Our Team for Next season and the Squad in general

[dww]

The thing that frightens me is that the likes of Manquillo, Moreno, Can, Lallana, Markovic and Lovren on paper, looked good for a 4-2-3-1 system, and that's what we initially tried, yet we couldn't get it to work with the squad at our disposal.

I'm fearful that we'll have a main formation in mind, buy players to suit it, and it won't work again, meaning another half a season wasted.

The thing is that you need the 1 to be a real threat. This season Sturridge was too often broken and we had no suitable alternatives.

I'd be tempted to go with two forwards rather than a DM + striker if limited to two transfers.

[dww]

Anyone thinking the diamond - it's a massive gamble.

Last season it was exactly as Rodgers said, good luck to any manager who wanted to push up on us and leave Suarez and Sturridge in space against their backline. This season it was a case of teams not being worried about the prospect of a combination of two from Rickie, Mario & Fabio. So they pressed us high and Stevie couldn't cope.

So if we are thinking of playing the diamond, then we need a specialist DM who can cope and a couple of strikers who will cause havoc. Sturridge & two others to cover for injury.

In short, Sturridge, Origi, Ings and the best DM & Striker we can find.

After that, I'd be looking at a solid RB, and if possible some free agents from the likes of Ayew, Konoplyanka, Milner etc.

I think there are multiple ways of playing the diamond but key is that the defence has to start up front whilst not giving up on having a goal threat. Sturridge and Balotelli in the Spurs game showed that it needn't be the same as it was with Suarez but teams do need to feel the fear of your attack for the strategy to work.

I don't think it has to be a specialist DM if we look for a player. A deep lying play maker could work too - however it is a specialist role too.

[DannyMan2006]

I think there are multiple ways of playing the diamond but key is that the defence has to start up front whilst not giving up on having a goal threat. Sturridge and Balotelli in the Spurs game showed that it needn't be the same as it was with Suarez but teams do need to feel the fear of your attack for the strategy to work.

I don't think it has to be a specialist DM if we look for a player. A deep lying play maker could work too - however it is a specialist role too.

I loved us playing the diamond. Great to watch. But without a player as good as Suarez & a player with the ability of Gerrard at playmaker I think it'd be difficult.

The biggest problem is that to play it you need two very good strikers. We have one. And even if he was to steer clear of injuries, with league & cup games you'd still need a minimum two others to keep the team fresh. And those two would also have to be of a good standard.

Could we get away with a strike force of Sturridge, Origi and a couple like Ings & Immobile / Benteke?

I guess if you were looking at a playmaker Pjanic would be the best bet. But tbh I'd rather put in a dedicated holding mid and go for some balance.

[cream]

I loved us playing the diamond. Great to watch. But without a player as good as Suarez & a player with the ability of Gerrard at playmaker I think it'd be difficult.

The biggest problem is that to play it you need two very good strikers. We have one. And even if he was to steer clear of injuries, with league & cup games you'd still need a minimum two others to keep the team fresh. And those two would also have to be of a good standard.

Could we get away with a strike force of Sturridge, Origi and a couple like Ings & Immobile / Benteke?

I guess if you were looking at a playmaker Pjanic would be the best bet. But tbh I'd rather put in a dedicated holding mid and go for some balance.

We need both, Nianggolan and Pjanic would be nice. Third midfielder could be Henderson/ Can/ Allen.

[dww]

I loved us playing the diamond. Great to watch. But without a player as good as Suarez & a player with the ability of Gerrard at playmaker I think it'd be difficult.

The biggest problem is that to play it you need two very good strikers. We have one. And even if he was to steer clear of injuries, with league & cup games you'd still need a minimum two others to keep the team fresh. And those two would also have to be of a good standard.

Could we get away with a strike force of Sturridge, Origi and a couple like Ings & Immobile / Benteke?

I guess if you were looking at a playmaker Pjanic would be the best bet. But tbh I'd rather put in a dedicated holding mid and go for some balance.

I think with a better defense than we had it could still be a viable option (at least in some games).

I think there is an argument to be made though that Rodgers two most successful tactics (diamond and this seasons 3-4-2-1) has been highly dependent on individuals and not suited a squad game (at least with the squad we have). If we want to build long term I do think we need a strategy which builds a set of players who can adapt to two or three main tactics depending on the situation.

[The_weatherman]

I loved us playing the diamond. Great to watch. But without a player as good as Suarez & a player with the ability of Gerrard at playmaker I think it'd be difficult.

The biggest problem is that to play it you need two very good strikers. We have one. And even if he was to steer clear of injuries, with league & cup games you'd still need a minimum two others to keep the team fresh. And those two would also have to be of a good standard.

Could we get away with a strike force of Sturridge, Origi and a couple like Ings & Immobile / Benteke?

I guess if you were looking at a playmaker Pjanic would be the best bet. But tbh I'd rather put in a dedicated holding mid and go for some balance.

Hope we dont find out, that's the sort of thinking that got us into this mess:

"Could we get away with a strikeforce of Sturridge, Balotelli, Borini and Lambert, we just have to hope Daniel stays injury free."

[Nicey]

Whilst last season felt like putting the finishing touches on our squad ... 1 short year later it now feels like Major Surgery

Outward OR Likely Outward bound

1. Steven Gerrard - European Player of the Year Champions Lg winner etc etc
2. Glen Johnson - Premiership winner - FA Cup etc etc
3. Jose Enrique - Ehhh we've won **** all since he has arrived
4. Kolo Toure - Multiple Premierships Fa Cup ect etc
5. Martin Skirtel - Potentially could fancy a move
6. Lucas - Could easily fancy a move

This off season will be a real changing of the guard. Its crystal Clear we need at least 3 First team Players this summer 3 players of real first team quality and with experience

[BigChief]

Whilst last season felt like putting the finishing touches on our squad ... 1 short year later it now feels like Major Surgery

Outward OR Likely Outward bound

1. Steven Gerrard - European Player of the Year Champions Lg winner etc etc
2. Glen Johnson - Premiership winner - FA Cup etc etc
3. Jose Enrique - Ehhh we've won **** all since he has arrived
4. Kolo Toure - Multiple Premierships Fa Cup ect etc
5. Martin Skirtel - Potentially could fancy a move
6. Lucas - Could easily fancy a move

This off season will be a real changing of the guard. Its crystal Clear we need at least 3 First team Players this summer 3 players of real first team quality and with experience

We could do with 1 - 4 leaving asap to get some whack back on wages. No noticeable loss on our squad either (with complete due respect to Stevie of course).

Skrtel is our first pick CB as he's not injury prone like Sakho. Why would he go absolutely anywhere else? Lucas could move, or he could stay. Wherever he ends up he'll be in the medical room of that establishment.

[Nicey]

We could do with 1 - 4 leaving asap to get some whack back on wages. No noticeable loss on our squad either (with complete due respect to Stevie of course).

Skrtel is our first pick CB as he's not injury prone like Sakho. Why would he go absolutely anywhere else? Lucas could move, or he could stay. Wherever he ends up he'll be in the medical room of that establishment.

Lol yeah fair enough ... but thats a lot of experience walking out the door ... could be a good thing ... I dont think as you say we wont miss much of it on the pitch .. still a lot of experience out the door

[Phoenix07]

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is pencilling in Andre Wisdom as his right back next season despite the player falling out of favour under Tony Pulis at West Brom.

Rodgers plans to give 22-year-old Wisdom a chance at Anfield when his loan spell at The Hawthorns ends this summer with John Glenson set to leave the club, Jon Flanagan hit by a long-term knee injury and young Spaniard Javi Manquillo failing to impress.

With makeshift right back Emre Can expected to revert back to midfield to replace the departing Steven Gerrard, Rodgers wants to give Wisdom an opportunity to become a regular before having to plunge into the transfer market.

Wisdom, who can also play centre back, was highly regarded at the Liverpool academy and played 23 first-team games for the first-team before being sent on loan to Derby County and then West Brom to gain experience.

But the arrival of Pulis and a more 'back to basics' approach from Albion saw Wisdom fall out favour. After being substituted during a 3-0 home defeat against Spurs in January, he didn't appear for almost three months, with Craig Dawson taking his place.

Even so, Rodgers has faith in the former England Under 21 international and with transfer funds needed elsewhere, is ready to give him a long-awaited run in the Liverpool team.

A year ago, he was only the fourth-choice right-back at the club behind Flanagan, Glenson and Martin Kelly, who was subsequently sold to Crystal Palace while Manquillo arrived on loan from Atletico Madrid.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...-midfield.html

[Gray]

Just bought my lad a Coutinho shirt so he'll definitely be sold

[tanner]

If we want to be considered a top side, we need to invest heavily. I really don't think we have a single player that could be considered one of the top 50 players in Europe at the moment. The closest we've got would have to be Sterling and Coutihno, and Sterling may be off this Summer (after having a pretty average season).

Its not just about improving the team either. This Summer more than most we need to send a message out that we're still able to share a table with the big boys, even if it is the chair squeezed in against a radiator at the end of the table which nobody else wants.

[danperkins]

Regarding Wisdom, not so sure he's the quality we need...although he is still young and could be a squad players. Really has been out of favour with Pulis at West Brom

[Alex]

He is a squaddie nothing else. Every time I have seen him I have never thought he lived up to the sort of standard expected.

Im all for having my opinion altered though.

[danperkins]

He is a squaddie nothing else. Every time I have seen him I have never thought he lived up to the sort of standard expected.

Im all for having my opinion altered though.