Liverpool definitely needs a better keeper. Dudek is not bad, but he lets in goals that you can't fault him for, but you expect him to save at least some of them. Liverpool needs to completely revamp the defense, with only Hyypia staying. Liverpool needs another right midfielder and a central midfielder. Hamann just isn't cutting it. Diouf, Murphy, and Cheyrou all have their faults. Finally, Liverpool needs a new manager. The tactics Liverpool employs cannot deliver the Premiership title or anything else for that matter.
Hard to find much to disagree with here. I think that some of our defenders have a place in the squad but a pacy center half is a necessity. Mexes might be just the ticket. A solid right wing would be helpful although perhaps TLT could do the business there. Cisse might add some value in attack. I 'd like another midfielder you can go both ways. Perhaps young Welsh can step up. I think if young Kirkland can stay healthy, and that appears to be a big if, then he's the answer in goal.
I don't think we need a new keeper. Kirkland is our keeper, and Dudek is a more than capable backup. We need a central defender, that is obvious. Biscan is atrocious, and Hyppia and Henchov partnership doesn't work anymore. Mexes would be an ideal partner for Hyppia. Hopefully we can pull off a transfer with Auxerre bringing in Mexes and Cisse at the same time. I'm assuming Auxerre would want somewhere around 20 million pounds for the 2 players. That would probably take up most, if not all of our transfer budget. The midfield isn't bad the way it is. I still think that Diouf is capable of being a top player at right midfield. I'm willing to go into next season with Diouf as a starter. Kewell and Gerrard are top players. Maybe next season Welsh will be ready to step into the first team. We will also need players like Le Tallec and Cheyrou to raise their games to a new level. The final thing we need is a new manager. No disrespect to Houllier, but its just not working. I really believe that we have good players at the club. Our individual talent isn't too far behind Arsenal, but the results on the pitch aren't even close. I'm just tired of seeing the same thing over and over again. I believe we need a change.
That would fill up my Easter basket --- a two way midfielder who can create chances, a cold blooded striker, and a young strong central defender.
I really wish Le Tallec would pick up his game, I would much rather have him on the right midfield than Diouf, and I like Murphy, but he just hasn't got the job done this season. As for the goalie situation, just as soon as Kirkland gets back, he would be my starter, I think he is a better GK than Dudek. He seems more reliable. As for the defense, we've gotta find someone that we can out back there with Hyypia. Biscan is just horrible. Henchoz the same. I like Hyypia, Carra, and Riise back there though, just find a new central defender.
Le Tal has never risen to the hype coming in to Liverpool. Other than flashes of quickness there's not much else there. He doesn't seem to be able to gather the ball on a run and stumbles a lot when he get in behind. I mean you get excited as he runs behind for a through ball then you sag as he trips over it. I like Kirkland as our goalie but he does break really easily for a big boy.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if Houllier bought Dawson this summer, but it seems to me exceedingly unlikely that he will start alongside Hyypia next season. While I have no doubt about his ability and am not particularly concerned about his inexperience, Dawson lacks the key ingredient that we've needed from our defenders all season: pace!
Remember that Le Tallec is only 19. Its far too early to judge him as a player. I'm still hoping that Le Tallec and Pongolle develop into great players. We have a very big squad and it isn't easy for youngsters to get consistent first team football.
I seldom dispute with the wise and ancient one, but on this matter I agree with Suss. I saw TLT play twice this year, he did very well against Bolton and appeared confused against Man City but his talent was very evident. He got himself in good positions on the wing and he worked very hard. He is also bigger than he looks on TV -- I'd say he's as tall as SG and will put on a pound or two in the next few years. He is good in the air. Given playing time I think he will be very good in a year or two.
Ditto on not wishing to contradict the ancient wise one and ditto on thinking he's a bit off course on this one. Le Talent has had less than one season in English football. He was not even supposed to see as much playing time as he has done, remember. He' way ahead of what was planned for him when we bought him. Same goes for FSP. Bearing in mind the fact we have players in our squad - senior internationals - who have NEVER adjusted to the English game and bourne their full potential for us, I am more than comfortable about Le Tallec's progress. Also disagree about Dawson not having pace, whoever it was that said that.
1. Jerzy Dudek 2. Stephane Henchoz 3. Steve Finnan 4. Sami Hyypia 5. Milan Baros 6. Markus Babbel 7. Harry Kewell 8. Emile Heskey 9. El-Hadji Diouf 10. Michael Owen 11. Vladimir Smicer 12. Danny Murphy 13. Salif Diao 14. Dietmar Hamann 15. Steven Gerrard 16. John Arne Riise 17. Anthony Le Tallec 18. Djimi Traore 19. Chris Kirkland 20. Jamie Carragher 21. Florent Sinama-Pongolle 22. Igor Biscan 23. Richie Partridge 24. Gregory Vignal 25. Bruno Cheyrou 26. Patrice Luzi 27. Carl Medjani 28. Alou Diarra 29. John Welsh 30. Neil Mellor I'd have those in 'bold' out in the Summer. Dudek, Henchoz, Traore, Riise & Diouf for one more season - to see if they can cut it regulary over a full season. Malbranque, Mexes/Dawson in, I wouldn't go with Cisse - far too much money for an area where we have class strikers already, along with Pongolle and LeTallec on the bench.
i think cisse is a go already and i think a cisse-owen partnership wouldnt be half bad. throw in steed malbranque to replace diouf, and a new CB to partner hyppia: Kirkland/Dudek Finnan - Mexes? - Hyypia - Carragher Malbranque - Gerrard - Hamann - Kewell Owen - Cisse Would be a half-decent team. But realistically, I don't know whether or not we can get a new CB and RM, I believe Cisse is ours tho. Heskey hopefully will leave, but I think instead Baros is getting the boot. Henchoz will also be gone. Of course, this even this team under Houllier may underachieve
That would be a good team, especially with Cisse - Owen partnering each other up front. Of course that's considering Cisse does good in his first season in the prem. If we could get Mexes and Malbranque that would definitely help us out in our weak areas. That would be a plus for next campaign.
I don't get no respect...!!! Maybe it was because I based my profound statment on the two games I've seen him in. I'll withdraw and temper my comments on the next match they let him run in...! I can see I'm going to get trounced because of my post in the Charlton thread.
get rid of diouf diao murphy henchoz and some other "squad players"and get in cisse mexes and alex rae from wolves..now alot probably think i am mad to include rae but he as experience and he's a tough nut and would be a great player in the middle rotating with hamman a bit like gary mac was for us a couple of years back.
I doubt the Mexes transfer will happen, at least not to us. His agent is quoted as saying that he only wants to move to a club playing Champions League, so forget it. While I want someone who wants to play CL, only moving to one that will and basically making your decision solely on that is unacceptable for a Liverpool player. Give those guys to the Real Madrid's and ManU's of the world.
I don't think Champions League is an unfair requirment when choosing a club. Its the biggest competiton in Europe, and the best players should be playing in it. Liverpool have no excuse for not qualfying, and we don't really deserve a player like Mexes if we can't pull off 4th.
I say move GH up the board and bring back John Toshack. Beef up the defence instead. Alex Rae may not be a bad choice considering he might be a good backup Hamman. But whatever happens.....I'll be a Liverpool fan 4 Life!!!!!
I can't feature Toshack. If we let GH go or move him up I like Ranieri, or Morinho. I think however that the Moores/Parry axis will keep GH around. I'd get rid of Diao, Hamann, Cheyrou, Traore, Diouf and Henchoz. I'm sure people will react to Hamann but I think he has reached his sell by date. The rest are never were's (with the exception of Stephane). Murphy should stay as he's a decent squad player and we need a bit of English spine in the squad. It means we need one or more two way central midfielders, a center half, a fullback, and a right sided midfielder. Perhaps TLT is the answer as the second midfielder. Notice that we will have a glut of strikers even if we get rid of Heskey. Welsh, Whitbread, Otsemebor, and Medjani need to be tested and either played or let go.
I really hope the Cisse deal goes through. While goal-scoring is of course his main appeal, I also think it will be fantastic from an entertainment standpoint to jump-start our strike force with Cisse's flair. In regards to Diouf, as much as I like him I think his time is up on the right wing. When he gets the ball he seems to only have a striker mentality and doesn't seem to have consistent crossing ability in his repertoire, as Kewell does.
A new manager that cancels the deal for Cisse. 25 million or whatever we get for the summer, get a 10 million pound defender and a 15 million pound midfielder, less goals in and more good quality chances rather than half chances and long range pot shots.
1. Maybe a dumb question but Our budget of 20-25million for transfers --- Does that go up if we unload some players. I am sure Heskey or even Baros as some posts suggest will bring in a few million. Also if Salif and Diouf go they should still command a few bucks. Does anyone have any info on what these players are rated. I remember a few numbers were thrown out when a few teams were looking at Heskey. 2.Lastly does anyone know why Baros has not been played recently? GO REDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
15 million quid for the pair of reid/dawson 10 mill for Robbie Keane 7 million for Nolan from Bolton 5 mill for Milner Free Neil Sullivan 37 million in total but we can sell hamann for 6, heskey for 5, dudek for 3, diouf for 3, fsp for 2, smicer for 1, cheyrou for 1, babbel for 1, traore/diao/vignal for 1 23 million from sales Total outlay of 14 million pounds and you have established premiership talents in place for a large, exciting squad. and oh yah, martin o'neill as manager.