Guess the starting XI of 2013-14 season.

                      Mignolet
Johnson Papadopolous Agger Enrique
                   Allen     Gerrard
        Aspas    Mkhitaryan  Coutinho
                       Sturridge

Subs: back-up keeper, Toure, Illori, Henderson, Romero, Borini

                      Mignolet
Johnson Papadopolous Agger Enrique
                   Allen     Gerrard
        Aspas    Mkhitaryan  Coutinho
                       Sturridge

Subs: back-up keeper, Toure, Illori, Henderson, Romero, Borini

Lucas?

                    Mignolet

GJ    Toure               Agger      JE
           
                     Lucas
 
             Gerrard    Mick
Suarez                               Coutinho
                    Sturridge
Bench: Jones, Llori,Kelly, Alberto, Aspas,Hendo

Lucas?

Think Brendan sees Joe as his answer to the in between role and can't see him dropping Gerrard either so it was the quandry. Personally I would start Lucas, but it's not what I would, it's what will and Brendan just loves wee Joe, so it's what I expect the most at the moment.

Think Brendan sees Joe as his answer to the in between role and can't see him dropping Gerrard either so it was the quandry. Personally I would start Lucas, but it's not what I would, it's what will and Brendan just loves wee Joe, so it's what I expect the most at the moment.

Although Brendan has also talked about how important he sees Lucas in his formation.

I still see Lucas in alongside Gerrard and feel that Allen will have to be very good to remove either from the side.

Think Brendan sees Joe as his answer to the in between role and can't see him dropping Gerrard either so it was the quandry. Personally I would start Lucas, but it's not what I would, it's what will and Brendan just loves wee Joe, so it's what I expect the most at the moment.

I haven't really seen any indication of Allen starting as DM over Lucas. Brendan (and everyone else) has said all along that Joe is out of position at DM, so I just can't see that myself.

Mignolet

Johnson
Agger
NEW CB
Enrique

Lucas
Gerrard
Mkitarian (OR WHATEVER HIS NAME IS)

Sturridge
Suarez
Coutinho

Going to go again:

Reina/Mignolet;
Johnson/Kelly, Papa/Skrtel, Agger/Touré, Enrique/Johnson;
Lucas/Allen, Gerrard/Henderson, Mkhitaryan/Coutinho;
Suarez/Alberto, Sturridge/Aspas, Coutinho/Mkhitaryan/Downing

If that's not a team that could challenge for top four, I don't know what is. I reckon we could even try and go for the title with that.

Going to go again:

Reina/Mignolet;
Johnson/Kelly, Papa/Skrtel, Agger/Touré, Enrique/Johnson;
Lucas/Allen, Gerrard/Henderson, Mkhitaryan/Coutinho;
Suarez/Alberto, Sturridge/Aspas, Coutinho/Mkhitaryan/Downing

If that's not a team that could challenge for top four, I don't know what is. I reckon we could even try and go for the title with that.

I agree, but then we've sold nobody other than Carroll and possibly Assaidi/Shelvey at best those other 2 would fetch £10m so £45m pot to buy:

Mkhitaryan £20m
Aspas £8m
Alberto £8m
Papa £20m
Mignolet £10m

Total £66m and that's expecting someone to pay £8m for Shelvey. Shame FSG wouldn't buy into it though, I think to get all those Suarez would be among the "outs" unfortunately.

                   
                            Mignolet
 
Johnson Papadopolous Agger  Enrique

                        Lucas  Gerrard

                           Mkhitaryan

               BenArfa  Sturridge  Coutinho


Backup: Keeper?, Kelly, Toure, Borini, Allen, Sterling, Aspas, Alberto, Morgan, Wisdom, Ibe, Suso, Shelvey, Jones

Out:
Downing 7m
Carroll 15m
Skrtel 10-12m
Spearing 2m
Suarez 40m - Hope its not true

Mignolet

Johnson
Pappa
Agger
Enrique

Lucas
Gerrard

Mkhitaryan

Alberto
Sturridge
Coutinho

Bench:
Jones
Kelly
Toure
Allen
Henderson
Aspas
Borrini

Therefore i see these players leaving permanently:
Carroll
Reina
Coates
Skrtel
Suarez
Downing

And on loan i would like these guys to go out for experience:

Shelvey
Suso

Staying at the club as part of the squad:

Sterling
Wisdom
Robinson
Flanno

Mignolet

Johnson - Agger - Papadopolous - Enrique

Gerrard - Lucas - Mkhitiryan - Sterling
Coutinho
Sturridge

Not easy to guess, I'll leave Suarez out as my gut instinct says he's going.

Mignolet
Johnson   Papadopoulous   Agger   Enrique
Lucas   Gerrard
Mkhitariyan
Luis Alberto/Aspas   Sturridge   Coutinho

Or swap Coutinho to CAM for a more creative playmaker in the middle.
Add Suarez to that over LAR or Aspas and that's a team that could challenge for the title if it gets going..

I expect the squad to look something like this:

Mingnolet

Johnson
Papadopolous
Agger
Enrique

Gerrard (c)
Lucas

Mkhitariyan
Coutinho
Aspas

Sturridge

Subs: Jones; Kelly, Toure; Allen, Henderson; Sterling, Borini.

Players leaving on a permanent basis:

- Reina
- Gulasci
- Skrtel
- Coates
- Spearing
- Downing
- Pacheco
- Suarez
- Carroll

Players leaving on season long loans:

- Flanagan
- Shelvey
- Assaidi
- Suso
- Morgan

I would like to see Robinson given some game time next season along with Conor Coady and Jordan Ibe.

I think Rodgers has had planned what he wants for months and I've got a feeling this could be a great Transfer window for us.

Obviously this squad is going to change as the TM goes on.

 

                         Reina
Glen Johnson    CB   Agger   Enrique

           Gerrard       Lucas
                      Coutinho
Sturridge        Suarez        Sterling

- Morgan

Don't mean to just pick you out, but hasn't Morgan been released by the club?

Don't mean to just pick you out, but hasn't Morgan been released by the club?

Adam Morgan?! No, he hasn't.

Adam Morgan?! No, he hasn't.

For some reason I thought he had been.

                  Reina
Johnson Toure   Agger   Enrique
           Gerrard   Lucas
                Coutinho
Mkhitariyan    Sturridge     Aspas

Bench: Mignolet, Sissokho, Kelly, Llori, Allen, Atsu, Borini

To be retained in the Team squad (or loaned): Henderson, Alberto, Sterling, Downing, Jones, Wisdom

Loaned - Shelvey, Suso

Sold - Assaidi, Spearing, Coates, Gulasci (done), Pacheco, Skrtel, Carroll (finally), Suarez (WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH A MARQUEE SIGNING!)

Note: I believe that Downing will stay; he provides much needed depth to the squad; I do not think that he will fetch significant $ so BR will probably keep him as cover or even a starter depending on form

So far I'm hoping for this:

                  Reina (Mignolet)

Kelly     Toure     Agger (v.c)     Enrique

         Gerrard (c)   Lucas

                  Coutinho

    Aspas     Sturridge    Suarez (New CF)

Subs: Mignolet (Jones), Skrtel, Johnson, Henderson, Sterling, Borini, Alberto


Rest of squad:

Downing - Always gonna be on the fringes of the squad, getting on a bit too. I'd try and sell but doubt Rodgers will. (Rotation)

Allen - Still very young but has a hell of a lot of work to do to climb the CM ladder. (Rotation)

Suso - Another great prospect, use him in the lesser games and cup runs. Needs more game time this season to show his potential. (Rotation)

Wisdom - Bright future ahead, needs to keep working hard this season and play in all cup games whilst slowly getting Premier League time. (Rotation)

Assaidi - Hardly seen him play, give him a chance in cup games for one more season. (Backup)

Coates - Looks disappointing, thought he had great potential but doesn't look like he's lived up to it. One more season as a cup player. (Backup/Sell)

Pacheco - Not needed (Sell)

Spearing - Not needed (Sell)

Loan out/Reserves:
Shelvey
Coady
Yesil
Flanagan
McLaughlin
Ibe
Robinson
Morgan


Think we now have reasonable depth in the squad, and can't wait to see how our new lads get on. I expect Reina will leave so we'd probably need a 3rd keeper but that's not essential. I think it's massively important that we keep Suarez, hope to God he stays. We sell him I just think it'll be a case of one step forward and three steps back. If he stays I think we'll definitely make the Champions League.

I'd still like us to sign a top class CB as I think we're short on quality. A top CB and keeping Suarez should be our priority 'til the end of the window as that Mickey lad looks unlikely to come. All in all though I'm pretty optimistic about our chances this season going on our current squad, as long as we learn from mistakes last season.

Finally I think it's very important to stay in the cups, we have a lot of youngsters who need playing time so the longer the cup runs the better. More importantly though, I'd like to see us F***ing win something. 

Assuming Mignolet will be signing, our transfer business so far is Aspas, Toure, Luis Alberto, and Mignolet.  I'd be thrilled if we could just get in one more boss CB at the expense of Coates (I'll use Papa as my example).  Then our starting 11 and bench would look something like:

                 Pepe
Johno  Papa  Agger  Enrique
       Gerrard  Lucas
             Coutinho
Aspas   Sturridge  Suarez

Subs:  Mignolet, Kelly, Skrtel, Hendo, Allen, Borini, Downing, Sterling

I'd be plenty pleased with that!!  The potential addition of Mkhitarian would just be the icing on the cake

Opening day (barring injuries):

Reina

Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique

Lucas
Gerrard

Aspas
Mkhitaryan
Coutinho

Sturridge