Time To Step It Up Or Say Goodbye At The End Of The Season

Which player/players in your team needs to step up their game this season or he/they could be sold next summer?

Raul- he has shown his value in the past as one of the best in spanish history but there has gone to long a time where he has draging the team in the wrong direction. he is too big for the club.

Robinho- i think he could become great and i know he joined at the worst time possible as he had to be the saviour of a team with the most spotlight on it in the world possibly. BUT he has to show he progressing this year because i feel he has been playing worse in Madrid then in santos. if he doesnt show real progress i wouldnt mind letting him go.

Diarra- he improved towards the end but he still has to raise his level to the same level he showed in lyon. if he doesnt dominate midfield next season i would also let him go.

van der Sar - Either Foster will replace him or another keeper will be brought in if he doesn't improve his consistency.

Silvestre - Got to prove he's an effective squad player.

Fletcher - With Hargreaves arriving and some youth players stepping up, he's got to prove his worth

Park - Read Silvestre

Saha - It's not about performances, it's about keeping fit.

Raul will leave Real Madrid only when he chooses. I think everyone needs to come to terms with that.

I do agree with Robinho. His first season was good and he had the excuse that he was adapting to European football, etc. Last year he didn't have the confidence of Capello and was given too much defensive responsibility. This with Schuster I think he will have no excuses and after his good performances in the Copa America everyone will be expecting him to take the next step.

Another problem under the microscope will be Cannavaro. With the arrival of Metzelder and Pepe his place is already under threat and if he is mediocre again I don't see how he will stay even though he has one more year on his contract after this one.

If the likes of Baptista, Emerson, and Cassano are not shipped off this summer then they will also have to show us something special in whatever opportunities they get otherwise they will again be on the outside looking in.

Jaime wrote:Raul will leave Real Madrid only when he chooses. I think everyone needs to come to terms with that.

I do agree with Robinho. His first season was good and he had the excuse that he was adapting to European football, etc. Last year he didn't have the confidence of Capello and was given too much defensive responsibility. This with Schuster I think he will have no excuses and after his good performances in the Copa America everyone will be expecting him to take the next step.

Another problem under the microscope will be Cannavaro. With the arrival of Metzelder and Pepe his place is already under threat and if he is mediocre again I don't see how he will stay even though he has one more year on his contract after this one.

If the likes of Baptista, Emerson, and Cassano are not shipped off this summer then they will also have to show us something special in whatever opportunities they get otherwise they will again be on the outside looking in.

Do you think that it's even remotely likely that Canna will be shipped off?

I would say for our team...Gilardino. He does need to really step it up, like 15+ season.

If he gets 10-12, then I think he won't be sold, but management may start listening to offers.

Valencia

Baraja - Was out injured most of last season has something to proove this year 32 though aint got many years left still

Vicente - got serious competition for his place with silva and gavilan will have a fight to even get in the team i think he will be sold soon enough

apart from them two i wudnt say any first team players are under threat this season as quique is near achieving the team he wants

The only names I can think of for Barça are Deco and Marquez. They had poor seasons last year, and if they don't regain their level they may be sold. It's tough to say for sure though, because right now it looks like both may not be starters anyway.

Apart from that, most of the under-performers have or will be sold. I guess Belletti needs to show he can come on for Zambrotta or start games against smaller teams and not f@ck up. I'd say that for Oleguer but he won't be sold because of his Catalanism.

Gudjohnsen could be another one - if he doesn't score goals in the chances he gets, and Bojan keeps impressing as he's done, then it could be goodbye to Guddy if he isn't already sold this summer.

And finally, some may say Ronaldinho, but for him "stepping up" is to become the best player in the world again, so it's a different situation to any normal player. But I guess if he does have a season like last year one again, then we will finally let Milan have him.[/i]

Parks lives wrote:van der Sar - Either Foster will replace him or another keeper will be brought in if he doesn't improve his consistency.

Silvestre - Got to prove he's an effective squad player.

Fletcher - With Hargreaves arriving and some youth players stepping up, he's got to prove his worth

Park - Read Silvestre

Saha - It's not about performances, it's about keeping fit.

and Dong

@Forza

Not this summer because we don't have very many central defenders but if after this season he hasn't shown himself to be any more reliable we won't keep him for the last year of his contract and I think we will probably end up practically giving him away.

Glen Johnson - Been given a 2nd chance. If he fucks this one up, it's safe to say he's out.

Makelele - Didn't quite have the same invincibility last season and ended up losing his place to Mikel. Appears age is finally catching up with him. Another season like this and he could be on his way out.

Shevchenko - Should look better in his 2nd season, so another very poor season will surely seal the end of his Premiership career.

Ballack - See Sheva (except change very poor season to very average season).

Robben - After this ongoing saga with Madrid, the board aren't gonna be happy. Another season on the treatment table and he may well be whisked off to the Bernabeau.

Diarra - 3rd choice at DCM (behind Mikel and Makelele) and 3rd choice at RB (behind Ferreira and Ben Haim). Looked promising last season, but is gonna have to step it up another gear if he wants to stay at the club.

Ferreira - Talk of Dani Alves arriving has placed huge pressure on his shoulders. He hasn't been the most reliable player for us, but has always had his position secure, due to a lack of competition. So will he buckle under some real competition for places?

Wright-Phillips - Looked very good at the end of last season and is therefore being rewarded with more starts (and more time on the pitch in general). Final ball started to look good. However the arrival of Malouda has added huge competition and now he's gotta compete with Joe Cole, Arjen Robben and Florent Malouda for a place. Can he continue this excellent form or will he go back into his shell again? Let's hope it's the former.

kuyt
Crouch
kewell
pennant



all have to display consistency this year or they will be at risk, especially kewell as it's his last year on his contract

Govou. Each year it's exactly the same story, he's supposed to leave the but there are never any proper offers, so he always ends up staying. His wages are amongst the highest of the club, something like 4 millions euros a year. A f**** waste of money, for a player like him.

Adriano and recoba have to go

maldini should retire

del piero needs to go

serie a teams have lots of good young players, all it needs is a few big names like eto'o

Foster - he won't want to be 3rd choice at Man Utd with the Euros next summer.

Bardsley/Simpson - Neville is not getting any younger and the Brazilian twins will be arriving next summer.

Fletcher - he will get less playing time this season so when he does play he will have to make an impact.

Eagles - Richardson had his chance last season but failed, now its time for Eagles to step up but i don't think he will be good enough.

Rossi - he stepped it up when he was on loan at Parma but can he do the same for Man Utd in the Prem? thats if he stays.

Would agree with COTR, bar maybe Kuyt, I think Kuyt will have at least another 2 seasons with Liverpool, I would also maybe say Alonso, if he has a poor season then Rafa might switch Gerrard back to the centre of midfield and flog Xabi for the money

Would you not say Riise's under a bit of pressure? He had quite a poor season from what I saw and if Babel is a success, Rafa may decide that he no longer requires Riise's services.

S4P wrote:Would you not say Riise's under a bit of pressure? He had quite a poor season from what I saw and if Babel is a success, Rafa may decide that he no longer requires Riise's services.

Yes, very true, I actually thought Riise would leave this summer, but due to our lack of options at left back it means he is needed, if we did sign Heinze then this could be Riise's last season at Liverpool

S4P wrote:Would you not say Riise's under a bit of pressure? He had quite a poor season from what I saw and if Babel is a success, Rafa may decide that he no longer requires Riise's services.

but riise is a left back, babel is a versatile winger / forward

I expect kewell to start most games as the first choice left winger


riise has signed a new contract last season. I wouldn't put him on the 'at risk' list. he's an excellent member for a squad to have because he is a great athlete, never really gets injured and scores goals so I don't agree with luis at all

you mean if kewell manages to stay fit lol:P

SteGavin wrote:you mean if kewell manages to stay fit lol:P

he normally manages one full season then takes the next one off

this is his work year

COTR wrote:

S4P wrote:Would you not say Riise's under a bit of pressure? He had quite a poor season from what I saw and if Babel is a success, Rafa may decide that he no longer requires Riise's services.

but riise is a left back, babel is a versatile winger / forward

I expect kewell to start most games as the first choice left winger


riise has signed a new contract last season. I wouldn't put him on the 'at risk' list. he's an excellent member for a squad to have because he is a great athlete, never really gets injured and scores goals so I don't agree with luis at all

finally someone who appreciates risse

riise has brilliant credentials with his shot and attacking ability but on the defensive front he dusnt really do his job.

SteGavin wrote:riise has brilliant credentials with his shot and attacking ability but on the defensive front he dusnt really do his job.

thats what mascherano is for

COTR wrote:

S4P wrote:Would you not say Riise's under a bit of pressure? He had quite a poor season from what I saw and if Babel is a success, Rafa may decide that he no longer requires Riise's services.

but riise is a left back, babel is a versatile winger / forward

I expect kewell to start most games as the first choice left winger


riise has signed a new contract last season. I wouldn't put him on the 'at risk' list. he's an excellent member for a squad to have because he is a great athlete, never really gets injured and scores goals so I don't agree with luis at all

Riise can also play LW though, so if Babel/Kewell shine it's not as if he could just be slotted into the LW position.