Broad do a Gerrard Style 'U-Turn' give Rafa 1 season, 100 million, 1 Chance for the Title

Is it to much to ask.

yes.

the *******s are more likely to give him 1 million, 1 season and **** all chance of the title.

[Guest]

you keep a penis in your pocket - where dya keep your change?

In the nutsack?

[Fan65]

He's in my pocket.

[Frenchie]

you keep a penis in your pocket - where dya keep your change?

lol

[kev776]

If Rafa walks, any new manager will have very little to play with, it will be a case of "making do" with the current squad, so a manger who is used to working within a tight budget. Only Roy Hodgson springs to mind, or Kenny on a temporary basis untill new owners and investment are found.

[JudgeRed]

For the Mourinho lovers this is a quote from him in an interview in the times today:

“Liverpool is an incredible phenomenon. From 2004 to 2010 it looks like the team instead of improving is getting worse."

Veiled dig at Rafa?

[Neil Young]

Veiled?