As always a opening post Si.
I feel in my bones Raheem is gone; there is no proof but in the end that will be that.
My hope is 1-3 players that can immediately come in and push some of this years starters to the bench; even with losing Raheem we do not need to be in a re-building mode we need to be in a strengthening and improving starting XI mode.
I think for the most part Ibe could come in and at least give us what Raheem gave us in the 2013/2014 season..the key is in getting a real striker in.
Out: Lambert, Borini, Balotelli, Sterling
In: Origi and a 20+ goal scoring striker from a competitive league.
So up in the top 1/3 (depending on set-up): 20+ goal Striker, Sturridge, Origi, Ibe, Markovic, Lallana, Coutinho, Rossiter (cameos),
Out: Stevie, Sterling
In: Someone to push Joe Allen to the bench or let go off all together
So Mid 1/3 (depending on set-up): Starting midfielder (brought in) Can, Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Lucas, Joe Allen, Teixeira, Rossiter (cameos)
Out: Johnson, Toure, Enrique, Jones
In: Cover at LB/RB and GK Cover
So Back 1/3 (depending on set-up): Sahko, Skrtel, Lovren, Illori, Flanagan, Moreno, Manquillo, + one player(CB/RB/LB) and Stewart (cameos)
In my mind give me a Platinum striker, a gold mid-fielder, cover at lb/rb/cb and someone to push migs a little...everything else we fill out with the kids.
That is the way I would do it but there is a fair chance instead of all that we will see all copper/silver type players and spread that risk out.
I sure hope not.
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