Being Brendan for this summer

Being Brendan Rodgers for this summer might be the most exciting yet the most difficult job. There is money to spend, but to spend it wisely is the most important thing. Buying players who are not only individually good but add to the style and system of Liverpool way is very important. Keeping these things in mind any upgrade will be welcome.

So I set out to try to be in his shoes and see what I can do. Which players I would move on and which players I would keep. Below is what I would do .

Goalkeepers

Existing Players : Mignolet, Jones, Reina

Targets : Vorm, Marshall

I would keep Mignolet and Jones but I would like to buy a good keeper with quality. The two easily gettable are probably Marshall and Vorm. I would go for Vorm due to the fact that he is very good with is feet, something which is a major weakness of Mignolet.

Reina will be sold

Total outlay on Goal keeper : 6m - 6m = NIL

Right Back 

Existing Players : Johnson, Kelly, Wisdom, Flannagan

Targets : Coleman, Montoya, Rafinha, Walker,

This is a very important position, the way we play we need to have penetration from wings for teams which park the bus. No overlaps and no skill near the byline cost liverpool dear at both wings. However that has been due to Johnsons form and his injuries. I would make this position my priority, look for a good wing back. Coleman has been the best right back in the EPL all season. I would love to have him but the rivalry might not make it possible to get him. Walker has all the tools but has suffered at Spurs, he should be the prime target . Montoya might want to stay at Barca  and Rafinha is very hard to get at this stage from Bayern. This is a position I shall have to break the bank for.

Kelly and Wisdom will be sold and Flannagan will be kept as he is a utility player.

Totaly Outaly : 12m - 6m = 6m

Center back :

Existing players: Agger, Skrtel, Sakho, Toure, Ilori, Coates

Targets : Caulker, Lovren, Varane, San Jose

This position looks like the most stocked up position. However, it is not, the fact of the matter is the type of defenders needed to stop counter attacks are missing. Liverpool have defenders who are more being organized and fall back rather than win the one on one race and defend running back towards goal. As much as liverpool want to protect its back four with a defensive midfielder the fact is with the style Liverpool want to play they need a Gerrard Pique type of defender with pace and agility and not a Hyppia type who stand and towers and read the game. Liverpool might need a Hyppia type player for 4-5 games a season but no more than that. So my plan would be to add pace and strength at the back. My ideal targets are Varane and San Jose. Both fast and agile and very good defenders making negligible mistakes. However I may find that the two do not want to leave Spain. The next best alternate is Lovren and Caulker both are strong and good defenders and faster than Agger. I would also promote Ilori and give him few games, he is the fastest player among all the above and is a very good defender.

To fund this spree I shall be willing to sell Agger who is slow in my opinion. He leaves for 12m. I would look to let Toure leave on free. Coates will also be sold

Totaly Outlay for 2 players  = 16m - 16m =  Nil


Left Back :

Existing Players :  Enrique, Jack Robinson, Smith

Targets : Moreno, Siquera, Bernat, Bertrand, Shaw

This is the position which I feel was the weakest for Liverpool. There was nothing going forward which meant the players tried to pass in the center too many times and when possession was lost, resulted in counters. If we look back at the season before this one. Liverpool were very strong, Enrique was the channel for most runs and so often the opposition left their central positions to protect the wing allowing central players to get space. This season this position would be the one I would really spend on. This position along with Goalkeeper is the make or break for Liverpool next season. I would ideally either sell Robinson with a buyback clause or loan him out. Enrique is a player I like a lot but he needs to get fit. I will give him time till the winter window to get back fit or be sold.

My ideal target would be Siquera, He is class apart, so composed and so good on the ball with pace. He is the player I would overpay for. Moreno is one with lots of potential but not one who out of the world in my opinion. Shaw is very good but too over priced and probably already in Manchester. Bernat is another one who has loads of Potential. I would try to get both Bernat and Siquera. Enrique will have to be sold at some point so its better to plan ahead.

Totaly Outlay on 2 players = 14m -3m = 11m

Holding Midfielder

Existing Players : Stevie Gerrard, Lucas

Targets: William Carvalho, Fenando Reges, Diame, Schniderlin, Tiote, Javi Martinez , Matudi

This is one position which again cost us this season. Taking nothing away from Gerrard who I think had one of his best seasons with the ball. Without the ball too many times the pace of speedy attackers found him outnumbered and outpaced. He is not 18 years old and he is not the one who should be winning sprints with young wingers. I think next season will be his last as a starter. He must have one super talented substitute. With the way Liverpool play they will have to contend with 5-6 super fast counter attacks every game where they are outnumbered and the wing backs are out of position. Liverpool have lost almost all those battles this season. Next season they must have a fast strong person in there. My choice would be William Carvalho, he is young and very talented he is a mixture of Yaya Toure and Makelele. I rate him very highly. If Liverpool miss out on him, I would go with Reges or Diame, both are powerful and work very hard. Javi Martinez would be very expensive due to his age and Club but he is another very good option.

Lucas is very slow and is not suited for the system Liverpool play. He was been loyal to the club but its time he found a new club.

Total Outlay : 14 - 7 = 7m

Advanced Central Midfielders

Current Players : Henderson, Allen, Coutinho, Suso,  Luis Alberto, Texiera

Targets: Kovacic, Lallana, Rakitic, Isco, Suseta, Veratti, Lars Bender, Erikson

This position is very vital to the Liverpool system, as for technique and tactically ability, this calls for a lot of physical demand, protecting the back four is as important as getting forward. Henderson was brilliant in that and Liverpool missed him dearly in the 3 games he was suspended probably costing the title. Liverpool need one or two quality players in this position. My Ideal choice would be both Lallana and Rakitic, one main reason is there work rate. Both would cost almost the same but have been the most hardworking players in their respective leagues. Even if I get one player I would be very happy but my focus would be on getting 2 players if I could afford. Kovacic is one of the best upcoming players, I really like him but I would wish he could be used in a swap for Lucas but that is wishful thinking. Luis Alberto will be sold and I would hope would be part of Rakitic deal to Sevilla.

Total Outlay: 30m - 5m = 25m

Striker/ Wingers

Current players : Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling, Ibe, Borini, Aspas, Assiadi

Targets : Shaqiri, Firminio, Jay Rodrigez, Itrube, Remy, Tello, Morata, Jese , Arda Turan, Callejon, Markovic, Griezman, Gemiero, Aleix Sanchez

This is one position which Liverpool are blessed with talent, 3S are one of the best in Europe, with Ibe and Borini emerging this position is well covered but Liverpool still need one more player in my opinion. From the list above I would buy one current player and one for the future. My choice will be Firminio or Remy for current team and Tello or Jese on the bench.

Aspas and Assiadi have to be sold.

Total Outlay = 30m - 10m= 20m


The Total for Overhauling the whole squad = 69m

If this outlay is not approved by the board, the options where I have given the wishlist of 2 players can be reduced to one. In my opinion this squad will be were strong and capable to take on all 4 competitions. Not to mention the liverpool emerging stars. The likes of Dunn, Rossiter, Brannagan, Smith,  all have been very good and should put Liverpool in a good position for the future. 

Ten areas Rodgers must improve next season

Below are the ten areas Brenden should be looking to improve. 

1. Goal Keeping:

Simon is a great shot stopper but is no where near the standard required at Liverpool for ball playing or Ariel command. He was one of the factors why Liverpool could not win the title. He gave away atleast 6 points which at a top team is unacceptable. Brenden must find a solution to this area. 

2. Central Defence:

Liverpool have conceded half a century of goals. This is by no means acceptable and much of it is down to central defence. The defence have been second best when playing physical teams and have also lacked pace to get back to make recoveries. Brenden must add pace and leadership at the back so that when they are bombarded with high balls or susceptible to a counter attack they must stand up. 

3. Right back:

Glen Johnson has been in and out of the team due to injuries, his contract is up this season and it is fair to say he has not had the best of seasons. One of the highest wage earners at Liverpool he is not the same player. Liverpool have Martin Kelly who is not the same player he was before injury and Andre Wisdom on loan. Jon Flannagan is also in the squad but is used as left back. Brenden knows how important his wingbacks are to his style of attacking game. The have to good in defence and great in attack. This is a place he will strengthen in the summer no doubt. 

4. Left Back 

This is the position that has troubled Liverpool for many years. Enrique looked as if he had sorted this out but long term injures to him have surely finished his time at Liverpool. This is the area Brenden has to strengthen. Flannagan had to play out of position but the lack of attacking from the Left Wing back position has cost Liverpool dearly against team who sit back. Flannagan was taken off for Aly in the last game against Newcastle and the result was a complete transformation in the game. Liverpool will not take up an option to buy him but surely need two proper players for that position. 

5. Gerrards Replacement

Liverpool has too long relied of Gerrard. He was probably Liverpools best players this season but at 33 he will not be here for long. At this age there are some weaknesses in his game which opponents target. The last game against Newcastle clearly showed how easily Gouffran passed him and cut in and scored via deflection. The defensive midfielder needs legs to reach and not allow the cross to come in. Liverpool need a player with the legs of Fernandinhio or Yaya Toure to come in there. 

6. Deciding on how to play with SAS

Brenden knows playing Suarez and Sturridge together leaves a lot of space in midfield, so he plays diamond to close the center but that is just a make shift. Teams with quality like Man City at Anfiled will tear the diamond apart. Liverpool can not play 2 upfront and hope that Henderson will run 15 miles every game to cover the whole side alone. Liverpool will have to shift one of the strikers wide and ask them to work in defence also.  

7. Curbing their natural instinct to attack 

This will be the lesson Brenden will have learnt this season. Counter attacking has been a very successful tactic against teams that over attack and if a team is built properly for it is stupid to go all out attack against it. The counter attack can be broken by patience and asking the team to come out and chase the ball. Brenden was wrong to attack Chelsea as it played to the exact tactic that they setup for. This is a tough lesson which only experience can teach. 

8. Playing differently away and home. 

There always has to be a slight tweak at away games, where Liverpool can sit slightly deep to counter with its pace. Most of liverpools away goals have come on the counter but they have conceded too many away due to over attacking. They must not leave spaces away from home in order to land the title. 

9. Improving the scouting and player recruitment

Liverpool now sit at the position many Liverpool fans can relate to both Houllier and Bentiez failed at this juncture. Buying the right player after coming second. Champions league takes its toll and if proper recruitment is not done. Liverpool might not take the top 4 spot next season. This is the make or break for Brenden he must get it right this summer. 

10. Prioritizing Premier League next season. 

Brenden will have the amazing Champions League nights next season, but he must not carried away. The EPL is the priority next season and if the focus is distracted a good cup run and champions leage run may hinder top 4 for next season. This would be catastrophic. Brenden must works on setting up 2 different teams for both competitions, that is the luxury which he can afford now. 

Liverpool loosing the title is blessing in disguise

Before I start this article, all those liverpool fans who who think more by there hearts than their brains should look away(that includes me). This article is one which will not talk about how is it was meant to be Steven Gerrards year and all the stats showed it this title was made in heaven. It will talk about facts, same as Rafa's rant. Facts as he called it.

There is a famous book " Good to Great" by Jim Collins a revolutionary writer and researcher, in it he writes a line which has transformed the way I look as success. He mentions that "Good is the enemy of Great". Stating facts of worlds big organizations actually being content on being good which actually cost them being great.

When Liverpool were on the verge of winning the title before Chelsea visiting Anfield my heart was on cloud nine. However my brain, was again and again telling me Liverpool should not win the title this year. For all those who will now point the gun at me and are pushing me to blow my brains out already, give me a moment to explain why.

If today Liverpool would have achieved the most coveted trophy their fans have been dreaming for more than 2 decades there would have been open top bus top throughout merseyside in a week or so the dust would have settled. Gerrard the captain would have won what he had dreamt of doing, the fire would have been cooled and the thirst quenched a little. Liverpool owners would have thought we have won the title with negligible investment, of lets invest 20m more this season, that shall be enough. Brenden would have been a messiah already and the young players would have achieved a fate to early for my liking.

This is just to start with, Liverpool will have their toughest test when the new season starts. They will have to play almost double the games , getting into the Top Four will be extremely difficult, teams who have missed out this year will invest huge sums. The disappointment of this season will put in enough fire in their bellies to turn next season into a success.

For those who are still not convinced look at Man United in the last 2 seasons, their team won the last title but everyone could see they were not deserving of it, their team had far too many weaknesses. This season Moyes was made the scapegoat but actually it was winning when they should have lost that cost them and made them stay in this illusion that they were great.

Liverpool this season, have been terrific blowing teams apart in the first 20 mins. However, if you look deeper, they had far too many weaknesses as compared to Man City. conceding 50 goals was a huge dent, the balance was catastrophically wrong. Champions league teams would have crushed Liverpool for being so open if winning title would have washed away their weaknesses.

Liverpool looked in odd territory for being top. I have to admit, that is the biggest reason why I didnt want them to win it. Look at Man City second half at Anfiled, Sunderland last 20 mins, Crystal Palace. I can name many, they could have been a one season wonder if they won it, but they have to be there up there every year to finally win it. Stay calm and not feel in out of place.

Liverpool fans should understand that Liverpool needed to take this pain to challenge every year, reaching your destination to early can have huge consequences on your long term success. Liverpool have already achieved the unthinkable. They have already made the unthinkable, thinkable. They have given their supporters a reason to dream. It they stay on this path of progress it will be a matter of when and not if that Liveprool will win the Premier League Trophy. Gerrard will lift the silver and kiss it and the tears against Man City will become tears of joy soon. The Messiah has arrived at Liverpool yet again. Hold on Liverpool with hope in your hearts and you will never walk alone.