Middlesborough

[Frogfish]

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 gave a list on Page 1 of possible reserves/academy players who may see action/the bench tonight. Who do you think (apart from Rossiter) will be included (let's say 3 in total) : Brannagan, O’Hanlon, Ojo, Trickett-Smith, Dunn, Wilson, Kent and not sure if Yesil is fit yet ?

 

[gkmacca]

Brannagan could certainly do okay, and he can play in a few positions, so he'd be handy to have on the bench. Wilson is undoubtedly a rising star and he's super-confident, so he'd be a decent option. The mighty Yesil, of course, is obligatory if fit, otherwise Dunn.

 

[Zlate]

I'd love for Rossiter to have a killed game and retain his spot in the team just how Gerrard did as a young kid. Ojo has massive potential and speed beyond belief. Would love him to start also.
It's the league cup, we should do what Arsenal do and give the youth a chance.

Wilson, Ojo, Rossiter, Lloyd Jones, Branagan, Chirivella, Canos all deserve a chance in this cup at some point imo.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Dunn is still out injured and hasn't played at all this season for the U21s I think, so we can rule him out. Chirivella's just back from injury (game against Bolton U18s was his first game back from injury I think). Not sure if McLaughlin is still out. Rossiter is probably the certain starter amongst the youngsters. With Manquillo our own available RB now, I wonder if Rodgers will rest him and field a U18/U21 player instead (e.g. Stewart or Randall; I prefer the latter). With the new injuries, and if Rodgers mixes and matches, might turn out like this:

------------------- Mignolet ------------------
Randall --- Toure --- Sakho --- Enrique
-------------------- Lucas --------------------
------------ Suso --------- Rossiter --------
Borini ----------- Lambert ------- Markovic

If that's how we line up, I'm not sure that it's a team that will do well enough, as the front five have never played (much) with each other, other than Rossiter having played with Suso in some U21 games. Maybe if Borini was dropped for, say, Brannagan, the familiarity between Rossiter, Brannagan (in CM) and Suso (at wide right) might actually help the team more, despite their lack of experience.

Going to be a tough game.

 

[mark1975]

He doesn't look like a defensive midfielder at all.

Really? He's played centre half and defensive midfield loads throughout his career. He's built perfectly for that sort of role, or even as a box to box player, but he's played defensive positions throughout his career. He had a great game at centre half for the German U21's a couple of weeks back.

 

[peterhague]

Can looks like a DM to me, and potentially a brilliant one, too, although he has looked worryingly sluggish the last few times he's played for us: I hope that's just a fitness thing because his mobility was one of his strengths in those clips of games he played in Germany.

 

[mark1975]

Rossiter has always looked ready whenever I've seen him, he's so composed, he looks like he's got an experienced head on his shoulders. We can afford to play one reserve, surely, otherwise what's the point? These lads deserve a go. I'd forgot about Suso aswell, he deserves a start.

 

[mark1975]

Can looks like a DM to me, and potentially a brilliant one, too, although he has looked worryingly sluggish the last few times he's played for us: I hope that's just a fitness thing because his mobility was one of his strengths in those clips of games he played in Germany.

I think one of the biggest criticisms of him in Germany was that he had Glenjo-esque tendencies to switch off and become really sloppy with his play. So when that started to kick in against Dortmund, it looked typical of those sort of performances which drew criticism. If he can iron that out of his game, he has all of the physical attributes to do well. He looked great when he came on against Spurs and was instrumental in one of the best chances of the game, where he won the ball and ran at them with pace and power.

 

[peterhague]

Yes Rossiter deserves to play and I expect he will, too.

He's not really physically ready but should be able to compete well enough. Otherwise he's pretty much there. Fingers crossed for him tonight, if all goes well he could be a fixture in our midfield for years and years.

 

[peterhague]

I think one of the biggest criticisms of him in Germany was that he had Glenjo-esque tendencies to switch off and become really sloppy with his play. So when that started to kick in against Dortmund, it looked typical of those sort of performances which drew criticism. If he can iron that out of his game, he has all of the physical attributes to do well. He looked great when he came on against Spurs and was instrumental in one of the best chances of the game, where he won the ball and ran at them with pace and power.

Yeah he looked more on it against Spurs, but still perhaps not quite as mobile as he looked for Leverkusen. Tbh I wonder if he's just carrying a bit too much weight now. He's a big big bloke naturally, and possibly not someone who needs to be bulking up at the gym in addition.

I don't worry too much about reports of lapses in concentration etc. He's only 20, after all. Maybe it'll be a continuing problems but the chances are it won't, not as he gains experience.

 

[SummerOnions]

Yes Rossiter deserves to play and I expect he will, too.

He's not really physically ready but should be able to compete well enough. Otherwise he's pretty much there. Fingers crossed for him tonight, if all goes well he could be a fixture in our midfield for years and years.

This is hopefully one of the few times where he'll get such a good opportunity to stake a claim

 

[cloggypop]

Middlesbrough have won their last 3.

 

[Fabio]

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 and rossiter have been warming up with the team the last few games, so I think he'll get some minutes along with rossiter

 

[peterhague]

Ojo and rossiter have been warming up with the team the last few games, so I think he'll get some minutes along with rossiter

Yeah it gets to a point where it's pretty obvious that the kids are being readied for the first team. I'm sure the plan is to give Ojo some minutes tonight. This is just the first step in getting the two of them into the senior squad over the next year or so.

 

[Fabio]

Yeah it gets to a point where it's pretty obvious that the kids are being readied for the first team. I'm sure the plan is to give Ojo some minutes tonight. This is just the first step in getting the two of them into the senior squad over the next year or so.

I like the idea of the players warming up pre match with some reserves. It'll get them used to being on the pitch when Anfield is practically full

Hopefully we're in the position to have ojo some minutes

 

[peekay]

I have never been to England but I have an irrational hate of Middlesborough. No idea why. Loved it when they got relegated.

 

[Brizzle]

This is a brilliant rant too!

 

[FoxForceFive]

If you'd been there you'd doubtless feel almost the same way, only there'd be rationale to back the hatred up.

 

[Mystic]

I have never been to England but I have an irrational hate of Middlesborough. No idea why. Loved it when they got relegated.

 

[cloggypop]

If you'd been there you'd doubtless feel almost the same way, only there'd be rationale to back the hatred up.

I hated it even though I could not even see anything. I reckon it looks worse when/if it clears up.

 

[cloggypop]

I have also never met anybody from Boro without them instantly talking about Ravanelli's hattrick.

 

[Athens]

When was that? 94?

 

[Brizzle]

I used to play as Boro on Champ Manager when I wasn't Liverpool. Them and Blackburn were my alternative teams of choice.

 

[cloggypop]

When was that? 94?

96. They did not even win. 3-3 draw. Ravanelli finished as top goalscorer and they got relegated.

Edit: he was not top goal scorer. He did get 16 though.

 

[Judge Jules]

This is a brilliant rant too!

It might have been if it was genuine, but it's transparently a performance put on for the camera. Besides, Stelling's an LFC-hating cnut.

 

[Athens]

96. They did not even win. 3-3 draw. Ravanelli finished as top goalscorer and they got relegated.

Edit: he was not top goal scorer. He did get 16 though.

At the time they were the most expensive team to get relegated. Robson still managed to get jobs after that.

 

[Brizzle]

It might have been if it was genuine, but it's transparently a performance put on for the camera. Besides, Stelling's an LFC-hating cnut.

Stelling is brilliant - bloody love the guy!

 

[cloggypop]

At the time they were the most expensive team to get relegated. Robson still managed to get jobs after that.

Can you imagine the look on Juninho's face the first time Robson took him the pub after training?

 

[Athens]

Can you imagine the look on Juninho's face the first time Robson took him the pub after training?

He probably panicked cause he left his i.d. at home.

 

[hmmmmm1]

I have never been to England but I have an irrational hate of Middlesborough. No idea why. Loved it when they got relegated.

They had used to have Juninho and Ravenelli in thier team and still got relegated