Brendan Rodgers

[The_weatherman]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the team take one step back this season in Rodgers plan and the it's evolvement. We are counting on young players who are learning and growing, phasing out Gerrard and adjusting to life after Luis. Markovic, Sterling, Coutinho and Sturridge have awesome potential but I feel this season is just a season too soon.

Having said that I think Rodgers is laying the foundations for a really exciting team for the next five years or so.

[RichC]

The defence will tighten up with a change in formation which with Luis going is likely to happen, I'm pretty sure we'll play with one up top next season with the likes of a Sterling, Markovic, Coutinho, Lallana and hopefully someone else to help create and chip in with the goals.

[The_weatherman]

The defence will tighten up with a change in formation which with Luis going is likely to happen, I'm pretty sure we'll play with one up top next season with the likes of a Sterling, Markovic, Coutinho, Lallana and hopefully someone else to help create and chip in with the goals.

I can see that as well, but what with the changes and some of key players being just around 20 I think it will be very difficult to stay in the top four, not impossible granted but it's going to be a challenge. On the other hand we have exciting players who can play a key role in the side for years (unless they're sold ).

[RichC]

This season could be tough and whilst I feel a few senior players could do with being shipped out we will need their experience this coming season (Lucas springs to mind).

I think the start of the coming season will be important, get off well and it will breed confidence if not it could be hard work but the good thing is the nucleus of the team that finished 2nd is still there (bar the obvious player) it'll be interesting to see the starting 11 on the first day of the season.

[The_weatherman]

This season could be tough and whilst I feel a few senior players could do with being shipped out we will need their experience this coming season (Lucas springs to mind).

I think the start of the coming season will be important, get off well and it will breed confidence if not it could be hard work but the good thing is the nucleus of the team that finished 2nd is still there (bar the obvious player) it'll be interesting to see the starting 11 on the first day of the season.

I think we should resist major changes to the XI for the start,

Mig
Johnson - SKrtel - Sakho - Flanno
Henderson - Gerrard - Lallana
Sterling - Sturridge - Coutinho

We can field a strong XI with only one of the new guys, maybe Markovic for Coutinho and we still have few changes. I'd rather keep Lucas unless we receive a very good offer. We might have to patient this season though and keep our eyes on the big picture.

[RichC]

I agree about limiting the number of changes to the starting XI certainly to start off with although I would expect Markovic starting (probably for Coutinho) and I'd really like to see another CB in for Skrtel

[The_weatherman]

I agree about limiting the number of changes to the starting XI certainly to start off with although I would expect Markovic starting (probably for Coutinho) and I'd really like to see another CB in for Skrtel

Just think of it as the Skrtel 2.0, whoever comes in. FFS I can't wait til the Southampton game

[DannyMan2006]

I'd agree with little changes if we could go with the analogy of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" , but unfortunately, it is broke. That 433 listed above just isn't good enough to compete at the upper echelons of the premier league. It's a top 6 side and that's it.

We conceded far too many goals last season due to individual errors at the back and we thankfully had, amongst others, Luis Suarez to bail us out of trouble time and time again. We no longer have arguably the third best player in world football to hold out team together and as such big changes need to be made to the system and the personnel.

First off, we need to ditch the idea of playing two strikers on a regular basis. It left us far too open. All well and good if you murder teams on the break who push men forward. We truly were the Keegan side of you score 3 but we'll score 4..... We can not get any player in world football to replace Luis Suarez, so we can not play that system anymore. Because the opposition will still score 3, but I'd wager we wouldn't be out scoring them so often......

Secondly, we need to sign players who will help improve our concentration and leadership at the back. We've tried a back 4 of GJ, MS, MS, JF. It didn't work. They couldn't keep the gate closed. One of Skrtel or Sakho needs to be replaced to bring leadership. Glen needs competition and pushing Flanno to compete with him at RB will shake him up. Then bring in a LB to compete with Enrique.

That final paragraph above, Rodgers is doing exactly that. He's chasing Lovren and Moreno. We could argue whether they're good enough, but the reasons he's buying players in those positions are the right ones.

[The_weatherman]

I'd agree with little changes if we could go with the analogy of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" , but unfortunately, it is broke. That 433 listed above just isn't good enough to compete at the upper echelons of the premier league. It's a top 6 side and that's it.

We conceded far too many goals last season due to individual errors at the back and we thankfully had, amongst others, Luis Suarez to bail us out of trouble time and time again. We no longer have arguably the third best player in world football to hold out team together and as such big changes need to be made to the system and the personnel.

First off, we need to ditch the idea of playing two strikers on a regular basis. It left us far too open. All well and good if you murder teams on the break who push men forward. We truly were the Keegan side of you score 3 but we'll score 4..... We can not get any player in world football to replace Luis Suarez, so we can not play that system anymore. Because the opposition will still score 3, but I'd wager we wouldn't be out scoring them so often......

Secondly, we need to sign players who will help improve our concentration and leadership at the back. We've tried a back 4 of GJ, MS, MS, JF. It didn't work. They couldn't keep the gate closed. One of Skrtel or Sakho needs to be replaced to bring leadership. Glen needs competition and pushing Flanno to compete with him at RB will shake him up. Then bring in a LB to compete with Enrique.

That final paragraph above, Rodgers is doing exactly that. He's chasing Lovren and Moreno. We could argue whether they're good enough, but the reasons he's buying players in those positions are the right ones.

I agree with playing with one striker up top, which will make us a bit more compact, I do think however it will be better to make minimal changes at the start. We could end up with six or seven new players, I'd try to hold back on the wholesale changes.

[RichC]

I fully expect us to play with one up top and we should limit the changes at the start of the season, introduce them gradually rather than an en masse change

[DannyMan2006]

I fully expect us to play with one up top and we should limit the changes at the start of the season, introduce them gradually rather than an en masse change

I think it depends how early you sign the players and get them integrated. Signing 5 players the week before our opening game & starting them all obviously wouldn't be beneficial. Signing them early and allowing them to have 4/5 games together in pre season could work.

I really wish I knew Brendan's plan for how we will set up. I'm just hoping it's not a system that has Gerrard in a two man midfield. Looking at it all, I can only think we will revert to a 433. But if it is, I'd like us to sign another all energy midfielder in the Henderson mould.

[Fredo]

Think we'll carry on developing the diamond formation, but keep the flexibility when needed, i.e reverting back to 4-4-2 or 4-3-3.

[RichC]

I'd fancy we'll set up something like this

............................Mignolet..........
Johnson....defender......Sakho.....Enrique/Flanno
............................Gerrard............... .......................
................Henderson......Lallana............ ............
............Sterling.....................Markovic. ...................
.............................Sturridge............ .........................

[DannyMan2006]

Think we'll carry on developing the diamond formation, but keep the flexibility when needed, i.e reverting back to 4-4-2 or 4-3-3.

Not sure how we can shoe horn likes of Couts, Sterling, Lallana, Markovic, Suso, etc all into a diamond. I don't see point of spending £25m or so on Markovic if we'll be deploying a system that will involve two strikers.

But then I guess why are we in for Bony if we are not going to play 2 up top? Our recruitment this summer seems to be a shot in the dark.

[Fredo]

Not sure how we can shoe horn likes of Couts, Sterling, Lallana, Markovic, Suso, etc all into a diamond. I don't see point of spending £25m or so on Markovic if we'll be deploying a system that will involve two strikers.

But then I guess why are we in for Bony if we are not going to play 2 up top? Our recruitment this summer seems to be a shot in the dark.

Not sure the type of diamond we play involve playing with two strikers. We normally have a main striker, with someone else behind in a No. 10 role. When we had Luis, he was flexible enough to play on either wings. Basically we just need prolific wingers/attackers to complement and compensate for his finishing ability.