04/25/24
May 27, 2005
Rafael Benitez, you've just won the Champions League. What are you going to do?: "Break up my team." Mr. Miracle named only six "key" players: Gerrard, Alonso, Garcia, Morientes, Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia. Who's he going to add to these? (I'm a Liverpool fan so humor me for just this one post. It's like the BoSox winning the World Series, k?)
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 11:13 PM - 9 comments
With 30m quid plus whatever transfer fees he gets from selling, there should be ample funds for at least five players. I'd rather not see him spending double-digits on any one player. We need: - 1 striker: (or two) A proven goalscorer to strike fear into defender's hearts. Don't think we have anyone like that right now. - 2 midfielders, including a winger: Probably a German strong-man like Hamann, plus a wily right winger to balance Riise on the left - 2 defenders, at least one central defender We have: (key players bold) - Goalie: Reina (likely), Kirkland, Carson - Defence: Hyppia, Carragher, Finnan, Pellegrino, Josemi - Midfield: Alonso, Gerrard, Garcia, Riise, Nunez - Strikers: Morientes, Baros Out: Smicer, Hamann, Kewell, Luzi, Diao, Biscan, Diouf, Cisse, Traore
posted by worldcup2002 at 11:37 PM on May 27, 2005
I am starting to really dislike Mr. Benitez...
posted by StarFucker at 01:52 PM on May 28, 2005
Please explain, Fooker.
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:59 PM on May 28, 2005
I should have read this thread before posting my comment in the ManU logo one. But this is pretty much what I meant with it. - How can Riise not be a core player? Plus, he needs to move back to left fullback. - I bet Kirkland leaves too. Benitez will buy an older, less-expensive injury cover 3rd GK rather than keep three youngsters. - Finnan and Pellegrino: byebye - The deal would have to come later than I'd like but how about an $8-10M (dollars not pounds) move for Eddie Johnson to be upfront with Morientes? Alternatively a similar or slightly higher bid for Damarcus Beasley as Arjen Robben 2.0? - Players from the EPL who might be swooped: Can Dean Ashton jump to the next level for a second consecutive season? Zoltan Gera as the other winger, especially for when Rafa (boo) goes to the 4-5-1. Bolton want Diouf, let's ask for D Nicky Hunt as part of the deal. - Who is the odd midfielder out if Chelsea sign Lyon's Essien? Parker may be going to Everton but I doubt he'll be the only one. I really wish I had a better understanding of younger players from other leagues but there are only 24 hours in a day and now that I'm working...
posted by billsaysthis at 04:34 PM on May 28, 2005
Having watched them all season, I wouldn't put either Gera or Dean Ashton into Liverpool's team. Both are useful players for teams with aspirations of the middle order, (yes Aston Villa, Charlton, Portsmouth, I'm looking at you), but neither is of a level I'd accept or expect for anything other than depth if I were a Liverpool fan. Kirkland is a good keeper, but gets injuryed putting on his socks. I'd keep Carragher, Hyppia and Riise for the back, if only because they all have double letters in their surnames. Gerrard, Alonso and Garcia are musts in midfield, but I don't see any of the forwards as good enough right now, although I suspect Morientes will be much better next season, when he's had a year to get bedded in. United and Arsenal are sorted for forwards, leaving Liverpool and Chelsea of the big four in search of a proper front man. If the reds go for anyone the blues fancy, though, Rafa just won't have the money to compete. I spent five minutes scratching my head trying to think of any world class forward who might end up at Liverpool next year and, outside of a return for Michael Owen, the only one who even faintly came to mind was David Trezeguet, although if Juve sell Ibrahimovic to Madrid for €44m or however much, then they might be much more interested in holding onto the French international.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 05:45 PM on May 28, 2005
Rafa has to be ruthless says John Brewin.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:25 PM on May 29, 2005
I'd be worried if he didn't want to shake things up - apart from a few key European matches, we were rubbish for most of the season (relative to what we should be doing). It was a mistake Houllier made - he won a plastic treble and decided that the team was just fine when clearly it was anything but.
posted by JJ at 07:03 AM on May 31, 2005
It appears that Hamann wants to stay. Also, in that article appears a list of Benitez targets: - Center-back: Gabriel Milito, GBP6-7m, 24, Real Zaragoza - Attacking midfielder: Shaun Wright-Phillips, Man City - Striker: Dirk Kuyt, Feyenoord - Striker: Luciano Galletti, Real Zaragoza And it looks like 16-yr-old center-back Roque is coming in from Spanish 2nd Div team Lleida.
posted by worldcup2002 at 05:10 PM on May 31, 2005
Notice he didn't mention point-blank-and-two-penalty-saves Dudek. The article mentions he's going after another Spaniard for goalie, Jose Reina from Villareal. Super-subs Smicer (scorer of Wednesday's second comeback goal) and Hamann (who had the assist) are out of contract, and will be on their way. No mention of Baros and Biscan. Or Cisse. None of these guys were his purchases, and I wouldn't call them world-class, either. So I'm thinking Baros or Cisse will go. Biscan most likely to leave too. Hyppia, I'm kind of surprised he was mentioned, given his age. He'll probably get one more year.