Our Team for Next season and the Squad in general

[RichC]

Tough one in a 3 Skrtel has been superb in a two I worry about him but a big part of the problem for the defence early on in the season was the cover from midfield we really need someone that can deal with that, Lucas sitting works for me but we could do with someone to play next to Henderson (I'm not sure Can is quite ready) and is capable of covering for Lucas as and when he breaks down.

Coutinho in the hole with a top two would be my choice of formation

[captainfog]

I'd replace Skittles, but he is simply bullet proof. It doesn't matter what manager we have, how many **** ups he makes..... he always plays.

[RichC]

I think we'll see Rodgers or whomever is in charge if he goes in the Summer be pretty ruthless this Summer.

[cream]

Ideally I would like to see

-----------------------Mig----------------------

Clyne-------Skrtel---------Sakho-----Moreno

--------------------Nianggolan------------------

-----------Can------------------Coutinho------

---------------------Pjanic--------------------

----------Sturridge--------Lacazette---------

In addition we'd need another backup GK, CB, LB, ST

[Exiled_red]

I think recently we have been fairly obsessed with bringing in young players, I think our team at time lacks experience below is list of players with their current age, the ones in bold probably have question marks over their future and there is a good chance they won't be here next year (or if they are probably won't be playing much):
Gerrard - 34
Toure - 34
Lambert - 33
Jones - 33
Johnson - 30
Skrtel - 30
Enrique - 29
Lucas - 28
Mignolet - 27
Aspas - 27
Lallana - 26
Sakho - 25
Sturridge - 25
Allen - 25
Lovren - 25
Henderson - 24
Borini - 24
Balotelli - 24
Coutinho - 22
Moreno - 22
Flanagan - 22
Alberto - 22
Ilori - 22
Teixeira - 22
Wisdom - 21
Can - 21
Markovic - 21
Manquillo - 20
Sterling - 20
Ibe - 19

If you look at that list the majority of our older/more experienced players probably won't be here next year. Skrtel, Lucas, Mignolet and Lallana are the only players over 26 likely to be in the first team (Brad Jones will probably still be here on the bench). While I would consider Lucas and Skrtel experienced given what they they have done while they have been here almost everyone else in the squad is fairly inexperienced despite their age. I think we could benefit from bringing in some old heads in the summer.

[Nicey]

I think recently we have been fairly obsessed with bringing in young players, I think our team at time lacks experience below is list of players with their current age, the ones in bold probably have question marks over their future and there is a good chance they won't be here next year (or if they are probably won't be playing much):
Gerrard - 34
Toure - 34
Lambert - 33
Jones - 33
Johnson - 30
Skrtel - 30
Enrique - 29
Lucas - 28
Mignolet - 27
Aspas - 27
Lallana - 26
Sakho - 25
Sturridge - 25
Allen - 25
Lovren - 25
Henderson - 24
Borini - 24
Balotelli - 24
Coutinho - 22
Moreno - 22
Flanagan - 22
Alberto - 22
Ilori - 22
Teixeira - 22
Wisdom - 21
Can - 21
Markovic - 21
Manquillo - 20
Sterling - 20
Ibe - 19

If you look at that list the majority of our older/more experienced players probably won't be here next year. Skrtel, Lucas, Mignolet and Lallana are the only players over 26 likely to be in the first team (Brad Jones will probably still be here on the bench). While I would consider Lucas and Skrtel experienced given what they they have done while they have been here almost everyone else in the squad is fairly inexperienced despite their age. I think we could benefit from bringing in some old heads in the summer.

We need one truly worldlclass signing who will bring something special to the squad

[RichC]

Yup, I think we do and not just for footballing reasons.

[captainfog]

Ideally I would like to see

-----------------------Mig----------------------

Clyne-------Skrtel---------Sakho-----Moreno

--------------------Nianggolan------------------

-----------Can------------------Coutinho------

---------------------Pjanic--------------------

----------Sturridge--------Lacazette---------

In addition we'd need another backup GK, CB, LB, ST

Remember when Kenneth said to think of the players you most wanted to sign and we're not going to sign them.... well I think he had lineups like that in mind.

[Red_Polo]

Remember when Kenneth said to think of the players you most wanted to sign and we're not going to sign them.... well I think he had lineups like that in mind.

Although I agree with Kenneth to an extent, in that we clearly can't just have our pick of these players, there will be some of that ilk that are attainable to us depending on who else shows interest in them. There are a number of teams ahead of us in the queue but they won't hoover up ALL of these players. There will be some out there who see us as a good springboard for their career. Tough task, but it's up to us to find those.

Looking beyond finding those players, we need to be careful about what we do if we can't find them. There is a balance to be struck but we cannot afford to sacrifice any more points on the altar of player development than we already will be with our promising but inconsistent young players. We're already expecting Origi to add to that bracket. Any young players we bring in this summer need to be ready to make strong contributions.

[vonk]

Problem is getting rid of the likes of Jones, Lovren, Enrique, Borini, Lambert, Ballotelli. What's to stop them sitting on their hands on the big wages they are on.

We need three quality players. World class keeper, quality CB and a quality 20 goal a season striker. Can back in MF. Milner in, Origi in, sorted.

[Nicey]

Problem is getting rid of the likes of Jones, Lovren, Enrique, Borini, Lambert, Ballotelli. What's to stop them sitting on their hands on the big wages they are on.

We need three quality players. World class keeper, quality CB and a quality 20 goal a season striker. Can back in MF. Milner in, Origi in, sorted.

I think Borini will gladly be off ... I understand why he stayed .. the poor lad has moved something like 6 times in 4 years .. but it did not work out for him and he would obviously do better else where ... he will be sold in my opinion ... easily get 8 to 10 Million for him

Enrique is still a decent player injury permitting ... there will be a whole host of PL clubs who would love his services ... and I am not sure how much of a fee we would want ... obvious value for a buying club

Lambert is obviously a great player ... just does not fit in our system ... to be honest I would not mind if he stayed ..but again there would be a bunch of teams in the PL interested in him, we could easily get our money back on him |

Jones if he stays or goes makes no difference to me decent 3rd choice keeper probably good guy to have around the squad

Ballo .... Well I really do not know ... he's still box office ... will he go ? I dont know ... but I want him out and who ever pushed for his transfer should get both barrels

[frank the tank]

Problem is getting rid of the likes of Jones, Lovren, Enrique, Borini, Lambert, Ballotelli. What's to stop them sitting on their hands on the big wages they are on.

We need three quality players. World class keeper, quality CB and a quality 20 goal a season striker. Can back in MF. Milner in, Origi in, sorted.

I agree that getting rid of the dead wood is going to be as difficult as attracting new talent. The only slight positive is that there is a European Championship at the end of next season and people like Lovren, Balotelli and Borini will hopefully want to play every week to have a chance in playing in those championships. All 3 of those players though - i hope to **** we don't agree to a last minute loan deal in the summer for them because they could be another couple of Aquilanis if we are not careful - turning up every summer to play against St Patricks Athletic in July before being loaned to Milan, Lille or Seville - all while their transfer fees further reduce until it is **** all......

If we are not in the champions league next season, then i really hope that the club come out and say that they are treating the europa cup as a reserve / U21 tournament. Concentrate on the league big time. A lot of our sucess depends on keeping Sturridge fit and how well Origi integrates but in reality a line up of:

-------------------------MIGNOLET-----------------------

FLANAGAN--------SKRTEL---------SAKHO-------MORENO


----------------HENDERSON----EMRE CAN---------------


IBE----------------------COUTINHO-------------STERLING

-------------------------STURRIDGE------------------------


Wouldnt be too bad. Considering that we have Markovic, Lallana, Lucas, Origi as well, then i think we just need 3 or 4 players and we are in a very strong position.

If we have a first team that only needs to concentrate on one game for most weeks of the season, then we should be cooking on gas...

[BigChief]

Good points Frank, but I don't see the 4-2-3-1 working with the players we have. Henderson and Can are not Lucas (or even an Allen) and don't possess enough nouse to play the role Lucas does.

Its almost reminiscent of the screwups we had start of this season when we paired an unready Lucas with Gerrard. Both Hendo and Can are easily pressed and not great distributors from this season's showing.

I reckon we'll go 433 like Chelsea if/when Lucas is injured or diamond if him and Sturridge remain injury free. But we desperately need a top class centre forward this summer to make any formation work. Otherwise we'll be fighting Spurs for 5th spot next season too.

[The_weatherman]

I would be tempted to try Can in a sort of a Ballack role, closer to the striker.

[Exiled_red]

IMO the core of our team on the basis of the players we have at the moment would be:

Mignolet, Skrtel, Sakho, Lucas, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling and Sturridge

Whether we play 2 CBs or 3 Skrtel and Sakho will be in there, we need a DM perhaps some see Can in there, but IMO he is untested and Lucas is the best we have. Henderson will be captain so he will be in there. Coutinho and Sterling have been our best attacking players this season and Sturridge is the only striker worthy of note.

We pick the other 3 on the basis of the system we are trying to play, with those 8 we still have the flexibility to play a number of formations. 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-4-3 etc.