Poll: Striker, Winger, or Holder—Who to Buy?

Holding midfielder please!

I don't agree with this transfer philosophy of buying young British players relatively cheap to sell for a profit later.  Isn't the objective to win now?  If we had gotten a proven striker like Miroslav Klose and a winger like Milos Krasic (who is rumoured to be currently available) instead of Messrs Carroll and Downing for the same kind of money LFC would have been in top 3 with the defence they have.

Oh terminology!
 
He's a combative central midfielder able to provide cover for Lucas, albeit more suited to a pressing game which often positions him further up the field rather than sitting back and patrolling a zone.
 
Spearing and Alonso are as different as Spearing is to Lucas.  Alonso was a deep lying playmaker, with great vision and execution of short or long passes.
 
Spearing is a tenacious, combative midfielder who keeps possession ticking over, but he doesn't possess the passing range of Alonso, and nor is he the go to guy for launching attacks. 

I should have been more specific in saying i thought spearo should be played in the alonso position as in geographically positioned on the field not as in the role. With 2 problems that stand out in my mind 1. alonso is world class and as such LFC were playing in Champions League finals during his time here v. the current position in 7th in the league and 2. as much as we all love dalgish and what he brings to the club from my perspective he falls short of rafa's tactical acumen (if only we could break out the frankenstein machine i couldn't think of two managers i'd rather combine to form one supermanager).

Supposed to be a reply to Nbusa - sorry!

I voted yes.

---------------------Reina/Doni------------------------
Johnno/Kelly--Skrtel/Carra--Agger/Coates--Enrique/Robbo

There's pretty good strength in depth here. I would like to see Aurelio retained for one more season as Robbo hasn't had much game time this year and could perhaps do without the pressure. Flanagan's got a tough job getting past Kelly.

Kelly really reminds me of Ron Yeats; I'd love to see him given a pop inthe centre of defence as well.

-------------Lucas/Spearo----Hendo/Adam--------------

I think Spearo is an able deputy to Lucas, but my concern with Hendo, is that he's still learning. I think he has most of the attribute to come along nicely, but as per a lot of discussion on here, he shouldn't necessarily be in the firing line week in and week out. Adam is a good squad player, simple as that.

We definately need a deep lying playmaker. Lucas and Spearo are the tenacious defensive midfielders and I'm not quite sure how Hendo will develop, so I think we have a need in this area.

Bellers/Kuyt--------Gerrard/Shelvey--------Downing/Maxi

There lots I could write about this attacking band of players, and alot depends on the 4222/4231 formations and variants of. I've listed it as 4231 because thats how I think we'll get teh best out of Stevie and become more dangerous in front of goal.

Rafa often couldn't get the balance right in this system between defence and attack leading to victories against Real and Utd, but losses against Barnsley for example.

I think that has to do with the personnel. Especially on the wings, they need to be able to beat a man and be willing to come inside to supprt the striker. Kuyt used to get into good positions, and scored some vital goals, but he could never beat a man, hence some supporters frustrations with him.

Bellamy can beat a man with pace, but he's more of direct runner - a forward than a winger/attacking midfielder.

Maxi has got the skillset, but not the pace, and Downing has struggled to be effective in supporting the strikers.

Yes we have Sterling, but he's still a way off and Bellamy/Kuyt and Maxi are all on the wrong side of 30.
Ivestment is needed in wide attacking midfield areas whether that be attacking mids who drift inside ala Muller/Hazard/Gotze or more traditional wide men. 

Gerrard has saved us more times than I can remember. He has been our catalyst for victories so many times and a driving force in the team. There's no doubt he's been a special player. But he's 31. He's not finished yet, but Fowler know's we're going to miss his quality if we don't invest in his replacement now. Shelvey is a good lad, but still so young, again, it could do him harm to throw him in as Stevie's replacement.

-----------------------Suarez/Carroll------------------

When you look at these two, you can see why Kenny has tried to play two up front. Carroll lacks the mobility to play the high pressing game, and Suarez is more of a creator than finisher (generalisation). If AC had been bought for 10m, we'd be saying he's a good option from the bench. His price tag is the stumbling block here.
He's expected to be as good as Aguero/Tevez/Etoo/Villa for that money.

Now think of these players in the 4222 - Back 5 still remains the same, but the whole dynamic changes

-------------Lucas/Spearo----Gerrard/Adam--------------

Lucas and Gerrard central axis suddenly sounds great, because in this formation one of the centre midfielders can have more freedom to press up the pitch. The squad depth looks a bit better in this position when reviwed for this formation. Its also why Spearing looked good alongside Lucas as you can forgo creativity in that role if you have it further up the pitch, which we seemed to have in abundance last year.

Gerrard is still the wrong side of 30 and the thought of Adam filling his position for wnything other than rotation is scary, so we'd need to look at his long term replacement in the near future too.

The problem comes, again with our attacking personnel:

Kuyt/Bellamy/Hendo/Shelvey-------------Maxi/Downing

The only player suited to this attacking midifield role is Maxi, and he can't buy a game at the moment.

Hendo hasn't impressed there, Downing seems to prefer staying out wide rather than coming inside to influence the game, Bellamy and Kuyt are both forwards shoe horned into a wide AM position.

i'll reserve judgement on Shelvey as I've not seen enough of him.

In this formation we are crying out for two Attacking midfielders. On the left, the likes of Hazard (will that name not go away) or Shaqiri who are equally adept at going wide or coming inside. On the right, the likes of Gotze and Eriksen play these roles with their club sides. These guys are the main attacking weapon we have and should be adept at taking players on , making the final ball and alsokeeping possession and being patient.

The forward line then looks to have a good mix of options

------Carroll/Kuyt--------Suarez/Bellamy--------------

Whilst Kuyt and Bellamy are the wrong side of 30, the differing styles we have give us good tactical options, although current form is worrying.

Gerrard is too far back in this.  I don't want him alongside Lucas/Spearo, he needs to be further forwards to be effective.

Aurelio, sorry no, Rafa let him go due to injuries and Hodgson/Purslow brought him back!!

Excellent analysis that I only have a real objection to one thing. I still don't understand (other than by necessity) when Spearo became a defensive mid; if you look at most of the Guardian's boards after he has played I think his positioning shows how much he wants to get forward and usually ends up playing 5-10 yards ahead of where Lucas does in the same role. Whether this is because of his comfort level in the first team last season when he was playing beside Lucas i don't know, but i think that he showed us that his best role was the pivot in the 4-2-3-1 that is allowed a little more freedom then as the last line of midfield defense. I know it gets old living in the past but the easy way to describe it is that I think Spearo showed he belongs in Xabi's old position with Lucas as Masch. I think with the right Lucas replacement everyone can be shuffled forward and LFC can finally get those runners into the box that will not only add some goals from the midfielders but also make things easier for AC and Suarez. (I probably could've saved myself some time by just writing I love Lucas.)

Dembele from Fulham could do Lucas' job.  Enrique could too, then Kelly get's in the team.

We could obviously use help at all these positions, but if we rank by necessity, I think it's pretty obvious that it goes from attacking midfielder, striker, winger, to holding midfielder.  We haven't shown the creativity in and around the box to make things happen.  Our more creative players like Maxi score goals in spite of their physical inadequacies.  Unfortunately, Liverpool reminds me all too much of the problems we see in the USA with MLS teams.  A lot of effort and defensive ability without the technical skill in the attack.   The main difference between LFC and a really good MLS side is their ability to cross and move the ball in all but the last 1/3 of the field.  

We need a holding midfielder.  We have decent players in all other positions.  Andy Carroll has the ability and can still turn it on; Downing can also thrill us like he did in the first 4-5 games; Gerrard, Henderson, and Adam can all be positioned further up the field to help advance the attack.  A "good" holding midfielder (like Lucas)  who can break up play and allow those midfielders to join the attack.  They will be slightly relieved of their defensive duties by someone who can maintain control and focus in front of the CB's (like Lucas does).  And when Lucas returns we could deploy both in a 4-2-2-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation.  I really think that is are biggest concern right now.  We have good attacking options but they are being wasted because we do not have Lucas to relieve them of some of their defensive abilities.  Also think about how many times Lucas has intercepted a pass, picked out a Red within a second, and started a counter-attack?  The most memorable this season at least is when he won the ball, played it to Suarez, who neatly one-passed it to Carroll who scored.  We are missing Lucas, so we need someone to do his job til he comes back...

Yes. a good midfield is the platform for others to advance.   Just seems like everyone other than Lucas and Spearing are square pegs in that role.

Hendo, Gerrard, Adam just don't play that role well enough.   

I think Enrique is a good enough player to go there for now but there's no way KK would take him off wing back duties even though Kelly could do that.

With Stoke, we just didn't get players in the box, and it's not clear why, and also Gerrard would be back there when I want him advancing on the box.

The worry about getting a new striker which I think we are definitely going to need, is our football might make him dry up too given that noone is scoring a hatful!!

BREAKING NEWS:  An interview with Sky has revealed why Chaz Adam is so inconsistent in Red and often seems off balance - he's concussed. 

Speaking today, Charlie said;

"It's been great," he added. "When you join a new club sometimes it takes time to settle in but it's been easy for me with the players that we've got here, they have made me welcome and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. 

Since I've walked into the door at this club I've enjoyed every minute." 

Those glass doors at Melwood have got to be changed before they claim Luis's teeth as well as Chaz's balance...

Well, that explains it all! Just gotta put some silver star stickers on there so old Chaz can see those Invisible Killers...

The glass door concussion explains a lot. That and the invisible forcefield around the penalty box. It repels all Brits and Scotts. Andy's pony tail can break it, but it takes away all his powers. Maxi can get through it and it has no effect on Luis.

Count me among the voices saying what we have is probably good enough, just need to be motivated better, positioned better and need to start looking like they give a shit.  

I'm not convinced we need to panic-buy to make up for LOL (Lack of Lucas, I'm bringing it back). Lucas or not, our biggest problem has been our lack of clinicality (I'm also inventing words) up front, so if we were to dip into the market, I'd preferably like to see an attacking midfielder to assist the unfortunate souls isolated up front and perhaps lead all the lackadaisical support staff by example and get them fired up in supporting the strikeforce up top. 

I was among those clamouring for a winger after seeing Liverpool operate without them for the duration of my time supporting them (after Euro 2008) but I don't believe having a good winger is central to success; certainly not if his name is Stewart Downing. My magical cure-all for this situation we're in is to bench Adam and Downing immediately, get Carroll to do whatever the fuck it is he needs to to regain some god damn speed, rotate Jonno/Spearing/Gerrard in the middle as well as whatever new attacking midfielder we acquire, should we do so and play Kuyt consistently until he recaptures the form of 6 months ago. The rotations in the middle may serve to hinder the "gelling" time but it would also serve to make us less predictable, a crime we are far too guilty of lately. 

So yeah, attacking midfielder, WOO! Or nothing, whatever. I'm good with either, just as long as we get better management and motivation in lieu of said attacking midfielder.

Fantasy talk here because it's never going to happen but in a perfect world we would get Danny Murphy on loan until the end of the season. Underrated by many (although not by LFC fans) he'd be great cover until Lucas returns from injury.

Ibrahim Afellay of Barcelona? Pacy, incisive winger desperate to show form prior to the Euro's. Anybody know his present status?

I don't expect signings but I'd love to see Raheem Sterling at least get a place on the bench.

Not really the topic here but I wonder what impact the Financial Fair Play Rules are going to have going forward and how valuable an investment Rafa's re-organisation of the youth academy would be.

Afellay = long-term injury. Makes sense as I haven't heard him mentioned in ages.

No way Suarez is happy here, the ban, the loneliness upfront, and the prospect of playing only the Europa. Call Harry Redknapp. Give him Suarez + cash for, Dafoe, Huddlestone, & Lennon. Dafoe & Huddlestone are expendable in Tottenham. Dafoe will fit in here well. Huddlestone is a massive upgrade over Adam. The key is Lennon to provide us with the speed wide to make Carroll a happy chap. Huddlestone & Lucas. I think the captain will like that.

As for the King? They are all Brits.

Why does everyone think luis is unhappy? It's been a year. Sounds like post-Nando's betrayal everyone's turned skittish and is waiting for the other shoe to drop. He's not going anywhere, and we definitely shouldn't give him to f'ing spurs (or anyone else in england, for that matter). Besides, what are you gonna do if luis leaves? I already can't get enough luis suarez.

I feel like we're always saying we're a winger away - then Kewell happens (to be fair, he was an integral part of one night in may). I want the corpse of Downing to be sold and the real one (that impressed last season and in the first couple fixtures this year) to come back. Don't want a CDM unless spearo's hamstring is rooming with Gerrard's groin and unless it's someone that can play partner (as you point out, Noel) to Lucas - otherwise, we'll be left with an expensive extra part when the brazilian maestro returns. We could perhaps use a striker - pretty f'ing partial to Llorente, but that's not happening.

It would be nice and perhaps add some life to the squad, but I don't think we need a player that badly. The pieces for a top four finish are there.

And those calls for Kenny's head are like land mines - enjoying flipping through posts then bam; makes me want to reach through the screen slam a chopstick in someone's eye. Or I could be more rational and just ignore them...

With you on the chopsticks Edward, being rational's no fun...and I also believe that those currently in our employ should be capable of top 4...of course I'd light-up with fanboy glee if we were to sign a class player

Kenny is in the DT expecting a quiet transfer window (though not for the academy).

Does that suggest no transfers?  

Wouldn't surprise me given the summer's heavy investment and Comolli's comments saying the squad was complete following that (he needs to learn to keep his mouth shut particularly as he hasn't rooted up any trees).

Going to FSG now and asking for dosh is going to beg the question "why?".  And how does it fit in the big picture, why isn't the £35m signing working?  Is the training correct? Is the coaching correct?

And they are all very valid questions.

Unrelated theory (so feel free to delete if you want) on the people whining about the king without providing legitimate criticism...

Could this type of drivel be related to ESPN's decision in the states to televise Champions League only a few years back? I remember that I fell in love with liverpool in Istanbul, while I washed dishes in the back of a dirty wing joint. I'm sure a lot of other yanks like myself did the same. But two paths diverged in a snowy wood- one path involved simply watching liverpool in the champions league on ESPN every year, the other path involved visiting dark corners of the internet to possibly catch a glimpse of a red, pixelated blur of Stevie G taking on West Brom (or something else equally glamorous).

Anyways, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. But I wonder, if you simply got spoiled on European success from watching ESPN, if you might love Istanbul a little more than Liverpool? Which demands the question: If you love it so much, why don't you move there?

I don't even see code anymore. All I see is Brig. General Jack Ripper playing an Aboriginal instrument for his Mongolian hordes as they cross the Hindu Kush mountains to free Napoleon from the clutches of NASA and their Viking mercenaries.

You clever bastard.

(Holding midfielder, please)

I take offense to that remark, I can assure you NASA has NO Viking mercenaries.  Although we should, come to think of it.

Not so fast poorscouserbobby! It I, who take offense to that remark. We Vikings would never join NASA. Space is not exactly full of plunder, ale and women, is it now?

MPS, help a non-viking out here. As an Irish barbarian, I am possessed of similar appetites to your lot but when we go rampaging at weekends I can find ale and women but I missed the day at Barbarian school when they explained what 'plunder' is... and so I never know what to plunder or what plunder to take...basically mate, what is plunder?!!! All the other barbarian Paddies are laughing at me....

There's a Monty Python skit in this, I can feel it. Erik the Red goes to Space Camp.

But we all agree that Charlie Adam is no astronaut, right?

No Charlie is a space cadet. NOBODY SUSPECTS THE VIKING INQUISITION! also. ok Thor we didn't need you and your stupid hammer anyways.

I'm glad you completely agree that the most beneficial thing LFC could do in this window is relegate Charlie Adam to the bench (i love vagueness that allows me to read whatever I want into something).

Finishing is important.  The chances are there, I'm not convinced Liverpool need to buy anyone.  If it's true that Kuyt and Maxi are to be sold, then yes make a sharp buy in the striker role.  We have created more chances than I've ever seen, yet cannot find the net.  What do you do when you're just flat missing?  Practice practice practice.  If a buy is in the works, a striker.  A clinical finisher... who hasn't lost his mojo.

Has to be an attacking midfielder. They have the strikers now and how many times has the likes of Andy Carroll been left fending for himself up in attack when a long ball has been sent up to him. People complain that he doesn't hold the ball up for enough of his fellow players to give him support but how long does he have to wait for the support. 1 man against usually 2 or 3 centre halves doesn't have that long of a chance to keep the ball. Bring in a good attacking midfielder who can be there in support of the likes of the big man and Liverpool will start creating more chances and hopefully actually score one or 2 of the chances created.

Shelvey?

I do like Shelvey but wouldn't be the quickest of attacking midfielders and with the length of the long balls that are usually pump up to Carroll then he would need to be a lot quicker than Shelvey.

Why is it that everytime someone mentions Shelvey, that someone says he's not quick enough, he's got no pace or whatever? On what exactly is this assumption based on? I'd really like to know

 I can only go by what I have seen off him playing on the TV but whenever I have seen him he doesn't have the speed or pace to go around a centre back which aren't usually the quickest of players. Shelvey can stick the ball past a centre back but doesn't have the pace to catch up with his own ball. That's why I think he doesn't have the pace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Look at that and tell me again he has no pace ;)

 I take you're point but that's running without the ball. It's a big difference when running with the ball.

I guess I've never noticed  he has no pace...

totally agree on the attacking implications of losing Lucas. i just think we have some options in-house for that tactical problem: (how is Jay doing anyhows?)
a. Seba sweeping in a 3-5-2 (with 2AM, 2WB, 2ST)
b. Jay + Seba in a 3-man midfield
c. Jay/Seba + Fabio (4-2-3-1)
it'd mean having fewer attackers, but i think a stable middle would allow more actual attacking.

*&$^ing disqus!! this is meant as a reply to Justin's post ** file under: blaming the equipment**

Dont worry bro, I know that fell. Lol.

"..still camped out on the touchline looking ineffective like he was two paragraphs back."

Love it!

i voted for striker cuz we're desperate for some fucking goals. but what i really want is someone dying to get in the box, and with the skill to do something when he (or she?) gets there. you know, a scorer. 

i don't mind if they line up in the middle - even if they'd replicate some of Stevie's function - or out wide. Affelay would've been high on my list before he broke his peg, so i'd love a more sturdy version.

Shelvey?

I might be going out on a limb here but is it as simple as signing a player/ some players?

Look at Newcastle for example. And Im not suggesting they are a model to follow but their team plays better than the sum of its parts. Or Swansea their team is playing brilliantly without the "quality" of player we have.

So if we agree it is a team game and its about the team playing better then simply adding new unknown variables to an already under performing team I believe is a high risk strategy and unlikely to improve the all important team cohesion and dynamic.

Should we not consider sticking with our statistically sound players and getting the best out of them. As there is surely more to come from all.

Remember the Arsenal invincibles- they made no new first eleven signings the summer before they conquered all before them. The press and people like me said they had lost ground on all the other teams and would struggle. Er..... No.

We have a new team which is still looking to find its mojo lets stick with it and watch it flourish

Or, as that is quite boring, I say winger for the right i like Dyer.

Thanks for reading

Yes Newcastle work as a team, but they also some very good individuals. Cabaye, Tiote, Krul, Ba etc.

Fair observation RedorSled. If Carroll was playing like Carroll, Downing like Downing and Kuyt like Kuyt we'd be flying. Adam is playing like Adam...as many of us feared he might. 

When you factor in the absences of Lucas, Jay and Suarez and the fact that Stevie and Bellers are creaking a bit, you can make so many justifiable excuses for not turning draws into wins. 

I usually preach patience but Fowler knows it's hard to justify when you witness Andy lumbering around, Chaz bundling over opponents within range of our goal and Stewpot being...well, awful really. 

So yeah, NEW RECRUITS KENNY OR YOU ARE ASSHOLE CHICKEN MANAGER!! 

Where are you crazy ass chicken man? Caps lock is ON!

He must be kicking some chicken ass...

Fantastic piece Noel. Funny, perspicacious and cogent - a tough mixture to blend. Great writing fella.

...So basically we are doing all right then?

·         One of the most cost effective ways of getting a quality player in is to sign a player with a problem - lack of form, doesn't suit the new system or whatever, fixing whatever is causing the dip in form or lull in development and hey presto an $8m man is worth 3 times that amount.
·         With that in mind I would put forward a couple of well known names to go with some of the prospects. Now you all may have more information about these players and their current situations, but here a starter for ten:
·         Deep Lying Playmaker
·          
Whilst we don’t necessarily have a huge requirement for a DM, we could use a player that can operate as a Deep Lying Playmaker. The recent injury to LL added to SG’s recent travails, have perhaps alerted us to the need to have quality in depth. Adam still hasn’t convinced as anything more than a squad player and Fiorentina have a player I like the look of. With La Viola sitting mid table and uncertain to achieve CL football we may be able to take advantage. Montolivo has been mooted as the next Pirlo for a while. He may not have ever lived up to that standard, but he’s an intelligent player, who may do well alongside the more defensive minded Lucas allowing Gerrard the freedom to operate behind the striker.
 
A proper right midfielder.
 
Milos Krasic was quality last term. Now Juventus now play a 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 in certain games meaning their style is very narrow and he hasn’t found his feet in this new set up and could very well be available as he doesn’t fit the managers plans. At 27, he’s not the youngster we’d expect to be after, but a change in clubs could re-ignite old qualities not seen in recent appearances and give us a natural right winger in the squad. Could Kenny get him back playing at the level he was last season?
 
A playmaker in the final third.
 
Rafa liked him a lot and to me that’s recommendation enough, but he’s not featured much at Inter so Philipe Coutinho could be worth a punt to help us unlock defences. Likewise Sebastien Giovinco’s Parma are sitting in 15th and player of his quality should be in a team competing for CL football. Additionally Josep Illicic is at a side that has struggled since the loss of its playmaker and strike to PSG and Napoli respectively. Lowly league positions and faltering ambitions could prise these players away.
 
Adaptable Forward i.e. a younger Bellamy
 
Jovetic of Fiorentina has recovered well from injury and with La Viola sitting mid table and uncertain to achieve CL football he could be tempted to aid our push for 4th this year. He can operate as a striker or an attacking midfielder.There's also a young Ukranian chap called Yarmolenko, who can operate as a striker or wide forward, which if we go for him, we could go for a double Ukranian swoop for centre back Rakytskiy as well. These two could replace the aging Carragher and Bellamy as virtual like for like swaps (in terms of positions played) and of course assist each other settling in to life in a different country. Their introduction in January could see them bed in nice a slowly for the start of next season.
 
Other names from struggling sides which we could possibly take advantage of also include Musacchio, Nilmar or Rossi of Villarreal and Inigo Martinez and Antoine Griezmann of Real Sociedad.
I also think we’d do well  to move for the likes of Shaqiri(Wing), Wijnaldum (AM/Wing), Dzagoev(AM), Ramirez (Wing) and Draxler (AM) before their stock rises too much (the Hazard/Gotze lesson) and we’re either priced out of the deal or we can’t attract such stellar names
P.S. I voted for Attacking midfielder. A player with guile and grace who can pick the lock rather than barge the door down.

That's a lot of Rafa thinking, which is good.  He always had one eye on pure talent, and another three eyes on his limited budget.  But right now I'd like to think we don't have to do that anymore.  John Henry might not be as rich as a sheikh, but he's certainly shown no reluctance to spend yet.  Till the day he says 'we can't afford _____', why not assume we can?

Remember those times when Utd were paying 30m for Berbatov, 12m for a teenage Ronaldo, 29m for Veron, 27m for Rooney, all in addition to purposely feigning interest in our transfer targets just to hike up the price?  And we'd look on helplessly as they buy their way to success while we're stuck with Laurel and Hardy at the helm giving our manager no support whatsoever.  Well, we're not in that boat anymore.  If we can find real quality, let's go out and get it.  Undervalued gems are great, but we're not restricted to just those anymore.  If a player's stock has risen like Hazard, well, how about paying the full price just because we can?  

Sure, I don't like the idea of us being one of the rich assholes who financially outmuscle others to the best players, but the fact is money talks.  Barca and Arsenal might win some trophies, but the rest of the titles go to the likes of Man Utd, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and now City.  Now we're finally on a (more) level playing field, let's take advantage of it. 

I'm not challenging that we can't afford these players (Hazard/Gotze/Neymar etc), I'm suggesting that these players stock is such that they're the one's with the choice of who to go to and in the grand scheme of things, we're a bit of a project right now, meaing we're less attractive.
That's more the point about attracting the well know talents.

Lots of interesting names you mention, but I seriously doubt that we look at Serie A football for help after the Aquilani debacle. Also italian players have some kind of dubious history when it comes to playing in the EPL aka feeling 'homesick' like after two months. The most succesful Italians I can think of were Zola and perhaps Di Canio, with the jury still out on Balotelli i guess. BTW, it goes both ways, or can you think of an english player having success or even playing in Italy - there seems to be some strange kind of incompatibility.

Also I have a hard time getting exited about players from eastern Europe, I think history shows you can get some good goalkeepers and defenders from those countries, but creative attacking midfielders? naah, very unlikely...

So the way to go should be Spain with their abundance of cash-strapped clubs and talented players, like you mentioned, Villarreal, Valencia, Bilbao, Atlético... there we are most likely to find value for cash.

Thats a good point and you have to admit the list is sparse.

I was thinking Jovetic would be a really good addition for us too. The 4 or 5 times I've seen him play, I've really liked him. But, the point you make about Italians not doing the business in the EPL is a good one. Thinking back on the top sides for the past ten years or so, I can't think of any that have lit it up besides the two you mentioned. I always liked Zola and never much liked that old maid cross dressing crybaby woman DiCanio. He just needed a little makeup pre-game to complete the picture. Although I am liking him a lot better now as a manager. And after the disaster that was Aquilani, does anyone have the balls to take a chance in Italy? Spain, France and Holland are the leagues to be watching. A rested Luis should light it up when he returns. When the United crowd starts giving him the business, three goals would fix things up real nice. It will quiet them down and they will switch to throwing bottles at the Glazer's helicopter like they did after the City devastation. We still could use some help. I'm hoping Kenny and Comolli can dig us up a striker or creative mid in the next two weeks.

OMG that was perfectly formatted with double spacing and everything.....f-nig disqus

Sorry bout that - pls ignore

One of the most cost effective ways of getting a quality player in is to sign a player with a problem - lack of form, doesn't suit the new system or whatever, fixing whatever is causing the dip in form or lull in development and hey presto an $8m man is worth 3 times that amount.

With that in mind I would put forward the following names. Now you all may have more information about these players and their current situations, but here a starter for ten:

Deep Lying PlaymakerWhilst we don’t necessarily have a huge requirement for a DM, we could use a player that can operate as a Deep Lying Playmaker. The recent injury to LL added to SG’s recent travails, have perhaps alerted us to the need to have quality in depth. Adam still hasn’t convinced as anything more than a squad player and Fiorentina have a player I like the look of. With La Viola sitting mid table and uncertain to achieve CL football we may be able to take advantage. Montolivo has been mooted as the next Pirlo for a while. He may not have ever lived up to that standard, but he’s an intelligent player, who may do well alongside the more defensive minded Lucas allowing Gerrard the freedom to operate behind the striker.A proper right midfielder.Milos Krasic was quality last term. Now Juventus now play a 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 in certain games meaning their style is very narrow and he hasn’t found his feet in this new set up and could very well be available as he doesn’t fit the managers plans. At 27, he’s not the youngster we’d expect to be after, but a change in clubs could re-ignite old qualities not seen in recent appearances and give us a natural right winger in the squad. Could Kenny get him back playing at the level he was last season?A playmaker in the final third.Rafa liked him a lot and to me that’s recommendation enough, but he’s not featured much at Inter so Philipe Coutinho could be worth a punt to help us unlock defences. Likewise Sebastien Giovinco’s Parma are sitting in 15th and player of his quality should be in a team competing for CL football. Additionally Josep Illicic is at a side that has struggled since the loss of its playmaker and strike to PSG and Napoli respectively. Lowly league positions and faltering ambitions could prise these players away.Adaptable Forward i.e. a younger BellamyJovetic of Fiorentina has recovered well from injury and with La Viola sitting mid table and uncertain to achieve CL football he could be tempted to aid our push for 4th this year. He can operate as a striker or an attacking midfielder.There's also a young Ukranian chap called Yarmolenko, who can operate as a striker or wide forward, which if we go for him, we could go for a double Ukranian swoop for centre back Rakytskiy as well. These two could replace the aging Carragher and Bellamy as virtual like for like swaps (in terms of positions played) and of course assist each other settling in to life in a different country. Their introduction in January could see them bed in nice a slowly for the start of next season.Other names from struggling sides which we could possibly take advantage of also include Musacchio, Nilmar or Rossi of Villarreal and Inigo Martinez and Antoine Griezmann of Real Sociedad.

I also think we’d do well  to move for the likes of Shaqiri(Wing), Wijnaldum (AM/Wing), Dzagoev(AM), Ramirez (Wing) and Draxler (AM) before their stock rises too much (the Hazard/Gotze lesson) and we’re either priced out of the deal or we can’t attract such stellar names

P.S. I voted for Attacking midfielder. A player with guile and grace who can pick the lock rather than barge the door down.These two could replace the aging Carragher and Bellamy as virtual like for like swaps (in terms of positions played) and of course assist each other settling in to life in a different country. Their introduction in January could see them bed in nice a slowly for the start of next season.Other names from struggling sides which we could possibly take advantage of also include Musacchio, Nilmar or Rossi of Villarreal and Inigo Martinez and Antoine Griezmann of Real Sociedad.

I also think we’d do well  to move for the likes of Shaqiri(Wing), Wijnaldum (AM/Wing), Dzagoev(AM), Ramirez (Wing) and Draxler (AM) before their stock rises too much (the Hazard/Gotze lesson) and we’re either priced out of the deal or we can’t attract such stellar names

P.S. I voted for Attacking midfielder. A player with guile and grace who can pick the lock rather than barge the door down.

Liverpool need to sell not buy. The first to go has to be the so-called king. 

We certainly could do selling off Fans like you. 

I find it totally okay to question Kenny but honestly, provide some bloody constructive feedback! 

The King.  That is all.  Piss off and follow chelsea. 

He's voting for (as) a whinger.......

Incidentally mate, interesting nickname. Are you a Jack russell who found the Premier League trophy which had been stolen by a shadowy scotsman and left in a north London garden?

Just kidding, appreciate your posts - top class.

I'm not sure what to make of your question particularly as it was in jest.  Don't be fooled by my ability to use words with multiple syllables in a sentence.  I have no clue what you said.  :-)

Sorry, snowed in here, and somewhat going crazy!

The references are: the World Cup was stolen in 1966 and found by a Jack Russell, I think called Bobby - although without a wiki check, I concede my memory may be gone.
The shadowy Scotsman refers to the thief who was never caught, thus equating with Sir Alex Moans-a-lot managing Man U to beat Rafa's Liverpool to the Premiership.

Now I look at this, it seems like a load of old bollocks, which probably sums me up sometimes.

The dog was called Pickles!

Geoff Twentyman...the best scout in Anfield history...AND he knows shit about stuff!!

Yep, that's the name! Don't suppose his owner was called Bobby..........(Hangs head in shame)

I'm not that old to remember, but we can run with it!

Well in bobby. Who fuckin 'likes' shit like that. Even a shouty, reactionary, knee-jerk would have enough respect to say 'Kenny Out' and not cast aspersions on his status or well-earned moniker of 'The King'.

If you really like to see manager getting sacked quickly you better be off supporting Chelsea

Alonso?

I mean it is the transfer season and I am yet to hear a rumour linking him with a return to Liverpool this time around, which if you believe King Kenny actually may mean that he really is getting signed this time because Liverpool now does all it's business behind closed doors.

Seriously...problem solved with one stroke of the almighty pen.

I went into depression the day Alonso was gone and said we would never be the same for a long long time. Just when my depression was going away a year later, they brought in a Scot who's supposed to fill in for Xabi's long passes....give me a f***ing break.

You can't pry Xabi away from Maurinho with a gun on his head.

Give me one real reason why Real would go and sell one of their best player. Honestly, every supporter would love to see him back but right now it is next to impossible imo.

Mate that was a bit of sarcasm...I know it's not going to happen...it still doesn't mean I'm not going to drink myself to sleep tonight watching every Alonso conplimation on YouTube wishing upon a shooting star for Xavi to come back...

Oh..sorry dude. I'm really not good in detecting sarcasm lol

It's this damn text on the screen...I say we should petition Noel and Ed to make the comments section include video uploads of us making actual comments...think of all the fun we'd have.

Just finished watching a Dirk Kuyt compilation from last season. SERIOUSLY, WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED. I'm going into a slight depression. 

we really need a quality striker.. i think we can bring torres back and pairing him with suarez..all others can be fixed.

Bring him back? For what? To continously not scoring again? Even if we want him back there is no way Chelsea will sell him, not after they just gave us 50m for him.

Thought there was a rumour that Chelsea will be open to offloading him for the right price.  

And Torres-Suarez was the original plan.  That's why we bought Suarez in the first place, to partner Torres and bring out the best in him.  I think it's well worth a shot if such a move is on the cards (which I think it isn't, but just saying...)  

"Liverpool needs a central support player with a bit of guile, a bit of drive, and just a hint of willingness to follow up his incisive pass with an equally incisive run into the box."
Just so happens we sold someone who fits this description perfectly to Chelsea over the summer...

There are many of us here who're just scratching our heads when we just don't see the players flooding the box this season and are quick to turn on the management with regards to this.

It might pay to just remember the 2nd half of last season when the King returned and somehow, we'd more players flooding the box than we ever had under Houllier/Rafa and of course, Hodgson. We'd a system that was working but the new signings this season just seem to have thrown a spanner in the works. 

I'm more inclined to believing we can replicate that kind of movement and form we did the 2nd half of last season than just going all knee-jerky after the last couple of games.

PS: Not a direct reply to the post above, but thought it'd some relevance due to the loss of Meireles.

don't say that don't say that...The familiar feelings of angst is crawling back up on me as I remember how I would have bought his kit if he stayed...

I almost did buy his kit then fell short money. Blessing in disguise

All four please. Our squad is still hurting from the years of forced bargain buys. 

I feel your pain. If only the Premier League was like Fifa 11 or something, where you can swoop in and buy any number of players if you have the money.

I know in baseball during the last ten years, there has been a debate of whether top players will sign with mediocre clubs if they are paid enough money, or will they take a lower salary to play for big name teams. It's hard to ascertain where the actual balance lies: big bucks = Europa League only, less cash = Champions League, Man U, City, Chelsea etc.

I'm gonna burst your bubble by saying all 4 -_-

But I did vote for winger.

As long as Dalglish is at the helm, no amount of buying would help to improve the mediocrity of the Liverpool team.

Beautiful. Now explain why, oh insightful one...

Can you do us a favour please. Please don't come back here ever again.

I guess that is why LFC is still one of the best defensive records in the EPL. We're still missing game winners. Carroll and Downing are not performing up to expectations right now, another good player in the final third would do us wonders. Get a clue kiddo. 

Perhaps then, you might constructively provide a few names for consideration that might you think would do a better job than what the man has done so far? It is far too easy to dismiss the good work that one has done and focus inherently on selective negatives. 

Criticism is fine by all means but wouldn't it help just to be more constructive?

it's definitely a striker or a winger that's the priority, but choosing between the two is like choosing between a liver and a kidney.