I'd say the last thing we need is more injuries.
Middlesborough
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----------------------------Jones-----------------------------
Manq----------Skrtel-------------Lovren----------Moreno-----
--------------------Lucas--------Rositer----------------------------
------Markovic----------Lallana-----------Coutinho----------------
---------------------------Ballotelli------------------------------------
Rest Gerrard, Henderson and Sterling for derby
Play the players who need to find form.
Manq----------Skrtel-------------Lovren----------Moreno-----
--------------------Lucas--------Rositer----------------------------
------Markovic----------Lallana-----------Coutinho----------------
---------------------------Ballotelli------------------------------------
Rest Gerrard, Henderson and Sterling for derby
Play the players who need to find form.
This.
When it comes to LC/FAC matches it seems there is always the same division on here. We are absolutely fucked if we lose Hendo and let's say Sterling for a plastic cup nobody actually gives a shit about, when we have a Derby match and then Basel away. I've happily take defeat to Boro if it means we win those two.
Lambert for Balotelli, and yes. I'd rest Moreno and bring Enrique in too.
Definitely.
I don't care if we lose tomorrow. The midweek games disrupt us- Brendan said so.
I wonder if constant rotation is better than just playing someone solidly for a few months until they're exhausted and then resting them for a couple of months.
I dont give a crap about league cup. Kenny won it and got zero credit for it. Its a totally needless distraction. Play the kids all the way in this cup till they sink. We might actually get something positive out of this.
Quite. We've bought players to cope with the demands of four competitions, so it's not like we're advocating putting a load of kids out, just get other players upto speed and rest a few that are imperative to the derby.
-----------------Jones------------------
------Skrtel----Toure----Sakho------
Manquillo-Lucas-Rossiter--Enrique
-----Markovic-------------Lallana-----
-----------------Lambert---------------
He doesn't really make much difference defensively these days though, we're just vulnerable full stop, so whether it's Gerrard/Lucas/whoever, we'll concede. Look at the weekend.
He was playing further up the pitch than he normally does. I want to see him play in his "natural" position, well the position he's adapted to since Rafa converted him from CM to DM.
To me it's like sticking Skrtel at Rb and expecting him to perform, it's just not fair.
All that money spent, and not one defensive mid signed. Strange.
Emre Can?
He doesn't look like a defensive midfielder at all.
It worked against Northampton. No, I know what you mean, but I think we need a good balance, with the inexperienced being helped by the experienced. The last thing we need is an embarrassing defeat to further sap morale around the club.
Liverpool host Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday with the manager considering debuts for the 17-year-olds Jordan Rossiter and Sheyi Ojo while he rests Steven Gerrard from a midfield hit by injury. Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho could join Joe Allen and Emre Can on the sidelines with respective hip and groin problems with the Merseyside derby against Everton awaiting on Saturday.
Rodgers is also prepared to give his preferred midfield diamond a rest against the Championship side having admitted his available players were unsuitable for the system that started at West Ham United on Saturday, when Liverpool suffered their third league defeat in five Premier League matches.
Rodgers is also prepared to give his preferred midfield diamond a rest against the Championship side having admitted his available players were unsuitable for the system that started at West Ham United on Saturday, when Liverpool suffered their third league defeat in five Premier League matches.
Some quotes:
Many football experts have compared him to fellow German midfielders Michael Ballack and Bastian Schweinsteiger, because of his ability to attack and defend in the midfield position
In his first and only season at Leverkusen, Can netted four goals and notched up four assists, while largely operating in a defensive capacity.
Wiki : Playing position Defensive midfielder
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Sami Hyypia has been able to name Emre Can in a more familiar attacking midfield role for Saturday evening's home clash against Schalke 04.
His inclusion means that coach Sami Hyypia can moveEmre Can back to a more familiar position on the left of a three-pronged attack behind striker Stefan Kiessling.
Sami Hyypia has kept faith with the out-of-position Emre Can at left-back despite the player's struggles in his side's5-0 defeat to Manchester United.
Emre Can has been asked to fill in at left-back by Bayer Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia for the trip to Hertha Berlin.
Eurorivals : Midfielder + Defensive Midfielder
Squaka : Can, 20, is capable of playing in both midfield and defence and fits the mould of player that Liverpool have targeted since John Henry took over.....
EMRE CAN PLAYER CHARACTERISTICS :
Characteristics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Dribbling Strong
Crossing Weak
Aerial Duels Strong
Discipline Weak
Tackling Strong
STYLES
Likes to play long balls Often
Likes to dribble Often
Likes to cross Often
Plays the ball off the ground often Often
Counter attack threat Often
Commits fouls Often
* Strengths, weaknesses and style of play are calculated from player statistics in domestic league games this season and last. © WhoScored.com
WhoScored : Positions: Defender (Left) + Defensive Midfielder (Centre)
Interesting quotes from Brendan in the papers today where he said basically the players who lined up on saturday weren't able to play the diamond formation well enough:
Here's the article
[article]“We just need to get back to doing what we do best – the way of working which we know can bring success.
“Our passing disappointed me on Saturday. We arguably played more long passes than West Ham.
“I look at the movement patterns in the team and our pressing and patterns of pressure. Probably with the injuries, I need to look to retain a system for maybe a longer period.
“The 4-4-2 diamond worked really well for us but it worked really well because we had certain players playing in it. It didn’t work quite so well at the weekend.
“Until we get all our multi-functional players back, I’ll look at the strengths of the players we do have. Hopefully that gives them the confidence of pressing better from that position."[/article]
I wonder whether this means he's going to stick to a 4-3-3 from now on?
Formations aside, I'd like to see Markovic, Lambert and Rossiter start today. Getting Lallana up to full fitness would help for the weekend.
Here's the article
[article]“We just need to get back to doing what we do best – the way of working which we know can bring success.
“Our passing disappointed me on Saturday. We arguably played more long passes than West Ham.
“I look at the movement patterns in the team and our pressing and patterns of pressure. Probably with the injuries, I need to look to retain a system for maybe a longer period.
“The 4-4-2 diamond worked really well for us but it worked really well because we had certain players playing in it. It didn’t work quite so well at the weekend.
“Until we get all our multi-functional players back, I’ll look at the strengths of the players we do have. Hopefully that gives them the confidence of pressing better from that position."[/article]
I wonder whether this means he's going to stick to a 4-3-3 from now on?
Formations aside, I'd like to see Markovic, Lambert and Rossiter start today. Getting Lallana up to full fitness would help for the weekend.
Yep, the diamond is vital for our success, we don't want to risk it getting injured as we'll need it in the league.
Rossiter is such a good prospect he probably deserves this chance. He'll need a bit of luck early on because he'll get stuck in. When Alli did that against the mancs in the last round he escaped a probable booking and then settled down. Rossiter will need the same sort of fortune. It's a big step up for him - not because of his ability but rather because the standard of matches in the reserve league is so maddeningly uneven - but hopefully he'll thrive.
Ojo, on the other hand: I like him, and he's improving all the time, but this is a bit premature. Good experience on the bench, soaking it up, but I doubt Rodgers is considering playing him, unless it's late on.
Ojo, on the other hand: I like him, and he's improving all the time, but this is a bit premature. Good experience on the bench, soaking it up, but I doubt Rodgers is considering playing him, unless it's late on.
I don't think rotation is better. It ignores form and confidence and builds a sense of entitlement in the player ('I've done my stint, I'm due a rest'), it's pseudo-science and relegates on-the-field relationships to a secondary level.
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