So, after the recent performances from our team, and in particular the result today, I feel compelled to vent my frustrations, for several reasons. This is not only because I happen to live in Sunderland and work tomorrow will be hell, and not only because us drawing cost me a return of £1784 on my acca (from £1 stake) and not just because I've put a serious dent in my southern comfort. Mainly, I am genuinely worried about the state of our team and the amount of rebuilding it will take to solve these issues, even though we have been "rebuilding" for a good few seasons now.
At the moment I would describe our team as a human body without any brains, bones or eyes. We are essentially a set of muscles with nothing to make them work part from a heart courtesy of Klopp. Crucially, we have no leaders and no mental fortitude to see out a game. I'm not so worried about our attacking game, but it seems like we literally have no defence half the time. It seems clear to me that a substantial squad overhaul is required.
To that end, we need to ship out the players who aren't good enough or don't fit the system. In my opinion, this list is Benteke, Lallana, Skrtel, Moreno, Mignolet, Lucas, Allen, Balotelli, Alberto, Ilori and Enrique. I would keep Kolo for another season then phase him into the coaching setup. Lallana and Allen might make decent squad players, but I just feel that their work rate and movement is the only thing in their lockers.
Now to incomings. We will need a new GK, LB, CB, 2x DM (one playmaker/one destroyer) and RW, plus markovic back. We simply can't afford to players who are simply available and not the best option. We need to pay for proven quality, and offer whatever wages we can afford. I think we should sign Mandanda, Matip and Feghouli on free transfers, as they all have proven quality and experience.
Then we should spend big on the defensive midfielders and left back. My choices would be Luiz Gustavo and Gundogan for defensive midfielder, although Gustavo might be difficult to tempt amid guaranteed interest elsewhere. Then Ricardo Rodriguez for left back. He would be very expensive but exactly what we need with a mix of quality and experience at just 23 years old.
If we don't sign quality players this summer, I can see us becoming a perpetually mid-table side. You can guarantee that the teams around us will be pending a lot of money to strengthen. We need basically half a first team, and not simply players with potential to make up numbers, that's what our academy is there to do.
Sorry for the long article, simply had to post something before I went mad.
Genuinely worried (longish article)
posted on 7/2/16
I think the priority must be a Goalkeeper, Centre Back and Left Back.
Then maybe a Midfielder & Striker.
We've got some decent players but need a strong spine, and some leaders.
posted on 7/2/16
If Ings and Origi had been fit then I think we would be 6-10 pts better off, and that would put us right in the top 4 race.
We need an injection of proven, consistent quality, and more balance to the squad, but we don't need a giant overhaul.
4-5 players switch and we would potentially have a very good squad.
It's just about getting the right quality in.
Top players make over lesser player look and play better.
posted on 7/2/16
Who would buy the dross that the OP thinks needs to be sold?
posted on 7/2/16
comment by selbstgerechtein (U7048)
posted 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
If Ings and Origi had been fit then I think we would be 6-10 pts better off, and that would put us right in the top 4 race.
We need an injection of proven, consistent quality, and more balance to the squad, but we don't need a giant overhaul.
4-5 players switch and we would potentially have a very good squad.
It's just about getting the right quality in.
Top players make over lesser player look and play better.
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Totally agree with you. Suarez alone made our players better than they are.
We need 3-4 quality players. We have a decent squad but lack a spine from the defence to attack.
posted on 7/2/16
The transfer strategy at the club over the last few years and particularly in the summer has been atrocious.
In the summer we go out and sign a player for £32m pound who thrives on crosses into the box and we then proceeded to get rid of the wingers who would supply him! 👍🏻
We have a central midfield that has no creativity what so ever and around 10 number 10's! 👏🏻
Our central defenders can't defend and are big slow and cumbersome but cost a fortune! 💩
And the best of all and a thing which makes absolutely no sense at all is we've just handed a new 5 year contract to a goal keeper who can't do the simplest things right! 🤔
posted on 7/2/16
It seems clear to me that a substantial squad overhaul is required.
Agree with this. 9 players needed in the summer, starters too none of this 19 year old wonder kid tosh who we will end up selling when he becomes better. I'd say most positions need strengthening too.
posted on 7/2/16
9 starters
posted on 7/2/16
Or stick with the current bunch & finish ninth
posted on 7/2/16
4-5 players switch and we would potentially have a very good squad.
It's just about getting the right quality in.
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Yep, that sounds about right. 4-5 starters brought in, relegating a few to the bench, and some dross being sold off. All of a sudden, we ain't looking too bad.
Of the starters brought in though we NEED leaders. Players with mental strength and maybe a bit of extra height.
Getting Matip on a free would be a good start, and Grujic is a promising youngster in the mold of Can, but we need ready-made leaders. We need Gerrard to come back in a time-machine!
posted on 7/2/16
Origi and Ings are our future.
Players hopefully leaving LFC in the summer:
Mignolet - just give him away, even pay for him to go.
Sakho - love the effort, but the guys just isn't good enough.
Moreno - Real are allegedly after him. Please elo him, even at a loss.
Skrtel - irrespective of the injuries, he is not good enough.
Midfield - we've got a skipper who cannot score, he does not command, he does not appear to be captain quality. Milner, great athlete, but his best days are behind him - squad player at best. Can - how more frustrating can that guy be, or is he just knackered? Our midfield don't score enough goals.
Attack: I'd keep Origi, Danny, Daniel, in that order. Christane - no. There can be no future in him.
And Jurgen, let the youths have a chance.
JimmyTheRed