How would we fare if we bought no-one else in?

[Fosterbloke]

I was wondering how you think we'd fare next season with our current squad assuming that everyone is fit and raring to go?

At the moment I think we could win the league but I genuinely think we're a top 3 side right now. The feel good factor of Kenny's return has worn off but it's been replaced with spirit and faith in the tactics and playing style. You can see that players are enjoying their game.

[pondus]

If we are to compete in the Europa league next year our current squad is too thin. We need to bring in some new faces and keep the ones worth keeping in order to compete in the league and the cups as well. Hopefully more youngsters also step up and do a job in the "lesser" competitions.

[DeeTheDog]

We still need a commanding centre back who can win aerial duels. We still need pace out wide with the ability deliver good crosses. We still need a left back. We still need a back up for Pepe.

The need for a third striker has subsided as Dirk has shown he is more than able to perform that role. Our central midfield is very strong in my opinion.

[Fosterbloke]

We still need a commanding centre back who can win aerial duels. We still need pace out wide with the ability deliver good crosses. We still need a left back. We still need a back up for Pepe.

The need for a third striker has subsided as Dirk has shown he is more than able to perform that role. Our central midfield is very strong in my opinion.

Which doesn't really answer my question

I know we need players but I wanted people's opinion on where we'd end next season if we bought no-one else and relied on our current squad (plus any new youngsters).

[Reece]

I think if we went into next season with the exact same squad then we'd still struggle to finish in the top 4.

Right now, I'd be confident of us beating any of the current top 4 (+ Spurs) in a game, and if they all kept the same squads too then I'd say we were in with a shout for the title. But they're all going to strengthen obviously so we'd fall behind in that sense.

It's all hypothetical though as we will strengthen, and we will win the league.

[Roboklopp]

Bout 5th or 6th.

[Exiled_red]

I think it's an interesting question, our form since Kenny took over suggests (if we had extended it over a whole season) we would be in the top 3 this season. But in this period doesn't include a 'bad patch' which most clubs seem to go through at some point. So if we had started this season with Kenny in charge I would have fancied us to finish in the top 4.

Next season however is different, we need to establish whether the better performances of players that have been key to this run (Kuyt, Spearing, Maxi etc.) are just good form coming at the right time or a genuine improvement which they would be able to maintain long term.

Also we have to look at what other clubs will do in the summer, the squad as it stands ins't good enough to challenge for the title, which leaves the CL. You would have to assume that a Man City side in the Champions League would be splashing the cash, at the moment you would say they are our main rival for the top 4. If they (as arguably the weakest of the top 4) strengthen, that makes our task of getting into the Champions League so much harder. Depending how they do in the CL we could perhaps nick 4th if they can't handle the number of games the CL throws at you, but I would say more likely we'd finish 5th.

IMO we have to bring some players in, it might not be the overhaul we feared a couple of months ago but we probably need 4 players.

[kev776]

With no injuries and suspensions and playing our second 11 in the cups, we could challenge for the title, our top 13 is as good as most, but of course this wont happen so we do need 3 or 4 better quality players. Positions are well known.

Goal Keeper
LB
Winger/wide man with pace.
Striker.

Centrbacks we are strong enough with our current 5 (Kelly is a bloody good CB)
Central Midfield is strong enough

[Fernandinho]

If Suarez was to be injured with out squad at the moment we would struggle, especially considering Gerrard's recent injury problems.

[dom9]

Top 4.

[The_weatherman]

With no injuries and suspensions and playing our second 11 in the cups, we could challenge for the title, our top 13 is as good as most, but of course this wont happen so we do need 3 or 4 better quality players. Positions are well known.

Goal Keeper
LB
Winger/wide man with pace.
Striker.

Centrbacks we are strong enough with our current 5 (Kelly is a bloody good CB)
Central Midfield is strong enough

I don't think we need a goal keeper though, I feel Reina is staying. So I'd like to see four more players coming (besides Marveux):

LB
Wide man with pace
A top centre back
A top midfielder with a range of passing

But with an unchanged squad, I think we could challenge for 3rd with good fortune. But we'd be vulnerable to injuries though. Unchanged squad:

GK: Reina, Gulasci

RB: Johnson, Kelly, Flanagan

CB: Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Soto, Ayala, Wilson

LB: Aurelio, Robinson, Konchesky

CM: Lucas, Spearing, Gerrard, Meireles, Poulsen, Coady, Shelvey

AM: Maxi, Cole, Jovanovic, Kuyt, Suso

CF: Carroll, Suarez, Ngog, Pacheco

Add to that Aquilani in the summer and possibly Morgan at some stage? Maybe fourth-fifth is more realistic.

[PTP]

I still think we'd struggle to be honest - well not struggle, but we'd be top 6, 5th at best, but just short of a top 4 place.

Reasons -

atm we are playing well/riding the crest of a wave - when the season ends, it'll be hard to pick up the same momentum at the start of next season

We are still lacking some real quality/strenght in a few positions

All of Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, City and Spurs will look to strengthen and improve over the summer. So if we didn't we'd be left behind again.

I'd say we are desperate for a bare minimum of two or three quality players - that would give us a top 4 challenge

left back
left mid
centre mid

And another two or three quality short of a geniune title challenge
Centre back
a striker
a creative mid.

[Lecter]

I still think we'd struggle to be honest - well not struggle, but we'd be top 6, 5th at best, but just short of a top 4 place.

Reasons -

atm we are playing well/riding the crest of a wave - when the season ends, it'll be hard to pick up the same momentum at the start of next season

We are still lacking some real quality/strenght in a few positions

All of Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, City and Spurs will look to strengthen and improve over the summer. So if we didn't we'd be left behind again.

I'd say we are desperate for a bare minimum of two or three quality players - that would give us a top 4 challenge

left back
left mid
centre mid

And another two or three quality short of a geniune title challenge
Centre back
a striker
a creative mid.

In all honesty though with or without the momentum we have now you have to look and say that Hodgson held this side back

Roy was in charge for slightly over half of the season and Kenny will be in charge for a little less

Roys performances and results were ****ing dire and Kenny's were pretty decent - even if you averaged them out over a season we'd be close to Spurs

So on that basis and the belief that Kenny would get more from this squad than Roy did I think if Kenny had been in charge we'd be quite someway ahead of Spurs and possibly comfortably top 4

[RedReet]

I still think we'd struggle to be honest - well not struggle, but we'd be top 6, 5th at best, but just short of a top 4 place.

Reasons -

atm we are playing well/riding the crest of a wave - when the season ends, it'll be hard to pick up the same momentum at the start of next season
We are still lacking some real quality/strenght in a few positions

All of Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, City and Spurs will look to strengthen and improve over the summer. So if we didn't we'd be left behind again.

I'd say we are desperate for a bare minimum of two or three quality players - that would give us a top 4 challenge

left back
left mid
centre mid

And another two or three quality short of a geniune title challenge
Centre back
a striker
a creative mid.

I don’t get this at all and think it’s a bit of a discredit to Kenny and the coaching staff to assume that the players are ‘riding the crest of a wave’ rather than responding well to Kenny’s tactics. There is no doubt the players would have got a boost when Kenny took over, but we’ve been beaten a few times since then so I think the initial euphoria would have long passed.

[PTP]

Don't get me wrong - i'm not criticising the players or kenny's ability to coach - it clearly works....but i personally think it can't be discounted either, - What kenny has done first and foremost, before we get into any tactical discussions, is....galvanised the club, he's united the fans, lifted the dark cloud over the players and the response is there to see.....and that for me as played as big a part as anything in getting us into this position.

Just my opinion - but i'm maybe coming across as negative, i'm not...i'm just being a little cautious....as despite how well everyone has been playing and how well kenny has done - i still feel, personally that we lack at least two or three quality players to really put ourselvs back in the top 4, and possible need a couple more for a serious title challenge...

but as i pointed out - there is a number of reasons for this....the main one being that, I'm pretty sure we will see Chelsea and City go and spend £100m this summer, I'm sure Arsenal have know realised they need to go and spend a fair whack on a few 'established stars', and Spurs always seem to have a bot of cash and will prob look to strengthen as well

So imo - we are a couple players short right now, but with those teams looking to improve, if we 'stuck' with the current squad, we'd still just be a bit behind.