The Annual "What is our greatest need poll?"

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

What do you think our greatest need is?

You can only pick one, and you can only vote once.

The four options I am going to go with are


A good right back
A true, starting XI quality right winger
A backup striker
Other position


Let me explain the options and my choice now.

When I am saying a good right back, I am not meaning a replacement for Arbeloa and I am not meaning just a backup. Arbeloa as actually played quite well this year, and it has hurt us when he is hurt/suspended because we haven't had someone who can capably fill in without throwing our team off (Darby is too young, Carragher just isn't a right back anymore, Degen is a non-entity because he is always injured).

When I say good right back, I want someone who can compete with Arbeloa for the starting position as well as someone who is capable of filling in the position if he doesn't win it.

While I think this is a need, I don't think this it is the greatest need.

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I would like to see a true, starting XI right winger.

Someone like a Silva, Ribery, etc.

I like Kuyt. One of his biggest fans on this board, but think how much better our attack would be if we have someone with similar quality (or more) to Riera on either flank of Torres and Gerrard. Our attack, when healthy, would be very exciting.

I honestly think this is our missing piece.

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Finally, would you like to see a backup striker.

I really wish we could have got Emile Heskey in the January Transfer Window. Alas, we need someone like him to lead the attack.

I think this is the third least needed position of the three. Ngog could become this, despite what some say, he does have the talent, athleticism, and potential to develop into this need. And while Kuyt isn't an ideal replacement, if we have a quality right winger, Riera, and Gerrard behind him he could do the job.

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Vote and share your thoughts.

I am going to vote starting XI quality right winger. I rank the needs like this...

1. RW
2. RB
3. Backup ST

Ready...Set...Go.

:cool:

[poopoobigelow]

right winger...

if i had my pick, it would be lavezzi or iniesta... but, i'll take ribery, too... they can all play either side, have great pace and ball-handling, can take on defenders, and can score...

very long shots, all of them... but, it's a poll, right?...

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

right winger...

if i had my pick, it would be lavezzi or iniesta... but, i'll take ribery, too... they can all play either side, have great pace and ball-handling, can take on defenders, and can score...

very long shots, all of them... but, it's a poll, right?...

Yep!

:)

[usscouse]

OK!
One more time!
I'll make it easy and dumb it down!
We Need:
Someone who can put the F*****g ball into the back of the F*****g net.....
Regulary!
Like once a match!

I don't care how many wingers we have. I don't care if we have 6 right backs.
We have a decent team who dominate matches but no one can score F*****G goals.

IF WE CAN"T SCORE GOALS, WE CAN"T WIN GAMES!
IF WE CAN'T WIN GAMES, WE CAN'T WIN THE LEAGUES OR TOURNAMENTS!







That feels better...:)

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Excuse the intrusion. I'll start with a pet peeve of mine. Why do people keeping posting worthless private polls? :confused:


I would like to see a true, starting XI right winger.

Someone like a Silva, Ribery, etc.

I like Kuyt. One of his biggest fans on this board, but think how much better our attack would be if we have someone with similar quality (or more) to Riera on either flank of Torres and Gerrard. Our attack, when healthy, would be very exciting.

I honestly think this is our missing piece.

Silva mainly operates centrally or on the left.
Ribery operates best on the left.

I agree that it is your main problem and bringing in a starting right-winger would enable Kuyt to be used as a back-up striker which helps to alleviate the depth issue of your forward line at least in the short-term. However the problem is the dearth of quality wide options and right-sided ones in particular. Most of the ones that immediately spring to mind are better operating from the left-side. That is before we discuss whether the ones that do exist are realistic transfer options or not. I do not see you getting any of the top tier wing options (which is a handful of players who will command a stupid transfer fee and have all of the elite clubs interested) which leaves you looking elsewhere at the next tier, for someone who has dropped off the radar or developing a younger player. The latter is something I do not see you doing given your experience with Babel.

Everything depends on how you wish to approach the issue of requiring quality width. Out of the initial needs you listed I think you could effectively combine the first two into the discussion. After all I think most of this thread will centre around width. You are then left to consider where you want your width from and what base system you want to use next season. If you want width from your midfield then you need a winger but you could also get width from a wing-back as well which would leave your shortlist as follows:

(1) 'Wingers'

Maxi Rodriguez - best option
Valencia - Premiership proven but of the required quality?
Cazorla - suitable for the league?
Joaquín - risky

(2) Wing-backs

Srna - best option
Maggio - back-up option

Failing that you can utilise the 4-2-3-1 as it was intended with the attacking two who flank Gerrard being fellow attacking midfielders which drastically increases your available options. I'm not a fan (obviously) so it is over to you on how you wish to proceed for next season. As an aside I will also throw the name of Trochowski into the mix as an attacking option who can play across the entire midfield.


if i had my pick, it would be lavezzi or iniesta... but, i'll take ribery, too... they can all play either side, have great pace and ball-handling, can take on defenders, and can score...

Lavezzi - forward
Iniesta - central midfielder (despite sometimes being used out of position)
Ribery - see above

[Grinners89]

Excuse the intrusion. I'll start with a pet peeve of mine. Why do people keeping posting worthless private polls? :confused:

Silva mainly operates centrally or on the left.
Ribery operates best on the left.

I agree that it is your main problem and bringing in a starting right-winger would enable Kuyt to be used as a back-up striker which helps to alleviate the depth issue of your forward line at least in the short-term. However the problem is the dearth of quality wide options and right-sided ones in particular. Most of the ones that immediately spring to mind are better operating from the left-side. That is before we discuss whether the ones that do exist are realistic transfer options or not. I do not see you getting any of the top tier wing options (which is a handful of players who will command a stupid transfer fee and have all of the elite clubs interested) which leaves you looking elsewhere at the next tier, for someone who has dropped off the radar or developing a younger player. The latter is something I do not see you doing given your experience with Babel.

Everything depends on how you wish to approach the issue of requiring quality width. Out of the initial needs you listed I think you could effectively combine the first two into the discussion. After all I think most of this thread will centre around width. You are then left to consider where you want your width from and what base system you want to use next season. If you want width from your midfield then you need a winger but you could also get width from a wing-back as well which would leave your shortlist as follows:

(1) 'Wingers'

Maxi Rodriguez - best option
Valencia - Premiership proven but of the required quality?
Cazorla - suitable for the league?
Joaquín - risky

(2) Wing-backs

Srna - best option
Maggio - back-up option

Failing that you can utilise the 4-2-3-1 as it was intended with the attacking two who flank Gerrard being fellow attacking midfielders which drastically increases your available options. I'm not a fan (obviously) so it is over to you on how you wish to proceed for next season. As an aside I will also throw the name of Trochowski into the mix as an attacking option who can play across the entire midfield.

Lavezzi - forward
Iniesta - central midfielder (despite sometimes being used out of position)
Ribery - see above

Absolutely correct on every point.

If we managed to get Maggio and Błaszczykowski/Cazorla in the summer I would be completely satisfied. Also bringing back Adam Hammill and Paul Anderson into the 1st team squad has been something Ive wanted to happen all season.

[poopoobigelow]

Lavezzi - forward
Iniesta - central midfielder (despite sometimes being used out of position)
Ribery - see above

i've never seen any of those guys play, so, i had no idea if their game could be adapted to play on the right side in our 4-2-3-1 formation... they're just the hot names out there, so i thought i'd drop them into my post...

thanks, professor football...

next time, i'll say something like 'they can play either side' to let you know that i know about who i'm talking about... maybe i'll mention if they have the attributes we're looking for in someone to play to out right for us -- pace, creativity, ball-handling, etc... that should help you... i apologize that i didn't do this earlier...

i guess i'll just stick the traditional type of 'winger' you're referring to that rafa loves so much... joaquin has played great since he moved to valencia!... let's get him!

:rolleyes:

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Excuse the intrusion. I'll start with a pet peeve of mine. Why do people keeping posting worthless private polls? :confused:

:eek:

Do you mean private polls by not knowing who voted for what? Because I honestly didn't mean to do that.

Or do you mean private polls on our own board?

Thanks for your insight on the wingers. I will openly admit that I don't have the time or motivation to follow other leagues and other players outside of the Prem (Besides the USMNT matches, The World Cup, The Euros, and very few CL matches not involving Liverpool). So my knowledge on exactly what position some wingers play, and which they are best at is very limited.

I know and have seen play most of the players that you listed (Rodriguez, Cazorla, Valencia, Joaquin, Ribery, and Iniesta) but I haven't seen or didn't know about some of the players you listed (Srna, Maggio, and Lavezzi).

You gave me some names to Wiki and YouTube so thank you for that.

:)

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Also bringing back Adam Hammill and Paul Anderson into the 1st team squad has been something Ive wanted to happen all season.

Well that's bound to happen by next season. If they don't, they will be sold.

They are getting to the age where they are going to want to stop being loaned out and start actually being apart of one club, one squad.

[Grinners89]

Well that's bound to happen by next season. If they don't, they will be sold.

They are getting to the age where they are going to want to stop being loaned out and start actually being apart of one club, one squad.

I think it was reported that Hammill got a new 3 year contract at the start of this season...surely that means that he will at Melwood next season.

He would be the perfect back-up to Gerrard in the hole, although a fair way off being a complete player, he is a very skilful, direct-attacking player who can play either behind the striker(s) and on the left/right wing.

[Red Bird]

OK!
One more time!
I'll make it easy and dumb it down!
We Need:
Someone who can put the F*****g ball into the back of the F*****g net.....
Regulary!
Like once a match!

I don't care how many wingers we have. I don't care if we have 6 right backs.
We have a decent team who dominate matches but no one can score F*****G goals.

IF WE CAN"T SCORE GOALS, WE CAN"T WIN GAMES!
IF WE CAN'T WIN GAMES, WE CAN'T WIN THE LEAGUES OR TOURNAMENTS!







That feels better...:)

Hear ye, hear ye! Yesterday was a truly dreadful but it's been coming!

[Grinners89]

Hear ye, hear ye! Yesterday was a truly dreadful but it's been coming!

Maybe Rafa is a true genious, saw it coming and therefore rested Torres, Riera and Yossi, as well as taking Carra and Gerrard off as he knew that we were always going to lose :confused:

[Red Bird]

Maybe Rafa is a true genious, saw it coming and therefore rested Torres, Riera and Yossi, as well as taking Carra and Gerrard off as he knew that we were always going to lose :confused:

No, the players to whom he entrusted the job-- and let's be fair there were ample chances to score-- have not always been good enough when the chips are down.

[Grinners89]

No, the players to whom he entrusted the job-- and let's be fair there were ample chances to score-- have not always been good enough when the chips are down.

I shouldve put a sarcastic smiley in that post.

And yes, whoever Rafa puts out onto the field seem to always create numerous clear-cut chances. The problem is therefore with the players who cant put the ball in the net when supporting players (Riera, Gerrard, Yossi etc) are doing there job to set them up.

[Twenty26Six]

I shouldve put a sarcastic smiley in that post.

And yes, whoever Rafa puts out onto the field seem to always create numerous clear-cut chances. The problem is therefore with the players who cant put the ball in the net when supporting players (Riera, Gerrard, Yossi etc) are doing there job to set them up.

I just don't see why we would spend money on a player that ISN'T going to play when Torres is healthy.

Our forwards are Torres and Gerrard. They have been for two years, now. How do we upgrade on that, and why exactly do we need another forward? :confused:

[Grinners89]

I just don't see why we would spend money on a player that ISN'T going to play when Torres is healthy.

Our forwards are Torres and Gerrard. They have been for two years, now. How do we upgrade on that, and why exactly do we need another forward? :confused:

Im certainly not one for getting another forward. This is certainly enough.

SS: Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel, Yossi, Pacheco
CF: Torres, Kuyt, Babel, Ngog, Nemeth

Xabi, Masch, Stevie and Torres is a great four of central midfielders and forwards.

All we ned now is to focus on RB, RW and LW. If we got someone like Darijo Srna or Christian Maggio then that would cover at least two of those positions.

[usscouse]

I just don't see why we would spend money on a player that ISN'T going to play when Torres is healthy.

Our forwards are Torres and Gerrard. They have been for two years, now. How do we upgrade on that, and why exactly do we need another forward? :confused:
You certainly are, confused that is!
Educate me. Why is it wrong to have more than two people on the field or on the squad who is allowed to score...?????

We've drawn, what 35 games this season (it seems like) and we've lost ones we shouldn't have despite having 99% of the ball and being in the oppo's penalty area for 50% of the match and why??????

You have to put the ball in the net to win, at least one more time than the team we're playing against. Where were Gerrard and Torres on Saturday and why would buying a fullback have helped.

AHGggggggggggggg!!!

[Twenty26Six]

You certainly are, confused that is!
Educate me. Why is it wrong to have more than two people on the field or on the squad who is allowed to score...?????

We've drawn, what 35 games this season (it seems like) and we've lost ones we shouldn't have despite having 99% of the ball and being in the oppo's penalty area for 50% of the match and why??????

You have to put the ball in the net to win, at least one more time than the team we're playing against. AHGggggggggggggg!!!

Apparently, you've never watched our games before.

We play with 2 forwards. Gerrard and Torres. How do you plan to upgrade that?

[usscouse]

Apparently, you've never watched our games before.

We play with 2 forwards. Gerrard and Torres. How do you plan to upgrade that?No, you're right. I've never seen a game before, it's all new to me.
I've just seen the results.

[liverbird]

I vote all of the above:D