delboy_lfcguess this could be a title-challenging team and 5 signings aren't unrealistic under the new owners.
though i guess hazard will probably remain a wishful-thinking.
30.03.2011
SanzYou've left out Johnson. If you've sold him, please go and rebuy him again because we ain't going into next season with Carragher at right back. No way! Also, Insua is out of contract this summer i believe.
The rest is very good, if wishful thinking with Baines, Hazard and Lukaku. And Suso is still only 17, it's more likely that Pacheco will be involved next season than him.
04.04.2011
delboy_lfci agree with you on carra, but since he's got a contract it's kinda hard to let him out completely. that was my thought behind it.
@pacheco: looking back at his record with us and the three managers we had i really doubt that he'll be coming back. though his performance for norwich just showcased that the lad should have had his chance, way ahead of the coles, maxis and jovanovics. shame!
but suso, though very young, should really start moving towards the first team, i mean, what da hell are we waiting for? yes 17 is young, but let's not fool ourselves on this one, many other world class players have played first team football at this age. i think it's also one of the reasons why we havent had any young players coming through the academy or the reserve team into our first team for years now. if a young players has the potential and quality what are we waiting for? they cant be worse than a huge part of our squad of the last 5-10 years.
05.04.2011
FeriAtsThis sort of optimism is typical, when a team gets a few good results back to back. A more realistic goal for Liverpool would be to gain back their CL spot, before they start thinking about a title challange.
05.04.2011
delboy_lfc@feriats that's your pov. i dont think that we had so many good results to be honest, we beat the manure than lose to west brom.
but either way, if you look at the team above you can't seriously deny the fact that in terms of quality this team WOULD seriously be challenging. on each and every position this team is not weaker than any of the top 4 teams now.
the other question is if this team would glue fast enough to challenge, but hey. why not.
05.04.2011
RFMHCan't see Reina staying.
Hazard would be too much money, don't believe the notion that the Americans have spent 'that' big. The net spend in January was only 2million. Though debatably it would have been higher had they kept Torres as Suarez wasn't dependant on Torres leaving (like Carroll was). Also to see a player at that level coming without European football seems unlikely. Also Marveaux seems increasingly likely and he's a free.
Aqualani is 50/50 as I think his wages are quite high and that is an area the club want to trim (look at the club already having 5/6 players out on loan that could have been considered regulars/almost regulars at one point or another). If Aqualani did stay I wonder if the temptation to play him on the wing would be there, he can deliver a ball has a fair amount of pace and it is a position Liverpool are desperate.
Cahill and Baines I think would be more likely to get offers from teams in Europe and Baines especially would be more likely to take that offer to justify leaving Everton.
http://this11.com/topics/show/4956/another-liverpool-2011-2012-team
Is my take on the summer.
05.04.2011
delboy_lfc@rmfh:
can see your point that the net spending was only 2m but then again, i am sure there will be funds there, not at least due to the fact that we should be getting rid of maxi, jovanovic, cole, kyriagkos, konchesky, poulsen, n'gog. i can further see reina, pacheco, aquilani also leaving the boat but in that case we need some serious signings, otherwise there is simply no chance of getting the top 4.
aquilani: the problem here is the asking price we (rightfully) have placed, if it's not met i'd keep him, i doubt it that he's on more money than joe cole.
but i dont see aquilani on the wing as you do, he simply lacks the pace to penetrate deep lying teams. i'd rather have him in the middle.
cahill & baines: they are obviously targeted by more teams, but this was also a very football-manager-type of take on the next season.
i might actually try to make a more realistic one :)
05.04.2011
RFMHMaybe where I said pace I should have said ability, you don't strictly need pace to be a good winger, McMannaman, Barnes, Bellamy all effective on the wing with pace, but Nasari, Arshavin, Arteta (recently deployed back on the wing where he started), Giggs in his later years still effective out wide without necessarily that much pace because they had the ability and trickery out there.
I also think Liverpool will have too much centrally behind the striker: Gerrard, Suarez, Meriless, Pacheco? for Aqualani to ever stamp a place in that area of the field. Out wide he would have more of a chance, though i'd wager his best chance involves a price tag and a passport :P
I do think the Americans will spend, I could have phrased that better, not least because Reina will fetch a fair amount and probably less to replace and they seem to be willing to throw that money straight back into the team (which is what you'd want). But with the major restructuring at the club you can see them creating a nucleus to build from (predominantly youth).
05.04.2011
FeriAts@delboy_lfc
I am going to go ahead, and say, with my all seriousness, that this team will not be able to challange the title.
Defensive line lacks quality and consistency. Too many names with no EPL experience and too many aging stars to pull a full season.
05.04.2011
delboy_lfc@feriats: i am afraid you have a point there. but you know you simply can't stop dreaming as a fan :p
06.04.2011
