Our Team for Next season and the Squad in general

[Exiled_red]

I wonder whether Sterling could flourish alongside a Sturridge / Suarez partnership because it took emphasis away from him

Players had other players to worry about rather than being able to concentrate on him

As Carragher said big players do big things, generally they do it themselves (ie like Gerrard did for ****ing years)

Maybe Sterling will surprise me and turn into some genuine world class player but I must admit I uncertain it will happen

Perhaps to a certain degree, he flourished because the attention on Suarez and Sturridge left him with more freedom, but this year I think he has had the opposite problem and he has suffered because he has been the one that has been drawing the attention of defenders as he has been the main threat. For someone of his age and with limited experience that is going to be something difficult to deal with, I think he will be fine (and will be able to do things on his own) when we have a couple of other people to share the attention.

He still has a long way to go to become world class, I think he is capable of achieving that level but I think we need other players capable of doing other jobs, i.e. if we want him to be a creative force we need someone who can get on the end of what he creates so that we aren't expecting him to both create and score goals. Even when Gerrard was carrying us for a few years we had someone like Owen to help out, and while Gerrard got alot of goals Owen or someone was there to help out.

[Leyton388]

Nobody, not even Rickie himself thought that he'd be a regular starter, and of course nobody other than those that see him week in week out (or know him personally) can know whether or not he's lost all footballing ability since signing for us; but I think it's ****ing disgusting the way his Liverpool career has gone so far

I don't (think I) want to see Rodgers replaced, and no player is bigger than the manager, but I think the way Lambert has been treated is bang out of order, and that is solely down to Rodgers

Mate Ricky knew he was going to be the plan B when he signed as he said so himself and if he wanted to be a starter every week he'd have stayed at Southampton but he hasn't even been used as that. It's disgusting the way it has gone for him as he has more game intelligence than most of the team that played yesterday. Use him right and he will score goals.

He'll be gone in the summer anyway.

[Maxiedge]

Need an overhaul. The only players I would keep at the club that have played for the first team this season:

Mignolet
Sakho
Skrtel
Can
Moreno
Lucas
Henderson
Coutinho
Lallana
Sterling
Sturridge

And ****ing law and behold, that was pretty much the side that got us through our run of good form. That was not done on purpose but I just noticed it.

Anyone else coming in and out of the side (bar Ibe) disrupts the team and drops the level of quality in the side. We just didn't put a good squad together last summer.

[Exiled_red]

Ricky has been a proven goal scorer throughout his career at every club including 2 years in the premier league hitting double figures. It's frustrating to see him not being used properly. He might not have the pace but give him the supply and he'd be a poucher in the box .

He's just another case of Rodgers signing a player and not giving him a chance to prove himself. I mean what was the point in bringing him on today in the 90th minute?

I was over the moon when we signed him as I've known Ricky since we were kids but in all honestly I hope he goes to a club in the summer that will allow him to play and show his true worth. He deserves better than he is being treated by Rodgers.

Rodgers would rather bring on a player in Borini who was deemed surplus to requirements last season and who has a scoring record that a goalkeeper would be ashamed of rather than play Ricky.

I don't know Ricky like you do, and I don't think he is the answer to the problems we've had this season. But presumably he was brought in as a plan B, the idea being to bring him off the bench and get goals in tight games, that was how I saw his role at least.

The problem for me has been that we have been in plan B teratory since Sturridge got injured but none of Lambert, Balotelli or Borini have really got any sort of run in the side. Personally I don't see any of the as a long term solution, but I would have thought that we should have at least tried each of them for a few games, as I cant help but think that one of them with Sterling and Coutinho around them would have been better than what we've had at times this season. Lambert has 2 PL goals in 5 starts and 14 sub apperance (most of which seem to have been in the last 10 mins of games). Considering our top scorer has 7 goals in 28 starts surely he has to have been worth a try.

As I have mentioned before I am not sure what/if we were thinking when we brought players in last summer. Ricky is a Liverpool fan so this move was probably a dream come true, but I woul imagine it's rapidly turning into a nightmare.

[DannyMan2006]

I'm pretty sure the plan was to sign a player like Sturridge (Sanchez, Remy) to cover for injury, and have a fast and speedy partnership up top. As said, Rickie would be something different in tight games.

Then we signed Balotelli who is a similar type to Lambert really and as such we didn't need a player like Lambert to offer a different option. That's why he's hardly played.

[Exiled_red]

I'm pretty sure the plan was to sign a player like Sturridge (Sanchez, Remy) to cover for injury, and have a fast and speedy partnership up top. As said, Rickie would be something different in tight games.

Then we signed Balotelli who is a similar type to Lambert really and as such we didn't need a player like Lambert to offer a different option. That's why he's hardly played.

Given that we had Lambert already who offered the something different, why blow £16m of Balotelli. Whatever the reason it shows a lack of a cohesive transfer plan

[Muddled]

I think

Going:

Toure (34)
Lucas (28)
Enrique (29)
Borini (24)
Lambert (33)

Potentially Going:

Balotelli (24)
Lovren (25)

Gone:

Gerrard (34)
Johnson (30)

Leaving a first team squad (as it stands) of:

Mignolet (27)
Jones (33)

Sakho (25)
Skrtel (30)
Moreno (22)
Flanagan (22)
Manquillo (20)

Can (21)
Henderson (24)
Allen (25)

Coutinho (22)
Lallana (26)
Ibe (19)
Sterling (20)
Markovic (21)

Sturridge (25)

That is some overhaul. You would hope to raise some funds from the clear out, but you'd have to consider next season's transfer budget may be tweaked with the stadium coming to completion. Rodgers really has to get this summer right and he won't have the luxury of these new signings settling in with a fifth season in mind.

[Roboklopp]

Lucas.

[The_weatherman]

Hope Lucas stays, we'd be up **** creek without him. I reckon the money men will be superbusy this summer, not least trying to sell these loaners. Here is my take.

Going:

Toure
Jones
Enrique
Borini
Lambert
Alberto
Aspas
Coates

Potentially Going:

Balotelli
Sterling

Gone:

Gerrard
Johnson

We should save a shed load in wages and we should be able to replace these players with ease, hopefully we'll try to get established players in and stop trying to outfox everyone. Only Sterling and Gerrard have contributed of note from that list but both contributions can be replaced. I can't see other players being allowed to leave. If we get a good offer for Sterling I hope we sell if he doesn't sign.

[Muddled]

How could I forget Alberto, Aspas and Coates? I agree, they're gone.

I reckon Manquillo's loan will be scrubbed too.

[The_weatherman]

How could I forget Alberto, Aspas and Coates? I agree, they're gone.

I reckon Manquillo's loan will be scrubbed too.

Fairly easy thing to forget tbh

[Fierce]

Given that we had Lambert already who offered the something different, why blow £16m of Balotelli. Whatever the reason it shows a lack of a cohesive transfer plan

Balotelli in isolation - risk (maybe) worth taking
Balotelli signing for 4 times the amount we just paid for Lambert is incompetence

Markovic and Lallana in the same window is a bit ****ing stupid too

[Exiled_red]

Balotelli in isolation - risk (maybe) worth taking
Balotelli signing for 4 times the amount we just paid for Lambert is incompetence

Markovic and Lallana in the same window is a bit ****ing stupid too

It's a bit like when we signed both Dudek and Kirkland on the same day

[ChrisDR1968]

For argument's sake if we only have enough money for 2 big signings in the summer would most on here be happy with Vietto as the striker and Pjanic as the midfield general?

----------------------Vietto 21

---------Sterling 20---------------Coutinho 23

----------Pjanic 25---------------Henderson 25

-----------------------Can 21

Moreno 23-----Sakho 25------Skrtel 30-----Flanagan 22

---------------------Mignolet 27


I've made three big assumptions with this line-up.

1. Can is capable of playing the Lucas defensive midfield role (if Lucas leaves)
2. Flanagan is still with the club next season (if not then insert Manquillo 21)
3. Sterling is still with the club next season (if not then insert Ibe 19)

The bench could be 7 from: Jones, Lallana, Lovren, Allen, Ibe, Markovic, Origi, Sturridge and Manquillo.

Alternatively take out Sterling and add Sturridge (or Origi) up top and play the diamond formation that was so exciting to watch last season

The average age of this starting XI would be 24

[danperkins]

Vietto is very talented but is still only young so IMO we need another two strikers and to get rid of Borini,Lambert & Balo. We need some quality experienced players. The side needs leaders aswell as young talent.. that balance is missing this season IMO.