Rob Gutmann hosts the latest Gutter to smash around some more tentatively linked names in the TAW transfer collider.
Joining him for the latest session of tabloid tattle indulgence are Ian Ryan and Craig Hannan.
– The Gutter descends into the depths of tabloid transfer tittle-tattle and website waffle. It can be murky down here, but we look to give you our assessment of what might be the flaming torch of truth in the darkness – and what could just be flaming nonsense. Subscribe – it’s only a fiver a month. Minimum sign up is only one month. For more information on a subscription, click here.
The gutters back!
Paul’s absolutely correct. There is no first 11 next season. 4 cup competitions means we need a first 16. I feel we have 10 first 16 players at the minute but I should say, I’ve included Mignolet. We need a centre half and a left back so I’m not convinced the keeper should change too. Maybe give him 1 more season and see if he carries on his improvement. Since his return he’s been no worse than the best keepers. They all make mistakes.
I think we can win the league by doing the following, haha.
Defence – better left back than Milner. Better centre half than Lovren. I think that gives a good balance where if 2 CH’s are out Klavan can come in with a decent partner. Milner is a good back up for LB and TAA shouldn’t be under rated as Clyne’s understudy. Possibly invest in a £3m extra player for a season or 2 for back up to Clyne but not bothered.
Midfield – Ideally, I think we need to add 2 to the midfield 3 of Henderson, Gini and Lallana. I know it’s extravagant but let’s say Henderson misses half a season and Lallana misses 25%. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility. Already you need a player for 75% of 4 competitions worth of games. Therefore, you need an extra body in there to cover other injuries, fatigue, suspensions and loss of form and so ideally you need 1 holding and 1 attacking. You then have 5 playing 3 positions with Can and Milner backing up. A good run in the cups can lead to a 60 game campaign. That’s 180 games for the 3 midfielders or an average of 36 games for 5.
Up front, again I want 2 more there. One wide, one central. That gives us a pool of Phil, Mane, Firmino plus 2 of a similar level to again play 36 games each leaving Origi and Ings as back up to the core.
That’s it really. 6 players with an average of £25m is £150. We’ve got £30m coming back in the summer from sales, whilst clearing the wages of Sturridge, Sakho, Lazar and Lucas, Stewart? Moreno?
Shave an average of £10m off the defenders and add it to the strikers and it’s still £120m net. Affordable as it’s 2 summers worth plus the tv money plus Klopp’s one and only rebuild.
More players along the lines of Mane, Wijnaldum and Matip will do it. Average £20m. Adding those 6 would mean we’re strong all over the park for 60 games in the season because Can, Ings, Origi, Klavan and Moreno (if here) become the next in line after a fully fit bench and realistically 50% of those are always on the bench, plus 3 game changers and some youth. Simple innit.
I’m convinced this won’t be far off the mark in terms of money spent.