Despite Liverpool seemingly going into this summer’s transfer market with a sizeable war chest, in addition to money accrued from sales, there is still however a need to prioritise the sort of players we need most. I have underlined below the positions in the team which we will need to reinforce if the Reds are to compete on the big stage, starting with the most important:
1. Wingers – I could go on all day about this subject but the Reds have lacked any genuine wingers for well over a decade. Attempts have been made in players such as Albert Riera, Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez to correct this deficiency, but the lack of real quality and pace on the wings in recent years has hurt the team badly. The failure to break down lesser team’s defenced was a massive problem during the title challenging season in 2008/09, and I am inclined to believe that if we had at least one more winger in that team, we may have won the title that year. 11 draws only needed to become 8 for the Reds to have won the Championship. With the arrival of target man Andy Carroll, the need has become ever more urgent.
2. Left Back – Playing Glen Johnson out of position, as well as youngster Jack Robinson, says it all about the problems we have in the position. Paul Konchesky was never good enough for the Reds and was immediately loaned out by Kenny Dalglish. The 2009/10 season’s first choice left back Emiliano Insua was also loaned out, and there are no were real alternatives in the position other than the injury prone Fabio Auelio. The Reds have never truly replaced John Arne Riise, and this summer, with the cash available, it gives the Reds a tremendous opportunity to find a great full back.
3. Holding Midfielder – It was apparent that when Jay Spearing went off against Aston Villa with an injury last week, that the Reds midfield was overrun. Although Lucas is the team’s player of the year, he will need support, and although Spearing looks a decent squad player, a commanding physical presence is needed to ensure security in central midfield. Protection of the back four, with so many sides playing 5 man midfields these days, means at least two top class holding midfield players in the squad are essential.
4. Centre Back – With the likelihood that Sotirios Kyrgiakos will depart this summer, the ageing years of Jamie Carragher, and the continual injury struggles of Daniel Agger, it is a good idea that there is someone in the squad who can come in to provide a commanding presence at the back. A person strong in the air, as well possessing the ability to pass out from the back is required.
5. Striker – Considering we got two strikers effectively for the price of one in January, the need to search for another forward is obviously less but I feel four top class strikers is always better than three, and with Carroll, Suarez, and Kuyt already in the team, perhaps another body could be added to the mix?
Do you agree with the order above?
Written by David Tully for Live4Liverpool.com. Follow him on twitter @live4Liverpool or like us on Facebook
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absolutely . Scot Dann , Izaguire , Matudi , Adam , Mata and Shane Long is my wish list
nope i dont agree
If we could keep Agger fit we wouldn’t need a centre-back, but that’s easier said than done. Don’t forget Martin Kelly is a centre-back by trade, and given his obvious talent, and the wealth of right-backs we have all of a sudden, he might be worth a shot there. And then there’s Danny Ayala – he was starting to look quality before he went on loan.
I don’t think we’ll invest heavily in a world-class striker – who’d want to warm the bench? If we’re going to spend big I’d be happy with a left-back and a genuine out-and-out winger.
We need to spend the money on one or two quality wingers an established left back, and someone with a bit more creativity in the centre. I feel as he gets older Steve G will sit deeper and command the game from there so a defensive midfielder or another striker would be good but would only be the icing on the cake! As with any of the summer signings I for one pray for quality over quantity. The current squad is better than it is given credit and given the ups and downs of last season I feel we are better than 6th place.
I agree with this but who to sign? I think
Wingers: Marveux, Elia, Jarvis
LB: Izaguirre (better defender than Enrique)
Holding midfielder: Keep Aquilani?
Centre Back: Johnson from Birmingham
Striker: Aguero (people will tell me no chance but he is a liverpool fan, we were promised a marquee signing and he can operate on the wing or upfront)
As if you’re saying the whole team need to be change
My additions would be a top top Striker to replace Ngog, a left winger, a left back and an attacking midfielder(early 20’s) in the mould of Stevie G. Thats 4 in all, and the league is ours this year. These 4 have to be top class and moneys spent on four of them should be at least 15 million each which =s 60 milion. Sell all our deadwood(Cole,Ngog,Jova,Poulsen,Aquilani,Insua,Konchlsky, and another 2 fringe players who arent LFC stock) and recoup at least 30-40 mill. Hope Kenny is reading my comment.
am fade up with the way things are going concernig the players coming to lfc this summer,because almost all the top stars that were about coming to lfc,now other big clubs are also going for them which the players can’t reject because these clubs are playing in europe next season,just example of ASLEY YOUNG and without signing quality players next season then our club lfc should know that they are going to loose the remaining good players they have arround in the club,now is for mr,kenny and comolli to bring out the money to convince good players beforer lfc can make good outing next season.
We are all happy that some of the kids broke through into the first team right? So why buy a centre half when we have Kelly? Just because we have money, we don’t need to dump him back in the reserves for an expensive other option.
There is a fear at the top clubs, that you cannot afford to bring kids through and give them the time to make mistakes, but without a strong local backbone to your team, what is the point? I don’t want to follow an Arsenal, that at one point didn’t even have any English in the team, let alone anyone from North London. So if a kid gives away a free kick or lets someone through, and we concede the odd goal, it’s not the end of the world, and they hopefully never make the same mistake again. Now we can’t bring a whole bunch through, but Kelly and Spearing deserve the right to stay were they are, and play regularly this season. We have brought in some great kids recently, why do we feel this urge to go out and buy big? Sure we are weak this season and we need three players for the wings and left back, but we don’t need any others really.
WHE NEED A 10. SEARCH FOR THIS GUY CALL MARIO GOTZE OR TINY KROSS HTEY ARE PERFECT
craig mcail smith any one?
if liverpool end up with players like long, the celtic left back, jarvis, adam and of that type then we might as well pack it in.
WHAT A LOAD OF TOSH THAT IS TO BE WRITING LIKE FANS HAVE ABOVE, ABOUT WANTING THAT LOAD OF SHITE AT THE CLUB.
A LIVERPOOL FAN WHO HAS A WISH LIST THAT IS SCOTT DANN, ASAM AND THAT CRAPPY CELTIC LEFT BACK IS JUST SHOCKING, WISH YOU LUCK WITH THAT BUCKET LOAD OF CRAP……………
pretty spot on that quality not quantity. only one thought to add, if we buy two wingers kuyt who is scoring for fun and works well with suarez should be used as striker and that is enough.
WINGERS… 2 OF: MATA, HAZARD, YOUNG, JOHNSON
LB… 1 OF: COENTRAO, LAHM, CLICHY, TAEWOO
CB… 2 OF: VERTONGHEN MERTESACKER, SAKHO, CAHILL,HECTOR MORENO, SHAWCROSS, DANN,
HM… 1 OF: LASS, GAGO
AND WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER STRIKER, WE NEED A CREATIVE MIDFIELDER, OR MAYBE GIVE TO JOE COLE ANOTHER CHANCE.
AND WE NEED TO SACK.. AGGER, AURELIO, KYRGIAKOS, JONES, KONCHESKY, INSUA, POULSEN, N’GOG, JOVANOVIC,