So, the season draws to a close and whilst we still battle on for 4th/5th that looks less and less likely as the games count down. But regardless of where we finish, without doubt Kenny has had a radical effect on the squad and his tenure has provided as many questions as it has answers.
We all knew the squad was better than how it was doing, but how good actually is it? And how many players do we need to challenge for the title? Because it's not just the same eleven players who have dragged us up from the mire under Kenny. We've been hammered with injuries of late and yet the players have responded and are still getting results.
So come next season, we travel to Old Trafford looking to win. What players do we need to replace? I'll post up a line up of what I think at present is our best XI:
Now I know the above is't actually how are team shapes up, but it's the nearest I could get without taking time. But we all know how it sets out and the above players are the ones who I think Kenny has the most faith in.
Now the above line up is not a bad side in all fairness. And hopefully there is more to come from it as we start to see Carroll and Suarez settle. But there is at least one glaring omission in my view, and that is genuine pace up top.
So where would that player fit in? Well in the above line up the odd player out for me is Mereiles. He's done a good shift out wide when asked to play there, but he is not and never will be a wide player.
For me, adding just one top class wide left player to that side would make such a difference. The rest of the line up I would say is pretty damn good.
------------
Defence
So starting XI wise, we are not missing much. But look deeper, and that's where we start to have problems. We lack depth.
And the most obvious place where we lack depth is at LB. For me Johnson has done very well at LB, but the full backs we have are not enough to cover a full season with, so the most obvious position to improve is at LB. And if we are going to buy a LB we may as well buy a top class one then have Glen and Kelly fight it out at RB. So that would be the next most important player for me.
Staying at the back, I would then look across to the centre. Carra is not getting younger. Agger still has question marks over fitness. Soto has at times been a calamity. Only Skrtel has been steady and for me he's not TOP class. Good enough for the squad, yes. For a regular place? Not so sure. The weakest player at the back is Soto, so out he goes and the next purchase is a top class centre half. Someone who will command and compete for a starting place, not another average squad player.
So now we are starting to look strong at the back, and what's more, there is strength in depth.
------
Attack
For now, I'll skip midfield. I'll look to the striking department. One of the biggest problems in recent seasons? Take away Torres and we had Ngog and that's it. Dirk can do a job, but there's a reason he was moved out wide and Torres was bought......
It looks like we will more often than not start with Carroll and Suarez. In my book, if you start with two you need two replacements. Ngog looked like he would kick on this year, but that hasn't happened. There is a case to make that he stays, but regardless of that we need at least one better back up striker. Here we can either aim for a young player with potential, or we can add an experienced player who will challenge Suarez and Carroll for a starting place. We could even add both and let Ngog go. Money is always the issue, but regardless of what we do, for me a minimum of one striker is needed to be added to our ranks.
Not only would it give us a good option of the bench, it would also mean we wouldn't be lacking a cutting edge if Carroll or Suarez were out for a length of time.
---------
Midfield
Well I've already said how we need a wide left player, that one was obvious. But what else do we need?
Well in Gerrard and Lucas we have a ball winner and a player who can create. In Spearing and Meireles we have good players who can come in and do a good job. But is that enough? Well no, it's not. Take away Gerrard from our side and the midfield becomes workman like. High energy, yes. High creativity? No.
So the obvious step is to sign a player who can make things tick in Gerrards absence. Because a look at our results and you will see as many slip ups against weaker sides as you will wins against top sides. And for me that points to a lack of cutting edge when faced with teams who will look to defend more against us than attack.
What else? Well another ball winner would be a good start. In Poulsen we have another of that type, but he is obvioulsy miles away from the standard we need. If we can replace him we'd be looking better.
After that it's a question of the wings again. Adding one wide left player is fine, but if that players is out for games we are back to square one. So a player who can play on either wing would be another fine addition.
------------
A title winning squad?
LB, LM, CB, DM, AM, RM/LM, ST.
A total of seven good players would change our squad from average to top class. The first two positions would have to be of that standard that they would walk right into the side. The rest would have to be seriously close to the quality of the current first team players.
Replace:
LB: Konchesky
LM: Jovanovic
CB: Soto
DM: Poulsen
AM: ..........
RM/LM: Cole
ST: .........
If we were to sign two strikers I'd let go of Ngog. the attaking CM is a player we don't really have anyone to get rid of in that department. I'd Keep both Gerrard and Meireles who are only players of that ilk in the squad.
Bot looking through the squad you could say we don't really lack the numbers, we instead lack the quality when you scratch below the surface of the squad.
I could now go to fantasy land and list the players I'd love to see us sign, but the truth of the matter is without knowing available funds and what price players will go for, it's an impossible task. For sure we will have to make allowances in some of the above positions, we can't expect to spend £15m+ on each of the above positions.
Some players mentioned have been free transfers such as Marveaux and Owen (Zzz), whilst they may have the quality, is it worth it with their injury records? (If Owen was fit, I'd take him as 4th choice striker, I'd let go of Ngog and bring in one other better striker as third choice still).
Either way we look at it, we aren't as far away as we have looked at times this year, but it's going to be a massive summer.
We all knew the squad was better than how it was doing, but how good actually is it? And how many players do we need to challenge for the title? Because it's not just the same eleven players who have dragged us up from the mire under Kenny. We've been hammered with injuries of late and yet the players have responded and are still getting results.
So come next season, we travel to Old Trafford looking to win. What players do we need to replace? I'll post up a line up of what I think at present is our best XI:
Pepe
Kelly Carragher Agger Johnson
Lucas
Kuyt Gerrard Meireles
Suarez Carroll
Kelly Carragher Agger Johnson
Lucas
Kuyt Gerrard Meireles
Suarez Carroll
Now I know the above is't actually how are team shapes up, but it's the nearest I could get without taking time. But we all know how it sets out and the above players are the ones who I think Kenny has the most faith in.
Now the above line up is not a bad side in all fairness. And hopefully there is more to come from it as we start to see Carroll and Suarez settle. But there is at least one glaring omission in my view, and that is genuine pace up top.
So where would that player fit in? Well in the above line up the odd player out for me is Mereiles. He's done a good shift out wide when asked to play there, but he is not and never will be a wide player.
For me, adding just one top class wide left player to that side would make such a difference. The rest of the line up I would say is pretty damn good.
------------
Defence
So starting XI wise, we are not missing much. But look deeper, and that's where we start to have problems. We lack depth.
And the most obvious place where we lack depth is at LB. For me Johnson has done very well at LB, but the full backs we have are not enough to cover a full season with, so the most obvious position to improve is at LB. And if we are going to buy a LB we may as well buy a top class one then have Glen and Kelly fight it out at RB. So that would be the next most important player for me.
Staying at the back, I would then look across to the centre. Carra is not getting younger. Agger still has question marks over fitness. Soto has at times been a calamity. Only Skrtel has been steady and for me he's not TOP class. Good enough for the squad, yes. For a regular place? Not so sure. The weakest player at the back is Soto, so out he goes and the next purchase is a top class centre half. Someone who will command and compete for a starting place, not another average squad player.
So now we are starting to look strong at the back, and what's more, there is strength in depth.
------
Attack
For now, I'll skip midfield. I'll look to the striking department. One of the biggest problems in recent seasons? Take away Torres and we had Ngog and that's it. Dirk can do a job, but there's a reason he was moved out wide and Torres was bought......
It looks like we will more often than not start with Carroll and Suarez. In my book, if you start with two you need two replacements. Ngog looked like he would kick on this year, but that hasn't happened. There is a case to make that he stays, but regardless of that we need at least one better back up striker. Here we can either aim for a young player with potential, or we can add an experienced player who will challenge Suarez and Carroll for a starting place. We could even add both and let Ngog go. Money is always the issue, but regardless of what we do, for me a minimum of one striker is needed to be added to our ranks.
Not only would it give us a good option of the bench, it would also mean we wouldn't be lacking a cutting edge if Carroll or Suarez were out for a length of time.
---------
Midfield
Well I've already said how we need a wide left player, that one was obvious. But what else do we need?
Well in Gerrard and Lucas we have a ball winner and a player who can create. In Spearing and Meireles we have good players who can come in and do a good job. But is that enough? Well no, it's not. Take away Gerrard from our side and the midfield becomes workman like. High energy, yes. High creativity? No.
So the obvious step is to sign a player who can make things tick in Gerrards absence. Because a look at our results and you will see as many slip ups against weaker sides as you will wins against top sides. And for me that points to a lack of cutting edge when faced with teams who will look to defend more against us than attack.
What else? Well another ball winner would be a good start. In Poulsen we have another of that type, but he is obvioulsy miles away from the standard we need. If we can replace him we'd be looking better.
After that it's a question of the wings again. Adding one wide left player is fine, but if that players is out for games we are back to square one. So a player who can play on either wing would be another fine addition.
------------
A title winning squad?
LB, LM, CB, DM, AM, RM/LM, ST.
A total of seven good players would change our squad from average to top class. The first two positions would have to be of that standard that they would walk right into the side. The rest would have to be seriously close to the quality of the current first team players.
Replace:
LB: Konchesky
LM: Jovanovic
CB: Soto
DM: Poulsen
AM: ..........
RM/LM: Cole
ST: .........
If we were to sign two strikers I'd let go of Ngog. the attaking CM is a player we don't really have anyone to get rid of in that department. I'd Keep both Gerrard and Meireles who are only players of that ilk in the squad.
Bot looking through the squad you could say we don't really lack the numbers, we instead lack the quality when you scratch below the surface of the squad.
I could now go to fantasy land and list the players I'd love to see us sign, but the truth of the matter is without knowing available funds and what price players will go for, it's an impossible task. For sure we will have to make allowances in some of the above positions, we can't expect to spend £15m+ on each of the above positions.
Some players mentioned have been free transfers such as Marveaux and Owen (Zzz), whilst they may have the quality, is it worth it with their injury records? (If Owen was fit, I'd take him as 4th choice striker, I'd let go of Ngog and bring in one other better striker as third choice still).
Either way we look at it, we aren't as far away as we have looked at times this year, but it's going to be a massive summer.
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