I like the way Rodgers is handling things, I like the way Swansea played last season, and I hope he can make it work here. I'm definitely worried about a couple of things though. oh, and disclaimer: I don't really rate Hendo, Carroll or Downing. I do rate Shelvey, Suso, and even Spearing.
But the one thing that is weird is that Rodgers keeps saying we won't be bringing in a lot of players and won't be making a lot of changes. Okay, so, let's see, we have already lost Fabio and Kuyt, and it seems we could be on the brink of losing Maxi, Bellamy, and Carroll. That's five players out already. Then there's Downing and Adam, all of whom could be gone simply due to the fact that the manager doesn't rate them. So worst case scenario, that's 7 players (at least) that could be gone. Seems Aquilani doesn't want to stay. So that could be even 8 players out.
So if Carroll and Bellamy go, then we'll need at least two other front line players. Apparently Borini might be coming in. Okay, there's one. One. So if we are playing a 4-3-3, that's Suarez and Borini, and we need another one to bring in, most likely a winger. Doubt Downing will be the third in a 4-3-3. So far that's two players in, just for the front line. Two players. And then we will need to have at least, AT LEAST one striker on the bench. So that's another player. Right away you have three players in.
We have no idea how reliable Gerrard will be this season fitness wise. I rate Shelvey a lot. But assuming we lose the 7 aforementioned players, what happens if Gerrard is out for a while again this season? is Shelvey ready to take charge of the attacking responsibilities Gerrard has, for 10-15 games? I don't think he's quite there yet. Hendo is afraid of his own shadow, so he definitely can't be relied on to fill Gerrard's role. I'd say we need at least another attacking midfielder. That's four players so far.
That's just to fill the ranks. So what is the goal for this season? just to scrape by, or to compete? if we want to compete we're going to probably need another 2-3 players on top of that. We're going to be in four competitions, we can't have those players playing every minute. We will probably need another DM to cover for Lucas, since some people have suggested Spearing could go out on loan. And who exactly will be our 3rd midfielder with Lucas/Gerrard? I would love for it to be Aquilani, but if he goes, is Rodgers really going to rely on Henderson again? I wouldn't. We can nurture him along but if he is true about fighting and settling for nothing less than CL, Hendo isn't the way forward, at least based on last season. So there's another player.
To me I think we need at least 5 players in, if we really want to do well. Maybe, probably even another one in.
And yet we're told there aren't going to be a lot of personnel changes. Well, 7, maybe 8 players out and 5 players in is a pretty big personnel change to me.
And apparently we have no money either.
And yet the owners want CL.
Something doesn't add up.
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