12 Apr 2017 16:32:22
Interested in the consensus, what positions are your priorities for this summer (either as transfer or promotion from the junior ranks) . Justify your choices if you’d like but do it in the context of improving the team rather than specific player deficiencies. Make number 1 your highest priority.
CB – A stable CB pair playing 80%+ of the season will go a long way to rectify our defensive frailties.
DM – A dedicated DM (in their prime) will give us a tactical flexibility the team currently does not possess and allow player rotation in a congested schedule.
LB – Identify the player who will be Liverpool’s LB for the next 5 seasons or longer.
LW – A position we are deficient in in the first team squad.
St - The team needs a third option who's fitness is reliable.
12 Apr 2017 16:45:31
My priority would definitely be the CBs. I cannot bear the thought of another Bournemouth costing us a cup, league or top 4 in the future. Completely different styles of play, but our recent successful teams have been built around a solid CB pairing who pick themselves when fit - Hyppia and Henchoz, or Carra.
If I were to rank the rest:
1) CB - as above
2) LB - could do with getting full backs sorted, and TAA will do RB
3) ST - Having a fully firing Studge would be awesome
4) LW - kinda sits with ST for me as we tend to play a fluid front 3
5) DM - Even without Hendo, I think we have enough with Can, Wini, Lallana, Grujic to come, and even Couts back in midfield. Have a solid CB pairing will take some defensive pressure off the MF.
12 Apr 2017 17:27:19
1) CB - someone who actually knows how to organise a defence and can defend when under pressure. We might have the best attack but our defending can be woeful.
2) LB - Milner has been pretty decent but a quality LB would definitely be an upgrade. With Coutinho cutting in most of the time, having some width provided by a left footer who can ping in first time crosses would be fantastic.
3) GK - Migs has come in and done an alright job this season, but would love to see Karius actually get a proper chance as No. 1. Maybe this time, the fans could also actually give him some support rather than destroy his confidence after a couple of iffy games.
4) DM - I love Hendo, but there's a big question about his fitness and injuries. With Lucas looking likely to be leaving, maybe Stewart can be given a chance? If not, we may have to look to buy a replacement.
5) LW - Brandt (and Brahimi) has been looked at and considered, and I think it would be a good idea to have someone who can provide a different dimension to our attack. Especially against teams that sit deep, we could look at dropping Coutinho into a deeper role alongside Wijnaldum/ Lallana so we can mix it up with more pace and creativity.
12 Apr 2017 17:45:36
1) Goalkeeper
2) centre back to replace Klavan
3) left back.
12 Apr 2017 17:59:08
Thing is that the best centre back pairings have a solid midfield in front of them to take the pressure off, so maybe having someone who can stick their boot in and do some dirty work would help.
12 Apr 2017 18:14:13
Goalkeeper is a must, but i fear klopp will be stubborn and stick with karius rather than make him understudy a top class keeper.
CB to partner Matip and or Lovren, klavan should be back up to our backup which will be jo3 gomez.
LB to either be first choice or as it seems we will go down the youth route if I have gotten that right from reading down the page.
I don't think we necessarily need a DM but if Can goes a midfielder with vision who can also control a game would be welcomed.
Other attacking options will be luxury additions for me, but if as i suspect coutinho goes to Barcelona i don't expect further additions on top of brandt as the owners will no doubt ensure we have another window where sales outstrip expenditure.
12 Apr 2017 19:36:06
The most important thing as that we get at least two more players good enough for the first team, and have a strong winning mentality and a bit of leadership so they let some of the big-time Charlies around them phone it in when we're playing the likes of Hull or Swansea.
It's no good signing an entire new back 4 and keeper who are world class against Chelsea and Man City, but then doze off when they're playing whoever's in 15th place. Or in 12 months time we will be in the exact same position we are in now.
12 Apr 2017 19:39:49
* so they won't let. Ooops.
12 Apr 2017 20:06:00
Centre back, Fullback, GK, Winger - done.
12 Apr 2017 20:41:09
So everyone saying GK who is the top class keeper that is going to move to LFC? And why won't they get the same rubbish thrown at them as Karius, rated second best in Germany, gets on here?
12 Apr 2017 21:10:29
Centre back - a top class one and not Heaton or Gibson as I don't see any value in either them given the 'English Premium'.
Left back - Milner isn't a long term solution, no disrespect to him, so I think that this is a bit of a priority.
Striker - Sturridge is probably going so we'll need to replace him (Shame really because I like Studge) .
Centre Defensive midfielder- a centre midfielder who has a bit of defensive nous and can pass the ball would be nice.
Winger - a decent winger to give us more pace and guile out wide.
Unless we can bag ourselves a proper top class keeper, I don't see the point in bringing one in, neither Pickford nor Ruffier are better than Mignolet or Karius so it would be throwing good money to bad. Would also be disappointed if we wasted valuable resources on Oxlade-Chamberlain too as he's just Stewart Downing mk2 only with added injuries.
12 Apr 2017 20:57:17
Butland - because he can catch.
12 Apr 2017 21:06:23
GK - Comanding GK is easily the first buy. Any commanding GK will make defenders at least 10% better with confidence, let alone digging them out of a tight/ pressured situation.
CB - A CB with true leadership that can take over as captian. Hendo is a good player but not a true captain that I believe is needed.
CDM - A true ball winning midfielder who knows his role, win it and pass it simple to the lads who can create.
ST - Honestly a Sturridge mold that is willing to work at least 20% harder. If sturridge could keep fit then the above would be the lot.
No more that 3/ 4 players who will improve first 11.
12 Apr 2017 21:10:37
Goalkeeper (don't think it will happen as Klopp won't want to give up on Karius), centre back, left back, would say right back but hopefully TAA will get more game time. Centre mid and a striker. The squad needs more especially with European football of some sort coming.
12 Apr 2017 23:03:31
Pre injuries Butland was on fire for that season, he needed a full season to show if that was a purple patch or his level. I honestly don't see what would come in and be genuinely better. Would make more sense to me to put intense work in with Karius than spend money needed in other areas.
13 Apr 2017 05:17:15
1) Only glaring weakness IMO is CB - we need one we can build a partnership with Matip long term, and while Lovren is decent we need one to challenge him and Klavan is just 5yrds off the pace and not a long term solution. I wouldn't even mind if we kept Klavan for rotation in cups and to cover potential injuries for another 6-12 months until Gomez has proven his fitness again.
Aside from that, I'd expect the rest of the first team to remain fairly unchanged but there are a few potential improvements and tweaks I'd be happy to see
2) Moreno doesn't have enough to challenge Milner and we need someone for the future - I'd like to see Periera (starter) or Sessegnon (backup)
3) we need a new forward if Sturridge goes. Would be tough for Ings who I'm sure is hoping for a shot, but too much risk to start with just Firmino and Origi, and Ings has yet to prove his fitness. I'd like to see Dembele.
4) Can looks like he is coming on better than expected but we're still exposed if Hendo is injured and we're playing in Europe every few days. I'd like to see Lucas replaced with a PL ready player who's able to add strength in depth so we have at least 5 proven midfielders + Grujic. Obiang is a decent shout but I'd love to see someone who can really dominate midfield for years (even if Hendo is therefore pushed into more of a box-to-box role) .
5) As well as he's played of late, I'm still not convinced by Migs and I'd like to see an experienced keeper come in to provide a challenge to Karius - someone like Handanovic or Ruffier happy to pass on their experience
That's departures of
Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Sturridge, Migs
Ins of perhaps
Sule, Pereira, Obiang, Dembele, Ruffier
I know we also have Brandt lined up but to me if we get a new CF to cover Sturridge (allowing Firmino to cover wide positions if necessary) then Brandt becomes a luxury item and may even stifle the chances for Woodburn, Ojo and Wilson who look about the right time to start playing regularly.
{Ed001's Note - Sule? Why would Bayern sell him just after signing him?}
13 Apr 2017 07:38:43
To be honest I would prefer to see a new GK and Defence coaching team!
13 Apr 2017 08:46:01
Only hart and butland namned for gk. Hart isn't better than karius and butland has to prove he can get back to where he was prior injury. Id stick with karius and make him as as good as possible.
Cb - listening to exoerts van dijke seems to be favourite. Not sure he's what we need. Talented yes dicsaplined no. Ed01 doesn't rate him. So who for cb?
Left back. Kolsaniac would be great but going to milan? Perirea? ?
Lw. Brandt? Is he strong enough? Berahmi?
I also saw us linked with Talisca from benfica? Brazalian midfielder.
It looks like we are looking at germany or portugal for our signings.
13 Apr 2017 10:31:51
I can see Klopp sticking with Migs and Karius next season, one for PL and one for the CL and cups.
CD is a must-fix-area. Gomez is not quite ready, Klavan never will be. Van Dijk is not a good match for us, trust Klopp to see that. Maybe Nastasic (been some talk about him) or Gimenez of Atletico?
LB is where I'd like to see us splash the cash. True quality here and we'll get an extra 10% out of Couthino. Who though? Can't really come up with a realistic name good enough defending and going forward. Also we'd have Milner to rotate as CM aswell.
Winger/ attacker would be nice, but I'd settle for a promising youngster.
DM- maybe, another Hendo- type in that case. The Makelele-DM is outdated, have to be able to play some ball aswell.
13 Apr 2017 18:01:19
Sorry you're right Ed, don't follow the names that closely just remember Sule and Tah being highly rated options.
13 Apr 2017 20:28:16
Ed01 did mention nastasic abd he looks good now. Already got matip nastasic and kolsaniac should be good together.