Squad discussion

One thing that we do have now in the squad is a lot of flexibility in terms of formations and tactics even if we are a little light in midfield.

3 4 3

3 5 2

4 3 3

4 2 3 1

All well within the reaches of our squad now although the depth might not be as good as we'd like I do see more options than last season. Especially if the likes of Aspas, Alberto and Allen step in when, or if, they are called upon.

Wingers, attacking midfielders, whatever you want to call them... players who can play out on the flank and provide a bit of width are usually referred to as wingers. Sterling, Moses etc. They're just more versatile in the modern game and drift inward a lot. You'll rarely ever see anyone hug the touchline nowadays hence why people think wingers are a dying breed, although they not. They've just adapted to the modern game.

How's Coady doing on loan? Have high hopes and would love him to play alongside Stevie to continue his education.

Agree with everyone that the midfield is an issue. Glines mentioned Conor Coady. I think his loan will do him the world of good. Unlike some who have come before, I actually believe he has the talent and drive to break in to the first team. Maybe not yet but he certainly has potential. As for an immediate solution, it's very difficult getting a player of high quality in that role. Someone like Eriksen would have been perfect but he has gone to Spurs. I find it difficult to see a ready-made player for that role but that is why we have scouts.

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville analyze Suarez and Sturridge Partnership

Listen carefully to Carra.

I loved Liverpool in the '90s, was disgusted when Evans lost the job.

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville analyze Suarez and Sturridge Partnership

Listen carefully to Carra.

I loved Liverpool in the '90s, was disgusted when Evans lost the job.

Dam, it cut off just as Carra was having his weekly dig at Neville 

lf we just brought good attacking midfield in summer

We tried.

Diame is the poor(ish) man's Yaya

He's strong, quick, and can dribble/run at opponents. Powerful shot. Dynamic. Poor decision-making at times but if we'd been able to snag him for a decent price it would have added a kind of depth to the squad that would offer something apart from a like-for-like replacement for Allen, Hendo, Lucas etc... Our league match away to west ham last year was a cagey affair until he went off with a knock and we cruised past them for the win.

Wassup with all you haters? We don't get a player and suddenly he's garbage anyway?!

Diame is the poor(ish) man's Yaya

He's strong, quick, and can dribble/run at opponents. Powerful shot. Dynamic. Poor decision-making at times but if we'd been able to snag him for a decent price it would have added a kind of depth to the squad that would offer something apart from a like-for-like replacement for Allen, Hendo, Lucas etc... Our league match away to west ham last year was a cagey affair until he went off with a knock and we cruised past them for the win.

Wassup with all you haters? We don't get a player and suddenly he's garbage anyway?!

In terms of haters towards a player are you referring to Diame? If so, then I can vouch for a fair number of people on this forum in saying that they were not very keen on him before we were lightly linked with him and have simply remained consistent in their opinion of him.

Looks like De Bruyne will be available in January. I'd been keen on him, especially on loan with the option to buy.

Does anybody know if Johnson and Couthino are available for Saturday?

Does anybody know if Johnson and Couthino are available for Saturday?

I believe Glen is hoping to be back and Cou back for the West Brom game mate.

Cheers man.

Does anybody know if Johnson and Couthino are available for Saturday?

Both now training with the 1st team Coutinho trained yesterday and is having full training from today so fingers crossed he made the bench

There's been plenty of talk over the last couple of seasons about how small/weak and young our squad is and our bench usually confirms this but if you look at all the numbers we are still quite bloated with players who will never be good enough.

Believe it or not we now have 43 players on the books who are too old to play for the u18's and when you consider we have several u18's regularly playing with the u21's, when are the older ones ever going to get game time to improve.

I know some of them are out on loan, Robinson, Suso and Adorjan being the only ones who are actually playing regularly and doing alright.  Coady is having a mare at Sheffield Utd with Texeira and Ngoo being brought back early from their loan deals.  Assaidi and Borini are occasional subs.

There has been a fair bit of upheaval at the Academy since Brendan came in with Pep leaving, Rodolfo being promoted and changes to both the u21's and u18's managers.  It's all part of making the Academy more productive in the future and I don't have a problem with that at all but we never seem to be able to get really good loan deals for our players like other Clubs do.

I hope that somebody is working very hard in the background identifying quality Clubs for future loans because if we're relying on the Academy to produce real stars we have to find a better way of preparing them than we have.