Liverpool: My Summer Wishlist 2005

Check out this story on Soccernet: Rafa has to be ruthless, which dissects the entire Liverpool squad to see who should stay and who should leave.

While I don't agree with some of the opinions (I think Finnan, Hamann and Hyypia should stay), I'd say the article is spot on with some of the accessments.

Kewell's lack of mental strength, Traore's lapses of concentration, Dudek's proneness to mistakes, Baros' failure to live up to his goal-scoring exploits in Euro 2004, all point towards a likely exit.

With at least 50 million pounds in the kitty after winning the Champion's League, and more coming if they manage to sell some players, Benitez is gonna have to beef up the squad and get rid of the deadweights.

And here is MY wishlist of players I hope he'll go for:

• Pablo Aimar (Valencia) - Liverpool have absolutely NO creative attacking midfield players that can conjure up tricks to unlock defences like Aimar can. Kewell was supposed to be that player, but look where he is now. Aimar in Liverpool would be MAGIC.
• Vicente (Valencia) - I rate this guy the BEST left winger in Spain. Would be good support for Riise. Bad news for Warnock though, but then, Warnock and Riise can ALSO play left-back, which is good for them too.
• Wayne Routledge (Crystal Palace) - Fast, young and a good crosser. We need a right wing man as well, with Smicer going and Garcia being the only one playing there now.
• Shaun-Wright Philips (Manchester City) - Ditto the above. Either him or Routeledge would do just fine.
• Another left-back (from anywhere!) - We NEED someone to cover for Traore, if not replace him.
• Another goalkeeper (from anywhere!) - Villareal keeper Pepe Reina, who was one of the best keepers in the La Liga this season, has been saying that a deal has been made to come to Liverpool. Let's hope its true.
• Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza) - Real Madrid made a HUGE mistake when they decided not to sign him. Would be great cover for our defence, AND has been linked to the club.
• Mista (Valencia) - Proven goalscorer, and a Benitez favorite son, despite the un-striker-like name.
• Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid) - Another youing and talented goalscorer, but this guy is a long shot to come to Liverpool, I think.

I'm optimistic that Liverpool can get some of these players, especially the Valencia ones, due to the Benitez factor (notice that most of them are from the La Liga).

Of course, that would mean that Valencia, the team I support in Spain, would be severely weakened should Mista, Aimar and Vicente leave... Dammit, can't I win it all? :)