Liverpool will face Rabotnicki in the third qualifying round of the Europa League in Macedonia on Thursday.
Since the Republic of Macedonia became an independent country, Rabotnicki have been competing in the Macedonian Premier League, having previously played in the first Federal League of SFR Yugoslavia.
Also known as 'the Romantics', they have won three league titles in the past five years, as well as two domestic cups. Sammy Lee will be well aware of any potential threat posed by Rabotnicki, having faced them in round one of the 2007-08 UEFA Cup during his time as manager of Bolton Wanderers. The omens are good too, as the Trotters went on to secure a 2-1 victory on aggregate.
Rabotnicki's squad consists mainly of players native to Macedonia, although they do have six Brazilians in their set-up.
I haven't been able to find our confirmed squad for this week anywhere however I can only take an educated guess. Hodgson's recent comments about having to find a middle ground (between not playing and playing our WC involved players) may mean that the players that were involved with the England squad maybe considered, and to quote Hodgson, ' for 60 mins'. He also said ""It is pretty obvious to everyone that is not the sort of team you really want to play on Thursday," he said. "They deserve credit for the way they went about their business but we will have to think carefully. "The sports science people are keen we don't throw the World Cup people into action, but to throw this team into the Europa League might be a bridge too far for them."
The club's head of sports science Peter Brukner has advised against their selection amid fears of burn-out later in the season, but Hodgson will not want to risk his first game ending with a defeat. Hodgson admitted: 'I don't know what to do at this stage. I don't know their state of fitness. They have been training for five days at Melwood. I will have to make a decision by Tuesday.' Alberto Aquilani missed Saturday's defeat with a knee problem but is expected to be fit.
So there is the possibility that some WC involved players may be involved in the first leg for at least 45 mins. According to the offal there are no injuries to report.
So the possible nominated 25 players for the 3rd qualifying round could be :
GK : Cavalieri, Gulacsi, Hansen
D : Agger, Ayala, Carragher, Darby, Irwin, Johnson, Kelly, Kyrgiakos, Robinson, Skrtel
MF : Cole, Gerrard, Lucas, Shelvey, Spearing, Jovanovic, Aquilani, Maxi
F : Eccleston, Ngog, Amoo, Pacheco
---------------------Cavalieri
Kelly ----- Kyrgiakos ----- Skrtel ----- Darby
Amoo --- Lucas ------ Spearing ----- Jovanovic
------------------- Aquilani
-------------------- N'gog
Bench : Gulacsi, Carragher, Ayala, Johnson, Gerrard, Cole, Eccleston (Pacheco will not be back from the UEFA U19's)
Since the Republic of Macedonia became an independent country, Rabotnicki have been competing in the Macedonian Premier League, having previously played in the first Federal League of SFR Yugoslavia.
Also known as 'the Romantics', they have won three league titles in the past five years, as well as two domestic cups. Sammy Lee will be well aware of any potential threat posed by Rabotnicki, having faced them in round one of the 2007-08 UEFA Cup during his time as manager of Bolton Wanderers. The omens are good too, as the Trotters went on to secure a 2-1 victory on aggregate.
Rabotnicki's squad consists mainly of players native to Macedonia, although they do have six Brazilians in their set-up.
I haven't been able to find our confirmed squad for this week anywhere however I can only take an educated guess. Hodgson's recent comments about having to find a middle ground (between not playing and playing our WC involved players) may mean that the players that were involved with the England squad maybe considered, and to quote Hodgson, ' for 60 mins'. He also said ""It is pretty obvious to everyone that is not the sort of team you really want to play on Thursday," he said. "They deserve credit for the way they went about their business but we will have to think carefully. "The sports science people are keen we don't throw the World Cup people into action, but to throw this team into the Europa League might be a bridge too far for them."
The club's head of sports science Peter Brukner has advised against their selection amid fears of burn-out later in the season, but Hodgson will not want to risk his first game ending with a defeat. Hodgson admitted: 'I don't know what to do at this stage. I don't know their state of fitness. They have been training for five days at Melwood. I will have to make a decision by Tuesday.' Alberto Aquilani missed Saturday's defeat with a knee problem but is expected to be fit.
So there is the possibility that some WC involved players may be involved in the first leg for at least 45 mins. According to the offal there are no injuries to report.
So the possible nominated 25 players for the 3rd qualifying round could be :
GK : Cavalieri, Gulacsi, Hansen
D : Agger, Ayala, Carragher, Darby, Irwin, Johnson, Kelly, Kyrgiakos, Robinson, Skrtel
MF : Cole, Gerrard, Lucas, Shelvey, Spearing, Jovanovic, Aquilani, Maxi
F : Eccleston, Ngog, Amoo, Pacheco
---------------------Cavalieri
Kelly ----- Kyrgiakos ----- Skrtel ----- Darby
Amoo --- Lucas ------ Spearing ----- Jovanovic
------------------- Aquilani
-------------------- N'gog
Bench : Gulacsi, Carragher, Ayala, Johnson, Gerrard, Cole, Eccleston (Pacheco will not be back from the UEFA U19's)
