Liverpool FC Forum

[Ciggy]

And Ive never been jealous of Man U, Chelsea or anyone else for that matter, but I am starting to be jealous of the fact that Man City have 9 strikers. How many would get into our team? Id say Tevez, Adebayor, Robinho and Santa Cruz not Bellamy erm hang on    I am jealous of their spending spree on forwards.

I really believe we need to buy another striker, I love Dirk I really do I wish all our players had his attitude, but like Gerrard is no longer a midfielder Dirk is no longer a striker.

If god forbid, Gerrard and Torres get injured again like last season we are extremly short of fire power when all we have at our disposal are Ngog, A German Porn star, and Dirk.

People can say yes but last season we scored more than any other team and that is correct but most of them goals came in our routs of tw@tting teams everywhere 3, 4, 5-0.

When it was the draws that cost us and if we go into next season the same there will be more of them draws, I really believe we need a better back up than what we have a little gem like we had in Garcia not someone who costs the earth just someone that can unlock the 10 man defences that come to Anfield.

Id even say Tuncay or someone similar, if we get Silva then maybe he can contribute and if Babel gets his act together maybe there will be no need for a new striker, I was delighted when we signed Ryan but lack of games and confidence shot to pieces has ruined him, but thats up to him to turn his game around even though I feel he hasnt been given a fair crack at the whip.

So what does everyone else think? Do we have enough fire power ready for next season or do we need to add some quality?

[tubby]

We definatley need some more firepower and not just a new striker either. We need a midfielder with some creative attacking flair to help break down those small teams we were unable to break down last season. We threw away the league to utd with 14 points dropped in draws. If we are to win the league next season that cannot happen again. If our team stays as it is we risk next season turning out like this one. And let's not forget the other teams around us will be stronger.

[roberto green]

So let's get this clear.You think we need another striker?

[roberto green]

TBH I think we will sign another player whether or not it will be a striker I don't know but I agree that we need to improve on our squad strikers of Babel,Voronin and Ngog.Idon't deem any of these good enough and I would rather sell all of them and buy 1 striker who know how to score a goal.

[JC_81]

I don't think there's any doubt that Benitez knows we need another striker.

Last summer we had exactly the same striker options that we have now, and he signed Robbie Keane for 20 million, clearly thinking we needed to improve there.  Keane has since flopped and been moved on, but Benitez will surely once again look to strengthen that position.

Man City will never keep that squad happy.  Bellamy and Tevez are known to spit the dummy when not getting regular games, while both Robinho and Adebayor are temperamental to say the least.

I'd say I'm pis.sed off with Man City rather than jealous.  Their mucking around in the transfer market this summer is affecting the asking price of players this summer and having a knock-on effect for us and other teams trying to buy.  They'll be better this season, but I'll look forward to them getting their customary humbling beatings from the top four again this season.  No better than 5th place.

[bigmick]

If they get John Terry John I think they'll break into the top four comfortably. They may even do it anyway at the expense of Arsenal, and with all of last years top three except us looking weaker, they could actually do something. I tell you this, if Mourinho was there I think they'd have a shot at the title THIS SEASON COMING (I know that's a bit out there but I honestly think everyone is going to have to take them seriously now) but with Hughes probably breaking into the top four is the limit of their ambitions next season.

As for us, yes we definately need a striker, possibly even two. It all depends on money and what happens with Alonso, but if we need someone cheap I'd go for Tuncay. If it's someone more expensive feck knows.

[JC_81]

If they get John Terry John I think they'll break into the top four comfortably. They may even do it anyway at the expense of Arsenal, and with all of last years top three except us looking weaker, they could actually do something. I tell you this, if Mourinho was there I think they'd have a shot at the title THIS SEASON COMING (I know that's a bit out there but I honestly think everyone is going to have to take them seriously now) but with Hughes probably breaking into the top four is the limit of their ambitions next season.

As for us, yes we definately need a striker, possibly even two. It all depends on money and what happens with Alonso, but if we need someone cheap I'd go for Tuncay. If it's someone more expensive feck knows.

It's all hype Mick.

They've got quality in depth up front which is all very well, but their squad is horrendously top heavy and their weakest positions (wide midfield and at the back) haven't been improved upon. . . yet.

Furthermore I think they've got quite a few disruptive influences in that dressing room now, so it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

Chances of them all gelling straight away are slim and my guess is by the time they get it all together it'll be too little too late for them to mount a serious challenge for the league or possibly even the top four.  At the moment they're a group of individuals, not a team, John Terry or no John Terry.

[bigmick]

If they get John Terry John I think they'll break into the top four comfortably. They may even do it anyway at the expense of Arsenal, and with all of last years top three except us looking weaker, they could actually do something. I tell you this, if Mourinho was there I think they'd have a shot at the title THIS SEASON COMING (I know that's a bit out there but I honestly think everyone is going to have to take them seriously now) but with Hughes probably breaking into the top four is the limit of their ambitions next season.

As for us, yes we definately need a striker, possibly even two. It all depends on money and what happens with Alonso, but if we need someone cheap I'd go for Tuncay. If it's someone more expensive feck knows.

It's all hype Mick.

They've got quality in depth up front which is all very well, but their squad is horrendously top heavy and their weakest positions (wide midfield and at the back) haven't been improved upon. . . yet.

Furthermore I think they've got quite a few disruptive influences in that dressing room now, so it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

Chances of them all gelling straight away are slim and my guess is by the time they get it all together it'll be too little too late for them to mount a serious challenge for the league or possibly even the top four.  At the moment they're a group of individuals, not a team, John Terry or no John Terry.

Definately agree on the bunch of individuals thing mate, and the question is whether Hughes is up to getting them playing together. That's why I've never agreed with those who have implied that anybody could do what Mourinho did, it's just not as simple as splashing some cash.

All that said, if he can get them playing anything like reasonable, even close to the sum of their parts, they will win lots of matches. They've signed a shed load of good players, they already have Robinho and any team which has the likes of Barry, Tevez, Adebayor etc is going to be some kind of force.

The key I suppose for Hughes is what the expectation of the owners is going to be given the outlay. If for instance they finish fifth would that be enough? What about sixth behind the big four and Everton, seventh behind those five and Villa? I must admit from my perspective, I'd be telling him anything less than fifth is failure. They really ought as well to be able to give Arsenal at the very least the hurry up, and my guess is that Ancellotti wiull bomb at Chelsea as well, meaning even third is doable.

[JC_81]

If they get John Terry John I think they'll break into the top four comfortably. They may even do it anyway at the expense of Arsenal, and with all of last years top three except us looking weaker, they could actually do something. I tell you this, if Mourinho was there I think they'd have a shot at the title THIS SEASON COMING (I know that's a bit out there but I honestly think everyone is going to have to take them seriously now) but with Hughes probably breaking into the top four is the limit of their ambitions next season.

As for us, yes we definately need a striker, possibly even two. It all depends on money and what happens with Alonso, but if we need someone cheap I'd go for Tuncay. If it's someone more expensive feck knows.

It's all hype Mick.

They've got quality in depth up front which is all very well, but their squad is horrendously top heavy and their weakest positions (wide midfield and at the back) haven't been improved upon. . . yet.

Furthermore I think they've got quite a few disruptive influences in that dressing room now, so it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

Chances of them all gelling straight away are slim and my guess is by the time they get it all together it'll be too little too late for them to mount a serious challenge for the league or possibly even the top four.  At the moment they're a group of individuals, not a team, John Terry or no John Terry.

Definately agree on the bunch of individuals thing mate, and the question is whether Hughes is up to getting them playing together. That's why I've never agreed with those who have implied that anybody could do what Mourinho did, it's just not as simple as splashing some cash.

All that said, if he can get them playing anything like reasonable, even close to the sum of their parts, they will win lots of matches. They've signed a shed load of good players, they already have Robinho and any team which has the likes of Barry, Tevez, Adebayor etc is going to be some kind of force.

The key I suppose for Hughes is what the expectation of the owners is going to be given the outlay. If for instance they finish fifth would that be enough? What about sixth behind the big four and Everton, seventh behind those five and Villa? I must admit from my perspective, I'd be telling him anything less than fifth is failure. They really ought as well to be able to give Arsenal at the very least the hurry up, and my guess is that Ancellotti wiull bomb at Chelsea as well, meaning even third is doable.

I'm not sure Arsenal will be weaker Mick.  They've lost Adebayor (who in truth didn't really produce the goods last season anyway - 16 goals rather than 30 the season before), but have Eduardo and Rosicky back who are like two new signings.  They also have Arshavin from the start this season and their young players will be a year older and better.  They've also crucially signed a centre half who shouldn't find it too hard to be better than what they have there and their really young players like Wilshere, Ramsey and Vela might start having an impact in the league rather than just the domestic cups.  I expect Arsenal to push Chelsea for third to be honest.

I still think the title will be between us and United again.

Chelsea fans should worry.  Their squad was getting old last season and they've done little about it.  They've also got their 5th manager in three seasons which isn't helping them I feel.  I agree, I don't fancy Ancellotti to do well there, just like I didn't fancy Scolari's chances at the time.  I still think they've got a far better squad than Man City though, which is why I think 5th is the best City can finish.

[7_Kewell]

We could always sign Owen on a free.


Oh hang on...

[Ciggy]

I didnt want to turn it into a City topic, City dont need to buy any more players they need a really great manager.

But we are one of the most famous clubs in the world and cannot afford players City are the Everton of Manchester and money is no object. We are already in debt up to our eyeballs so we may aswell have had an owner that buys players as a luxury.

Wouldnt it be nice for Rafa to be able to buy who he wanted without having to scrape bargain basement deals and free bees for a change?

Voronin, Degen and Ngog. Total cost 1.5 million.

The yanks need to dig into their pockets to improve our team we are still 3 world class players short, if they dont want to spend then they should kindly fuck rar off!!!

[JC_81]

I didnt want to turn it into a City topic, City dont need to buy any more players they need a really great manager.

But we are one of the most famous clubs in the world and cannot afford players City are the Everton of Manchester and money is no object. We are already in debt up to our eyeballs so we may aswell have had an owner that buys players as a luxury.

Wouldnt it be nice for Rafa to be able to buy who he wanted without having to scrape bargain basement deals and free bees for a change?

Voronin, Degen and Ngog. Total cost 1.5 million.

The yanks need to dig into their pockets to improve our team we are still 3 world class players short, if they dont want to spend then they should kindly fuck rar off!!!

3 world class players short Ciggy?

The league table last year doesn't really suggest that.  We do need one or two players in though, and of decent quality at that.

[bigmick]

To be honest (and I know this absolutely wouldn't happen but hear me out) if we never got an injury, and nobody ever got tired, and we played the same team in every single league match next season, I am absolutely convinced we'd win the league. The problem we have it seems to me, is our squad in too many areas is weak. That's why I'm surprised people rear up at the suggestion of the likes of Scotty Parker. He's a good pro and a good player, and he definately wouldn't let anyone down even if he played for a sustained period (although I would agree if he was your first choice, you'd be weakened).

The manager obviously sees players such as him and Emile Heskey as providing that kind of quality cover, if not to be an "option". I think in that sense there has been something of a paradigm shift from Rafa which has gone largely unnoticed. He is no longer looking for "options" and "possibility" players to anything like the same degree, he is more now concerning himself with players who are either first team shoo-ins (Johnson) or COVER players, (Parker). It's a much better way of doing things I think, particularly when you've got two c...s who own the club yet have less money than if the forum pooled the cash down the back of each of our setees.

the cash thing does hurt though, coming back to Lynd's topic starter. Carlos Tevez in particular would have been a 100% cast iron certain success in a Liverpool shirt IMHO and will look cheap at 25 mill. I'm equallyt certain the manager wanted him so sustained was the specualtion, it's purely finances which prevented it. For the record, i don 't believe any of that b0ll0cks Tevez's agent came out with regarding him not going to a "rival" club out of respect to the Manc fans.

[Ciggy]

3 world class players short Ciggy?

The league table last year doesn't really suggest that.  We do need one or two players in though, and of decent quality at that.

Yes mate I do believe we need another world class striker, and two world class wingers, even though I do appreciate what Dirk, Yossi, and Albert bring to the team.

I also think think (this wont go down well) that Carra should be dropped and Agger & Skyrtel should be our prefered choice next next season.

[LFC2007]

Rafa might be a bit reluctant to shell out big(ish) money for a forward given what happened with Keane, and his subsequent comments in the press. Not that there are many apt ones out there anyway, or that we might have the funds to splash £15-20m. I think he's more likely to sign a Tuncay-level player (£6-7m say) partly because of budgetary constraints, and partly because the press probably won't bill them as the ultimate partner for Torres. Tevez, because of his obvious and proven world-class ability in this league, would have been the exception to that.