Liverpool FC Forum

bigmick wrote:Surely Pepe can play? I don't think he featured for Spain did he?

JoeTerp wrote:Roy Hodgson admits he will face a tough decision over who will make Liverpool's line-up for next week's Europa League qualifier against FK Rabotnicki.

The Reds boss was pleased with the performance of his young guns in Saturday's 1-0 defeat in Kaiserslautern but concedes it could be a big ask to play a similar team in Macedonia.

"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."

source


We were supposed to submit our 25 man squad on Friday night, but I don't see it yet on LFC's UEFA page

In theory, there shouldn't be any surprises in the 25 man squad, because we should be able to list all of our senior players on it no problem (we would even have room for Itandje  if we felt like it   )  You are allowed an unlimited amount of U21 players as part of your squad (although UEFA has stricter rules than the premier league in that they only allow you to count U21 players that have been at your club for 2 years, while the PL lets you count any U21 player.  And BTW, U21 for both of them means U21 on Jan 1 of the year that the competition started, meaning that David N'gog is an U21 player even though he will be 22 when this Europa League is over.

Also, the other difference between UEFA and the PL is that UEFA requires that 4 of your 8 domestic slots in the 25 man roster have to also be trained by the club, not just trained in England, but this has no real effect on us because we have Gerrard, Carra, Spearing, and Darby, and its not like we have more than 4 non LFC 'English' players.






With that out of the way, I would expect this sort of a team in the first leg:
                       Cavalieri
Darby         Kyrgiakos      Ayala     Kelly
Amoo          Lucas         Aquilani    Jovanovic
                                   Eccleston
                  N'gog

with Jova and Eccleston interchangable

I am not a sports scientist, but if both Kyrgiakos and Jova can't play, then Victor Palsson would play CB with Ayala and then either Ince will play LM or Lauri Dalla Valle will play behind N'gog and Eccleston will play on the left.


We have seen Darby play LB and Kelly at RB so far, but I think they should switch.  Why play two players out of position when you could just play one.  I know Darby played in the reserves a lot last year as a LB, but he doesn't look comfortable on that side, and Kelly is much more of a natural footballer that is comfortable anywhere across the backline, and played some LB while on loan a few years ago.  They are both better RBs than LBs, and I think Kelly is the better RB, but I think Darby has the bigger drop off when he switches sides.


Another combo that i wouldn't mind seeing would look pretty much the same but with:

         Lucas           Jonjo
                Aquilani
                N'gog


Also, I would hope that Cole, Johnson, Gerrard, Carra, Skrtel, and Agger could all make the bench and maybe come on as subs.

RED BEERGOGGLES wrote:From what I have seen last season when watching the reserves Victor Palsson is a midfielder who I really think can step up and make the grade Joe ,however I wasn't aware he could play CB as well... if that's the case then its another string to his bow
I personally think Hodgson will realise  the burgeoning  talent  this Lad has and utilise him this Season... I hope he also has a look at the Mavinga kid who has impressed also and looks more than comfortable at CB
Excellent post Joe ..... you definitely know your apples where the reserves are concerned ... welcome back fella

I would say that VP is a central midfielder first and foremost, but I love his attitude on the pitch and he does reasonably well as a CB.  As one might expect, he doesn't quite read the game from that position as well, so his positioning was off at times, but he did himself proud in any one on one situations.  He isn't a lightweight by any means, and he is still young, but one would certainly expect that he would need to add some more muscle to his frame if he were to consider a permanent switch.  But by looking at all the CBs we currently have: Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Ayala, Wilson, and Mavinga, I don't see that happening.



As far as Mavinga goes, he is currently like Pacheco off at the Euro U19s.  He was my player of the season in the reserves last year.  One of the best tackling CBs I have seen in all my days (which isn't many) watching football.  His success rate on challenges is off the charts.  He also has very good pace that he can use to bail out his teammates with.  Although he is not at the highest levels in terms of composure on the ball, it seems good enough.  He is very left footed though.  He also thought that he was a better LB, so they played him out there, and he clearly was not a better LB.  Also, I think some would say he is a little short or frail for CB.  He certainly plays stronger than he looks, but nobody has seen him go against really strong CBs.  But even though he isn't a giant, he still seems to do very well for himself in aerial challenges (although Ayala is probably better)





The kid to watch this season (and I hope he plays in the reserves and not the U18s) is Suso.  Only seen him in one 30 minute highlight but he absolutely jumped off the screen with his class.  here is a 3 minute version   Doesn't seem to use his right foot for anything but standing on (but so does Messi      )

JoeTerp wrote:I would say that VP is a central midfielder first and foremost, but I love his attitude on the pitch and he does reasonably well as a CB.  As one might expect, he doesn't quite read the game from that position as well, so his positioning was off at times, but he did himself proud in any one on one situations.  He isn't a lightweight by any means, and he is still young, but one would certainly expect that he would need to add some more muscle to his frame if he were to consider a permanent switch.  But by looking at all the CBs we currently have: Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Ayala, Wilson, and Mavinga, I don't see that happening.



As far as Mavinga goes, he is currently like Pacheco off at the Euro U19s.  He was my player of the season in the reserves last year.  One of the best tackling CBs I have seen in all my days (which isn't many) watching football.  His success rate on challenges is off the charts.  He also has very good pace that he can use to bail out his teammates with.  Although he is not at the highest levels in terms of composure on the ball, it seems good enough.  He is very left footed though.  He also thought that he was a better LB, so they played him out there, and he clearly was not a better LB.  Also, I think some would say he is a little short or frail for CB.  He certainly plays stronger than he looks, but nobody has seen him go against really strong CBs.  But even though he isn't a giant, he still seems to do very well for himself in aerial challenges (although Ayala is probably better)





The kid to watch this season (and I hope he plays in the reserves and not the U18s) is Suso.  Only seen him in one 30 minute highlight but he absolutely jumped off the screen with his class.  here is a 3 minute version   Doesn't seem to use his right foot for anything but standing on (but so does Messi      )

JoeTerp wrote:I like Michael Roberts, but I wouldn't be putting any money on him.  He is an interesting story.  He was mostly playing second fiddle to Pepper in his first season in the U18s, but really emerged last year and played very well.  In his first season he was more of the defensive minded player, and he didn't exactly do poorly, but Pepper caught more attention.  Then Pepper fell out of favor for one reason or another, and young Coady came into the team as the defensive midfielder, allowing Roberts to play further forward.

After his first season, I wasn't so sure that we would end up promoting him or not, but he certainly played his way into the reserves with his performance last year.  Wether or not he kicks on at reserve level is another matter entirely.  He doesn't seem to have any qualities that immediately jump out at you and make you think 'hey there is something special about him,' but he does seem efficient and well rounded, and I am looking forward to seeing him over more 90 minute periods.



I think Mavinga would be the type that would always need to be paired with a big bruising type of CB.  Him and Ayala are a good combo because Ayala is no nonsense and good in the air, and if he ever gets caught out for pace, Mavinga usually has enough to cover. I imagine the partnership would work the same way with Kyrgiakos.

A good summary Joe although I feel personally that the likes of Roberts certainly has it in his locker to become a top defensive midfielder he is 100% committed in his tackling and reminds me of a young Lee Bowyer with his simple yet effective distribution ..

Here's a question for you have you seen the lad we have just sent to Blackburn's Academy Thomas Williams I watched him in the under 15s at Anfield when they played Cambridge & District  ...and he was one of the fastest players I have ever seen ... they won 8 nil and the lad they are calling the new Rooney  Ryan Cox scored 5 goals but this Williams lad scored a cracker and was the catalyst for virtually every good move they  created .... I am just scratching my head as to why he is at Blackburn now   

JoeTerp wrote:I have heard of Ryan Cox but not Williams.  Raheem Sterling is pretty fast, so is Toni Silva; both technically gifted as well.  Amoo also has a lot of both pace and power, but needs to work on decision making and his delivery.