Liverpool Football Club Thread

[Sng]

Henderson worth £100,000 a week? Madness.

Hey? Easily. Arguably our most important player. Maybe after Coutinho.

[tenrou]

I'd stick with BR, at least give him next season and I don't see the club needing a clear out either. We've looked good in games but maybe just lacked a bit of bite in the big games because we were down strikers and really took a long time to work out our identity.

I'm hoping Flanagan gets back better as he's been out nearly a year so no guarantee. I'd sell on balo, lambert and lallana as I don't think those three fit into either the 442 diamond or the back 3 system. Lovren we will get no return on so why sell him now but we should bring ilori back as he's a decent young CB.

I'd like Milner but I don't see him coming. I'd also like another quick striker. We don't play long balls so why bother with a tall target man which we'll never use?

I'd also sell sterling if he gives any shit. Ibe will be just as good and sterling I suspect is going to cause some dressing room issue. I think he'd go for at least 40 mil.

As also has been mentioned I would get a couple of older heads in. Probably buy Ron vlaar as he'll come for the money and give Lucas a few more games as Gerards replacement at the base of the diamond or in front of a front 3.

As for another striker I'd like to see the money go on a fairly big signing. A Dortmund striker or maybe? Bad season but have some league winning pedigree.

[Azrael]

GK:

Brad Jones - Get rid

Mignolet - Keep

Ward - Dunno, keep as reserve back up

DEF:

Skrtel - keep

Sakho - keep

Toure - keep as backup

Lovren - get rid

Johnson - get rid

Enrique - get rid

Coates - get rid

Moreno - keep

Manquillo - keep and use more

Flanagan - keep

Ilori - keep and give a chance

Wisdom - keep

Mid:

Gerrard - Gone

Lucas - keep

Hendo - keep

Allen - not bothered, sell if get decent offer

Can - keep and use in midfield

Lallana - keep

Coutinho - keep

Markovic - keep and use more

Sterling - keep unless mega money offered

Ibe - keep

Teixiera - keep and introduce him to the team

FWD:

Sturridge - keep and fix him

Borini - get rid

Balotelli - get rid if anyone will take him

Lambert - keep if he doesn't mind barely playing, otherwise get rid

Origin - keep

Aspas - get rid

Alberto - maybe keep

So about 10 to 13 players out.

Shopping list to bring in:

1 decent keeper to challenge for/take Mignolet's place

1 reliable CB

2 to 3 new strikers/attackers

Probably cover for the fullbacks.

[JohnnyNolan]

I think Lucas is done since his injury. I'd be looking to move him on or use as a backup. I think we need a holding midfielder to replace him and let Henderson/Can push forward from midfield.

Looking at that squad list there have been some poor buys over the last couple of seasons.

[gospvg]

Hendo has signed new five year deal.

[lolly]

I think Lucas is done since his injury. I'd be looking to move him on or use as a backup. I think we need a holding midfielder to replace him and let Henderson/Can push forward from midfield.

Looking at that squad list there have been some poor buys over the last couple of seasons.

Was of the same opinion but the run of good results coincided with his return to the team - I said last year that he had lost a yard of his non-existent pace but he's still the best shield for the defence in the squad.Joe allen gets my goat- he's put in some great performances and some utterly anonymous ones as well - the latter outweighing the former unfortunately.

[tenrou]

I think his enthusiasm infects the team, perhaps reassures a bit as well. I agree that he isn't the fastest but given there are a few areas we need players I'd try to avoid buying players in areas we are fairly strong in. If we end up with half a dozen new players it takes the team a year to gel again.

[Istanbul]

GK:

Brad Jones - Get rid

Mignolet - Keep

Ward - Dunno, keep as reserve back up

DEF:

Skrtel - keep

Sakho - keep

Toure - keep as backup

Lovren - get rid

Johnson - get rid

Enrique - get rid

Coates - get rid

Moreno - keep

Manquillo - keep and use more

Flanagan - keep

Ilori - keep and give a chance

Wisdom - keep

Mid:

Gerrard - Gone

Lucas - keep

Hendo - keep

Allen - not bothered, sell if get decent offer

Can - keep and use in midfield

Lallana - keep

Coutinho - keep

Markovic - keep and use more

Sterling - keep unless mega money offered

Ibe - keep

Teixiera - keep and introduce him to the team

FWD:

Sturridge - keep and fix him

Borini - get rid

Balotelli - get rid if anyone will take him

Lambert - keep if he doesn't mind barely playing, otherwise get rid

Origin - keep

Aspas - get rid

Alberto - maybe keep

So about 10 to 13 players out.

Shopping list to bring in:

1 decent keeper to challenge for/take Mignolet's place

1 reliable CB

2 to 3 new strikers/attackers

Probably cover for the fullbacks.

Just gone through your list, and it's hard to disagree with.

In terms of replacements, I've always been a believer of having a smaller squad. Only buy players that could go straight into the starting 11 (unless they are young), that way...you are bringing in quality to supplement quality. Never believed you need to buy 'squad' players. It rarely works out. Would rather spend £30m on 1 world class player than have 2 Joe Allen's for example. Of course, you don't always have to spend (ala Coutinho, Sturridge), but I think the squad is at the stage now where it will benefit from this type of purchase rather than filling it out again like we did last season. Depends on who we get rid of really. Obviously Origi is coming in, he doesn't look brilliant to me...but we'll see. So yeah, wer're gonna need at least another staring Striker with Sturridge being crocked and the rest being dross. Add to that we'll probably need at least 1 FB, a backup GK, and probably another DM (which we've needed for years, depends if Can moves to DM). I'd get rid of Lovren as well for sure, so we'd need another CB too, but that won't happen.

[JamesTW]

Rodgers will sign about 3 attacking midfielders

[Poop who?]

There's one signing we need sorting out ASAP

Klopp

[AlwaysBeClosing]

I'm not sure any manager really wants to buy squad players unless they're dirty cheap, the problem with the climate is that everyone is so expensive and it's hard to judge who's really going to make it. The Spurs/Liverpool philosophy of 'throw all the money!' at a load of players hoping some will stick isn't sustainable. Squad players should come from the youth setup, if they become anything better then great, but buying players like Lambert is always going to see a little pointless when that money could have gone to something/anything else. Give the time to youth rather than a guy who was already punching above his weight at Southampton.

[lolly]

There's one signing we need sorting out ASAP

Klopp

Reports say 10 million in compensation to Rogers if they get rid. Plus the goodwill for getting the club to 2nd last season shouldn't have totally evaporated.

[Istanbul]

There's one signing we need sorting out ASAP

Rafa

Corrected for you...

[Chewylegs]

GK:

Brad Jones - Get rid

Mignolet - Keep

Ward - Dunno, keep as reserve back up

DEF:

Skrtel - keep

Sakho - keep

Toure - keep as backup

Lovren - get rid

Johnson - get rid

Enrique - get rid

Coates - get rid

Moreno - keep

Manquillo - keep and use more

Flanagan - keep

Ilori - keep and give a chance

Wisdom - keep

Mid:

Gerrard - Gone

Lucas - keep

Hendo - keep

Allen - not bothered, sell if get decent offer

Can - keep and use in midfield

Lallana - keep

Coutinho - keep

Markovic - keep and use more

Sterling - keep unless mega money offered

Ibe - keep

Teixiera - keep and introduce him to the team

FWD:

Sturridge - keep and fix him

Borini - get rid

Balotelli - get rid if anyone will take him

Lambert - keep if he doesn't mind barely playing, otherwise get rid

Origin - keep

Aspas - get rid

Alberto - maybe keep

So about 10 to 13 players out.

Shopping list to bring in:

1 decent keeper to challenge for/take Mignolet's place

1 reliable CB

2 to 3 new strikers/attackers

Probably cover for the fullbacks.

I agree with most of what you are saying, but it's definitely time Toure went. In reality, Lovren isn't going anywhere as no one will pay the sort of money we'd want for him and maybe just maybe he will come good next season.

The key ones for me are to get rid of Mario, bring in a proven goalscorer. Last few games we've had no striker upfront. Get a settled defence, Skrtel, Moreno, possibly Flanagan and another. I'd get rid of Allen aswell and bring in a solid, skillful midfielder. What's this Illaremendi like? Then it's a good back up keeper. Jones is woeful, we need someone as good as Spurs have got - Vorm

Then Rodgers needs to make a decision on whether Ilori and Wisdom will be good enough and Can needs to be moved into midfield. If they aren't good enough, will Sakho and Lovren raise their game?? As for Lambert, he won't use him for more than 4mins so he might as well go. Origi , new striker and a fit Studdger will be enough for the formations we play.

[gospvg]

Sakho has been pretty good this season, him & Skrtel for the central partnership.

[Chewylegs]

He has been, but I reckon a four at the back with him will mean Moreno will have to learn to defend better and the central midfield outlet will have to be more dynamic than Lucas or Allen.

[gospvg]

If a back four then it has to be Flanagan, Sakho, Skrtel & Moreno.

The midfield will be Markovic, Henderson, Can & Sterling.

Then Coutinho playing behind Sturridge.

Shopping list wise we need a new keeper, a new RB & LB I feel because Moreno is not the finished article yet & Flanagan not sure if he will be back when? I would probably go for another CB but I think Wisdom can fill that roll. Midfield I think we are ok maybe another DM.

Where we definitely need to strengthen is up front, we need a proven goal scorer or maybe two because Sturridge is fragile.

[Sng]

Amazed that people are already talking about getting rid of Rodgers. Short memories or what.

Considering the only real reason we aren't higher is no Suarez and basically no Sturridge this season I don't think we could have expected much better. When you take 60/70 goals away anyone is gonna struggle.

[tenrou]

I haven't seen enough of Markovic to say I'd want him playing. 70 mill between him lovren and lallana ffs. I know you can't tell how a transfer will work out but some one needs to torture their family or something so they start to live up to that frankly huge transfer fee.

[gospvg]

Rodgers overall probably deserves another season.

Markovic shows potential hopefully will have a better 2nd season. Lallana & Lovren have both been very disappointing (although Lallana has been injured a fair bit this season). I'd also add Balotelli to the list of disappointments this season, although maybe he does not suit our play style which begs the question why sign him? We should have tried harder to lure Sanchez.

The only real positive signing from all our purchases last season has been Emre Can. Hopefully some of the others will have a better 2nd season if they are still with the club.

[Commander Jameson]

I imagine the Balotelli decision came about like this from the transfer committee...

TC1: We must buy a striker

TC2: Mario Balotelli is a striker

TC3: We must buy Mario Balotelli

[Poop who?]

Reports say 10 million in compensation to Rogers if they get rid. Plus the goodwill for getting the club to 2nd last season shouldn't have totally evaporated.

I absolutely understand this point of view. I held it myself up until quite recently

But there remains a number of issues with keeping Rodgers:

1) If we have a poor start, or go through a rough patch, then he's going to get the detractors on his case immediately. No leeway (Which I see as unfair, but pretty inevitable)

2) The goodwill from last season (from me at least) has extended into this, but that has been pretty much evaporated as we ebb towards the end of the season, as at times it's been painful to watch. If you remove the three months (if that?) of the 'run' we went on, has anyone actually enjoyed watching what we've seen for the remainder of this season? It's been a polar opposite of last season, and at times we've looked downright clueless

3) Klopp hasn't done us a favour, as he's pretty much resigned 12 months too soon for us. Klopp is pretty much a Rodgers+ isn't he? High intensity, pressing, technical, attacking... All the things we'd love to see Liverpool do on a consistent level, but when was the last time you saw us do that, consistently?

4) If you know you are going to lose your most prized asset in Suarez, AND you know you're going to lose him 12months in advance, then give me £40m, and I'LL go and find us a bloody striker. I'll chose one that can chase and harry, one that has a will to perform, but not one in the twilight of his career, that doesn't fit our style of play, or a moody sod that cares more about tweeting. That on it's own is pretty inexcusable. And someone has shown complete incompetence. I'm certain if that scenario was replicated in the real world, then someone's balls would get a roasting

5) Sturridge. He's the guy we all know is made of cheese. Love him as we do, WE ALL KNOW, he's not going to complete a season without injury. Hold on, we've just got approx £75m in the coffers, lets get a striker in... (As above)

6) We've made crazy mistakes. Crazy ones that make very little footballing sense at all at times. I can't even remember how many times we've changed formation during the FA Cup semi final. The semi was pretty indicative of how our season has gone... Does this work? No! Ok, lets change... What about this? Err, not really... Ok, lets change... rinse and repeat. If anything Rodgers has too much choice in the squad now, which has led to him never finding his best 11, and we've almost finished the season!

7) Playing Sterling, Markovic out of position... Ok, players sometimes have to take on for the team. But I know if I was playing against Liverpool I'd much prefer to see Markovic left wing, Sterling right wing, and Can tucked in at the back. But alas we've been forced into it because having spent £100+m last summer, we don't have the correct balance in the team. But what we have done, is nurture or buy some cracking talent, and then move them far away from the goal as possible, and in turn take them as far away from their natural game as possible. Kane wasn't a bright star as he is currently, but if you are going to nurture young talent, then you need to have faith to go through the ups and downs with them, not lump them somewhere when the going gets tough

8) Brendan's and the committees transfer record isn't particularly good. We've managed to rake in £75m over the summer from one transfer, increase the squad size, and play worse football

9) Attracting new talent to the club. "Hi there £25m young footballer, want to come and play for Rodgers or Klopp?" Harsh I know, but quite telling all the same

I have supported Brendan from the very first day he arrived, and I was super excited to learn of his methods, and see them materialise on the pitch. He took us on a fantastic journey last season. One that i'll never forget, but sometimes the best move to make is the move your opponents least want you to make. And a Liverpool with a Klopp at the helm, well, doesn't that really put that smile back on your face?

If Klopp hadn't closed the door on Dortmund, then I wouldn't be feeling like this and I'd be rooting for Rodgers, whilst praying he doesn't make similar screw-ups, but sometimes you need to take the opportunities as and when they come along, and it's not everyday a manager of Klopp's stature is available, wanting to come the Premier League, and already have a certain respect for the club I love

[Sng]

Nice to think about Klopp coming to Liverpool but there's absolutely no reason why he'd want to right now.

[gospvg]

I think Man City will be Klopp's likely destination.

[milko]

I think it'll be whichever out of Barcelona and Madrid doesn't win the league/Champs league. If they each win one of those I guess City might get a chance.

[Poop who?]

I think Man City will be Klopp's likely destination.

I can't see this to be honest. They've followed Pep round for eons, and they're more likely to go for an interim appointment and hang fire for Pep

I could be wrong though. I usually am

[Takizawa]

2) The goodwill from last season (from me at least) has extended into this, but that has been pretty much evaporated as we ebb towards the end of the season, as at times it's been painful to watch. If you remove the three months (if that?) of the 'run' we went on, has anyone actually enjoyed watching what we've seen for the remainder of this season? It's been a polar opposite of last season, and at times we've looked downright clueless

You could level this criticism at most teams in the league. Chelsea started on fire playing some great football but have reverted to effective without being entertaining, United are the same in reverse, City are a complete mixed bag and Arsenal have had their stutters too.

[Poop who?]

You could level this criticism at most teams in the league. Chelsea started on fire playing some great football but have reverted to effective without being entertaining, United are the same in reverse, City are a complete mixed bag and Arsenal have had their stutters too.

You absolutely could, but also you could argue that each of them have found a way to effectively put points in the bag. Something we've failed to do

As much as we all like Rodgers, and how he's laid some great foundations, there isn't one of you that wouldn't be pumped for next season if Klopp was instated

I feel that it's important to set the sentimentality aside, and play as hard as our competitors do and make that difficult decision of saying thanks to Rodgers 'if' Klopp is willing to come to us. If not then I'm one that will certainly root for BR until the final game of next season. But I want to see a solid improvement. Something that's certainly been lacking this year

[Adrock]

The club is 5th in the league, the tone in here sounds pretty dramatic. This season was always going to be a transitional period due to losing such an influential player and then having to manage a Gerrard who's decline has been so fast it's shocked me, either he isn't interested anymore or he is just shot to pieces.

There have been many problems throughout the campaign and reasons why the club haven't reached the heights fans would like but 5th with all of those mitigating problems isn't such a disaster. Of course many if not most are self inflicted but I think the manager deserves an opportunity to turn things around and get back into the champions league.

[Fr Chewy Louie]

4) If you know you are going to lose your most prized asset in Suarez, AND you know you're going to lose him 12months in advance, then give me £40m, and I'LL go and find us a bloody striker. I'll chose one that can chase and harry, one that has a will to perform, but not one in the twilight of his career, that doesn't fit our style of play, or a moody sod that cares more about tweeting. That on it's own is pretty inexcusable. And someone has shown complete incompetence.

Who would you have gone for?