he really really likes him

[SummerOnions]

Aspas arrived at Anfield from Celta Vigo last summer for £7 million, but has made just thirteen appearances for the Reds, scoring once.
His thin, wiry frame has appeared inadequate against the muscle of Premier League defenders, making his performances look lacklustre and uninspiring.
However, Rodgers says Aspas still plays an important role at the club, praising the Spaniard’s work rate, and keeping the pressure on first-team strikers Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge to keep their places in the side.
“It’s been a season where it’s been difficult for some of our fringe players, especially the strikers,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
“I feel for the likes of Iago. He works tirelessly every day. He hasn’t got a lot of minutes but he has been brilliantly professional. That indirectly helps the likes of Luis and Daniel.
“It’s been hard for some of those guys but they have still committed themselves to help the overall team. I know that ultimately at some stage they will want to play games.”
Liverpool meanwhile are preparing for their Premier League clash away at Manchester United this Sunday, as they enter the final 10 games of the season.
Rodgers’ side currently sit second in the league table, with league leaders Chelsea extending their lead at the top to seven points with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Tottenham on Saturday

 

[the count]

To be fair to Aspas he is very supportive and engaged even on the bench.
Most players in similar circumstances would be sulking and disinterested

 

[gkmacca]

He needs a couple of run-outs in the reserves. He's woefully short of match fitness. He's barely been on the pitch for the best part of the year, and yet he's a regular sub, so it would surely make sense for the run-in if he's encouraged to find a bit of sharpness.

 

[juniormember]

He needs a couple of run-outs in the reserves. He's woefully short of match fitness. He's barely been on the pitch for the best part of the year, and yet he's a regular sub, so it would surely make sense for the run-in if he's encouraged to find a bit of sharpness.

No, let's use the reserve players of the reserve team in case our reserves get injured and can't be reserves for the first team.

 

[gkmacca]

Okay, then don't keep picking him for the fecking bench. I really don't care either way but just show some logic.

 

[juniormember]

Okay, then don't keep picking him for the fecking bench. I really don't care either way but just show some logic.

It was an attempt at not making sense.
I feel like I both failed and succeeded...

 

[gkmacca]

In the run in to the league we need players on the bench who can come on and make a difference, not come on and look like they barely recognise that round bouncy thing whizzing past them all the time. Arrange games behind closed doors for them, give them time in the reserves, I don't care, but do something to get them vaguely ready to help the first team. Or I guess alternately we could just keep trying with the time machine/bring back your favourite player from thirty years ago shite.

 

[mark1975]

In the run in to the league we need players on the bench who can come on and make a difference, not come on and look like they barely recognise that round bouncy thing whizzing past them all the time. Arrange games behind closed doors for them, give them time in the reserves, I don't care, but do something to get them vaguely ready to help the first team. Or I guess alternately we could just keep trying with the time machine/bring back your favourite player from thirty years ago shite.

It's a tough situation these days. Gone is the time when we used to litter the reserves with the paid for junk on the fringes, it's like they have to perform when thrown into a League Cup game, or nothing else will come their way.

Like you say though, it seems counterproductive to have him on the bench when he's not getting a look in at any other level, especially when you see Sakho and Lucas given a reserve game last week to get upto speed.

 

[refugee]

It was an attempt at not making sense.
I feel like I both failed and succeeded...

I understood.

 

[gkmacca]

Yep, thanks for trying not to make sense. That was very helpful and brilliant.

 

[Brizzle]

Fully agree with Macca - it makes it even harder to bring someone on for the last 10-15 minutes if we need to try and push for a winner if he is likely to take that long at least to tune into the speed of the game. Makes it a bit unfair on the player as he is expected to make an instant impact if he comes off the bench.

 

[Modo]

He has a chance of playing CL football. I'd be happy and cheerful as well.

 

[Rosco]

He has a chance of playing CL football. I'd be happy and cheerful as well.

Does he ?

That to me was the Is advertising what a good lad he is so someone might take him off our hands

 

[Modo]

Does he ?

That to me was the Is advertising what a good lad he is so someone might take him off our hands

That too.

 

[Lippy]

To be fair to Aspas he is very supportive and engaged even on the bench.
Most players in similar circumstances would be sulking and disinterested

Yeh but everyone else in the stadium who's sitting down being all supportive and engaged actually has to pay for a ticket.

 

[Dreambeliever]

I'd keep him and see what happens next season

 

[Red Mullet]

I'd keep him and see what happens next season

The bench will remain warm.

 

[Judge Jules]

It's a shame, because his attitude is great and I thought there were promising signs from him in pre-season, but we and he both need him to move on.

 

[peterhague]

For a completely predictable waste of time and money, his signing has to be right up there. Just pointless.

 

[gkmacca]

It's like someone bought a toy at Christmas, forgot the batteries, then forgot the toy.

 

[LarryHagman]

“It’s been a season where it’s been difficult for some of our fringe players, especially the strikers,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.

i.e. the good ones are good, the shit ones are shit.

Fuck off the shit ones.

 

[Ryan]

Does he ?

That to me was the Is advertising what a good lad he is so someone might take him off our hands

Maybe I'm being overly naive but it read to me like a manager being genuinely disappointed that one of the decent guys in his squad hasn't had more opportunities.

 

[Rosco]

Well in the last 11 games he's played a grand total of 11 minutes, two sub appearances, it's fair to say that if Rodgers was that disappointed about it he could have easily given Aspas more game time.

As an aside - Is there a striker in the league who has taken less shots than Aspas ?

2 shots in 12 appearances.

 

[mark1975]

Well in the last 11 games he's played a grand total of 11 minutes, two sub appearances, it's fair to say that if Rodgers was that disappointed about it he could have easily given Aspas more game time.

As an aside - Is there a striker in the league who has taken less shots than Aspas ?

2 shots in 12 appearances.

To be fair to him, for a striker, he's played everywhere but. In the one opportunity he's had upfront, he scored.