Liverpool FC

[vesiliy7]

Originally Posted by MaschPotato

And look where it's got Utd. Tevez is leaving because he never plays. It just leads to unhappy playaers and to be honest i'd much prefer a young player like N'Gog as backup than forking out 20m for a bench player.

Yeah but Berbatov seems happy enough. Tevez left mainly because Berbatov, Ronaldo and even Giggs were getting put upfront instead of him. I think when Ferguson played him in the kids team alongside Macheda and Wellbeck, that was final straw.

[jammakane10]

we really under-rate some of our players on here..

when benayoun has been given freedom he has been one of our best players this year. at the end of last season he was immense, probably our best player during that period, he ripped teams apart.

and people under-rating kuyt is ludicrous, he has been stunning since the new year, contributing loads of assists and goals. his work-rate is literally second to none, and he has improved his flaws loads this year; he is more confident, and isnt afraid of taking on his defender

[vesiliy7]

Originally Posted by Celtic_Scouser

I don't really agree with you when you say that Chelsea and United can field top class 4-4-2's or that United can field a top class 4-5-1 anymore, but we can more than certainly field a top class 4-2-3-1.

I'm not sure how much you know about football mate, but Torres isn't up top by himself. He's linking up with Riera, Kuyt and Gerrard.

Don't worry about my footballing knowledge mate. Instead, worry about your team when it fails to win any Silverwear again.

[lvrpl4life]

*sigh*

If only eh?

[MaschPotato]

Originally Posted by lvrpl4life

*sigh*

If only eh?

No thanks

[Anima Flux]

Originally Posted by jammakane10

we really under-rate some of our players on here..

when benayoun has been given freedom he has been one of our best players this year. at the end of last season he was immense, probably our best player during that period, he ripped teams apart.

and people under-rating kuyt is ludicrous, he has been stunning since the new year, contributing loads of assists and goals. his work-rate is literally second to none, and he has improved his flaws loads this year; he is more confident, and isnt afraid of taking on his defender

Agreed.

[MaschPotato]

Benayoun has been great for us off the bench but no way should he be a regular starter.

[jammakane10]

Originally Posted by MaschPotato

Benayoun has been great for us off the bench but no way should he be a regular starter.

on the left wing i totally agree with you, he is not a winger, but in the attacking mid role that anima flux posted we dont have any better option, and we wouldnt be able to buy a better option for less than 15 million

[Scouser_Dave]

Originally Posted by D-Smith-LFC

Yeno I'd keep Arbeloa even if we get Johnson, here would be my team for the opening fixture of the season:

-------------------------------Riena

Johnson-------------Carragher-------Agger----------------Arbeloa

---------------------Alonso---------Masherano

Kuyt--------------------------Gerrard (c)---------------------Benayoun
-------------------------------Torres

Subs: Diego, Skrtel, Aurelio, Lucas,Riera,Babel, Ngog.

Would be happy with that.

Isn't Arbeloa right footed?

Originally Posted by Anima Flux

Possible team at one point if we do get Johnson:

-----------------------------Reina----------------------
------------Skrtel-----------Carra----------Agger------
Johnson-----------Masherano--------Alonso-------Aurelio
----------------------Gerrard-------Benayoun--------
-----------------------------Torres--------------------

What about Kuyt? the team is built around him

Wouldnt mind Villa playing in Yossi's place

[MaschPotato]

Originally Posted by Scouser_Dave

Arbeloa is right footed

Changed

[Scouser_Dave]

Originally Posted by MaschPotato

Changed

[MaschPotato]

Originally Posted by Scouser_Dave

I actualy havent seen you on here as much as usual. You been doing the Johnson deal?

[Scouser_Dave]

Originally Posted by MaschPotato

I actualy havent seen you on here as much as usual. You been doing the Johnson deal?

[Dan]

If you are, get the price lowered..

[Celtic_Scouser]

Originally Posted by vesiliy7

Don't worry about my footballing knowledge mate. Instead, worry about your team when it fails to win any Silverwear again.

What does the amount of trophies my team has or hasn't won have to do with your ignorance of things football related?

You spout lalalala; you get called on it, and your best retort is to question how many trophies Liverpool have won?

lalalala off, you mong.

[LFC_Aaron21]

Just got my season ticket sorted

[vesiliy7]

Originally Posted by Celtic_Scouser

What does the amount of trophies my team has or hasn't won have to do with your ignorance of things football related?

You spout lalalala; you get called on it, and your best retort is to question how many trophies Liverpool have won?

lalalala off, you mong.

You didn't call me out on anything. It's plaintively obvious Chelsea can field a top class 4-5-1 or 4-4-2. Granted United is not as strong as it use to be given the departure of Ronaldo, but we will see how that develops in later months.

People were brandishing goal records. I simply pointed out that you didn't win any silverwear.

You say that I am ignorant to all things football related. What exactly are you basing this on? I said Liverpool need another top class striker to supplement the side if Torres get's injured. I didn't understand why Glen Johnson was purchased. Whether he is played as a right back or a right midfielder, you still have players who can fill those positions. I dont agree that he is anything superior to the ones already at the club.

You can question my retorts all you want, at least I am not the one reduced to hurling infantile insults about.

[Dan]

Glen Johnson is better than Arbeloa, I don't think we need a back-up to Torres really, but if we get one, I won't really complain..

[Scouser_Dave]

Signing Johnson fills 1 of the 2 weak spots at Anfield

The potential arrival of England full back Glen Johnson is a great move by Rafa Benitez.

As we all sat and reviewed last season and argued about where and how we didn’t win the league after losing just two games, I think 99% of us would have agreed our two weakest positions in the starting 11 are right back and left midfield/attack.

The goalkeeper, centre backs, holding midfielders and front two pick themselves in our strongest 11. I personally value Kuyt’s place on the right hand side and am more than happy to have Aurelio and Insua fight it out at left back.

I’m not suggesting Arbeloa is a weak player, but he is one of the weakest in our best 11. Clearly if we are to win the league these two positions are what need addressing this summer. The capture of Johnson addresses one and I hope to see the attacking left midfield berth next on Rafa’s list.

Much speculation has revolved around a new forward and how we must sign a top class player to play alongside Torres. I completely disagree with this train of thought. We have the best front two combination in World football in Torres and Gerrard. They link up perfectly, compliment each other and provide goals in abundance, why would we break that up? I said the same last summer when we signed Robbie Keane and that completely upset the balance of the team, why would we do that again?

I no longer see Gerrard as a midfielder, and with Alonso and Mascherano why would we need him in there?

Maybe we do need a forward as back-up to Torres, and that forward may indeed play a large percentage of games, but by no means should a forward be signed to be first choice alongside Torres. We currently have Kuyt as back-up, Ngog is maturing, Nemeth could break through if he has a good pre-season and another signing of good quality would add depth but is not crucial.

What is crucial is that we add a player to improve the wide left spot. For me, Babel can leave as of the current squad he is the only player who we can get good money for and I wouldn’t be overly upset to see go. That would leave only Riera and Benayoun as left side options. Both are good enough to be in our squad but neither are good enough to be first choice in a title winning side. Hopefully we can add somebody of real quality who can compliment the other attacking trio of Torres, Gerrard and Kuyt. Somebody who can offer something different, a creative spark.

Obvious candidates are Valencia’s David’s Silva and Villa. I’m not sure Villa would come to play on the left but Silva, who can easily interchange with Gerrard and Kuyt might be just the perfect foil. He would offer something different and be somewhat of a Luis Garcia type player with added quality and creativity.

At the end of the season I earmarked Johnson and Silva as my two most wanted players, both would hugely improve both our squad overall and our starting 11. Both won’t come cheap but it’s nice to finally see us competing and not losing out on targets to clubs with extra financial muscle.

If we offload Arbeloa, Dossena, Babel and Voronin we would have around £25m. Add the supposed summer budget of £25m and you have £50m. Easy enough to fund Silva and Johnson and add two more squad players to improve us.

If Arbeloa does leave obviously that leaves us still with little cover at right back. If Micah Richards is available for around £5m he’d be worth a gamble and can provide that cover and also be the fourth choice centre back we need after Sami’s departure.

I’d also take a punt on Tuncay from Middlesbrough.

So, my summer wishlist looks a bit like this;

In:
Johnson, Silva, Richards, Tuncay, back-up forward

Out:
Arbeloa, Dossena, Babel, Voronin (and Pennant)

Something similar to that wouldn’t cost the earth and be within budget but still improve our starting 11 and squad immensely.

Signing Johnson fills 1 of the 2 weak spots at Anfield - This Is Anfield

..........

[Anathematic]

We'll take Babel! We'll turn him into a proper player!

[Scouser_Dave]

Originally Posted by 7_Robert_Pires

We'll take Babel! We'll turn him into a proper player!

Would he be a regular in the Arsenal side with Walcott and Arshavin in the side?

[fabregas222]

Originally Posted by Scouser_Dave

Would he be a regular in the Arsenal side with Walcott and Arshavin in the side?

To be honest, probably not, depends on how Rosicky is.

[Scouser_Dave]

Originally Posted by fabregas222

To be honest, probably not, depends on how Rosicky is.

Babels better than Rosicky imo.

[fabregas222]

Originally Posted by Scouser_Dave

Babels better than Rosicky imo.

We'll see. I can't compare, as I haven't seen Rosicky play for a long time.

[Anathematic]

People have clearly forgotten quite how good Tomas is...