Summer 2009 Transfer Thread I - Rafa's New Toys

[AndSomeAreAngels]

Perhaps a wee bit early, but given that we've made the most important signing of the summer, Señr Benitez, I figured it was about time. Add to that the fact that Rafa should have more leeway with the budget and it's time for some speculatin'...

In another thread, Bobinhood mentioned rumors of a £30M transfer quid, plus CL winnings and whoever we sell. That's quite a war chest, and I'll believe it when I see it, but who do y'all see us selling and buying?

We're set at CM, LB, CB, and LM. We could use a tricky winger to play on the right side of our 4-2-3-1, even though Dirk is our guy there. We definitely need to upgrade at RB, because while Arbeloa is serviceable, we have zero back-up there and he needs some competition for playing time. I'd prefer he be our #2 RB.

We also need another striker, either to back up Torres as the lone striker in the 4-2-3-1 or to complement him in a 4-4-2. Stevie and Torres have a great partnership going, and will always be our preferred pairing, but Torres will have to be rested occasionally and does get injured now and again. I think Nemeth can be that guy eventually, but he's completely untested in the first team and we're much better off buying someone to come into that role immediately.

I'd like to loan out N'Gog to a lower/mid-table team. He's good enough to play first-team football in the EPL, just not on a title contender. We have to see if he's got what it takes to wear the shirt for us.

Not sure who we're going to sell, possibly El-Zhar, Degen, and Voronin.

Thoughts?

[Kawklee]

Might be hard to sell Degen. Voronin is gone, El Zhar probably as well. Zhar shows promise but he's just not up for it. All I want to see is a RB to challenge arbs, but I do think Arbs and Aurelio have improved immensley this season, and I think they truly are class. Backup or challenger RB is what we need, and for one of the academy/reserve boys to really step up as a possible challenger as well for the position.

If we get a class RM we can use benny/new rm/kuyt on the rm. This will also allow kuyt to be the backup torres striker, or play alongside for 4-4-2.

[el-capitano]

Just a tad early! ;)







First page!

[usscouse]

I'm in!

and on record saying we need a striker.Torres and Gerrard won't be able to play every match. And we don't have anyone good enough to fill in.

Rafa should think about rotation the way the SARN and the Arse does.

[poopoobigelow]

i wonder if the alleged 30 mil includes the 15 mil recouped from the keane resell... if not, that would be tasty...

in thinking about players that might actually be available and not my fantasy signings:

the situation at valencia will be interesting to watch this summer with silva and villa... with all accounts i'm reading, they have admitted that they will need to sell, especially if they don't qualify for the champions league and they currently are 5th and fading... i know that villa has said that he wants to stay in spain, but when half of the spanish team is in liverpool, i would think he would consider us, and i'm in the camp that would love to have him... i know there is a split...

tevez would be interesting to consider, as it seems like he will be available... but, not at 32 mil...

going out, i'm afraid that agger will be on his way, which would be terrible to see... with the things he's said lately, and being essentially injured for the last season and a half, and rafa's intolerance for oft-injured players complaining about pay and contracts, i can see it happening -- i mean, rafa almost sold xabi after one season of poor form and injury.. why wouldn't he with dagger after two, PLUS the contract thing? wouldn't be surprised, as well, to see sami hang up the boots, although, he's been great this season...

so that might mean two central defenders, a right sided attacker -- be he a true winger or a henry-type wide striker, backup for riera on the left (unless dossena can work himself into that role, or babel gets it together)... backup striker or two... a box-to-box attacking mid to fill-in for gerrard (hard to see lucas getting there anytime soon, if that's the plan) and, most importantly, a right back... if anything, a right back... it hurts me to see carra or the skirt struggling out there, and masch needs to be in central defense...

i'm interested to see what happens with babel in the summer, too...

ya think rafa will take a run at barry, again?

[Grinners89]

I posted these short summaries of possible summer additions in the "Annuel what's our greatest need" thread. IMO, Hammill, Anderson, Amorebieta/Hobbs (if Hyypia retires) and Maggio would be great...Cazorla/Maxi Rodriguez would be the icing on a fairly cheap and fruitful summer.


Adam Hammill
Age: 21
Height: 1.73m
Best position: LW (can play SS and RW)
Current club: Liverpool (loaned out to Blackpool)
Preferred foot: right
Best attributes: dribbling, pace, direct/aggressive attacking winger
Possibility: 9/10
Possible cost: nothing
Contract expires: 2011


Paul Anderson
Age: 20
Height: 1.71m
Best position: RW (can play LW)
Current club: Liverpool (loaned out to Nottingham Forrest)
Preferred foot: right
Best attributes: pace, final-ball, finishing
Possibility: 9/10
Possible cost: nothing
Contract expires: 2011


Jack Hobbs
Age: 20
Height: 1.91m
Best position: CB (can play DM)
Current club: Liverpool (loaned out to Leicester City)
Preferred foot: right
Best attributes: strong, good in the air, not very quick, not very good with the ball
Possibility: 7/10
Possible cost: nothing
Contract expires: 2010


Fernando Amorebieta
Age: 23
Height: 1.92m
Best position: CB
Current club: Athletic Bilbao
Preferred foot: left
Best attributes: tackling, strength, very aggressive defender
Possibility: 4/10
Possible cost: 5-10 million
Contract expires: 2013


Christian Maggio
Age: 27
Height: 1.82m
Best position: RB (can play RW)
Current club: Napoli
Preferred foot: right
Best attributes: crossing, pace, work rate, tactically aware defensively and in attack, goal-scoring (9 goals in 2008)
Possibility: 3/10
Possible cost: 6-9 million
Contract expires: 2012


Maxi Rodriguez
Age: 28
Height: 1.78m
Best position: RW (can play SS)
Current club: Atletico Madrid
Preferred foot: right
Best attributes: technique (first touch, passing), goal-scoring winger, dribbling, experienced
Possibility: 2/10
Possible cost: 10-15 million
Contract expires: 2010


Santi Cazorla
Age: 24
Height: 1.68m
Best position: RW (can play SS)
Current club: Villarreal
Preferred foot: right (equally adept with left foot)
Best attributes: pace, creativity, tactical awareness in attack
Possibility: 2/10
Possible cost: 14-18 million
Contract expires: 2014

[USvsIRELAND]

Liverpool should sign Freddy Adu, Landon Donovan, Gooch, and Clint Dempsey!
---------------------------------

Just wanted to clear that up :D

[ULL NEVER WALK ALONE]

Rafa should also look at the LW spot, sadly Riera is just not consistent enoguh, i mean hes gone missing in abot 10 games already.

[USvsIRELAND]

Rafa should also look at the LW spot, sadly Riera is just not consistent enoguh, i mean hes gone missing in abot 10 games already.

I agree that he's gone missing alot. He never really makes huge mistakes, he just doesn't seem to really do anything. However, he's been playing pretty decently and hopefully he will be better next season as he will be adjusted to the Premier League.

[usscouse]

I agree that he's gone missing alot. He never really makes huge mistakes, he just doesn't seem to really do anything. However, he's been playing pretty decently and hopefully he will be better next season as he will be adjusted to the Premier League.Albert! He's the guy that's going to keep Messi occupied in the Semi Finals..:)

[adammac19]

I hope this window we simply go for quality, buy 1 or 2 quality players to step right into the first team and then see how it goes. We already have enough squad players, players who can play a number of positions on the pitch. No need to go out and buy 4 or 5 players who cost 5m or 6m a piece.


If I was the manager I would go for two wide attacking mids, it is our weakest spot in the team. Kuyt, Yossi, Riera and Babel can all do serviceable job but we need more consistent players in the wide area to break down the sides who park the bus. The one player I would love to get is Silva, a player who can do the job and can play anywhere across the 3 attack spots behind the striker. I seen we have been linked with Silva, Valenica, Lennon and of coarse Barry again.

[Grinners89]

Rafa should also look at the LW spot, sadly Riera is just not consistent enoguh, i mean hes gone missing in abot 10 games already.

Riera is consistent enough and definitely has the talent to be our starting left-winger next season. The problem he has was because he arrived at Anfield on the final day of the transfer window, he didnt get to do any pre-season with Rafa and the staff. His fitness was already below EPL standards before he played a match. He has also never played so many matches in a season...even when Espanyol were in the cup.

Next season, he will have a full pre-season with the club and will still be going strong through March, April and May.

[Grinners89]

I hope this window we simply go for quality, buy 1 or 2 quality players to step right into the first team and then see how it goes. We already have enough squad players, players who can play a number of positions on the pitch. No need to go out and buy 4 or 5 players who cost 5m or 6m a piece.

If I was the manager I would go for two wide attacking mids, it is our weakest spot in the team. Kuyt, Yossi, Riera and Babel can all do serviceable job but we need more consistent players in the wide area to break down the sides who park the bus. The one player I would love to get is Silva, a player who can do the job and can play anywhere across the 3 attack spots behind the striker. I seen we have been linked with Silva, Valenica, Lennon and of coarse Barry again.

Silva is going to be almost impossible to get. Also, Silva doesnt really play on the right flank...he might in FM or in FIFA games but he is best just behind the striker (Gerrard's position) or on the left flank.

I think RB is the most important position to look at...and a player like Christian Maggio, the 2nd best wing-back in Italy this season behind Maicon, can play right-back, as a right-wing-back and as a right-midfielder and is just starting to get into the peak of his career at 27.

[AussieLFCfan]

Ahh just as I was thinking about starting this topic....

Ok, here's what I'm thinking for next year....Blow it all on Silva and a backup striker who's happy to play 20mins a game and effective enough to score goals when Torres is out....:D oh, and maybe Barry?

-------------------Reina------------------
Arbeloa----Carragher----Skrtel------Aurelio
Kuyt-----Mascherano---Alonso--------Silva
--------------Gerrard----------------------
-------------------Torres-----------------

Subs:
GK - Cavalieri
RB - Degen (If he can stay fit - don't think Rafa will get rid of him just yet)
CD - Agger and Hyypia
LB - Dossena and Insua
RM - Benayoun
DM - Lucas
CM - Barry
LM - Riera
AM - Babel
ST - New and N'Gog

[Kawklee]

I just want to say how perpetually impressed I am by a lot of the writing and reasoning explained by the members on this board. Other LFC boards this whole thread would be filled with "Y NOT DAVID VILLA? HIM N FERNANDO PLAY WEL. THEY R ALSO BOTH SNAPISH. SO IS RAFA. I ALSO HERD VALENCIA IS POOR N STUFF."

Rep'd you grinners.

However, seeing how hard it is for Italian players to adapt to the EPL, do you think that we should look for another Italian player for FB/WB? Maybe I'm just plumb wrong but I really can't think of a major Italian player in a top-4 EPL team right now...

[Grinners89]

Ahh just as I was thinking about starting this topic....

Ok, here's what I'm thinking for next year....Blow it all on Silva and a backup striker who's happy to play 20mins a game and effective enough to score goals when Torres is out....:D oh, and maybe Barry?

-------------------Reina------------------
Arbeloa----Carragher----Skrtel------Aurelio
Kuyt-----Mascherano---Alonso--------Silva
--------------Gerrard----------------------
-------------------Torres-----------------

Subs:
GK - Cavalieri
RB - Degen (If he can stay fit - don't think Rafa will get rid of him just yet)
CD - Agger and Hyypia
LB - Dossena and Insua
RM - Benayoun
DM - Lucas
CM - Barry
LM - Riera
AM - Babel
ST - New and N'Gog


Silva would be a great addition...in basic terms, he is a better, left-footed Yossi. I still think that this squad is good enough as it is (apart from RB) and all we need to add is 2 players who are already on our books (Adam Hammill and Paul Anderson). Hammill can play in the hole (Gerrard's position) and either wing and Anderson plays mainly right flank but can also play left.


GK - Reina, Cavalieri, Gulacsi/Martin/Mihaylov

CB - Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Hyypia?, Hobbs?, Kelly?
RB - Arbeloa, Degen?, Darby
LB - Aurelio, Dossena, Insua

CM - Masch, Xabi, Lucas, Gerrard, Spearing, Plessis, Aurelio
RM - Kuyt, Yossi, Anderson, Hammill
LM - Riera, Hammill, Babel, Yossi, Anderson, Dossena

SS - Gerrard, Yossi, Hammill, Babel, Kuyt, Pacheco (loan?)
CF - Torres, Babel, Kuyt, Ngog, Nemeth (loan?)


Thats a fairly deep squad, although Degen is still a question mark as is Hyypia.

If that was our squad next season...guess how much we would pay...ZERO!!!

If no Degen, I am still going with Maggio from Napoli.

[Grinners89]

I just want to say how perpetually impressed I am by a lot of the writing and reasoning explained by the members on this board. Other LFC boards this whole thread would be filled with "Y NOT DAVID VILLA? HIM N FERNANDO PLAY WEL. THEY R ALSO BOTH SNAPISH. SO IS RAFA. I ALSO HERD VALENCIA IS POOR N STUFF."

Rep'd you grinners.

However, seeing how hard it is for Italian players to adapt to the EPL, do you think that we should look for another Italian player for FB/WB? Maybe I'm just plumb wrong but I really can't think of a major Italian player in a top-4 EPL team right now...

Thanks :)

How about Dossena...he's an Italian international in a top-4 EPL team ;)

If we wanted another SS then Antonio Cassano is probably the most talented and most technically gifted Italian going around at the moment...although given his past, he probably wouldnt like being left on the bench behind Stevie.

Sorry to be picky, but here are a two others that im sure you would agree with as being EPL top-4 quality. De Rossi and Chiellini.

Its actually sad to see the state of Italian football. Dossena has been in fairly average form for us, yet he is in the Italian national team...imagine when he is on form...he might just be able to get a gig as captain/coach :eek:

The only other RB possibly available that is better than Arbs (a Spanish International) that we could get is Darijo Srna, although he would be very unlikely given that he is captain of Shakhtar. The rest are fairly average.

Its funny reading the LFC.tv, RAWK and ThisIsAnfield forums as well as these. There are a lot more of "those" type of posts on the other 3 forums.

[usscouse]

Y not messi

[AussieLFCfan]

Why not Baggio...


oh...;)

[liverbird]

y not messi cuaze hez an argie an mash n rafa like them 2:d