Liverpool FC Forum

by **JBG** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 5:42 pm

If Gerard Houllier was sacked at the end of the season and David Moores handed you the job and £20-25million transfer budget, what would you do?

This is my two cents:

Goalkeepers: Dudek is fundamentally a very good keeper, who occasionally makes a high profile mistake and gets hammered for it. I would start next season with him as no. 1, but I would very much keep Kirkland in mind. If Dudek plays well I would only play Kirkland in the league cup. However, if Dudek messed up I would have Kirkland in like a shot. I would look into keeping Paul Jones as back up, and maybe even consider him as a goalkeeping coach, but Paul wants first team football. I’m not sure about Luzi Bernardi, and Dudek and Kirkland pick up too many injuries for comfort, so Jones would be handy.

Defence: I would be ruthless and sell Traore and Biscan. Bolton or Blackburn might take Traore, but we would have trouble getting rid of Trashcan, and I couldn’t see anyone in England taking him. I would give Finnan and Carragher a season as the first choice full backs, with Carra at left back. If we still struggle the following year at left full I would beg my chairman to give me £7million to buy a top class replacement. I would be tempted to cash in on Riise if (but only if) a good offer came in (no doubt from Spurs or maybe Villa) but his days as first choice left back would come to an end with me in charge. If I didn’t sell him I’d use him as reserve left full but mostly in midfield when there are injuries and I want to condense the middle. If I kept Riise I’d sell Vignal, and vice versa.

I would offer Henchoz a new contract but he wouldn’t be a first choice player anymore. All the same, he would get a few games during injuries and suspensions. I like Henchoz, and he cares a lot for the club. He could also do an emergency job at right full.

I would monitor the situation at Chelsea and if they sign a big name centre half (which is very likely) I would offer them £7.5million of my transfer budget straight away for William Gallas. Gallas would be difficult to convince to leave London and come up north, but I’d convince Rick Parry to offer him £10,000 more a week than Barcelona and Arsenal would offer him, even if it meant paying him £60,000 a week. In my opinion he’s worth it. If I couldn’t get Gallas I’d look at Metzelder of Dortmund (Dortmund are broke) or, as a stop gap, Southgate of Boro. Its arguable whether Southgate would be much of an improvement over Henchoz, and our real problem is lack of pace. A tall powerful guy with pace is what I want, but if I couldn’t get Gallas (and with Boumsong going to Rangers) there really aren’t many others in our budget. Christinval of Barcelona fits the bill, but I don’t know how defensibly reliable he is.

I would also sell Babbel to Blackburn and give Whitbread and Otsemembor more opportunities.

Midfield: Again I would be ruthless. I wouldn’t stand in the way of Partridge walking out when his contract was up in the summer, and I would flog Diao as quickly as possible, although getting rid of him might not be as easy as seems. If I couldn’t sell him I would try to loan him back to France, and if I had to keep him I would only play him in the holding role when Hamman is injured. I would also sell Smicer and I have a feeling that a Premiership side like Birmingham or Fulham would give us a few quid for him. I will be controversial and give Cheyrou one last chance. If he does nothing by Christmas I would sell him or loan him out. He would be in the last chance saloon but I would give him a chance. I would have Hamman and Gerrard as my principal midfielders and I would promote John Welsh as Gerrard’s deputy. I would sign Steed Malbranque from Fulham and in honesty, that should be an easy enough transfer as Man UTD, Arsenal and Chelsea are over loaded with midfielders at the moment and the player says he likes Liverpool. I would chance a £4million bid, but Fulham would probably squeeze over £5million out of me. With the arrival of Mlabranque, Diouff’s days as a first teamer would be over with me in charge. Like Riise I would accept a good offer for Diouff, but realistically I cannot see anyone coming in for him. I would use him more in a forward role, but he will be low down the pecking order.

I would use Kewell all over the pitch and try to play to his strengths. I would take a gamble and pamber to him. He could be our talisman and I would be prepared to stick my neck out and make him the fulcrum of our team.

Attack: I would again be ruthless and sell Heskey. His reputation has taken a lot of knocks, but Boro, Villa or Blackburn would happily give us £5 million for him. A lot depends on Owen staying, and that will probably be his own decision. In either event I would go back in for Nicholas Anelka, and offer Man City £12-14 million for him. Anelka would probably return, especially if we got Champions League football. I would play Owen and Anelka as the front two, with Milan Baros as the principal back up. I would give Sinama-Pongolle and Le Tallec the occasional run out. If Owen left I would maybe buy Cisse, but if I managed to get Anelka I might look for the likes of Kezman of PSV.

I would either sell Neil Mellor or loan him out.

My first team would be:

Dudek
Finnan
Carragher
Gallas
Hyppia
Gerrard
Hamman
Kewell
Malbranque
Anelka
Owen

Subs: Kirkland, Otsemembor, Riise, Henchoz, Whitbread, Murphy, Cheyrou, Diouff, Baros, Pongolle, Le Tallec, Welsh, Jones.

I would play 4-4-2 possession football. The ball would stay on the ground, and when we have possession I would try to get the ball moving through Kewell as much as possible. I would insist on Gerrard varying his passing more, and I’d try and get Didi to take the ball from his cente halves rather than watch them step up along side him and give the ball away with their poor distribution. I would forbid my full backs from hitting long balls forward down the line except on in emergencies: instead they should pass it short to Hamman and Gerrard and make space on the line for a return ball ala Man UTD. I would get my centre halves to sit on the half way line when we have the ball and I would gamble on losing the occasional goal from a counter atatck.

I would maintain the current system of hitting our opponents fast on the break when their attacks break down. With Owen and Anelka in the team you would be stupid not too!

Malbranque and Kewell in midfield would help our creativity problems a lot.

I would never play players out of position unless I am forced to.

If a player is not trying on the pitch I would send on a youngster like Welsh, Pongolle or Otsemembor who nobody can fault for effort. If I though any player wasn’t trying I’d dump him in the reserves and let him waste away until his contract runs out. I would them point to the rest of the squad the likes of Phil Babb who took this p#ss at Liverpool by not trying and ended up losing his place in the Irish team and is now a journeyman player in the first division.

I would encourage my players to take more risks in the oppositions half, and encourage them to shoot from distance, even if 9 out of 10 of their shots float into the Kop.

I would attack the smaller sides at Anfield from kick off and throw everybody forward, gambling on my new pacy centre half to track back and I’d be prepared to risk a couple of 0-1 home defeats if it meant we won most of our home games (like Man UTD). I’d be a bit cagier away from home and look for the counter attack more but when the whistle blows for kick off and we are away from home and I think we can beat the team we are up against, I would go for the win by pushing on.

Above all else, I would drum into my players that they are playing for one of the greatest clubs in the world and there were kids on the street who give their teeth to be in a Liverpool shirt out on the pitch in front of the Kop. At the end of the day you can have all the tactics in the world, but passion is the number one preequisite.

by **greenred** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 5:49 pm

I wont even attempt to follow that jbg

sounds good to me.

by **columbia** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 6:49 pm

goalkeepers - id have kirkland as my number 1, dudek on the bench. I f dudek was unhappy being number 2 i would sell him and with the money earned would probably look at someone like robinson from leeds. I would try and convince paul jones to stay here as backup if not i would try and buy someone with his experience to join as back up, non spring to mind immediately though.

defenders - id sell biscan if possible, and try and get a quality centre half. The people that would interest me would be players like mexes, gallas, upson or kevin hoffland. I would like to get a pacey full back that could defend well and still give you something going forward, someone like candella. I would also like to give an oportunity to some of our younger players like walsh and otsemobor.

Midfielders - id keep pretty much the same, id just buy a quality right sided midfielder and sell diouf. Maybe Malbranque not sure. The midfield then would be kewell, gerrard, hamman and malbranque id use le tallec murphy and cheyrou as squad players.

atackers - First things first sell heskey. Im not sure about cisse, i think there are better otions. Maybe have someone to play off owen like litmanen used too. Van der vaart could do this well, however if we fail to get in the champions league he may take a bit of persuading. Like you say kezman could be another option, or maybe even Diego Tristain he's unhappy at deportivo and would score 20 + no bother.

Ideally then my first 11 would be

Kirkland

finnan
hyppia
gallas
candella

Kewell
hamman
Gerrard
Malbranque

Van der vaart
Owen

by **big al** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 7:13 pm

JBG
Dudek-would'nt have him about me don't trust him neither doe's his team mates. People forget who the goalkeper was for the 3 trophy year and it was'nt him. In fact his arrival has coincided with our demise although I don't blame him. Kirkland is the better of the two and if he can get back in don't be surprised if he makes the number one shirt for England thsi summer.

Hypia-stays
Henchoz-stays
Carragher- Agree with your analysis. Plays better left were whenhe cuts back he plays only forward attacking balls.
Finnan- Have seen nothing special infact I would put young Otsemembor above him based on effort.
Gerrard- Stays
Hamann-Stays
Steed Malbranque is an outstanding player and I would have him in the team but if he plays left were do you put Kewell. Kewell has'nt exactly shone out right and I believe if your gonna give anyone a free role then you might as well stick to Murphy, who I think gives possession away too easily. Kewell has to be on the left or on the bench. I wonder if Finnan Could play the right hand role. But I see this as one of our greatest weaknesses.We have always had outstanding players in this posistion. I beleive the top clubs are all extremely vunerable to people getting in behind them. Man U for instance push players in field delierately because that't were they strong same with Arsenal but not to same extent. Its important therefore to find a player who will get in behind defenders and open them up. He needs to deliver accurate outswinging crosses which goalkeepers and defenders these days don't like. I'm still looking (is Beckham available.)
Owen-stays
Contentious but Heskey-stays Emile strenght is in the air. we are currently s##t at crossing balls into him. everything is pumped up into the centre of the field. Owens loves playing with Heskey and I believe he can improve.

Team
Kirkland
Carragher
Hypia
Henchoz
Otsemembor
Hamman
Kewell
Gerrard
Heskey
Owen

??

Guess that means we are only one player short of a top team and one Tactically aware manager.

by **bpm1976** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 8:10 pm

Kirkland

Carr-3Mil. Sami H. Gallas-6.5Mil. Riise

Stevie G Jay Jay! ?? Didi Kewell
C.

Owen Kluivert-2Mil+fees=8 Mil.

Subs, Dudek, Henchoz, Carragher, Baros, Diouf, Taribo West - 1Mil.

Very attack minded with flair and exciting football written all over it, Carr is one of my fave full backs, bags of pace, can defend and likes to get forward. Gallas may come on the market if Ayala signs and would slot right in with Sami, Sami has had to play with some ferking bad centre backs this season, Biscan, Traore etc, he needs some of the weight taking off his shoulders. Jay Jay, contract up at the end of the season offer him 40k a week, 1 million signing on fee for 2 years with option of another year, creative, skillful will score and is a model pro, Kop hero in the making. West would bring experience to back the team up at left back or centre back, from Partizan he would cost a small fee, we cant keep putting up with Biscan at the back anymore. Oh, and Kluivert isnt he available on the cheap cos of his wages etc? at 27 im sure over 4 years we should break the bank, will lead the line or play as the solo attacker, would be up their with Henry, Crespo and Ruud as one of the best strickers in this league no questions. Cisse for 12 million? Kluivert for me everywhere time. we would have to shift the present fringe players out but given 20 million ish that is how I would spend it.

by **Owzat** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 9:01 pm

I'd look into the following transfers but this is merely speculation as we don't know a) how much clubs would actually sell these players for and b) if they'd sell them at all

Yakin - must be worth a gamble considering the £ms we've spent on the likes of Diouf, Heskey, Biscan.......
Kezman - quality
Upson - good player
Terry/Gallas - if either became available it would probably be at a decent price because Chelski don't need money
Anelka - would be worth it if we could get him for £10m but I doubt Man City would be willing to sell
Okocha - terrific player at Bolton, amazing he hasn't be lured away
Malbranque - good player and could easily be tempted

I could go on but as I say, it would be speculation as none of us have the connections to find out how much it would take to get them. Perhaps we'd be better off living out these "fantasies" on CM4 or whatever

by **115-1073096938** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 4:17 am

I was gonna do something like this myself the other day but i knew people would start mentioning players that are unrealistic targets. IE Gallas. Your dreaming if you think he'd leave Chelsea for Liverpool for any kind of money.

Thought your comments are meant to be "always worth reading" Big al? That statement you made about Dudek and our demise is simply inept as his arrival coincided with our best league placing and points total in the last 13 years aswell. Everyone was saying how they thought he was the best in the premiership, i still think he's one of them. The big picture "big al"?

As for picking Otsemobor ahead of Finnan i think you are truely nutz. Go to the games and watch Finnan more closey, not from highlights, not from tv, not from a newspaper or radio... attend a match and watch him. I garentee your opinion will change. He simply oozes class on the ball with his composure and is very good defensively. He's intelligent and probably has the best first touch in the whole squad, that is not an exageration. I like Semmy, i think he'll be a good player, he's another one with a good first touch, good engine and good pace, but his defensive play is first division standard at the moment. Not what is required i'm affraid.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Firstly i'd go in and make it know to EVERY player exactly what was expected in terms off attitude, effort and application.

Anyone who i felt wasn't showing these things in the right way would be out the door.

I would always want my players to clap when good intent is shown on the pitch even if something doesn't come off and i would always expect the huddle before the game aswell... these are important for team spirit and confidence.

Secondly i'd sort the squad.

1st team Goalkeepers.
Dudek and Kirkland... both excellent players. As good as each other.

Full backs.
Finnan, Carragher, Vignal, Riise and Otsemobor. Carragher and Finnan would be first choice. Vignal would be my third choice with Carragher switching to the right if Finnan was injured.

Centre Backs.
Hyypia, Henchoz, Carragher, Traore. In that order basically. If Henchoz was to pick up an injury or Sami, Vignal again would come in on the left with Jamie switching position.

Wingers/wide midfielders.
Murphy, Kewell and Smicer. All can play either side, Kewell and Murphy would be my first choice with Smicer the backup and if needed possibley Diouf or Cheyrou.

Centre mids.
Gerrard, Hamann, Le Tallec, Murphy, Cheyrou, Welsh. In that order.

Forwards.
Owen, Baros, Heskey/Pongolle, Diouf. Simple as really.

I would only play the players above out of positions they are under in extreme circumstances.

My first 16 would be:

GK Kirkland

RB Finnan
CB Henchoz
CB Hyypia
LB Carragher

RM Murphy
CM Gerrard (Capt)
CM Hamann
LW Kewell

CF Owen
CF Baros

Subs:
GK Dudek
DF Vignal
MD Le Tallec
MD Smicer
CF Heskey/Sinama depending on the game.

I'd never change the back 4 unless i had to, Murphy and Baros would be rotated with the other players. I'd chose a solid defensive, counter attacking style to start with over a couple of seasons, hitting teams on the break and using the pace of Owen, Baros and Kewell backed up by the drive of Steven Gerrard. Hamann breaking up the play and having the defense sitting deep.

The width would come from Finnan an Kewell and i'd want Carragher and Murphy to help create from the centre and make the team more solid to create a better balence so it would work something like this.

Code: Select all: Owen Baros Kewell Gerrard Murphy Hamann Finnan Carragher Hyypia Henchoz Kirkland

So basically it has the adaptability within the team to switch from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 within the game so you can adapt according to the opposition.

Depending on the developement of Le Tallec, Pongolle and Vignal who i think can become excellent players.... IE as good as Hamann and Finnan then i would eventually look to sign the players to change the style to a more swift attack minded controlling style.

I'd look for a pacey centre half to replace Henchoz, he would have to be at least as good as Stephane in terms of ability, Boumsong would have been ideal, Gallas would be a dream but basically that sort of player so i could play a higher line and be able to pressurise teams higher up the pitch.

I'd also want Malbranque to supply technique and industry aswell as intelligence to the midfield.

i'd then have two first 11's.

Code: Select all: Owen Kewell Malbranque Le Tallec Hamann Gerrard Vignal Finnan Hyypia Boumsong Kirkland

This would be more for away games and against sides in europe where more patience and defensive solidarity is needed.

Code: Select all: Owen Pongolle Kewell Le Tallec Gerrard Malbranque Vignal Hyypia Boumsong Finnan Kirkland

This one would be more for the games were i feel we can dominate and control with more ease. Owen and Pongolle offer great movement and pace upfront. The drive of Gerrard, intelligence and passing ability of Le Tallec and Malbranque. The width Kewell and Finnan can provide aswell as Vignal. All these players have what it takes to play good one and two touch football with good movement and pace. Defensively i would also think there would be enough there to keep clean sheets.

So basically

Dudek
Kirkland

Finnan
Carragher
Riise
Vignal

Hyypia
?? (Boumsong or Gallas type player)
Henchoz
Traore

?? (Malbranque maybe?)
Murphy
Kewell
Smicer

Gerrard
Hamann
Le Tallec
Welsh

Owen
?? (Cisse maybe? Anelka would have been great but for his attitude)
Pongolle
Baros

Reserves: Cheyrou, Otsemobor, Mellor, Foy, Raven, Luzi.

Anyways its late i can't be arsed going into more detail.

Thats how i'd do it in short. I think we have pretty much the base to be class. The players that aren't mentioned in the above squad i'd sell. (obviously with the exception of one or two younsters).

by **115-1073096938** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 4:28 am

JBG i read urs after i posted mine, i think your squad is tiny and extremely thin in terms of experience... Imagine Finnan, Carragher, Kewell Hamann and Owen at the same time as we were at one point this season. if it was hit with the same injury problems as ours this season i think playing the likes of Welsh ahead of Smicer and Otsemobor ahead of Riise etc you would come seriously unstuck. The kids are exactly that. KIDS!!! While they have potential they aren't great players yet. Your subs bench with an injury list like that would be very weak. Imo you need 3 quality centre halfs and a decent centre half. You don't have the decent one as 4th choice. You also need 2 excellent wide players and two good ones... again you lack a good wide player. This would also leave you short in central midfield should you need to play Danny Murphy in there as imo he is by miles the third best central midfield player you have in your squad. Welsh isn't at a premiership level yet, he's gettin there along with the french lads and i think he'll become a class act given time but he's not there yet. These are minimums in my mind... even more so after whats happened to us this season.

Le Tallec for example, i'd still say Smicer is the better player. We can all see Le Tallec is going to become a good player and way better than Vladi, but over the course of a season, 50 games + i'd take Vladimir now. Same goes for Welshie. Your saying he'd be Gerrards deputy... can you imagine him against Vieira or Keane or even worse if we were to get in the champions league at the moment with his lack of experience? It doesn't bear thinking about to be honest.

Selling Vignal would leave us short of full backs. Imo and Vignal is a better player than Otsemobor. Traore is also a better player than Whitbread by quite a mile and looks to have improved as a player this season. I also think selling Smicer is a mistake as this leaves you with effectively three wide players in Murphy, Kewell and Malbranque. Diouf is a forward and no-one will ever convince me otherwise.

For me you want to sell players that have proved usefull in the past and i feel this is a mistake unless you are going to replace them with a better player, in most cases you are replacing them with kids who may never improve. Risky... VERY risky.

by **Owzat** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 2:24 pm

I thought half the problem with Smicer is/was he isn't really a wide player ?!?!?!?!? I think he looks best when given a free role

by **Scottbot** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 4:20 pm

I think Smicer is at his best playing a bench role myself. He is as much an enigma as Heskey.

by **Dom1** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 4:30 pm

i didnt know how much work u lot actually put into your posts sometimes....SHEESH!!

any way a few good points made though!!

Dom1

by **big al** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 4:41 pm

Stu there's a word for peopel like you but I'm too much of a gentleman to use it so i'll simply say your a 'self righteous *****' Your another clampet who has never ever played a competitive game of football in his life and would no the first thing about the game. Sitting at Anfield once a fortnight is no qualification at all, once it was but today the only lessons learn't there is how not to play football. The cleverest statement ever made was 'Wisdom is knowing you no nothing" get some humility my friend your wisdom is starting to desert you!

by **greenred** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 4:41 pm

Scottbot wrote:I think Smicer is at his best playing a bench role myself.

Thats it scottbot,cut through the cr#p and say it like it is

If we accept smicer as a first team player than we are accepting mediocrity as a club.People can make lists, shuffle formations and churn out statistics all day but it still wont make smicer and heskey liverpool class players.

by **115-1073096938** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:16 pm

Stu there's a word for peopel like you but I'm too much of a gentleman to use it so i'll simply say your a 'self righteous *****' Your another clampet who has never ever played a competitive game of football in his life and would no the first thing about the game. Sitting at Anfield once a fortnight is no qualification at all, once it was but today the only lessons learn't there is how not to play football. The cleverest statement ever made was 'Wisdom is knowing you no nothing" get some humility my friend your wisdom is starting to desert you!

Really? Never played a competative game? lol.

Ok then sunshine, give us your mobile number, i'll fone you and we'll organise a 5 a side match at the pits and then see who's never played a game of football and i'll show you on the pitch exactly what i know off it.

Also like i've said kid, i follow the reds home and away, i'm a qualified football coach, i've learnt about the game from people who know an awful lot more than yourself.

good day.

by **Cool Hand Luke** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:50 pm

Stu I think your squad is to big, and will limit the opportunity for youngsters.

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