Author Topic: How happy are you with the make up of the squad? (Read 16865 times)

Kochevnik · « **Reply #120 on:** September 3, 2014, 05:48:50 pm »

I would say I'm very, very happy.

The best part about it is that we're so young! I'll hold off on full judgment on the new players until we've seen more than a handful of games but on early evidence there's barely a disappointment in the lot. However, if the early signs are anything to go by, we have two capable young fullbacks (with another versatile homegrown fullback in reserve!), a very capable group at midfield and a stunning array of young attacking players. Origi, Sterling, Coutinho, Markovic is an absolutely stellar group of attackers and none of them are even near their peak - they will continue to improve over the next few years. And Balotelli and Sturridge are hardly old either. We could honestly go another 3 seasons without buying another attacking player. We won't, but it's fascinating to see the group we've built and think that's possible.

As someone mentioned downthread, the real advantage of the squad we've built is that now we can concentrate our funds in the way they're best employed: more young players who show signs that they can break through in the future, and one or two nailed-on talents every window. At this point you could look at a potential lineup for the 2017-18 and say that we really only need a centre back or two and a top midfielder and we're already set for that far ahead in the future. Again, it won't work out exactly that way but it's brilliant that you can actually look at it and make the argument.

tellusajoke · « **Reply #121 on:** September 3, 2014, 11:39:18 pm »

That:

Quote from: Hij on September 2, 2014, 12:09:05 am

Here is the make up of the squad when Brendan Rodgers originally took over

to This:

GK: Mignolet, Jones
CB: Lovren, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure
FB: Moreno, Johnson, Manquillo, Enrique, Flanagan
CM: Gerrard, Henderson, Allen, Can, Lucas
AM: Coutinho, Sterling, Lallana, Markovic, Suso
FW: Sturridge, Balotelli, Lambert, Borini

in 2 years is nothing short of miracle!

Peabee · « **Reply #122 on:** September 3, 2014, 11:53:52 pm »

I think it's fantastic squad. If Emre Can develops well, then I feel we have the strong CM we've required. The only other position that may need tweaking is GK. I believe Rodgers would love a GK who is strong between the nets and good with the ball at his feet, so maybe Valdes will be a good choice if Mignolet can't adapt his game?

The Batman. · « **Reply #123 on:** September 4, 2014, 04:54:19 pm »

I think we have done well fleshing out the squad with a number of good players now. Hopefully now we'll be in a position where we'll just be adding top quality first team players now rather than very good players. For example the likes of Cesc and Sanchez who have moved this summer is the level I hope we'll be bringing in over the next 3 or 4 windows

Looking through the squad I think we're strong in most areas now although I think we could do with one more out and out wide player as we only have Lazar and Raheem right now and those are both very very young.

I think we're good at right back with Manquillo/Flanno. I think we'll probably see an overhaul of CB next summer. LB is good just now with Moreno but I think we'll see a new back up LB next summer. I think CM will be overhauled next summer as well. I could see us adding a wide player, but I think we're sorted at CF with Sturridge and Super Mario.

Grandad. · « **Reply #124 on:** September 4, 2014, 05:02:05 pm »

That really is incredible what Rodgers has got in two years, God that 3-0 defeat to West Brom seems a distant memory now doesn't it?

Our starting eleven that day..

Reina - Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Kelly - Gerrard, Lucas (Cole), Allen, Downing (Carragher) - Borini and Suarez.

Our starting eleven in our last League game..

Mignolet - Manquillo, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno - Gerrard, Henderson, Allen, Sterling - Sturridge and Balotelli.

Wow.

sturridginho · « **Reply #125 on:** September 4, 2014, 05:14:13 pm »

Quote from: The Batman. on September 4, 2014, 04:54:19 pm

I think we have done well fleshing out the squad with a number of good players now. Hopefully now we'll be in a position where we'll just be adding top quality first team players now rather than very good players. For example the likes of Cesc and Sanchez who have moved this summer is the level I hope we'll be bringing in over the next 3 or 4 windows

Looking through the squad I think we're strong in most areas now although I think we could do with one more out and out wide player as we only have Lazar and Raheem right now and those are both very very young.

I think we're good at right back with Manquillo/Flanno. I think we'll probably see an overhaul of CB next summer. LB is good just now with Moreno but I think we'll see a new back up LB next summer. I think CM will be overhauled next summer as well. I could see us adding a wide player, but I think we're sorted at CF with Sturridge and Super Mario.

I think that man could be Brad Smith if he has a good loan, if Moreno is the type of LB that Rodgers wanted Smith will fit in well (about to make his international debut with Australia in a few hours).
Very happy with the squad, don't think there will be a need to worry about this attack for several years to come with Origi and Ibe to join the squad. CB and CM could be an area to improve on with Lucas halfway out the door and Gerrard not getting any younger and Skrtel will be 30 next summer, but if we only need 1 or 2 signings next year I suspect them to be top bracket players. Exciting times

simesy · « **Reply #126 on:** September 4, 2014, 05:19:52 pm »

Before the transfer window started the general consensus was we needed a couple of full backs a quality centre half, 2or 3 midfielders, attacking or box to box, a winger and someone to replace suarez.Rodgers has done that and more.Bringing in a marquee signing like balotelli toward the end of the window was a massive bonus. Am liking the look of the squad. Compare the bench to last season and I think we should be aiming to win the title. Barring a disaster I certainly think a champions league spot is well within our reach.

vicgill · « **Reply #127 on:** September 5, 2014, 02:10:12 pm »

David Beckham does decent make up for men I hear, personally I think they put too much on

DanA · « **Reply #128 on:** September 5, 2014, 03:13:08 pm »

It's probably the strongest squad we've had in terms of depth for a long time. 2008/09 had a better starting eleven I think with Alonso, Gerrard, Mascherano a big part of it but this side has a lot more quality going forward.

The Test · « **Reply #129 on:** September 5, 2014, 03:31:27 pm »

I'm often reminded of games v Chelsea in the mid noughties. We'd defend bravely for an hour, then the
Dismay when dick features would take off cole and robben and throw on duff and gudjohnsen... Or whichever combination. I remember ferguson often using the same demoralising tactic. Throwing on 2 or even 3 attacking subs.

And for the first time in decades we now have that option.

B_I_F · « **Reply #130 on:** September 9, 2014, 06:54:31 pm »

It seems to me like Liverpool's wage budget is smaller this season. Is this correct or something I've misunderstood? Does anybody know where I can find reliable information about the players' wages?

Zephyr · « **Reply #131 on:** September 9, 2014, 08:05:50 pm »

I am very happy with how our has shaped up over the summer. We now have a very flexible, pacey team whereby all our players seem to have a great work ethic and general attitude. We have improved on almost every position and, as is obvious, we have a brilliant amount of depth to almost every position on the pitch. I'm chuffed.

:-)

SwordInYourGut · « **Reply #132 on:** September 9, 2014, 08:25:24 pm »

Rather happy overall, but I think we missed a trick by not bringing in another central midfielder (a no.6 or

. I just hope Lucas is upto it, as that might be the difference between a title challenge and top 4 scramble especially if one of gerrard, henderson or allen gets injured

DanA · « **Reply #133 on:** September 10, 2014, 03:47:53 pm »

Quote from: SwordInYourGut on September 9, 2014, 08:25:24 pm

Rather happy overall, but I think we missed a trick by not bringing in another central midfielder (a no.6 or . I just hope Lucas is upto it, as that might be the difference between a title challenge and top 4 scramble especially if one of gerrard, henderson or allen gets injured

What about Can?

alfonso · « **Reply #134 on:** September 10, 2014, 06:05:13 pm »

Just looked at the squad and realised there is no #7. Is this the first ever season without a #7?

riismeister · « **Reply #135 on:** September 10, 2014, 06:27:09 pm »

Quote from: alfonso on September 10, 2014, 06:05:13 pm

Just looked at the squad and realised there is no #7. Is this the first ever season without a #7?

No #7 in 95-96 or 08-11. The only number to have been used in every season by us since 1993 is 8.

Hij · « **Reply #136 on:** June 17, 2015, 08:03:50 pm »

Interesting thread (not that I started it, but the posts within it).

Barring perhaps Balotelli, there seemed to be a feeling of optimism for the squad we had purchased and for the new season, which evaporated pretty quickly once Sturridge was injured and we struggled to find the net. Thread was made after the Tottenham game, we didn't realise how quickly we'd fold.

Hindsight is pretty much 20-20 isn't it?

I see a few talking about the cluster fuck of last summer, who weren't saying the same last summer

kcbworth · « **Reply #137 on:** June 18, 2015, 05:36:03 am »

Quote from: Hij on June 17, 2015, 08:03:50 pm

I see a few talking about the cluster fuck of last summer, who weren't saying the same last summer

Who'd have thunk it

Nice bump, made me smile

Le_Mot_Juste · « **Reply #138 on:** June 18, 2015, 05:43:06 am »

Quote from: Grandad. on September 4, 2014, 05:02:05 pm

That really is incredible what Rodgers has got in two years, God that 3-0 defeat to West Brom seems a distant memory now doesn't it?

Our starting eleven that day..

Reina - Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Kelly - Gerrard, Lucas (Cole), Allen, Downing (Carragher) - Borini and Suarez.

Our starting eleven in our last League game..

Mignolet - Manquillo, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno - Gerrard, Henderson, Allen, Sterling - Sturridge and Balotelli.

Wow.

Wow indeed

kkhaku · « **Reply #139 on:** June 18, 2015, 06:17:49 am »

Quote from: Hij on June 17, 2015, 08:03:50 pm

Interesting thread (not that I started it, but the posts within it).

Barring perhaps Balotelli, there seemed to be a feeling of optimism for the squad we had purchased and for the new season, which evaporated pretty quickly once Sturridge was injured and we struggled to find the net. Thread was made after the Tottenham game, we didn't realise how quickly we'd fold.

Hindsight is pretty much 20-20 isn't it?

I see a few talking about the cluster fuck of last summer, who weren't saying the same last summer

This is absolutely brilliant

There's one poster in particular who has been very vocal about how terrible up our transfer strategy is so far this summer (before the window has opened) and how the TC should be fucked off for making such a mess of last season - and has posted in here about how extremely happy and confident they were with the squad.

Anyway, unsurprisingly, all points to Balotelli. He was was the 'big name' striker that was brought in to start alongside Sturridge and go a ways towards replacing Suarez' output. 18 goals for Milan last season. Free kick specialist. Etc Etc. Amazing how wrong we all were.

Roger Federer · « **Reply #140 on:** June 18, 2015, 07:11:22 am »

Quote from: kkhaku on June 18, 2015, 06:17:49 am

Anyway, unsurprisingly, all points to Balotelli. He was was the 'big name' striker that was brought in to start alongside Sturridge and go a ways towards replacing Suarez' output. 18 goals for Milan last season. Free kick specialist. Etc Etc. Amazing how wrong we all were.

Balotelli is the main one. Even though I never rated him that much, I thought he'd get over 10 goals at least. And that he was capable of leading the attack, but turns out that he wasn't. He's the main reason yes, but then you also have the rapid decline of Gerrard (while still trying to fit him into the team), Lovren (the less said the better), Mignolet's first half of the season, etc. etc. I'm usually quite optimistic, it's clear that I was last season as well, and had too high hopes regarding our fullbacks, Gerrard, Markovic and to a lesser extent Balotelli.

My main concerns was the number of players that had to settle in quickly, Mignolet and the centre halves, that is still a concern now as well, especially our goalkeepers. Can't see how a back four with a high line and attacking fullbacks is going to work without a new number one. Maybe I'm as wrong about that as I was in general a year ago though.

redk84 · « **Reply #141 on:** June 18, 2015, 10:47:00 am »

Nice reminder here....

I was also happy with the signings at the time, though I didn't post in this particular thread (there's always a few on the go in RAWK!)

But yeah....Stevie's decline...Lovren/Balo/Lambert performing how they did...Lallana in and out of the squad through injury.....and who can mention injury without mentioning the mother of all injuries for Sturridge :/ annnnnnnnnnd the rest....

Cluster fuck of a season. Lots went wrong....not all down to the transfer window.

LiamG · « **Reply #142 on:** June 18, 2015, 11:02:33 am »

Anyone think our squad might be too big?

4 experienced CB's for example, don't think we need 4 (5 or 6 if you include ilori and wisdom)

SquirrelandGman · « **Reply #143 on:** June 18, 2015, 11:17:36 am »

Quote from: Djimi Smicer on September 2, 2014, 12:13:55 am

I'm absolutely delighted, we've invested very wisely in some quality additions and now have what I believe is the strongest squad we've had in years.

rickardinho1 · « **Reply #144 on:** June 18, 2015, 11:18:31 am »

Quote from: LiamG on June 18, 2015, 11:02:33 am

Anyone think our squad might be too big?

4 experienced CB's for example, don't think we need 4 (5 or 6 if you include ilori and wisdom)

I think we've got the right amount of CB's. Considered that Its uncertain wherever Ilori is ready or not, so extending Toure is a relatively cheap way of safeguarding against the possibility that Ilori isn't deemed ready. Also, do we really want Ilori/Gomez to be rotting on the bench ias 4th choice nstead of playing regularly and gaining valuable experience? Either way, if Ilori is good enough he'll be ahead of Toure in the pecking order, as I'm sure Toure will have been told.

As for other positions, we obviously have too many strikers, and perhaps something of a logjam in AM/wingers (ie. Coutinho, Sterling, Markovic, Lallana, Ibe, Teixeira, etc)

SquirrelandGman · « **Reply #145 on:** June 18, 2015, 11:19:11 am »

oh man this thread is comedy gold

SquirrelandGman · « **Reply #146 on:** June 18, 2015, 11:21:19 am »

Quote from: Butter Keks on September 2, 2014, 02:40:14 am

So you're not convinced by our attack, not convinced by our centre backs and our midfield is just alright. Fucking hell lad do you cry and feel guilty when having a wank?

LOL.... ah remembered his reply.