Squad assessment

[calvoboy]

I think you're over rating some of our players there

You said -

But then you put Enrique and Downing in that group? Not for me, Enrique has been massively up and down with us so far and nothing yet indicates he'd get in a top 4 team. Downing "doing a job" does not fit with your definition of good enough imo.

I'd also consider challenging Reina, given his form in the last few seasons, and possibly even Agger too. I really like Agger and up to this season I'd be arguing with myself here, but I'm not sure he's kicked on from being a young CB of immense talent but dodgy fitness to being a top class defender. Positionally he has made quite a few mistakes this year, and to an extent his ability on the ball might obscure his overall defensive ability. Also, Lucas has not yet recovered his form completely since his injuries, hopefully he will after getting a full pre-season under his belt.

Honestly, on the basis of this season alone, the only players we have who are genuine top 4 quality are Johnson, Gerrard and Suarez. Sturridge will prove to be too I believe, but hasn't been with us long enough really to be sure. Lucas, Agger and Reina all can be or have been but right now I'm not sure are. On top of that, some of our younger players may develop to be and some of our others may improve to show me to be wrong, but as things stand now (and have done for several seasons), I don't think I'm far off here.

Yeah, I was thinking of a 22 man squad, not the first 11. Though I probably confused things by saying we are two short of a first eleven, based on the fact that I only thought we had nine definites for the 22. I still think Enrique and Downing could do us a job in a top four squad, though I'd be looking for better in both positions (I hope we've already got better in Coutinho for Downing). I suppose it doesn't really work as a way of judging a squad though, as whilst Agger and Reina are certs for a 22, they wouldn't hang around long if they weren't in the 11.

I think the general point I was trying to make is that whilst we have a lot of potential in our side, in terms of players you can rely upon we are a good few windows away from a squad that you would be confident of making the top four. With a lot of luck with injuries, and one or two inspired signings in the summer, we could get there next year. But realistically unless a lot of the 'possibles' step up to the mark, we've got a couple of seasons of rebuilding to go before we can see the top four as something to expect rather than hope for.

[Darkon]

Assessing our squad is hard considering we are in transition still, and have had a lot of changes in the squad over the last few seasons. But I would say in terms of hitting top-4:

GK's
Starter: Reina good enough if he picks up form soon.

Backup: Needed although Jones have played decent enough this season.

Defenders

Starters: Johnson and Agger are good enough to be starters

Rotation: Enrique, Skrtel, Wisdom, Kelly, maybe Coates but doubt it, Robinson could make it.

Needed: 2 CB's and a new starting LB

Midfielders

Starters: Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson have the necessary level IMO.

Rotation: Allen, Shelvey

Needed: Backup for Lucas

Attacking players

Starters: Suarez, Sturridge, Coutinho (still early days, but he will get there IMO)

Rotation: Sterling, Downing, Borini

Needed: An extra attacking option but not much.

That would make a squad of 24, which shouldn't be much bigger than that. Plus extra youngsters as squad players that could still make it.

I don't think we are that far off, we just need some stability and some more time for the players to get used to the system and eachother.

To get to a league title challenge quite a lot more is needed IMO, but we are not that far off top-4 with the current squad if it get's build upon - defence especially!

[gentingfrmhell]

IMO our midfield needs new talent. Two new quality players in midfield, DM and CM. Gerrard is getting old, henderson is improving but still not good enough to challenge for top four yet and they should play bit part roles.

[DKdan]

I don't think we need a lot in the summer:

Our strongest lineup IMO (if Coutinho performs as we hope):


--------------Reina--------------
Johnson - Skrtel - Agger - Enrique
-------------Lucas---------------
-----Gerrard - Henderson---------
---Suarez - Sturridge - Coutinho-

The starting 11 is very good IMO. It's the backups, and the players who should push the preferred 11 that worries me:

Backups
GK: Jones, Gulacsi
RB: Kelly, Wisdom, Flanagan
CB: Kelly, Wisdom,(Coates and Carra gone)
LB: Downing, Robinson
DM: Allen, Coady
CM: Shelvey, Allen, Suso
WF: Assaidi, Downing, Sterling, Borini, Suso
CF: Borini, Yesil

Much needed:
CB: One with equal or better ability than Agger/Skrtel.
LB: One with equal or better ability than Enrique
DM: Without Lucas we have no proper DM at all. A physical beast who can play a bit would be ace.
CF: If one of Suarez or Sturridge doesn't play our goal threat is very limited. One with equal or better ability than Sturridge.

Would be a bonus:
GK: to push and compete with Reina. Could be a classy 35 year old, who would be content with the bench.
CM: Would be nice to be less dependent on Gerrard than we currently are.
WF: A wide forward who could cause Suarez-style havoc would be tremendous.

If we sign a quality CB, LB, DM and CF in the summer we will have spent a fortune... again! But the squad would be terrific.

I doubt that we can do all this in one summer, but it would be great.

On the plus side we dont have THAT much deadwood to shift: Coates, Carras wages gone, Carroll hopefully freeing wages and a fee, Wilson probably stays in Scotland, so we could have funds for a great summer spend.

[Fosterbloke]

What we need is a distraction free pre-season and some maturity/concentration.

[cream]

IMO our midfield needs new talent. Two new quality players in midfield, DM and CM. Gerrard is getting old, henderson is improving but still not good enough to challenge for top four yet and they should play bit part roles.

Agree. I would like to see;

Eriksen - Gerrard - Lucas

supported by;

Henderson - Allen - New DM

[Lee]

We'll have Carroll and Spearing returning in the summer.

[RedReet]

And Pacheco.

(I think)

[Lee]

And Pacheco.

(I think)

Ooh forgot about him.

How's he doing in Spain?

[RedReet]

Team won their first two matches and he scored in the first. haven't heard anything since.

[Lee]

Team won their first two matches and he scored in the first. haven't heard anything since.

Really hope the lad does well there. He'll be off permanently in the summer won't he.

[RedReet]

Aye, he'll definitely be off somewhere.

[Fosterbloke]

And Ngoooooooooo

[RedReet]

Of course.

[PTP]

nothing i enjoy more than writing down our squad in a list

i agree with pretty much what DkDan has posted.

Providing Coutinho steps up and is as good as we all hope is - then starting XI for me woud be

----------------------reina--------------------

johnson--------skrtel----agger----------enrique

------------------lucas----New cm------------
---------------------Gerrard----------------

coutinho------------suarez----------------sturridge


personally i feel strongly that we are desperate for CM beast in the starting XI

then fighting to start/providing cover/rotation XI

---------------------------New GK-----------------------

kelly-------------New cb---------Wisdom---------New LB

--------------------allen------Henderson-------------
-------------------------shelvey------------------

downing----------------borini-----------------sterling


that gives us a 22 man squad - we then have jones/gulasci, flanagan, robinson, suso plus the likes of coady etc to 'fill' out the squad - maybe look at sending a couple of them on loan with call back options if desperate.

Anyone not mentioned can go - spearing, wilson, coates, carroll, pacheco plus carra retiring.

for me - priorities are
New CB
New CM
New LB

these three players need to be good, they need to be starting or pushing to start which would hopefully raise the levels of the players currently in the starting XI

if we can get those three in, players of the right level of quality/experience and keep the rest of the squad, then i would be happy. It's not too much to ask.

then, moving on - if we can get a better back up than Jones, we should do it.

Ideal world, we have a decent bit of cash left over and we can sell and improve upon Borini - getting in a better goal threat

So all in all, we need 5 players - 3 of which are vital imo