17 May 2017 10:21:53
Although it is not a given, if we do get top 4 I would like to ask everyone here (incl the Eds if they are up for it) how would you prioritise the positions we need to upgrade in the summer?
For me the priority would be in the following order - LB, RB, CB, LW, GK, DLP (deep lying playmaker if it was too cryptic), ST and then an AM (attacking mid) .
The rationale? Well, when I look at our team I see fullbacks that are not good enough in the final third, centre-backs that make too many individual errors, us lacking a midfielder (apart from a fit and firing Hendo) that can dictate tempo as well as execute a long pass (more than 5 yards), lacking options available for left side of attack and finally a natural goalscorer up front (apart from a rarely fit Sturridge) .
Obviously we can't solve all of these as that would make Ed002's eyeballs roll into the back of her head :) but I would be disappointed (again) if we didn't focus on the first few priorities.
17 May 2017 10:34:40
I reckon we will sign a LB and Milner will be RB next season.
17 May 2017 10:47:36
Jesus you want the whole team changing then lol. That's a team that looks like it'll get fourth and is the joint second highest scoring in the league.
For me, its just about strengthening. I would of course like to see Clyne moved on and a new left back in as well. We need another pacey winger who can beat a man. That's obvious. And possibly a new striker. The new striker is down to whether Klopp feels he can't relay in Studge. Even though last game he was the difference for me compared to the last few games.
Understandable us looking at another CM which would of course be because of Lucas looking like leaving.
17 May 2017 10:48:17
Lb
Cb
Str.
17 May 2017 10:52:22
It's obviously complicated as we don't know which players will definitely be leaving : Can? Lucas? Sakho? Coutinho? Gomez? Bogdan?
The squad needs beefing up for champions league. Beefing up means having players in the squad who the manager feels he can use to rotate the team. At the moment we have loads of players who don't seem to get a run of games. So any departures need replacing.
To upgrade as you put it, I would try and look at 3 positions maximum. Our 3 biggest weaknesses, if you exclude GK, are left back, centre back and DLP (as you put it)
A DLP would require a change in formation though.
17 May 2017 11:03:16
I did make it clear that we couldn't upgrade ALL of the positions. I just prioritised it as I saw it. That's all. :)
Of course if we just took care of the fullback and centre back positions and added a left sided wide player then I would be fairly happy.
The only reason I mention the other positions is that we have a group of senior players that are are struggling with injury across multiple seasons - ie Sturridge, Henderson and Emre/ Lallana to some extent. As we have seen with Arsenal, this can make or break your seasons.
17 May 2017 11:08:27
@Ron, would a DLP force a change of formation? Didn't Henderson play there brilliantly for the first half of the season?
17 May 2017 11:15:52
Full backs is a must. We need attacking full backs that can pick someone out and score the odd goal themselves (Not from the penalty spot before everyone says how many Milner has scored) . A top centre back would be great but not absolutely essential and a pacey left winger to allow Couts to play more central and deeper (if he stays) . That would be it for me depending on other outgoings.
17 May 2017 11:20:39
i would be satisfied if we could solve the fullbacks. the way we play, i think we mostly struggle because of those two positions, the rest i'm fine with.
17 May 2017 11:38:58
Essential would be a LB - that would allow us to sell Clyne, move Milner to RB with TAA. If we sell Moreno we could also bring in someone young to develop.
LW is also a priority - allows Coutinho to drop into midfield and then we can move Can deeper to cover Hendo and we don't need anyone else in midfield.
CB is a priority too - I'd like to see someone to compete with Lovren and Matip and I'd be Ok to see Klavan sold. Think he's decent but would rather keep Gomez and he struggles with the system we play which exposes him for lack of pace. Alternatively keep both and sell Moreno as Gomez can help cover LB if desperate.
Rest are luxuries, possibly a new Striker if Sturridge leaves - or if we don't get a LW. Possibly a GK but arguably Migs has made that redundant.
I'd be happy with just three additions to the squad.
17 May 2017 11:48:02
LB, CB and LW for me.
3 proven top level players for each position then see where that gets us.
17 May 2017 12:16:49
Actually don't mind the Milner replacing Clyne at RB idea.
17 May 2017 12:21:10
Lb lw and st.
Done move on.
Coutinho can provise all the creativity we need from the middle.
Sessegnon****/ gaya***/ tierney**/ mendy*
Brandt***/ forsberg**/ lemar*/ mertens****
The starz indicate which players together.
Mendy nd lemar becausw they already play together
Forsberg and tierney
Sessegnon and mertens because of age one 30 the other 17
Gaya and brandt. Gayas electric pace overlapping brandt.
Luan/ germain/ dolsberg
Any of the above wouls be welcome 😊.
17 May 2017 13:42:27
Think we all agree a LB is needed. Milner to cover both sides and complete with TAA at RB. Striker next for me, if he can play wide also then great, but we don't have a 20+ goal machine anymore (Not one that can stay fit anyway) . As much as I like Firmino and think he had done ok up top, I would prefer him to be playing behind a striker. I personally think we should be looking for a holding midfielder who will protect the CBs, someone more defensive minded than Henderson.
I would be happy with these 3 positions arriving, not sure we need a left winger as we have loads of attacking players who can play there, and if you have a new player on the left, Mane on the right firmino and Coutino plus a striker then you are only left with room for one CM if we keep to a back 4.
17 May 2017 14:44:37
A pacey wide forward would be my first priority. Followed by a lb then as all the kids seem to be calling them these days a DLP. Not much else depending on out goings.
17 May 2017 15:31:58
We do desperately need some left feet! It's agonising watching Milner run thank flank at times.
Ojo is left footed (I think) - I wonder what the plans are for him? He's clearly talented but it's not obvious whether he has desire required to step up right into first team football. There were some quotes about him trying to improve his aggression and intensity which is a good sign but also worrying if it doesn't materialise. Ed001 would know better there I am sure.
{Ed001's Note - I fear Ojo is a long way away from being a first team player for us.}
17 May 2017 18:45:19
It all depends on what the club plans to do with certain players as Ron has said, there could be some surprise and unexpected departures that would change everyone's opinions, there could also be some player nailed on to leave ending up staying. With that being said, it's clear we need to improve the first team, there is no point buying a bunch of potential squad players like we have done in the past. We either improve to first 11 or forget it. Those players that get replaced that are currently in the first 11 become the 'depth'.
If the first 11 generally stays the same then my priorities would be: LB, CB, CM (defensive or box to box mid), forward (ideally a player that can play as both a striker and outwide) . Probable positions are GK and RB depending on if mignolet and clyne end up leaving. For me they are not priorities and I would be content with mignolet and karius as our goalkeepers and Milner playing right back or TAA eventually replacing Clyne as our first choice right back. I would prefer more money being spent on the priority areas. We have to work within our means and replacing our whole team and selling players like lovren, Milner, mignolet, Lallana etc as people want to do after a bad performance is not working within our means and will set us back.
18 May 2017 18:35:58
Spot on, Kman. We have to be very smart in the way we target playwers cos we need those who not only fit the way we play, but can improve us quality wise and bring the type of desire and experience this young squad needs to get to the next level, mentally.
For me, the FB positions need a severe upgrade, first off. Then a wide player or two for either side, and then a midfielder depending on who is staying and who is leaving. A CB will only come in if one leaves as we still have Grujic to come in there.
Striker? Not sure as it would depend on Studge's status. The GK's are set, IMO if no one leaves.
Klopp has already said he will not make wholesale changes as that will only stifle other players from developing. We shall see.