Our squad

[DannyMan2006]

How bad really is it? A few weeks a go people would have been scathing but just lately a few players many had written of as not good enough have suddenly started performing.

At present I can't even start to name our current best XI, and not because players aren't performing - quite the opposite. And with January coming things will only get better.

No doubt we are weak in a couple of areas but players hitting form have addressed many concerns. And with young lads like Spearing and Shelvey getting games in the Europa league things are looking bright for the future.

I know getting victories can makd things look better than they are, but we've also had the opposite this season with a bad start. But Kyrgiakos has been immense, but how can you drop Carra or Martin after the Chelsea game? Then we have Glen Johnson, but do you drop Meireles to play Glen at RM or Kelly to play him at RB? Both were superb on Sunday.

Then there is the up turn in form of Maxi. When he first came in for Kuyt this year he was poor, but he's really upped his game in the last couple. Hard to see Cole getting back in the team. Same goes Lucas, when looking at improving the first team most would have said a DM to replace Masch was a big priority after the failure of Poulsen. But Lucas has shown he can fill his shoes.

Even Konchesky (whisper it) has shown signs of getting better. So what do people think our priorities in January are and what is our current best team? For me:

Gkp: Reina
Rb: Johnson
Cb: Carra
Cb: Kyrgiakos
Lb: Konchesky
Rm: Meireles
Cm: Gerrard
Cm: Lucas
Lm: Maxi
St: Kuyt
St: Torres

Future XI

Gkp: Reina
Rb: Johnson
Cb: Carra
Cb: Agger
Lb: ???
Rm: ???
Cm: Gerrard
Cm: Lucas
Lm: ???
St: Torres
St: ???

Of course this is based on Roys preferred 442 formation. I still think we need s better Lb. I also think we should go out and buy a top class partner for Torres. Kuyt is a good player and it seems harsh to leave him out, but for me he's not really a wide player, especially in a 442. If we was to play 4231 I'd be more inclined to play him Rm and bring Meireles in alongside Lucas and Gerrard behind Torres.

I also think we need a top class Lm. Jovanovic and Cole have been poor and whilst Maxi is looking good I do think we need better.

Opinions???

[Arn]

I would say that we have at least as good squad as Arsenal for example.
Only Man U, Man C and Chelsea are miles ahead of us.

The problem is that it's balanced wrong. Many central defenders but very few fullbacks for example.

[danperkins]

Glen Johnson at RB worries me, we've looked so solid without him, i think he throws a spanner in the works back in the defence. Thought Kelly was very impressive at RB and deserves back to back starts.

Meireles wasn't great at RM, but i suppose he ain't a right midfielder, Maxi is out best option at LM IMO, he has improved his performances in last few games although he didnt do much against Chelsea but still best option out there, another position that really needs to be addressed quick smart in January.

Where's Aurelio gone? Though he was back in the squad, he's not injured again is her FFS! The Konch was shockingly ok against Chelsea but is a liability and his wooden leg doesn't do us any favours, the bloke runs like he has a pipe stuck up his hole. As you suggested putting Gerrard behind Torres, Meirles back in CM with Lucas, and Kuyt out right IMO would be the most balanced the side could get.

LB/LM/RM/ST and maybe RB needs to be addressed IMO, January is going to be mighty intersting.

[DannyMan2006]

As balanced as a 4231 would be, Torres worked well with Kuyt in a 442 so I'm not sure I'd change it. It was only so poor against City because the team wasn't used to Roys pattern of play methods. Now they are adopting the right positions when dropping off we look a lot more solid.

Plus in Kuyt you have a better player than Ngog at dropping into midfield and helping out. I think though the key areas to improve are Lb, Lm and St. An extra midfielder would also be a nice addition.

[danperkins]

As balanced as a 4231 would be, Torres worked well with Kuyt in a 442 so I'm not sure I'd change it. It was only so poor against City because the team wasn't used to Roys pattern of play methods. Now they are adopting the right positions when dropping off we look a lot more solid.

Plus in Kuyt you have a better player than Ngog at dropping into midfield and helping out. I think though the key areas to improve are Lb, Lm and St. An extra midfielder would also be a nice addition.

i wonder will Roy want to change a winning team, hard to say. And dare i say it the team seem to be starting to play the way he wants them. Its took awhile but hopefully we've turned a corner.

As someone said, if we can't beat Wigan whats the point in beating Chelsea, pissing against the wind, have to say though i'm genuinely looking forward to seeing us play again, last few games i've got that spark back, long may it continue.

I'm actually excited about who we will sign in January, firstly i wonder who will be the exits? Surely there has to be some, Babel has to be a goner!!! With Roy,Comelli & Henry hopefully they can get some great deals and players in that are good for the starting eleven.

[DannyMan2006]

You see, that's the thing. We defended a lead against Blackburn and people can't accept it as they are a much inferior side. We do the same against Chelsea and of course that becomes much more acceptable.

I still think Roy needs reminding he is no longer at Fulham - he has top players at his disposal who are well capable of looking for a further goal against the vast majority of sides. If we go two up v Wigan for instances I still want us to be progressive, not foolish, but looking to add to the tally.

[DannyMan2006]

I actually think Ryan Babel is a player who could get a place in the team and make us better, but if Roy doesn't feel the same I hope we do move him on.

[danperkins]

You see, that's the thing. We defended a lead against Blackburn and people can't accept it as they are a much inferior side. We do the same against Chelsea and of course that becomes much more acceptable.

I still think Roy needs reminding he is no longer at Fulham - he has top players at his disposal who are well capable of looking for a further goal against the vast majority of sides. If we go two up v Wigan for instances I still want us to be progressive, not foolish, but looking to add to the tally.

For sure mate, i think Roy is getting it, he came in with a small club mentality that went down lilke a bag of ****e with us LFC fans, he has made mistakes on and off the pitch but has improved and i hope there's more to come.

I hate that scoring and then sitting back effort, i'm very curious to see how he approaches this game on teh back of the Chelsea one. Will be an intertsting insight into his thinking to see how he lines us up and what he does as the game progresses.

[danperkins]

I actually think Ryan Babel is a player who could get a place in the team and make us better, but if Roy doesn't feel the same I hope we do move him on.

IMO the guy is a lost cause for LFC, might do better elsewhere, what he would be worth now i dread to think.

[Mostar]

How bad really is it? . So what do people think our priorities in January are and what is our current best team? For me:

Gkp: Reina
Rb: Johnson
Cb: Carra
Cb: Kyrgiakos
Lb: Konchesky
Rm: Meireles
Cm: Gerrard
Cm: Lucas
Lm: Maxi
St: Kuyt
St: Torres

Future XI

Gkp: Reina
Rb: Johnson
Cb: Carra
Cb: Agger
Lb: ???
Rm: ???
Cm: Gerrard
Cm: Lucas
Lm: ???
St: Torres
St: ???

Of course this is based on Roys preferred 442 formation. I still think we need s better Lb. I also think we should go out and buy a top class partner for Torres. Kuyt is a good player and it seems harsh to leave him out, but for me he's not really a wide player, especially in a 442. If we was to play 4231 I'd be more inclined to play him Rm and bring Meireles in alongside Lucas and Gerrard behind Torres.

I also think we need a top class Lm. Jovanovic and Cole have been poor and whilst Maxi is looking good I do think we need better.

Opinions???

For January I think we need to try to get a winger, CM/DM, LB (somehow I don't think we will upgrade it in January) and a striker. In summer, we need to get LB (If we don't buy one in January), RM/LM (maybe not if Aqua man is back?) and extra winger and CB.

IMO the guy is a lost cause for LFC, might do better elsewhere, what he would be worth now i dread to think.

He had plenty of opportunities to prove himself and he failed time and time again. He is not good enough and should be sold in January.

[Buzzo]

Is not strong enough. These days the ideal is to have 2 decent players competing for each position. Even Spurs have managed this.

So for us the 2 are.

1. Reina ----------------Jones
2. Johnson--------------Kelly
3. Konchesky-----------Aurelio
4. Skrtel ----------------Agger
5. Carragher------------Kgyriakos
6. Maxi------------------Jovanovic
7. Lucas---------------- Poulsen
8. Gerrard--------------Spearing
9. Kuyt------------------Babel
10. Merieles------------Cole
11. Torres---------------Ngog

Really not strong enough.

So with that in mind and obviously reserves have to be of a calibre where they can easily step up to the first team, to keep the incumbent on his toes and allow for strength in depth and injury cover for all competitions (presumably including champions league) I would say we are short the following.

1. Reina -----------------XXXXXXX
2. Johnson --------------Kelly
3. XXXXXXXX------------Aurelio
4. Agger-----------------Skrtel
5. XXXXXXXX-----------Carragher
6. XXXXXXXX-----------Maxi
7. Lucas-----------------Merieles
8. Gerrard--------------XXXXXXXX
9. Kuyt -----------------XXXXXXXX
10. XXXXXXX-----------Cole
11. Torres---------------Ngog

4 first teamers and 3 decent reserves. Included in this would be 1 top quality centre forward (Aguero seems too perfect), 1 quality LM, 1 quality CB, 1 quality LB cover for Gerrard and Kuyt and Pepe. Fill in these gaps and I think we could have a good squad capable of challenging on every level.

Well, I enjoyed this. But is it utter hokum? No doubt you guys will decide!!!

[jonymadness]

are we really that much worse than United? I know they were missing a few but the team (mid and attack esp) was nothing to be jealous of:

Edwin van der Sar
Rio Ferdinand
Wes Brown
Nemanja Vidic
Patrice Evra
John O'Shea (Scholes)
Darren Fletcher
Owen Hargreaves (Bebe) (Macheda)
Ji-Sung Park
Javier Hernandez
Gabriel Obertan

[kris90210]

We're really not that bad. We need to improve a few positions and I think we'll see dramatic improvement.

January
* Backup striker
* Ball winning central midfielder (Poulsen can't be relied upon)
* IF we can afford it, a wide player

Summer
* Wide player (most of our budget should go on signing someone who will take the pressure off Torres and Gerrard in the attacking third)
* First choice left back (Konchesky is adequate backup)
* Center back (Cahill would be ideal)

[Mostar]

We're really not that bad. We need to improve a few positions and I think we'll see dramatic improvement.

January
* Backup striker
* Ball winning central midfielder (Poulsen can't be relied upon)
* IF we can afford it, a wide player

Summer
* Wide player (most of our budget should go on signing someone who will take the pressure off Torres and Gerrard in the attacking third)
* First choice left back (Konchesky is adequate backup)
* Center back (Cahill would be ideal)

Almost exactly what I said

[Drago]

The squad is pish poor. Even the first 11 is bad. How has it got to a stage where citeh, manure, arsenal, chelski and the yids have much better sides?