Systematic Squad Shredding Sought

The current Liverpool FC first team roster, in my opinion, accumulates to 26 players. I think this amount of available players needs to be reduced to 23 which involves five outgoing players and two incoming. The duo of imports to the club are apparent from my previous posts, hence I will continue into the current squad members that need to be sold if we realistically want to rise to the head of the league. The cut will not only decrease the number of possible players eligible for the manager to select (contributing to a limitation of his relentless rotation) but simultaneously incentivise the reserve players. The 23 man squad would include 4 current reserve players (which would therefore lower the main group again, to 19) and they may be given a larger role in the lesser competitions and minor Premier League games. Two players for every position is still maintained and this is a clear shift towards quality over quantity. This venture would also benefit the club fiscally, generating financial funds which would contribute towards transfers, wages and the like.
Itandje, Finnan, Alonso, Pennant and Voronin are the 5 players that should be shown the door and would garner collectively considerable prices, at approximately £26million, which would be added to the net profit gained from previous departure deals. The reasons for the exit of these players hinges on many factors, such as their age, potential, valuation and also the nature of future purchases.

• Itandje: Last season Itandje had shaky and indifferent performances for Liverpool FC. He played in no Premier League or Champions League matches and had in total 7 appearances with 1 clean sheet, conceding 10 goals. In many ways it is unfair to judge him on sporadic games, which involves plenty of pressure on a goalkeeper, who is nervous and desperate to impress, and I think fans have been overcritical of him in some instances. Some goals he conceded were either simply skilful or plain unfortunate, like the last minute Barnsley goal in the FA Cup 5th Round and the deflected Lampard goal in the Carling Cup defeat, during which he won the fan's man of the match vote. His time seems to be up with him not travelling out to Switzerland training camp and the arrival of Cavalieri. Plus it has been rumoured he is in advanced dialogue with the Turkish champions Galatasaray and Ligue 1 club PSG, who could pay a decent fee for his services. Also his attitude and demeanour could be questioned, however this could be symptomatic of his reserve goalkeeper role which requires copious amounts of patience and optimism. These types of players are regularly unsettled and don't stay for too long, evident in past stoppers such as Kirkland, Dudek and most recently Carson.

• Finnan: Last season Finnan was ordinary, looked slow and was predictable in his movement and decision making on the right side, often being espoused by centre half Jamie Carragher. His lack of speed may now be revealing his age of 32, and he has never been a genuine threat to the opposition or held much technical ability, unlike his counter-parts in the league. He has previously been the steady and reliable man to put in a shift, and ironically taking headlines as the unsung and under-rated player at Liverpool. Now these attributes are no longer required and the club, who need to be more expansive and creative in wide areas, utilising the full capacity the turf can provide. Finnan can produces standard crosses and uninspiring displays, which leads me to believe he could be easily replaced, especially since Degen has joined the club. Defensively he is definitely capable, but is now surplus to the team, and could be used as a make-weight to Aston Villa for the acquisition of Gareth Barry, or return to Fulham or even Ireland to extend his career.

• Alonso: Last season for Alonso was disappointing to say the least, and in my view his injury heavily contributed to this, interrupting his fourth season at the club. It is said form is temporary andclass is permanent, however the Spaniard has progressively lost his dominating skill of unleashing pin-point passes and defence splitting assists. I think he has lost his mobility, confidence and has a questionable temperament, developing into reckless behaviour to the detriment of the team. His indisciplined actions result in conceding set-plays in dangerous areas and him picking up infractions. He may also be injury prone with two ankle problems: a break and ligament sprain, plus breaking his metatarsal this season, which are all considerable injuries involving long lay-off times. But the crux of the argument is his competitors, with Mascherano an £18m shoo-in for a starting berth and the possible inclusion of Barry who is ranked above Alonso for this opinionated fan. The club has a wealth of centre midfielders, and the numbers being exchanged in the media point towards an economically beneficial transfer. But despite this, Juventus decided against this move, favouring the Dane Christian Poulsen. Other rumours indicate Internazionale are now interested with their prospective deal for Lampard hitting the buffers. I wouldn't be surprised to see him prosper in the Italian league, which is heavily tactically based and has a slower tempo and style. This is substantiated in his Euro 2008 performances for Spain were he impressed, however his role was more advanced than at Liverpool and he was given more freedom offensively, whereas Gerrard occupies that position at the moment. He will be missed the most if he leaves, especially with memories of his half-way line goals and the 3rd goalin Istanbul, and this is reflected in the high value he demands.

• Pennant: Last season was not particularly successful time for Pennant and he didn't build on the limited positives of the season before, with the highlight being his starting appearance in the Athens final. When Pennant was purchased I felt that he was the third choice that Benitez wanted in 2006. This is reflected recently with Kuyt replacing him, showing the fans the continuous hard graft and goal scoring and assisting that is needed for such a role. In contrast Pennant has a small box of tricks and turns, with spurts of pace and dribbling on the right wing. To me it seems he lacks enthusiasm and endeavour during games, and appears to be content with his time on the bench at a top 4 club who is playing in the Champions League. I have thought that he could progress at Liverpool, especially as he is our only true winger, and could give us the touch-line hugging play we seem to crave (calls to buy Bentley and David Silva) but he has not improved enough and needs to leave. He won't attract a high price, but at the moment any revenue is welcome to match the high cost of our two targets, and there have been tenuous links with Blackburn for a sale. However one stumbling block may be a change to a UEFA ruling in 2006, regarding locally trained players. It stipulates that clubs are required to register 4 club trained and 4 domestic association trained players in each squad. Pennant would qualify for the latter of these groups since he trained at a different club (Arsenal) for at least three years between the age of 15 and 21. But with the loss of Kewell and Crouch, and possibly Finnan, who were registered last season when the rules were only 3 players of each, that would leave us in a degree of strife. David Martin, Barry and Keane are eligible to fill this quota, and therefore either Finnan or Pennant would need to stay.

• Voronin: Last season was a time of woe for the Liverpool faithful who saw glimpses of talent during the pre-season period (again this time around), but watching the Ukrainian forward over the following 10 months was cringe inducing dysphoria, not to mention seeing the number on his back. His lack of basic footballing ability was shocking and this was compounded by his horrific hair. Of course we wish no harm on players and we give all our men a fair chance, but I wasn't down heartened when he contracted an ankle injury in January. In all fairness he contributed goal wise, with 6 to his name and had snippets of flair, but in my opinion was thoroughly disappointing and unimpressive. His poor control, incoordination and waste of possession was infuriating to see, when more competent players could get their chance to impress. There has been some gossip surrounding this player, linking him back to the Bundesliga where he has maintained a high regard. A clutch of German clubs are reported to have shown interest and any price would be suitable in my eyes. Even though Crouch has left and Kuyt has been moved to the right, the future development of Krisztian Nemeth is promising and also the addition of Robbie Keane would rectify a loss of striking options.
  

Tailored Tactics And Top Transfer Targets

Next season Liverpool may be introduced to a variety of new styles and formations, with players adopting different roles, accommodating new recruits and eliminating current weaknesses (such as set-pieces), with an emphasis on versatility and mobility.
Fans have welcomed three new faces to Anfield in Degen, Dossena and Cavalieri, which have collectively cost £10million and are designed to contribute positively to our attacking options on the wing and of course also as a stopper in goal. They will be thoroughly initiated into the club via pre-season training and hopefully be selected to represent us in the first team on the 16th August away to the Black Cats.
A recent interview with Benitez has provided a clear insight to his plans for our team and his methods to extract the optimum amount from our players and his financial budget. Below is the excerpt of his interview and following this are my ideas for the realistic player additions and the formation that I think will be successful for the club and fans for the upcoming season.

We want to use two or three systems during the season. The key isn't the system itself, but how the players adapt on the pitch. It doesn't matter if it's 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, it's the role of the players that counts.

At the beginning of last season we were doing well with 4-4-2, so if the players can read the game and understand things, then it's easier to change the system.

Now we have more options at full-back, with Degen, Finnan and Arbeloa on one side and Dossena, Aurelio and Insua on the other. We have players with different qualities.

You can't use too many systems - two or three maximum - and the key is to teach the players how to adapt to each system.

We will continue looking for good players but not necessarily a 'proper' winger. We'll look for good players and maybe adjust the system. Don't forget, we have some very good players here already, players we have signed over the last 12 months.

We knew we were creating a lot of chances last season but everybody was talking about the wide areas. If you go to the market and want to sign a top-class right-winger, they will be in the top sides and the price will be crazy. To sign two full-backs with an offensive mentality can give us more quality out wide.

Additional developments are envisaged to propel the team offensively, with incoming transfers and resident players shifting in position and tactical duty. It has been postulated that Liverpool will employ a strategy of fluidity of our main attacking threats and therefore create a front three, and veer away from a direct Torres/Gerrard partnership, which itself could be also be used as an alternative which the team could revert to and be one of the 3 possible formations.
However, there are a series of factors that will disrupt our current pre-season operations, hindering the fitness and mentality of our players and any formation experimentation be severely rudimentary with key components missing. Firstly the Spanish players account for 4 members of the squad still away on their 3-week summer holiday after Euro 2008 (ending in around 10 days time). Secondly, our build up is being further undermined with Mascherano, Babel and Lucas leaving for the Beijing Olympics from 6th - 24th August, missing important Premier League matches and UCL qualifiers, not to mention fears of injury during the tournament. And thirdly, with long standing rumours of expensive imports coming to Liverpool FC, transfer dealings have not been finalised and their prepatory time is constantly being diminished, which will be to the detriment projected of our team and the players themselves.
The most prominent of transfer gossip circulating Anfield concern Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) and Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur).
Developments on the Barry situation remain at loggerheads as both clubs continue to haggle over the eventual price of the player. Another bid has been rejected with the Midlands club remaining firm in their valuation of £18million, and have issued stern terms, wanting ½ the money up front and the remainder over the following 12 months. Liverpool are considering including right-back Steve Finnan in the next offer, but valuation of the player could be problematic. Meanwhile, Barry himself sent scathing remarks towards his manager (who in turn responded in defiance and banning him from the training ground) commenting on his time in punditry away in Austria and criticising O'Neill's proactive words in relation to his stagnant actions. Villa have acquired a new central midfielder in Steve Sidwell from Chelsea for £5million, while the latest story is Arsenal's entry into this Barry saga, who see him as a replacement of Mathieu Flamini.
Less acrimony surrounds the possible move for Keane, but some hostility still resonates with the London club as with Benitez has publicly stated his wish for him to join in media broadcast. The player himself has been reported to have been a Liverpool FC fan as a boy and been encouraged to move from his international manager Giovanni Trapattoni, who sees it as a positive move for the player and will benefit the Republic of Ireland team. Last season he scored several sensational goals with a collection of 15 in the league and 23 in total. However there are multiple barriers that could prevent the transfer, mainly concerning money. The Tottenham hierarchy seem to have diverging views, but what is clear is the management team are unwilling to sell their vice-captain. This could be compounded by the speculation that Manchester United are considering a bid for Dimitar Berbatov, which if successful would dramatically reduce the chances of both of their first XI strikers leaving White Hart Lane. Simultaneously there is speculation that Spurs are closing in on the acquisition of striker Luis Garcia from Spanish club Espanyol, who could pair up with £16.5million worth Darren Bent. The other major factor is Liverpool not being able to generate enough funds to buy Keane who will no doubt warrant a hefty fee. An indicator of a club having a small transfer kitty are player exchanges, which Liverpool have employed in many of their deals this summer, and Tottenham have reportedly rejected a bid from Liverpool to send Crouch in the opposite direction, who has subsequently moved to Portsmouth. The prospective exit of Xabi Alonso to Juventus would have produced a large sum of revenue of approximately £16million, which could have been diverted towards strengthening the squad elsewhere. But with the bargaining style again coming under scrutiny the deal seems to be off as the Italians seemed to have opted for Christian Poulsen from Sevilla. Therefore the capture of Robbie Keane is going to be very difficult, whereas the Barry transfer is more of a 'when and not if' situation.
These two additions seem to be the quality signings that could push us towards a title tilt. Although expensive, Benitez has earmarked the players he thinks can enter his system and supplement the already established team. I believe the much used cliché of a jigsaw could be coming together and be completed if these transfers are concluded. I am fully optimistic of our chances for the top spot, and would personally be satisfied with a concerted and sustained challenge.
Strategically, I feel Liverpool have 5 instrumental and guaranteed places for the starting XI who represent the literal spine of the team: Reina, Carragher, Mascherano, Gerrard and Torres. To expand from these five, I will introduce the new wing-backs to the team, who provide an attacking dimension on the periphery and influence the dynamics further up the pitch. The next two players to be included are expected to have a significant bearing during the upcoming season, with their potential and constant improvements being witnessed last season. Assuming they are injury free, Agger and Babel have been highlighted to produce impressive performances for Liverpool and their roles to be changed accordingly. The final duo for this team to complete the 11 are the players not currently at the club, but mentioned above. Barry would act as the fulcrum in the team and line up alongside Mascherano in the less advanced position in midfield, but not have such a subdued role and alternate between attack and defence, with a license to link with Gerrard as with England. He will provide balance with 'El Jefecito' with his left foot and could be used to take free kicks and also contribute as a penalty taker as he was with Aston Villa. Keane would take up the place vacated by Kuyt, and both share a penchant for an industrious work ethic and constant attacking sense. He would be, as Kuyt has been, converted to a right sided forward and contribute to a new fluid forward line, interchanging throughout the 90 minutes. Thus a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 (Torres at the point) formation would be used. There will be slight change in position for Gerrard, who will stay as an attacking midfielder but be less advanced, and also Babel who would remain on the left. Even though he has looked suspect with an unproductive left foot last season and continually cutting inside, his crossing ability would be required less and focus would be on his pace, availability and technique. His previous faults would be negated as there wouldn't be a role for classic wingers, and progressive touchline play will be provided by the new full backs.
But all football clubs have a squad of players and I think this season will be a period of transition, for certain players beginning to retire and conversely others being promoted from within the first team squad and reserves. The older custodians of Hyypia (35), Finnan (32) and Carragher (30) have been gradually phased out with fans giving honest appraisals and criticisms of them as they have passed their peak and are waning. The most prominent of the 3 is the long serving, Kop legend Hyypia, who has been given another 1-year extension to his contract and will probably end his career at Anfield. He has already been usurped by Agger (23), with Skrtel (23) rising in the defensive pecking order, plus Lucas (21) and Insua (19) are also performing well and impressing the fans and Benitez.
One factor that may been have missed by fans due to our reserved movements in the transfer market is the solidity of our team with no dissenting voices within the ranks. Quite the opposite with many players hailing the skill and advice given by fellow players, the manager and his staff, which exudes a sense of unity and a close-knit camp. We may be the only top tier side who will have kept their core starting XI in place for next season, as Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are constantly linked to losing Ronaldo, Lampard/Drogba and Adebayor/Hleb respectively. Transfer news surrounding Liverpool has either seen us as the aggressor (Barry, Keane) or the term-setting sellers (Crouch, Alonso), with varying degrees of success. This can reflect well on our management and administrative groups, but the fact remains that we have limited funds and need to purchase two vital and expensive players to consolidate a championship worthy team.

Free Full-back Confirmed

Liverpool FC have today announced the new signing of Philipp Degen. He has come on a free transfer signing a four-year contract and will join us on the 1st July after his current deal expires. He is 25 years old, plays in the position of right-back and hails from Borussia Dortmund who play in the Bundesliga of Germany. His comments regarding his move to Merseyside: "When I received the offer from Liverpool, there was no doubt I would accept it. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am looking forward to the challenge of playing in the best league there is."
Degen is a Switzerland international, most recently losing to Ukraine on penalties in the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup (they didn't concede any goals all tournament) and will partake in Euro 2008 (held in Austria and Switzerland) if he recovers from his current injury. He joined FC Basel at youth level in 1996 and was promoted to the first team squad in 2001. At FC Basel he experienced Champions League football in the 2002/03 season, alongside his twin brother David Degen who currently plays at the club, on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach.
He has been billed by Benitez as an "offensive player with great energy and a winning mentality." Physically he has an athletic build, is tall at 6ft1in and is a very fast runner (like Skrtel) with a mean cross. He will provide competition for Steve Finnan and Alvaro Arbeloa on the right side, potentially improving both of them due to him, and is the older player Benitez alluded to a month ago: "We have some signings for the next season done. They are senior players for the first team and young players for the first team and reserve team. Two of them are really close, young players, and one senior player is done. He talks good English, but is not English."
There are 3 comparisons I would like to make with Degen. Firstly, I hope, no, I beg that he will not be as bad a signing as the last free agent we snared from the German league: Andriy Voronin. He has been a monumental flop, and the only flickering chance of an exit is a tenuous link back to the Bundesliga for him.
Secondly I would like to highlight the overwhelming disparity between Liverpool FC signing a 25 year old right back, and Chelsea signing a 25 year old right back. Liverpool FC manage to identify a suitable player, for a position of weakness currently in the team, for a Bosman transfer and ward off interest from other clubs. Chelsea try to find the best right back in the world (after spending £5.5m on Juliano Belletti from Barcelona last season) but end up latching onto targets of other clubs (Liverpool FC, Manchester United) and then pay an extremely inflated price for the player: £16million to Porto in exchange for Jose Bosingwa. I'd like to see how these players perform over next season and see if Bosingwa is x16 the player Degen is.
And the final comparison was immediately thought of, as when seeing an image of him, what struck me first was his resemblance to Xabi Alonso.