Summer 2012.... Who Goes and Where Do We Need To Strengthen?

Not sure that young fella would fit with Rodger's style.

Really? By the looks of him he would be a perfect fit. Seems to retain possession of the ball and work his arse off to win it back.

Yarmolenko anyone?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmdPerLSHvk

I think he's going to have a very good Euros! Definite upgrade on Downing and can also play centre forward.

Brendan, please do this!!

Out:  Kuyt (1M); Maxi (1M); Spearo (3M); Adam (5M); Aqua (4M); Cole (3M); Pacheco (1M); Doni (released); Aurelio (released) - Total 18M recouped from sales

In:  Sigurdsson (7M); De Jong (12M); Affelay (10M); Adam Johnson (10M); Strootman (13M) - Total 52M Spent  ::  34M net spend

GK:  Pepe, Gulasci, Jones
RB:  Johno, Kelly, Flano
RCB:  Skrtel, Coates, Kelly
LCB:  Agger, Wilson, Wisdom
LB:  Enrique, Robo
CDM:  Lucas, Strootman, Coady
RCM:  Gerrard, Hendo, Teixeira
LCM:  Sigurdsson, Shelvey
RW:  Affelay, Johnson, Suso
LW:  Downing, Bellamy, Sterling
CF:  Suarez, Carrol, De Jong

Bold = New Signing
Blue = Academy Graduate

I think B-Rod could do some damn good things with this team!!

I think B-Rod could do some damn good things with this team!!

B-Rod! I like it

Yarmolenko is a good shout little luis. Production and work rate. He's left footed and can play LW/RW/ST. Contract up next summer, and he's not a huge name so the price would be right. I called for him in January.

Capoue, Yarmolenko, Siggy, Belhanda.

Think that would be be a boss summer.

Yarmolenko is awesome!
 Had him on my FM game with Aston Villa and he is terrific as a LW or Striker...clearly thats enough scoutings facts for you right there!

Yarmolenko is a good shout little luis.

Who?

Who?

Why the F**k did I say Little Luis

Sorry mate

Why the F**k did I say Little Luis

Sorry mate

Don't worry about it, Crouchy 

Don't worry about it, Crouchy 

 

Mohamed Moallim, (covers Dutch football for FourFourTwo), tweeted: Good news for Afellay: Tito Vilanova wants him to stay part of his plans. Agent Rob Jansen has stopped looking for a new club for him.

Looks like he's off limits then.

In my opinion we need:

To keep our back 5 and stick with the youth coming through in the defensive positions.

To get 2 new wingers, a playmaker midfielder and another holding midfielder. Keep encouraging and playing Hendo and Shelvey when needed...both will be quality.

Another striker of top top quality who can play with Suarez or Carroll.

So thats 5 players max and most likely 4.

Regardless, i am so looking forward to Brendan's reign and believe he will really improve us and move us forward.

i would love to see a young natural goalscorer come in think were lagging in that department

In-
Sigurdsson - 6/7m
Belhanda - 10m
Affelay - 10m
Huntelaar - 15m
Diame - Free
Total - 41/42m

Out -
Aurelio - Free
Kuyt - 1/2m
Maxi - 1m
Adam - 5m
Spearing - Anything
Total - 7/8m

I know it seems like a lot of central players although I imagine that Belhanda and Affelay would be used out wide. Diame would provide backup to Lucas and Sigurdsson would replace Adam who hasnt been the best. Spearing was woeful for quite a bit of last season and Diame would put him out of his misery. Also due to the Europa League we need a bigger squad so inclusions of Suso, Sterling, Robinson and Wilson.

Also I think as some others have mentioned that Brendan will have more than 30m net to spend even though I only predicted a 35m odd net spend. It makes no sense for FSG to pay a fair bit to get rid of Kenny, pay 5m for Rodgers and a couple of miilion for his staff in order for only a 30m net spend.

In-
Sigurdsson - 6/7m
Belhanda - 10m
Affelay - 10m
Huntelaar - 15m
Diame - Free
Total - 41/42m

Out -
Aurelio - Free
Kuyt - 1/2m
Maxi - 1m
Adam - 5m
Spearing - Anything
Total - 7/8m

I know it seems like a lot of central players although I imagine that Belhanda and Affelay would be used out wide. Diame would provide backup to Lucas and Sigurdsson would replace Adam who hasnt been the best. Spearing was woeful for quite a bit of last season and Diame would put him out of his misery. Also due to the Europa League we need a bigger squad so inclusions of Suso, Sterling, Robinson and Wilson.

Also I think as some others have mentioned that Brendan will have more than 30m net to spend even though I only predicted a 35m odd net spend. It makes no sense for FSG to pay a fair bit to get rid of Kenny, pay 5m for Rodgers and a couple of miilion for his staff in order for only a 30m net spend.

15 million for Huntelaar, I admire your optimism

15 million for Huntelaar, I admire your optimism

10m for Belhanda is pretty far off too.

Out

Kuyt
Aurelio
Carra (of 1,2,3 choice)
Doni or Jones
Spearing (loan)

In

Experienced back up keeper in the Friedel,Cudicini  mould someone to push Pepe but not to overly challenge for 1st spot we all know Reina is one of the best, he just needs a good keeper team mate to work with each day. Doni and Jones looked very bad, although I was happy Jones got that semi final chance he deserved that.

Left back I do rate Enrique but he drifted off second half of the season and it's probably down to not having direct competition for his position. Whoever we bring in needs to be a step up and more confident shooting.

Defensive midfielder. No back up for Lucas for me was the main reason for a domestic season collapse. Whoever thought it was ok to not strengthen in this area last August made a catastrophic mistake. I remember myself and others on here mentioning the risks. Let's hope it doesn't happen again!

Striker. Fox in the box type someone who knows where the goal is nine times out of ten

Versatile attacking player wide/central who can assist and score Hazard,Ribery,Mata type

In my opinion we need the following.

A good young goalkeeper in the mould of Joe Hart - Pepe has been nowhere near good enough for 2 seasons now...time for competition.

A quality holding midfield player - basically to back up Lucas as losing him last season killed us.

A good wide player - Adam Johnson would do the trick

A out and out finisher - A Rush, Fowler, Owen, Torres... if we had this to go with the creator (Suarez) and the focal point (Carroll) then we would have a complete forward line.

So for me...4 players minimum

I hope that Rodgers is watching Lewandowski and Blaszczykowski right now. 

Dream summer for me would be Alonso, Ramirez, and Soldado.

I hope that Rodgers is watching Lewandowski and Blaszczykowski right now. 

I don't think they'd get many shirt prints...

A good young goalkeeper in the mould of Joe Hart - Pepe has been nowhere near good enough for 2 seasons now...time for competition.

You can't just snag Joe Hart's from anywhere.

Gulasci is promising enough to be cover for Pepe, IMO.

You can't just snag Joe Hart's from anywhere.

Gulasci is promising enough to be cover for Pepe, IMO.

We need quality cover who will threaten Pepe for his place...not just be there to sit on the bench and take the money. I don't want a goalkeeper to cover for Pepe. I want a goalkeeper capable of pushing him and taking his place if he does not pull his finger out next season and up his game.

I agree he needs competition but a potential threat means the keeper isn't happy being second choice and that could affect team morale.. But if we buy an old experienced keeper towards the end of his career he can work with Pepe and be happy to take over during injuries,loss of form, or when Pepe needs a rest.

Doni and Jones just didnt look up to the task of a lengthy period in place of Reina.