Over the period of this season there have been shouts for a new keeper, a new central defender, a new powerhouse in midfield and you have probably seen me shouting for a new striker every week.
What position do you believe is the priority for this summer.
Here is my view -
Goalkeepers
Mignolet - had a bad start to the season and I believe his confidence was shot due to our defense being easily exposed as they had no midfield cover. I think since we changed the system he is a much better keeper and had man of the match performances against Arsenal & Blackburn this week. Keep Migs
Jones - Is not good enough as back up for me. Get a up and coming young keeper in this summer
Defenders
I think Toure is too old now a first choice back up. We need to utilise Can better in midfield next season as well so a Centre Back is needed in my opinion. Skrtel has had a good season so I will give him the benefit of the doubt to carry on next season. Get rid of Johnson and play Flanno now he is fit again.
We also have Tiago Ilori on loan at Bordeaux. Is he ready to come back?
Do we keep Manquillo. Didn't we get him on a 2 season loan?
Would Wisdom do a better job than Manquillo? Bring him back I say.
Midfield
2nd most important signing of the summer needed for me. We need a powerful box to box midfielder who can take the game by the scruff of the neck. I know we have Can but we need cover in this position due to Lucas getting regular injuries.
Attacking mids/Wingers
If we keep Sterling then I think we have this position covered with Sterling, Coutinho, Lallana, Markovic & Ibe
Strikers
Well as you guessed this is my priority need for the squad this summer. I have always said you win games with strikers and this season our strike force has been pathetic compared to last season. Sterling and Gerrard have scored 10 goals each and they are both not real strikers. Last season SAS had scored over 20 each at this stage.
Sell Borini, Balotelli, Lambert and buy 1 world class striker and promote Jerome Sinclair up to the 1st team squad. We also have Origi who seems to be coming into form and Brendan rates the lad highly. I would rather give a young hungry player a game over Lambert. I like Lambert and he loves the club but we need to put sentiment aside and let him go.
Players to be sold -
Johnson - Huge salary off the wage bill
Jones
Enrique - Too injury prone. High salary
Luis Alberto - Not right for us. Too lightweight
Iago Aspas - Would only keep him for his corners
Sebastian Coates - 3 Managers have not rated him. Get shot
Gerrard - No fee but a big salary off the wage bill
What do you think our priority need is in the squad and who would you shift out?
Priority this summer
posted on 10/4/15
comment by Insert random username (U10647)
posted 34 minutes ago
to play the diamond next season we will need another box to box CM, will need to get goals and have a presence (cabaye would be good at a reasonable price i would hope)
Ings to replace borini, at i would hope, a profit.
Someone like higauin to replace balo, and in fact, it could be a part swap deal.
we will also need a top rightback, flanno was better on the left last season, we can play moreno in games we need to attack, flanno when we want more defence. on the right we need a top new player, to replace johnno (and we will save a lot on his wages) and wisdom/manquillo can provide backup, or flanno if needed.
Centre back, Toure will leave, assess Ilori's progress, and Coates, see if we need another right centre back,
Really Skrtel, Sakho, Lovren (when he settles) should be fine with one of ilori or coates and wisdom as backup
In goal i disagree about jones, Migs confidence is back, i think some are being unrealistic about the quality of player we can have as backup, if jones leaves then it will be a cheap young prospect to fill his role, not peter cech, why would you go from being second at chelsea to second at liverpool, considering his ties to his current club...
sorry for the rambling thought process
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Insert re the keeper, I agree with you to an extent but would you agree any keeper we do bring in needs to be allot better then Ming with his feet?
It's instrumental to play out from the back and Ming, despite some excellent qualities, is desperate with the ball both at his feet and his kicking.
I'd happily see a young lad come in who has them attributes and coach him to become number 1 in a few years, who that is I don't know but that's the scouts job I guess.
posted on 10/4/15
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 10/4/15
Mig struggles to her distance on his kicks as well as accuracy. Plus he doesn't possess a good long throw.
His limp ankled efforts barely clear the half way line.
Opposition teams know they can afford to push up against us because of this
posted on 10/4/15
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 10/4/15
We definitely need a new 2nd keeper.
No 1 is dependant on Mig's form.
As for Papadopoulous, he has played 1000 mins, that's barely 11 games, and has been subbed numerous times when he has started.
He would be a crock.
posted on 10/4/15
kicking is secondary mig is stopping shots.we have 6 "defensive" players in front of mig, they need to present themselves as an option
If they cant because they are all being marked by high pressing opposition then its hardly migs fault all our attackers are 5ft tall.. and have no aerial threat to win his kicks!
posted on 10/4/15
We need to move away from 3 at the back now and play to our strengths, attacking with high pressure. I don't think we're gonna be able to address all weaknesses in one window, and for me the priority is the midfield and a striker.
Mignolet has been improving and playing a lot better after a horrendous start, and deserves next season to stake his claim long-term. As for a back-up keeper, maybe give Ward a chance?
In defence, I think we'll need one full back to replace the likely outgoings of Johnson and Enrique. Flanno, Manq, Moreno, and one more. Don't really see a future here for Wisdom sadly. At CB we're fine, recall Ilori and maybe let Kolo leave .
Can, Hendo, Lucas, Allen, and one new addition for CM. As everyone's said, a creative/box-to-box would be best for us, Gundogan would be the dream but never going to happen.
We're well stocked for wingers and attacking midfielders.
Replace Balotelli, Borini, and Lambert with one quality striker. Higuain or Lacazette would be great choices, but there will be a lot of competition especially with no CL football. Origi will be back, promote Sinclair, and Sterling as an option
So 3 new players - a full back, CM and striker. Quality, not quantity.
posted on 10/4/15
Striker, cm, rb, cm, lb, striker, gk, wf
In that order assuming we keep Raheem and Johnson and Enrique don't stay.
posted on 13/4/15
Another injury to Studge for the Newcastle game
This again underlines the importance of bringing in a top class striker in the summer.
posted on 13/4/15
Yep.
I'd hope they're saving him for Villa. Wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't training so that's why he's looked a bit off during the last couple of matches.