The Next Step Up.

[chrisw1]

I've felt for the entirety of Gerrard's reign, some of our players were underperforming & underrated.  I don't think the squad needs major surgery to compete for the European places (5th-7th).  Most of the first team, I feel, are up to that level - assuming Carlos will go in for Konsa, it's really only Bailey in our first team that I'd have questions about whether he could compete in that bracket, in the Premier League.  I think it'd be more a case of supplementing our squad with one or two players who'll give a bit more depth & offer something a bit different.

The step up from that, though, is much bigger.  If we are very active in the transfer market, I'd expect it to be because we're looking towards being in the running for the Champions League places.  It's not that I think we lack the quality - I'd still maintain that none of our first team would look out of place in a top 4 squad (maybe with Bailey as an exception), it's more a question of what role they'd play there.

All in all, under Emery I'm optimistic about our ability to move up the league, and am fairly confident that by next season we'll be a sort of 5th-7th placed team who have a bit of an eye on finishing higher up the season after.  All that dependent on Emery being backed fully, whether that's because he wants to go big in the transfer market if it's a case of saying that we'll be patient if things don't pan out exactly as planned.

It's funny how fast things change.  I'm sure there was a discussion on here recently about how many of our players were good enough for top 6 and it was pretty much limited to Martinez, Kamara and Doug.  I'm sure I made a case for Tyrone, but that was pretty much it.

What a difference a manager and some good results make.

I'm glad we have found form, but we've been too average for too long to not go big in the summer.  My biggest conundrum is Watkins.  He's in great form right now, I'm just not sure if I trust him long term.   

[LeeB]

I've felt for the entirety of Gerrard's reign, some of our players were underperforming & underrated.  I don't think the squad needs major surgery to compete for the European places (5th-7th).  Most of the first team, I feel, are up to that level - assuming Carlos will go in for Konsa, it's really only Bailey in our first team that I'd have questions about whether he could compete in that bracket, in the Premier League.  I think it'd be more a case of supplementing our squad with one or two players who'll give a bit more depth & offer something a bit different.

The step up from that, though, is much bigger.  If we are very active in the transfer market, I'd expect it to be because we're looking towards being in the running for the Champions League places.  It's not that I think we lack the quality - I'd still maintain that none of our first team would look out of place in a top 4 squad (maybe with Bailey as an exception), it's more a question of what role they'd play there.

All in all, under Emery I'm optimistic about our ability to move up the league, and am fairly confident that by next season we'll be a sort of 5th-7th placed team who have a bit of an eye on finishing higher up the season after.  All that dependent on Emery being backed fully, whether that's because he wants to go big in the transfer market if it's a case of saying that we'll be patient if things don't pan out exactly as planned.

It's funny how fast things change.  I'm sure there was a discussion on here recently about how many of our players were good enough for top 6 and it was pretty much limited to Martinez, Kamara and Doug.  I'm sure I made a case for Tyrone, but that was pretty much it.

What a difference a manager and some good results make.

I'm glad we have found form, but we've been too average for too long to not go big in the summer.  My biggest conundrum is Watkins.  He's in great form right now, I'm just not sure if I trust him long term.   

Trust him, the form was there before and has come back immediately either side of the Ings signing and Gerrard. The same goes for all of them, we've only viewed them based on what they've shown in relatively rudimentary set ups against opponents with the benefit of tactical awareness.

The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.

[Chris Smith]

If we’ve learnt anything since he has been here it is that Emre knows what he is doing. Players that had been written off by many are now performing at a high level which says a lot about the manager and his immediate predecessor. All that the club needs to do is trust his judgement and back him to the hilt.

[LeeB]

If we’ve learnt anything since he has been here it is that Emre knows what he is doing. Players that had been written off by many are now performing at a high level which says a lot about the manager and his immediate predecessor. All that the club needs to do is trust his judgement and back him to the hilt.

It's unbelieveble that he's proven that judgement without doubt in the time he has, and with almost the same resources and a fraction of the investment his predecessor got.

[tomd2103]

Posted in the Summer transfer thread that this is the senior squad as I see it:

GK - Martinez, Olsen
RB - Cash, Young
LB - Moreno, Digne
CB - Konsa, Mings, Carlos, Chambers
DM - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker
CM - McGinn, Ramsey
WM - Bailey, Traore
AM - Buendia, Coutinho
ST - Watkins, Duran

I think it is just about perfect size, although maybe missing another striker.  Being that size, it also gives opportunity for young players to come in and underpin it. 

What I like is that Emery has established a couple of systems that he uses, so we can see exactly the type of players needed to come in.

[Dave]

Posted in the Summer transfer thread that this is the senior squad as I see it:

GK - Martinez, Olsen
RB - Cash, Young
LB - Moreno, Digne
CB - Konsa, Mings, Carlos, Chambers
DM - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker
CM - McGinn, Ramsey
WM - Bailey, Traore
AM - Buendia, Coutinho
ST - Watkins, Duran

I think it is just about perfect size, although maybe missing another striker.  Being that size, it also gives opportunity for young players to come in and underpin it. 

What I like is that Emery has established a couple of systems that he uses, so we can see exactly the type of players needed to come in.

Duran should be one of those young players to come in and underpin it though. So I think it needs at least one more senior striker and one more decent winger before we then start talking about upgrades.

As you'd look at the likes of Olsen, Young, Bailey, Traore and Chambers and wonder whether any of them are long-term options.

[Risso]

The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.

I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.

[Drummond]

The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.

I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.

Bad results against Fulham have had a positive impact on us a couple of times in the last few years...

[Clark W Griswold]

Posted in the Summer transfer thread that this is the senior squad as I see it:

GK - Martinez, Olsen
RB - Cash, Young
LB - Moreno, Digne
CB - Konsa, Mings, Carlos, Chambers
DM - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker
CM - McGinn, Ramsey
WM - Bailey, Traore
AM - Buendia, Coutinho
ST - Watkins, Duran

I think it is just about perfect size, although maybe missing another striker.  Being that size, it also gives opportunity for young players to come in and underpin it. 

What I like is that Emery has established a couple of systems that he uses, so we can see exactly the type of players needed to come in.

That's a good summary, although i'd probably have Luiz in with your CM rather than your DM. But 21 players is not quite enough, 3 injuries and your match day squad picks itself. Based on what i posted earlier, you'd be losing 3 from that and gaining 5. Add a 3rd choice keeper and thats 24 players, a bit more like it.

Edit: Yes agree that there should be opportunity for youth, i want to see a pretty robust senior squad though and i think if the youth are good enough they'll find a way in all the same.

[LeeB]

The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.

I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.

That game and how it unfolded should be mentally scarring, it should make me wince to even recall it. But thanks to the brutality and speed with which he dealt with 'the problem' it's become a beautiful moment of liberation, the dawn of the bright new age.

[Drummond]

The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.

I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.

That game and how it unfolded should be mentally scarring, it should make me wince to even recall it. But thanks to the brutality and speed with which he dealt with 'the problem' it's become a beautiful moment of liberation, the dawn of the bright new age.

Clinical finishing is what we've been lacking for years!

[Brend'Watkins]

The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.

I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.

That game and how it unfolded should be mentally scarring, it should make me wince to even recall it. But thanks to the brutality and speed with which he dealt with 'the problem' it's become a beautiful moment of liberation, the dawn of the bright new age.

Clinical finishing is what we've been lacking for years!

That's pretty much the same for every middling to lower ranked team. Hard to come by in our current position, being top 6 obviously makes it a little easier.  Maybe Emery has someone in mind, a fading star who he could get more out of or, Archer ready to step up?

[Drummond]

The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.

I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.

That game and how it unfolded should be mentally scarring, it should make me wince to even recall it. But thanks to the brutality and speed with which he dealt with 'the problem' it's become a beautiful moment of liberation, the dawn of the bright new age.

Clinical finishing is what we've been lacking for years!

That's pretty much the same for every middling to lower ranked team. Hard to come by in our current position, being top 6 obviously makes it a little easier.  Maybe Emery has someone in mind, a fading star who he could get more out of or, Archer ready to step up?

Haha, I meant by the owner.

[tomd2103]

Posted in the Summer transfer thread that this is the senior squad as I see it:

GK - Martinez, Olsen
RB - Cash, Young
LB - Moreno, Digne
CB - Konsa, Mings, Carlos, Chambers
DM - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker
CM - McGinn, Ramsey
WM - Bailey, Traore
AM - Buendia, Coutinho
ST - Watkins, Duran

I think it is just about perfect size, although maybe missing another striker.  Being that size, it also gives opportunity for young players to come in and underpin it. 

What I like is that Emery has established a couple of systems that he uses, so we can see exactly the type of players needed to come in.

Duran should be one of those young players to come in and underpin it though. So I think it needs at least one more senior striker and one more decent winger before we then start talking about upgrades.

As you'd look at the likes of Olsen, Young, Bailey, Traore and Chambers and wonder whether any of them are long-term options.

Agree with that Dave.  Ideally would look to take it up to 23 with the addition of another striker and possibly some cover for the type of roles McGinn and Ramsey are currently playing (funnily enough, I think that kind of role would suit Sanson pretty well).   

Then I think it would be a case of starting to replace some of the weaker areas with better quality. 

[tomd2103]

Posted in the Summer transfer thread that this is the senior squad as I see it:

GK - Martinez, Olsen
RB - Cash, Young
LB - Moreno, Digne
CB - Konsa, Mings, Carlos, Chambers
DM - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker
CM - McGinn, Ramsey
WM - Bailey, Traore
AM - Buendia, Coutinho
ST - Watkins, Duran

I think it is just about perfect size, although maybe missing another striker.  Being that size, it also gives opportunity for young players to come in and underpin it. 

What I like is that Emery has established a couple of systems that he uses, so we can see exactly the type of players needed to come in.

That's a good summary, although i'd probably have Luiz in with your CM rather than your DM. But 21 players is not quite enough, 3 injuries and your match day squad picks itself. Based on what i posted earlier, you'd be losing 3 from that and gaining 5. Add a 3rd choice keeper and thats 24 players, a bit more like it.

Edit: Yes agree that there should be opportunity for youth, i want to see a pretty robust senior squad though and i think if the youth are good enough they'll find a way in all the same.

Agree it's probably a couple of senior players short as it is.  I get the feeling that he doesn't want too big a squad though.