Squad assessment

[Arn]

Well, FSG listened to me and signed up a lot of new players, almost a whole new starting XI. A good looking one from Sweden and a young German.

I'm talking about our ladies team. Didn't cost £10m but they did strenghten the team a lot.

[Gibbo]

Well, FSG listened to me and signed up a lot of new players, almost a whole new starting XI. A good looking one from Sweden and a young German.

I'm talking about our ladies team. Didn't cost £10m but they did strenghten the team a lot.

Welcome back.

[Frenchie]

how long for?

[cream]

It's absolutely pointless comparing individual players. They have a team with a winning mentality, its what sets them apart from the rest of the league.

[elrichio86]

IMO Enrique and Downing are both mid table players simply due to their lack of consistency. Yes, both are capable of good performances occasionally, but its the consistency that makes the difference between mid-table and top four. Skrtel sometimes falls into this category as well - definitely has the talent, but I have serious doubts about his mental strength.

Similar for Allen and Henderson, however they are both still young enough to have time on their sides. Personally I think they'll both come good eventually, but it might take another season or two yet.

Agger, Lucas and Reina are all quality top-four players who are just going through poor form. I'm fully confident they'll come good again soon.

That leaves Johnson, Gerrard and Suarez that I think are top-four players both on talent and current form.

And then there's all our "promising youngsters". I think this may be where we are most guilty of over-estimating our players. Kelly, Robinson, Shelvey, Suso, Sterling etc have all shown glimpses of talent, but no more than young players at other big clubs. They may turn out good, even great, but the chances are much lower than we fans make out. The only thing I'm sure of is that we've had to rely on them much more that is ideal, but that is solely down to the lack of squad investment over the past few years rather than any deliberate choice.

I've deliberately not mentioned Rodgers' other signings - Assaidi, Borini, Sturridge - as its still too soon to judge them IMO. Personally I'll wait until they've played more.

So to me, I'd put our squad around 6th - 8th. There's no way we're "just short of the top four" as I've seen some say over the past few weeks. If we invest well over the summer AND those signings hit the ground running, then we might have a reasonable chance of 4th next season. I still think it'll take a couple of seasons of decent investment, some of our youth taking the step up AND a healthy dose of luck before we are "comfortably top four" though. I'd be looking for a LB, a CB, a DM and a wide forward all to go straight into the first team this summer - whether that'll be possible on our budget is a different matter...

[The_weatherman]

IMO Enrique and Downing are both mid table players simply due to their lack of consistency. Yes, both are capable of good performances occasionally, but its the consistency that makes the difference between mid-table and top four. Skrtel sometimes falls into this category as well - definitely has the talent, but I have serious doubts about his mental strength.

Similar for Allen and Henderson, however they are both still young enough to have time on their sides. Personally I think they'll both come good eventually, but it might take another season or two yet.

Agger, Lucas and Reina are all quality top-four players who are just going through poor form. I'm fully confident they'll come good again soon.

That leaves Johnson, Gerrard and Suarez that I think are top-four players both on talent and current form.

And then there's all our "promising youngsters". I think this may be where we are most guilty of over-estimating our players. Kelly, Robinson, Shelvey, Suso, Sterling etc have all shown glimpses of talent, but no more than young players at other big clubs. They may turn out good, even great, but the chances are much lower than we fans make out. The only thing I'm sure of is that we've had to rely on them much more that is ideal, but that is solely down to the lack of squad investment over the past few years rather than any deliberate choice.

I've deliberately not mentioned Rodgers' other signings - Assaidi, Borini, Sturridge - as its still too soon to judge them IMO. Personally I'll wait until they've played more.

So to me, I'd put our squad around 6th - 8th. There's no way we're "just short of the top four" as I've seen some say over the past few weeks. If we invest well over the summer AND those signings hit the ground running, then we might have a reasonable chance of 4th next season. I still think it'll take a couple of seasons of decent investment, some of our youth taking the step up AND a healthy dose of luck before we are "comfortably top four" though. I'd be looking for a LB, a CB, a DM and a wide forward all to go straight into the first team this summer - whether that'll be possible on our budget is a different matter...

To be honest, I think that wont even be enough, Spurs, City, United, Chelsea and Arsenal all have similar or better resources, both players and finances plus they all have better managers, there I've said it.

[Arn]

We are back to the Roy Evans time.

Xabi, Santon and Papadopoulos would be at the top of my realistic list.

We should make a "crazy" bid to sign Piazon. You never know, they may sell him to us, It is Chelsea after all.

[RichC]

Piazon isn't exactly what we need though is he? I can't imagine there will be big money signings for our attacking options especially when it's the defensive side of things that need to be improved upon and invested in.

[Arn]

Piazon isn't exactly what we need though is he? I can't imagine there will be big money signings for our attacking options especially when it's the defensive side of things that need to be improved upon and invested in.

You always need great talents. I rate him as one of the best young talents in the world.

Sell Shelvey and sign Piazon.

[RichC]

You also need to be realistic no way will he be coming to us.

Sturridge
Suarez
Coutinho
Sterling

Enough young forward talent plus we have a few others not a million miles from breaking through, we need to spend wisely on players this Summer that can come in and make an immediate difference

[RichC]

How is Mamadou Sakho getting on at PSG ?

[Arn]

How is Mamadou Sakho getting on at PSG ?

Third choice sometimes even fourth. Played a few games the last month because Silva is out injured.

[RichC]

Surprised at that, I suppose PSG do have deep pockets, might be worth looking at

[DannyMan2006]

Welcome back Arn!

On another note, there is question marks over virtually every player in our squad. They all have a few mistakes in them and not many can give at least a 6/7 out of 10 every week. Too many players in our squad go through stages where they are unplayable and then ****e. Enrique is case in point.

On the flip side, only Steven Gerrard could turn around and say he's off to win silverware elsewhere because he's a proven top class player. Suarez is obviously sort after, but he could hardly turn around and say he's above criticism. He's cost us a chance of winning the Europa League tbh.

[DannyMan2006]

Surprised at that, I suppose PSG do have deep pockets, might be worth looking at

Good player, but he is not able to perform at the top level on a regular basis. Ancelotti has never been one for bringing through youth. He'd rather play the experienced players who have the right mentality. Especially in key positions like CB.