Our Team for Next season and the Squad in general

[ChrisDR1968]

Based on your figures we have a net spend of £27.5-30.5m, when Benteke comes in that is probably most of our transfers in that we imagined done. There will be a few more departures, I imagine it is unlikely that all of Borini, Balotelli, Lambert, Enrique will be here when the window 'slams shut' But hopefully we will have some cash floating around to bring in anyone that might suddenly become available or for the January window if needed.

Fingers crossed the sale of these players can generate about £20 million so that would be a net spend of around £10 million.

All in all not a bad transfer window at all

[Charly]

We desperately need a holding midfielder.

Over the past ten years or so, we have always looked dodgy without one. Hamman and Mascherano both transformed the teams they were in. In fact you could look at the CL win against Milan as a microcosm of that argument.

I wont be happy until we have one, as the team is defensive brittle at the best of times. Should we sign one, and if Benteke bags 20+ goals, there is no reason a top four place is out of the question.

[wongers]

think were stuck with milner for the dm

[Phoenix07]

The German U21 coach said "I've only just been in Liverpool. There it has been confirmed to us that Emre is going to take over from Gerrard in midfield."

If Can starts in a diamond, that'd leave Henderson and Milner as our CM's. Again, that can apply in a 4-3-3. Coutinho and Firmino can play as the AM and Firmino can play as one of the two strikers in the diamond.

What happens when Sturridge returns? In a 4-3-3 with Coutinho and Firmino out wide, and Benteke up front, we'd have Sturridge, Origi and Ings. In a diamond, it still leaves those 3 options on the bench, which is quite a lot.

[Saveloy]

He can take over from last season's Gerrard without being a regular starter.

[red g]

Rodgers has been here 3 years. I do like the bloke but he has now spent 300m in 3 years......For 300million I would expect better starting 11 than this to be honest

Mig
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Milner Henderson
Lallana Coutinho Firmino
Benteke

Can see why he bought Benteke though, Short term fix, Sure he will bang a few goals in and after last season if he doesnt get off to a great start he will be out the door sharpish.

[frank the tank]

I wouldnt be too hung up on formations and where will certain players fit in to be honest.....it is great that we have options....so when sturridge is injured, then we have benteke origi and firmino that can supply goals. When coutinho needs a rest then firmino can possibly drop back in to a midfield position.....or lallana can come into the team. To be honest that competition for places will make players like lallana sink or swim......and when they get a chance then they need to play well to stay in the team. On paper that is exactly what we want..... sturridge might come back fit and still have to wait his turn before he gets a chance in the team...

My fear is that the manager will either keep tweaking with the players and/or tactics and we will not build up enough consistency...

Also, there is no doubt that defensively is where we dont have the same strenght in depth..... we have players that have potential to be great but they dont currently have the same competition for places which could affect us over the season. Someone like moreno can have a month of ****e and still if we want to play 4 at the back then we are screwed.

If sakho can get consistency and lovren can find his brain, then defensively we could be sound as well.

People will rightfully point to the fact that a mascherano in the moddle would be welcome but doing that will restrict emre cans game time....also in the prem league, teams have proved before that if you have firepower then you can compete as you will most likely beat 70% of the teams easily....

[Charly]

think were stuck with milner for the dm

Forgive me if I am wrong, but Milner has never played that position, and is more of a winger/ attacking midfielder.

Playing Gerrard in that role last season was a disaster, and Allen is far too lightweight. Henderson cant play there either. Can may be bale to play there, but younger players lack the patience and discipline that a "no-frills" position like that entails.

Lucas has shown he can play there, but the fact is he gets injured a lot, and last time it took the best part of a season for him to find his form, and its not a position were you can let other players carry you, and sloppiness on the ball is penalised with a goal.

[baitman]

the main areas of concern are probably defensive midfielder, left back and centre back cover.

if we were able to get gary medel in as our yard dog that would be sweet.

gomez could cover either side as fullback and centre back. i know he is young but he is a very confident lad who has plenty of ability.

[Corndog]

Not sure the team necessarily needs a DM that badly. If you play a three of Can Henderson and Milner you get three hardworking versatile central players who can Each defend well enough individually. The communication just needs to be right. I.e make sure one or two hold their runs if the other has made one.

I think I have seen Milner play a sort of deep lying mid role for city once as a substitute to close a game out but forgot which one.

I don't want to see emre can pigeon holed as doing the defensive side of things because he has the potential to be the beat goal scoring mid out of the three, great skill and a very powerful shot.

Now if there's a game that might need a more cautious approach or we want to try and close out a game, Lucas is a good enough option.

I expect can Henderson and Milner to be the starting 3 and Lucas to come in when needed.

[danperkins]

IMO we need an out and out DM. Can, Hendo, Allen & Milner are not suited to the DM role, not only that but it takes away from their natural progressive game. I think we seen enough last season of round pegs in square holes... it doesn't work & really ****s with the balance of the side. If Lucas can stay fit, which would be a miracle... or we can get maybe Medel IMO a specialist DM in our side is vital.

[Fredo]

Rodgers doesn't play with one.

[DannyMan2006]

In the warm up game we tended to use three in midfield with Allen & Lucas as "holding" players. Can could play in that position, equally he could take one of the wider roles, he will get games.

I think once Benteke is signed we will have the personnel to play the diamond, which we played 1st half, but we also have the personnel to play a 433 or 4231.

Today's game is one where supposedly players starting get more game time, I'm guessing the formation we see in that first half will be a good indicator as to what to expect.

[-V-]

I don't think there would be any point in signing a new DM unless we decided to sell Allen or Lucas.

We already have plenty of options.

Midfielders-
Can
Henderson
Allen
Lucas
Milner

Flair players/playmakers
Coutinho
Firminho
Lallana
Ibe
Markovic

Forwards
Sturridge
Benteke
Origi
Balotelli
Ings

Im much more positive now than I was a month ago, we are looking competitive again

[Exiled_red]

We have a decent squad on paper, it's just a case of how well it comes together on the pitch. For me from now it's about getting a system that gets the best out of them all.