Our Team for Next season and the Squad in general

[Nicey]

Currently I would say our best possible team would be this


-------------------------Migolet-------------------------
---------------Can------Skirtel------Sako--------------
Ibe-----------------------------------------------Moreno
-----------------------------------------------------------
----------Henderson-------------------Lucas----------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------Coutinho -------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------Sterling---------------Surridge------------

Subs: Jones /Markovic/Wisdom/Lallana /Lovern/Origi/Allen


Assuming the following are leaving

Johnson, Balotelli, Borini, Aspas, Gerrard, Enrique, Toure, Lambert. That’s 600,000 a week in wages out of the club.

I would suggest we don’t need wholesale changes but rather 3 first team as close to world class signings as we can.

Midfield Shortlist: Imbula ,M Pjanic , Ki Sung-yueng

Forwards Shortlist: Jackson Martinez , Lacazette, K DeBruyne

Defender Shortlist: T Jantschke, Y Rakitskiy, Inigo Martinez

I think priority has to be firstly a worldclass striker, Last season I felt we needed to sign Costa or Jackson Martinez. If we could just sign one player I would say we should go all out to sign Jackson Martinez, he for me is at the absolute top of the list of players. He fits the profile perfectly, potentially worldclass .. needs to take the final step onto a bigger stage and can play right across the front three. He is one of the few top top strikers I feel genieunly is available this summer and we need him.

Secondly we need to replace Gerrard, if we were to stick to the same system we are playing now I would have G Imbula right at the top of the list, strong, emotional, can run a game from the DM position, tracked by Chelsea for a couple of seasons now.

Third I think we need to sign another defender, unless Lovern suddenly develops positional sense or we play two holding mid fielders and a back four, even though its just one season, its not looking great for him. There are handful of really exciting young CB’s around Europe, top of my list with be Tony Jantschke, if we could get him. A back three of Emre Can, Tony Jantschke, M Sakho would be be one of the most exciting defenses in europe in my opinion. It could also free up Can to play in MF if Skirtel plays .


I would reduce the size of the squad, sign three seat up and take notice first team quality players and continue to develop young players at the club, plus and upgrade on our back up keeper.

My 2015 – 2016 First team would be

-------------------------Migolet-------------------------
------------E Can----T Jantschke----M Sako--------------
J Ibe-----------------------------------------------A Moreno
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------J Henderson-------------------G Imbula----------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------P Coutinho -------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------J Martinez---------------D Surridge-----------

New Back Up Keeper, Lallana, Markovic, Wisdom, Lovern, Origi, Lucas


I’d cash in on Sterling this summer whilst his stock is high, this recent episode has really not sit well with me. I would also make a point of not dealing with Aidy Ward in the future.

What would your team and bench look like next campaign ?

[Paddy]

Think we should go all out for Pjanic if available.

[Frenchie]

12 a side eh...new format..

I don't think FSG will keep Brendon although I hope they do. They still don't get it when it comes to football. They don't seem to believe that older, proven players are essential to balancing a squad.

They only seem to want to spend on players that can become world class then sell them.

Seems like the players themselves have figured this out and want early paydays.

Just don't like this generation of social media tarts and money grabbers.

By the way Can should be the next captain not Henderson.

Oh and Sterling is not the most intellectual player either..yeah definitely...

[Exiled_red]

I've just been looking at the squad with similar thoughts in mind.

Given their decisions are already made or the lack of involvement this year I don't see the following players either being here or being involved next year (unless things change significantly):
Johnson, Enrique, Toure, Lovren, Gerrard, Lambert, Borini, Balotelli, Alberto, Aspas or Coates.

Brad Jones and Flanagan are out of contract and I don't believe that anything has been sorted yet, I'd like Flanagan to stay, Jones as a backup keeper is average.

That leaves us with:
GK: Mignolet and Jones(?)
Defenders: Sakho, Moreno, Manquillo, Skrtel, Flanagan(?), Ilori and Wisdom
Midfielders: Coutinho, Henderson, Lallana, Lucas, Can, Allen, Sterling, Ibe, Markovic, Teixeira
Forwards: Sturridge and Origi

Based on that and assuming none of those leave, we are weak in defence and up front. As it stands above we would have to go with a back 3 the same as this season or hope that Ilori or Wisdom can step in and allow Can to push up into his prefered midfield position. A back 4 doesn't seem that good an option at the moment as it is probably 2 from Moreno, Flanagan and Manquillo.

Midfield looks decent one of Lucas and Can could play the deep lying role, Lallana or Coutinho the attacking roles with Teixeira as a backup, Henderson and Allen in inbetween roles, with the pace of Sterling, Ibe and Markovic as either wingers, wide forwards or as alternative for the attacking mid role.

Up front again we are very reliant on Sturridge and are hoping Origi comes good.

We need to use the rest of this season to figure out what system we want to play nd buy the players to suit it because I don't see the 3-4-3 being the long term solution but given our lack of full backs and soft centre as displayed with a back four earlier in the season it looks the most sensible option unless we are buying big in that area.

Whatever happens we need to buy someone who can put the ball in the net, Sturridge is good but he can't do it all on his own and he is quite injury prone and without his goals we are in trouble.

Edit: just reding through that list of players to be moved on, aside from Gerrard and Johnson, the rest have done bugger all in an LFC shirt and by my quick calculation cost ~£70m

[Nicey]

12 a side eh...new format..

I don't think FSG will keep Brendon although I hope they do. They still don't get it when it comes to football. They don't seem to believe that older, proven players are essential to balancing a squad.

They only seem to want to spend on players that can become world class then sell them.

Seems like the players themselves have figured this out and want early paydays.

Just don't like this generation of social media tarts and money grabbers.

By the way Can should be the next captain not Henderson.

Oh and Sterling is not the most intellectual player either..yeah definitely...

**** .... wait time for some revisionism

[Nicey]

12 a side eh...new format..

I don't think FSG will keep Brendon although I hope they do. They still don't get it when it comes to football. They don't seem to believe that older, proven players are essential to balancing a squad.

They only seem to want to spend on players that can become world class then sell them.

Seems like the players themselves have figured this out and want early paydays.

Just don't like this generation of social media tarts and money grabbers.

By the way Can should be the next captain not Henderson.

Oh and Sterling is not the most intellectual player either..yeah definitely...

[Nicey]

I've just been looking at the squad with similar thoughts in mind.

Given their decisions are already made or the lack of involvement this year I don't see the following players either being here or being involved next year (unless things change significantly):
Johnson, Enrique, Toure, Lovren, Gerrard, Lambert, Borini, Balotelli, Alberto, Aspas or Coates.

Brad Jones and Flanagan are out of contract and I don't believe that anything has been sorted yet, I'd like Flanagan to stay, Jones as a backup keeper is average.

That leaves us with:
GK: Mignolet and Jones(?)
Defenders: Sakho, Moreno, Manquillo, Skrtel, Flanagan(?), Ilori and Wisdom
Midfielders: Coutinho, Henderson, Lallana, Lucas, Can, Allen, Sterling, Ibe, Markovic, Teixeira
Forwards: Sturridge and Origi

Based on that and assuming none of those leave, we are weak in defence and up front. As it stands above we would have to go with a back 3 the same as this season or hope that Ilori or Wisdom can step in and allow Can to push up into his prefered midfield position. A back 4 doesn't seem that good an option at the moment as it is probably 2 from Moreno, Flanagan and Manquillo.

Midfield looks decent one of Lucas and Can could play the deep lying role, Lallana or Coutinho the attacking roles with Teixeira as a backup, Henderson and Allen in inbetween roles, with the pace of Sterling, Ibe and Markovic as either wingers, wide forwards or as alternative for the attacking mid role.

Up front again we are very reliant on Sturridge and are hoping Origi comes good.

We need to use the rest of this season to figure out what system we want to play nd buy the players to suit it because I don't see the 3-4-3 being the long term solution but given our lack of full backs and soft centre as displayed with a back four earlier in the season it looks the most sensible option unless we are buying big in that area.

Whatever happens we need to buy someone who can put the ball in the net, Sturridge is good but he can't do it all on his own and he is quite injury prone and without his goals we are in trouble.

Edit: just reding through that list of players to be moved on, aside from Gerrard and Johnson, the rest have done bugger all in an LFC shirt and by my quick calculation cost ~£70m

I think we need to sign a keeper who can push Mignolet, although I am very happy with him now in this system, he has absolutely no competition in Brad Jones as great as he is, wonderful 3rd choice but no back up for a top club.

[PTP]

Love a good squad thread

For me we have a load of players that don't offer us anything. However I don't think we can do a complete overhaul, just don't think we'd have the money too but we are clearly a few good players short....

Granted I know some players play a number of roles, and it depends on what system we go for next season, but the sake of this post I've just assumed one position for some players.

Ideal scenario, you want two good players per position and a few squad players to make up numbers.

Gk
Mignolet seems to have really turned it round, but jones isn't anywhere near good enough so we need another keeper

Rb/rwb
Flanagan should be good enough but he's been out for so long you don't know what he's going to be like. Manquillo will be sent back and I'm guessing Johnson will be allowed to leave. So I'd say we defo need a very good right back

Lb
Despite some of the criticism I like Moreno and still hope he can sort it out. God knows what's happened with Enrique, we need a senior player to come in and take pressure of Moreno, he's struggled and he's thrown back in as we just don't have no other options....so I'd defo consider a left back.

Cb
Sakho and skrtel I like, I can't see us selling lovren after spending so much, I'd imagine toure is done and Ilori and Coates will surely be moved on. I'd say we need a to class centre half as a main signing. Can gives us cover but I'd expect to see him move into midfield

Cm
Allen is poor, Lucas seems to be struggling with fitness. Henderson is our engine, hopeful can moves into midfield, gerrard going.....I'd say we defo need at least one top class centre mid, potentially two.

Am/wingers
Personally I'd hope we sort the sterling situation out and he stays. Him, ibe, coutinho, Lallana and Markovic keeps coverd here. Though Markovic really needs to step up

Strikers
Sturridge, we know is good but has serious injury doubts. Ballotelli/borini/lambert offer **** all and also isn't aspas still on the books! ****ing dire and dreadful that we have four "first teamers" on the books that we've paid money and wages too who are just completely ****. Origi coming in, but we defo need another top class striker.

So to sum it up, I'd like to see something like this

Mignolet/new keeper/young keeper

Flanagan/new full back/Moreno/Enrique or potentially another left back....possible add wisdom to give us extra cover

Skrtel/sakho/top cb/lovren wih potential of can to give us extra cover

Henderson/can/top class cente mid/Lucas and if we can another good centre mid

Coutinho/Sterling/ibe/Lallana/Markovic

Sturridge/new top striker/origi


So approx a 25 man squad, signing
Gk
FB
Cb
Cm x2
CF

6 players, all need to be very good signings we have to get right. That's providing we don't lose anyone major.

Anyone not on the list (some youth excluded) can **** off

Jones
Toure
Johnson
Enrique
Allen
Lambert
Ballotelli
Borini
Coates
Luis Alberto
Ilori
Aspas

12 senior players who give us **** all can be shipped.

[vlahka]

I'd like some players that arent ****.

[Red_Polo]

I think in an ideal world we need to look to get three players to come straight in as first choice; one in each of CB, CM and the front line. Aim to give us a more reliable, robust spine and add some much needed goalscoring ability to the attack. Wouldn't sweat the fullbacks or goalkeeper for instance, there is very definite room for improvement there but they are peripheral issues for me.

Obviously that's not going to be easy recruitment given need to sell some of the parps we've brought in, likely lack of CL football to offer and limited funds. If it can't be done we need to ensure we do our best to maximise on quality over numbers and avoid falling into the trap of thinking something will be better than nothing. We have no more room for accommodating potential, or squad players.

[Exiled_red]

...

Rb/rwb
Flanagan should be good enough but he's been out for so long you don't know what he's going to be like. Manquillo will be sent back and I'm guessing Johnson will be allowed to leave. So I'd say we defo need a very good right back

....

Isn't Manquillo here on a 2 year loan deal with an option to buy at the end of next season?

I would assume we would keep him here next year if there is any chance of us reverting to a back four.

[captainfog]

There is no way we're going to be playing 3 at the back next season. Primarily because Rodgers won't be here but even if he is he won't stick with it. This was an emergency move to try and stop us conceding by packing our defence with bodies and come next season he will revert to his preferred 433 (or variations of it).

---------New Keeper---------
New RB Skittles Sakho Moreno
-----Hendo Can New MF
--------Ibe--Coutinho
--------New Striker*


*Sturridge will probably be injured.

[RichC]

Yup I think we'll be back to a back 4 next season. How we play up top is open to discussion though perhaps the diamond midfield with 2 up top or a 4-3-3.

[Nicey]

I think in an ideal world we need to look to get three players to come straight in as first choice; one in each of CB, CM and the front line. Aim to give us a more reliable, robust spine and add some much needed goalscoring ability to the attack. Wouldn't sweat the fullbacks or goalkeeper for instance, there is very definite room for improvement there but they are peripheral issues for me.

Obviously that's not going to be easy recruitment given need to sell some of the parps we've brought in, likely lack of CL football to offer and limited funds. If it can't be done we need to ensure we do our best to maximise on quality over numbers and avoid falling into the trap of thinking something will be better than nothing. We have no more room for accommodating potential, or squad players.

Yep last summer was the Squad overhaul .. now we need to sign first team quality and I would suggest at least a couple of signings to tell the rest of the football world .. We are Liverpool Football Club ... we are still here and we will be competing ... if we do miss out on CL football I hope we swerve the Europa all together and have another season of chasing the main prize

[Exiled_red]

Presumably our first choice centre backs in a back four would be Sktrel and Sakho, but given the fact that we haven't trusted them his season in a back four, would we trust them next season or do you think we will be looking to bring someone in ahead of one of them?