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| What does the squad need?; Who do you think we should sign? | |
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| Topic Started: Fri Feb 6, 2009 2:23 pm (658 Views) | |
| Olivavu | Fri Feb 6, 2009 2:23 pm Post #1 |
 
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Former Red Steve McManaman has spoken about the recent departure of Robbie Keane and Rafael Benitez’s failure to replace the Irishman. “The only reason for selling him would have been to bring in somebody else. Otherwise I would have kept him,” McManaman wrote in his Setanta Sports blog. “Liverpool haven’t brought anybody in. Look at Chelsea with Quaresma on loan until the end of the season. I would have rather Liverpool did that. They’re desperate for a right winger.” “I think it would have been better to bring in a player like that who can change a game - even if it’s just on loan.” “There’s no danger there; if he fails - you get rid of him in the summer.” finished the Scouser. http://lfctalk.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/reds-needed-quaresma/ |
 "Rushie, Hunt and Fowler too...Kenny Dalglish and Michael Who?" | |
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| digger 10 | Fri Feb 6, 2009 6:13 pm Post #2 |
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 I think Shaggy's right...We need more creative players...and match winners. There not enough goals in our team... our defence and midfield score very little, which makes it easier for some teams to play us because, they know if they can stop Gerrard and Torres, they will more than likely stop us... |
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| Olivavu (old account) | Mon Feb 9, 2009 1:15 pm Post #3 |
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I agree with you and Macca. We desperately need more quality in the wide areas. Riera and Kuyt just aren't consistent enough to be relied upon to step up and regularly win games for us when Gerrard and Torres aren't. We should have gone for Quaresma. |
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| Olivavu | Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:51 pm Post #4 |
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David Villa. He is the best partner out there for Torres, and I reckon if we put in the right bid he would sign for us. |
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"Rushie, Hunt and Fowler too...Kenny Dalglish and Michael Who?" | |
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| Olivavu (old account) | Fri Feb 13, 2009 1:00 pm Post #5 |
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Football FanCast guest columnist Tom McLean feels that if Liverpool are only able to buy one player in the summer; then make it David Villa. I bet I wasn't the only Liverpool fan who looked on at last night's game in Seville uttering the words ‘if only' after watching David Villa's performance in the 2-0 victory over England. He was absolutely immense; a fantastic striking performance and the way he links up with Torres is joy to see and more than dispels the myth that Nando is a better player in the lone role. If there is a better strike pairing in international football then I haven't seen it and one that I'm certain the majority would love to see at Anfield and I would say to Rafa Benitez that if you only make one summer signing this year, then please make it David Villa. I know a lot has been written and debated about us this season about where it is all going wrong and while the consensus always seems to point to lack of width, I believe it is front of goal that is our ultimate problem. I remember last season there were a lot of Liverpool fans who refute suggestions that we as a football club may have been somewhat reliant on Fernando Torres. Why it would have been nice to suggest otherwise the bottom line is that we do and subsequently when he is out of the starting line-up we are incredibly blunt upfront and devoid of ideas. I honestly believe that had we been blessed with a fit Torres then we certainly wouldn't be trailing United and dare I say have been a few points in front; Keane and Kuyt weren't the ideal understudy's and ultimately it cost us dear. We need to go out and make a top class striker our priority in the summer and I personally, for the sake of Torres, cannot think of anyone better. He has to be our no.1 priority this summer, if we have aspirations of achieving. Man United operate with three world class strikers, plus Ronaldo, and yet we only operate solely on Torres and Gerrard chipping in with vital goals. It has left us vulnerable and subsequently we are having, to work twice as hard to achieve results. It is a real sorry state of affairs and why it will be nothing short of incredible, if we can defy the odds and win the title this year. http://www.footballfancast.com/blog/liverpool/if-liverpool-are-only-buy-one-player-summer-then-rafa-make-i/9855 |
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| Olivavu (old account) | Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:57 pm Post #6 |
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If Gareth Barry were to arrive in the Summer, which looks fairly likely, it'd be interesting to see who he'd replace. Xabi Alonso has moved above Javier Mascherano in the pecking order this season it would seem, and despite recapturing his finer form this season it still appears that he could be the man sacrificed for Barry to arrive. For me, it would be Lucas every single time. The guy just hasn't cut it so far and is a definite fourth choice in the pecking order, so it seems best that he would be replaced. I don't see Benitez doing that though, unfortunately. Mascherano or Alonso would be the man to go. |
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| digger 10 | Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:45 pm Post #7 |
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I was thinking of this too... If we get Barry, I would like to see him and Alonso playing together in most of the games (but i can't see it).. i rate Mascherano as the best defencive midfielder in the world, but most teams we will play in the PL won't attack when they play us... Mascherano is great when the other team has the ball, when teams sit-back against us he's not the best with ball at foot... |
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| Olivavu (old account) | Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:35 pm Post #8 |
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That is the drawback with Mascherano, he just isn't very effective going forward. He's a fantastic tackler and ball-winner, but he isn't a threat in attack. I think Barry and Alonso would possess enough defensive quality to shore up the midfield, but would also go forward with more purpose. Barry isn't an attacking dynamo by any means, but he's got more going forward than Masch. It's a tough call between Alonso and Mascherano if Lucas is retained. |
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| Olivavu | Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:43 pm Post #9 |
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Rafa would be mad to let either Xabi or Masch go! Lucas is piss next to them two. |
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"Rushie, Hunt and Fowler too...Kenny Dalglish and Michael Who?" | |
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| Olivavu (old account) | Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:51 pm Post #10 |
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I struggle to see what Lucas really offers us. He's a tidy enough player, but he lacks incision and verve. He's no goalthreat and he offers very little in terms of assist play. But could we expect to have Alonso, Barry and Mascherano scrapping for two places in the side? |
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| Olivavu (old account) | Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:44 am Post #11 |
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The game against City, as if proof were needed, really highlighted the lack of quality we have in our attack. Aside from Torres and Gerrard we just don't have any top-class craft or vision. Xabi Alonso strokes the ball around well and keeps things going wonderfully, but he needs a couple of top-class widemen playing infront of him too. I'd say we also desperately need full-backs that know how to attack. Aurelio, Arbeloa and Dossena all get forward more than enough, but none of them seem to really understand what to do when they get there on a consistent level. We've laid more foundation blocks this season, but if Rafa does stay then he'll need to get some more quality in the squad to compete with United. |
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| Olivavu (old account) | Thu Mar 5, 2009 1:37 pm Post #12 |
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I think we need to offload a few players that just aren't good enough to step into the side and maintain a good enough level of quality. United have a very strong squad, quite possibly the strongest the Premiership has seen, and have good players to come into the first-team. If we're to progress and genuinely match them, we'll need to shave off some deadwood and upgrade some backup players as well as improve some first-teamers. I would want to see these players leave this Summer: Andrea Dossena Philipp Degen Lucas Nabil El Zhar Andrei Voronin Jermaine Pennant Damien Plessis I would also be tempted to let Ryan Babel go. He's clearly got potential, but he's had a poor season and just hasn't got going for us. He looked like a player in transition in his first season, but when called upon this season he's been generally poor, so I'd seriously consider dumping him. Damien Plessis is another frustrating player. He looked to be making real progress at the back end of last season, but he's just not kicked on this year and doesn't look anywhere near good enough to be part of a title-winning squad, so I'd get rid of him on loan at the least. We crave a quality backup/partner for Torres and we also need more from the flanks - both at full-back and wing. It's tough to pinpoint quality for these positions. Stewart Downing could be a good call for the left, but he'd cost a fortune and doesn't quite look the part - but he'd probably be better than Riera. As far as strikers go, I would go all out for David Villa if I were Rafa and switch to a 4-4-2. Robbie Keane wasn't the man for that role, but the Spanish national side quite clearly shows that Villa and Torres work together. Santi Cazorla of Villarreal looks a fine player and wouldn't cost the earth like so many others, but I suspect Rafa's cautious nature would see this player off the list. Joaquin has gone off the boil in recent seasons, but a move to Anfield could revitalise a player that is capable of great things - same goes for Vicente. We could raid the Mestalla, basically!! 
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| Olivavu (old account) | Thu Mar 5, 2009 2:13 pm Post #13 |
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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez concedes his side's profligacy has undermined their title bid. The Reds find themselves seven points behind Manchester United and having played a game more after leading the way at the top for most of the season. Liverpool's failure to take their chances haunted them on Saturday as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough and Benitez admits his players have wasted too many opportunities this term. "I think it was a very bad day [against Middlesbrough]," said Benitez. "We were thinking of just to win, okay we lost and the title race is more difficult now. "I think we approached the game really well. The first minute we were okay, the chances we had we couldn't score, then after we concede an own goal and then everything was going wrong. "When we concede the second goal it is was more difficult again. That is football. "We were talking about the mistakes we made and we were talking about the future and the future is the game against Sunderland, so we have to think about this game, try to win three points and see what happens with United. You cannot change things now. "Clearly we have to take our chances. It has been the same problem all season." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_4994509,00.html ...which further highlights the need for more quality in attack!!! |
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| roo | Fri Mar 6, 2009 12:14 pm Post #14 |
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I too would let a good number of players go this summer: Pennant - Voronin - Dossena - Degen - Ngog - Leiva - Plessis - Babel I would also think about selling Kuyt if Juventus are happy to pay mega-money for him. |
| DO NOT USE KOPTALK - DO NOT BUY THE S*N | |
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| Olivavu (old account) | Fri Mar 6, 2009 4:28 pm Post #15 |
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If Juventus were up for paying the reported £25m odd for Kuyt, then we would be stupid not to. Kuyt's future appears to be dependent on Benitez's, however. |
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| digger 10 | Fri Mar 6, 2009 7:43 pm Post #16 |
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G Johnson G Barry M Owen (Free) Maxi Rodriguez I don't think Johnson is a great defender, but i think he would be a good option, when teams come to Anfield and park the bus... Both Maxi and Barry will be in the last 12 months of their contracts in the summer...so they shoudn't be out of our price range... I don't like Owen much (since he walked out on us) but getting him on a free, would be a great move because he will score goals. |
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| Olivavu (old account) | Fri Mar 6, 2009 7:46 pm Post #17 |
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Good call on all of those 
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| Olivavu (old account) | Fri Mar 6, 2009 7:48 pm Post #18 |
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We definitely need an understudy for Torres and Owen fits the bill nicely...except for his injury problems. But Torres has those also. Maxi Rodriguez would be an excellent signing, but I just don't see Rafa going for it - he's not solid enough defensively 
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| digger 10 | Sat Mar 7, 2009 8:23 am Post #19 |
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The sad thing is...that's probably true! |
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| Olivavu (old account) | Sat Mar 7, 2009 3:03 pm Post #20 |
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I think it all stems from Benitez's preoccupation with being cautious. |
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