Author Topic: Do we have a "Top 4" squad? (Read 3823 times)

Reeves · « **on:** December 30, 2010, 12:59:07 AM »

I'm hearing lots of "our squad is still good enough to finish in the top 4". Well in my view it's not, whether its Roy in charge or not.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Utd, City and Spurs all have superior squads, and first X1s too. Our squad and first X1 needs major investment.

anil · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:00:14 AM »

No kidding.

Same as last year. What top squad has only one top striker?

ThepepeReina · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:01:05 AM »

its not even close anymore.

Mewtwo · « **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:01:06 AM »

We need an Overhaul IMO

Paul JH · « **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:02:30 AM »

Have some quality, quality players that should be doing better than they are. Also have some utterly shite ones. Same old problems.

rushyman · « **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:02:50 AM »

we're 12th on merit

Breitner · « **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:02:58 AM »

The mediocrity outweighs the class but we should be doing a lot lot better. Maybe not top 4 but certainly on their heels. There's just no direction, no method and no spirit. For me the season is a write off, bringing in fresh blood - manager and players - might salvage something at least.

bigbear · « **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:03:27 AM »

We have a top 6 squad and confidence creates confidence.

kacangpool · « **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:03:38 AM »

yes, especially with competing teams dropping points these season.

SFiasco · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:05:42 AM »

If you we're to say to me ' Do we have a top 4 squad? ', my answer would have to be a resounding ' No '.

Shepnois · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:06:02 AM »

We've got a squad which should be finishing top 6/7. We're well off a top 4 finish right now, we'll be lucky to get a top half finish at this stage.

Sarge · « **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:06:32 AM »

JWAlonso · « **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:07:12 AM »

Sadly, not anymore.

CHOPPER · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:07:31 AM »

I we were a car (and i've said this before) we'd need some new wings, a whole new set of brakes, a nice new name to go along side Torres' on the wind screen and some new tyres. Not a exactly a new car but some work needs doing to it in certain areas

jckliew · « **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:08:43 AM »

not sure about that but we sure have a bottom four gaffer!

Reeves · « **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:09:17 AM »

Quote from: rushyman on December 30, 2010, 01:02:50 AM

we're 12th on merit

Agreed.

It's funny isn't it, there will never be a measure of the effectiveness of a manager as opposed to another (with the same players over the same time period). By that I mean that very often its the manager's head on the line, but at the end of the day it's the 11 players (+subs) who really make the difference. I often wonder whether the input of a Manager is over rated. I'm not saying a Manager is not hugely important but it's the 11 players and their quality that are key. On that basis it's the Manager's purchases which are so crucially important. And our first team and squad are not collectively of the requisite quality. It must be hugely frustrating for the real stars to know they're not with a shout of glory.

downtown · « **Reply #16 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:09:34 AM »

A lot of our players reached their peak 2 years ago and are just getting worse.

CBs, we can have a complete overhaul despite what people say, same on the wings, and left back. that's for starters

Paul JH · « **Reply #17 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:10:07 AM »

5 points off the bottom of the table. At the end of December. Top 4? We could go down (we really could if this carries on)

T-Bone · « **Reply #18 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:10:10 AM »

Is water dry in liquid form?

Lent§ · « **Reply #19 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:10:43 AM »

The man who's word everyone seems to take as gospel or some sort of authority says we have a top 6 Squad. I don't disagree on the whole.
We don't have anywhere close to a top 4 squad. Infact there are 5 teams/squads better than us straight away in The Big 3 (tm Sky Sports) City and Spurs. All much better first teams and definitely better squads.

xerxes1 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:10:45 AM »

Quote from: rushyman on December 30, 2010, 01:02:50 AM

we're 12th on merit

Ouch.

Since we were second we have lost two world class players in successive summers without replacing them like for like - decline was inevitable. It is no mystery. Lose your best players and results suffer.

Deadly 60 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:11:41 AM »

Yes, we do have a squad capable of getting into the top 4. We do not have a manager capable of motivating and setting said squad up to perform to it's strengths thus negating any possibility of us finishing in the top 4. Even without what you define as a "top 4 squad", i.e. the current Arsenel or Man Utd squads for example, with a decent manager and a bit luck then top 4 could still be possible - I make reference to Everton in 2005.

JovaJova · « **Reply #22 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:12:11 AM »

Based on players fit and available at this present moment Royston could have started with this side tonight

------------------Reina

Johnson----Skrtel---Agger----Aurelio

--------------Lucas--Meireles
.........................Aquilani
............Gerrard..............Maxi
..........................Torres

Instead he sent out that abomination of a mixture of his own signings and poor judgement on Rafa's squad with obvious results. Now after watching all the top teams this season I refuse to believe that starting eleven is any worse than them.

We could easily have challenged the top four with a bit of wise planning in the summer, even with the cancer still in charge when they were. Now it will obviously be more difficult but we are still only a couple of clever signings away, with the obvious and most crucial being Roy's replacement.

scotkop · « **Reply #23 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:12:43 AM »

Quote from: Sarge on December 30, 2010, 01:06:32 AM

No.

royhendo · « **Reply #24 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:13:15 AM »

In the hands of te right leader, the squad's still very strong indeed.

Lent§ · « **Reply #25 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:13:21 AM »

Quote from: FernandoTowers on December 30, 2010, 01:11:41 AM

Yes, we do have a squad capable of getting into the top 4. We do not have a manager capable of motivating and setting said squad up to perform to it's strengths thus negating any possibility of us finishing in the top 4. Even without what you define as a "top 4 squad", i.e. the current Arsenel or Man Utd squads for example, with a decent manager and a bit luck then top 4 could still be possible - I make reference to Everton in 2005.

No we don't.

Bob Loblaw · « **Reply #26 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:14:15 AM »

Don't think we do. You'd have to say that Arsenal, United, Chelsea, Spurs and City are well ahead of us right now.

We have some pretty decent players but the balance just isn't there. We have one very good striker. No very good wide players. One very good attacking full back who's somewhat iffy defensively. We have two good CM's in Lucas and Raul, but one is being used as a RM and neither are going to get you many goals or set many up anyway. Gerrard is getting on. Decent players at CB, but no stand-outs.

Lot of work needs to be done, and the sooner NESV get cracking on it the better.

Funny thing is, they've all pulled away from us, yet are any of them better than they were last season? City maybe?

scotkop · « **Reply #27 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:14:29 AM »

Quote from: JovaJova on December 30, 2010, 01:12:11 AM

------------------Reina

Johnson----Skrtel---Agger----Aurelio

--------------Lucas--Meireles
.........................Aquilani
............Gerrard..............Maxi
..........................Torres

Aquilani?

Reeves · « **Reply #28 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:14:46 AM »

Quote from: Shepnois on December 30, 2010, 01:06:02 AM

We've got a squad which should be finishing top 6/7. We're well off a top 4 finish right now, we'll be lucky to get a top half finish at this stage.

Agree with all this

oojason · « **Reply #29 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:15:05 AM »

Our rivals have indeed strengthened whilst we have faltered, and yes investment is required in the squad - especially in the wide areas, yet I still believe most of the squad who finished 2nd a season ago can repeat, or challenge for a top 4 place, again.

2 wingers and a leftback would be a necessity to improve and challenge, an athletic strong CM in the style of Sissoko wouldn't go amiss as an addition to the squad. With the talented and hungry upcoming youngsters in Kelly, Wilson, Insua Shelvey, Pacheco and NGog filling the squad and gaining experience when the time and games are right to do so I don't think we are too far off. Obviously that requires real quality in the 3 widemen we'd need to bring in, though a change in manager, philosophy and attitude - as well as tactics, belief and cohesion would be needed to.

helen the llama · « **Reply #30 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:15:50 AM »

I'd say better squad than 12th suggests.

Might help if a formation could be found to HELP the players.

stoopid yank · « **Reply #31 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:16:39 AM »

I have to disagree with with most of you and say yes the squad is good enough IF played in the proper formation and correct tactics. Everyone was excited pre game because we expected/hoped for this team:

Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Aurelio
Meireles Lucas
Kuyt Gerrard Maxi
Torres

I would bet the house we would have won tonight with that team, playing pressing, attacking football.

Someone posted earlier we are seeing a team that has finally given up on fighting Roy's negative tactics.

Get rid of Roy, change the formation, change the tactics - we are good enough for top 4 - might be too late for this season but there is always hope...

JovaJova · « **Reply #32 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:16:43 AM »

Quote from: scotkop on December 30, 2010, 01:14:29 AM

Aquilani?

Sure

He is a member of our squad that the current manager decided to ship out. He was part of the tools Roy had available to him when he entered the job therefore I'm including him in my analysis of the squad when discussing how any other manager could have performed with what Roy inherited.

Tonyh · « **Reply #33 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:17:42 AM »

To see Gerrard, Cole etc wandering around on 90 mins showed what the problem is. Whether that is a player, manager or other problem is what we need to work out. Roys tactics we child like tonight but the players were rank......

Superthing · « **Reply #34 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:18:10 AM »

I think we have a top 4 first XI but only a top 8 (at best) squad

supaerheraw · « **Reply #35 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:18:13 AM »

We have.

scotkop · « **Reply #36 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:18:32 AM »

Quote from: JovaJova on December 30, 2010, 01:16:43 AM

Sure

He is a member of our squad that the current manager decided to ship out. He was part of the tools Roy had available to him when he entered the job therefore I'm including him in my analysis of the squad when discussing how any other manager could have performed with what Roy inherited.

Ok, missed yer point.

RedinExile · « **Reply #37 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:18:35 AM »

Erm...good enough to challenge for top four yes. Replace alonso and the monster to challenge for the top.*

*yes I also acknowledge we need strengthen in plenty of other quarters to sustain that level.

Picklez · « **Reply #38 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:18:39 AM »

I feel for our next manager, I really do.

Promised to never post on RAWK again · « **Reply #39 on:** December 30, 2010, 01:19:53 AM »

No, we don't have a top 4 squad ... At best, we have a top 6 squad ... Fortunately, the spine is still there, but some serious improvements are needed ...

GK: Reina, Jones, Gulasci

RB: Johnson, Degen, Kelly
CD: Skrtel, Carragher, Ayala
CD: Agger, Kyrgiakos, Wilson
LB: Aurelio, Konchesky, Insua

DM: Lucas, Poulsen, Spearing
DM: Meireles, Aquilani, Shelvey

RW: Kuyt, Maxi, Elzhar
AM: Gerrard, Pacheco
LW: Cole, Jovanovic, Eccleston

ST: Torres, Babel, Ngog