Title challenge next season?

[ChrisDR1968]

It's certainly possible.

Going by past experience if we're in touch of first place (say within 5 or 6 points) come February we tend to get the bit between our teeth and go on a good run.

That's what happened in 2002, 2009 and 2014.

Chelsea and City are very good but as we showed in the League Cup semi-final we're not far off matching at least one of them in terms of quality and tactical nous. The home league game against City will be interesting to see how we measure up against them as well.

4 or at most 5 good additions in the summer and we could be right up there next season

[Rich]

rodgers did make some mention of us being another step in his managerial career a while back.

reading>swansea>Liverpool>city>barca.

That's an interesting point actually - what would he do if City genuinely offered him the manager's position. Would he turn it down?

[EwarWoo]

That's an interesting point actually - what would he do if City genuinely offered him the manager's position. Would he turn it down?

1 hand he'd be silly to. It would be instant fame and success.

Other hand he'd be silly not to, he's the man here, he can do what he wants. Its the perfect place for a man of his talents. he's not gunna get sacked for building something.

I reckon he'd stay.

[Kenneth]

Have you got your hands in a twist?

[EwarWoo]

[ame="http://youtu.be/im9XuJJXylw"]The Twist - Chubby Checker - YouTube[/ame]

[cream]

We just need our players to continue improving in the way they and we'll be a force next season.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

If we're targeting the likes of Lacazette and Pjanic then possibly.

If we're targeting Reid, Milner, Ings then I doubt it.

[wiw]

I honestly think we'd be challenging now if Sturridge hadn't been out for 5 months. I'd like to think we've had the summer of squad building and we will now just complement the existing players with 2 or 3 quality signings

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

I honestly think we'd be challenging now if Sturridge hadn't been out for 5 months. I'd like to think we've had the summer of squad building and we will now just complement the existing players with 2 or 3 quality signings

I feel like we've been at this stage so many times and failed to deliver, I hope next season we aren't stopped because players refuse to leave... I'm looking at you Fabio.

[wiw]

I feel like we've been at this stage so many times and failed to deliver, I hope next season we aren't stopped because players refuse to leave... I'm looking at you Fabio.

Does feel like that doesn't it! Time and time again but then somehow things transpire against us or our best player wants to leave.

[SB]

I feel like we've been at this stage so many times and failed to deliver, I hope next season we aren't stopped because players refuse to leave... I'm looking at you Fabio.

Groundhog Day innit

We've got to break the cycle at some point though. Hope it's soon.

[baitman]

it would seem that the fsg 'model' is to buy when they are better potential but not at their peak.

we will always have a throughput of upcoming young talent, like a production line. they might get nicked for gzillions but then the next drone can step into their spot.

seamless

[ChrisDR1968]

As we can now see (although few were saying so in November) the scouting and the decisions taken by the transfer committee last summer were pretty good overall.

Were they perfect? No

6 of the 9 signed though have made this a very good squad with tons of potential to improve even more next season.

A striker (in addition to Origi), a defensive midfielder, a goalkeeper, a centre back and possibly a midfield general would set us up perfectly for a charge next season with strength in depth throughout the squad

[Rigadon]

We're not that far off. Posted this in the 'Formation Tinkering' thread...

With our current squad - the three at the back system works well. (We have a better squad, than last year, but not a better team).

I hope the transfer committee are given c£100m to spend on two or three proper world class players in the summer. My preference - a DM, CB and possibly a GK (don't think we need another striker with Sturridge, Origi and Ings)*. We have a good, young squad - but with the introduction of two or three quality players - we could change the formation and challenge Chelsea and City (IMO we are not that far off). It would also help improve the likes of Sterling and Coutinho and encourage them to stay.

As for the quality DM, CB and GK - I haven't got a clue However, I'm sure there are quite a few Est members who could give an unbiased top 5 DM, CB, GK - in the world, Europe, Germany


*Don't think we should sell too many players in the summer - Balotelli, Lambert, Borini and Lovren - that's it.

[topscorer]

We're not that far off. Posted this in the 'Formation Tinkering' thread...

I'm not so sure to be honest. If the committee said just one player any price I would want a Class A striker. Ings isn't certain to join and Origi could be just as big a flop as all the other 'cheap' strikers we've tried in recent years.

Isn't Suarez the last striker we paid over 20m for? Carroll was same window but before him, and a flop lol?