Insua makes Garth Crooks Team of the Week

[Scratch]

I doubt that Rafa gave up Dossena after what was probably his best performance in the red shirt. As seen below

Liverpool CL squad

Insua ain't in the CL squad. Dossena was probably rested for the PSV game.
Nonetheless good debut by Emiliano and hopefully we'll see him playing more in the coming months.

Not rested, more protected...Blackburn are a hard tackling team, and with Dossena being are only fit CL left back, it was a good decision to leave him out.

[dww]

I doubt that Rafa gave up Dossena after what was probably his best performance in the red shirt. As seen below

Liverpool CL squad

Insua ain't in the CL squad. Dossena was probably rested for the PSV game.
Nonetheless good debut by Emiliano and hopefully we'll see him playing more in the coming months.

I'm not sure that Dossena should need resting - unless he has any sort of niggle as he wasn't at the Euros and hasn't played all the games for us this season. I agree that it would be odd to drop him after what was without doubt his best showing for us, but equally it is hard to fathom why you wouldn't give him another game to build his confidence unless there are fitness concerns.

[Reece]

I actually feel disappointed hearing that Insua isn't in the CL squad. I guess there was no real need at the time though with two first team LB's ahead of him.

[Elvoz]

[QUOTE=dww;1225545]I would suggest that while it could mean that Rafa has given up on Dossena (he has seen more than we have if you consider training etc.) that it is equally likely to mean that he has decided that relying upon Aurelio is not feasible long term.

It will be interesting to see who starts against PSV - assuming Insua is in the CL squad.

More generally while it was a good game for him I think people are getting carried away a bit here. Blackburn barely tested him defensively.[/QUOTE]

dont want to piss on any chips here but i agree
and blackburn were ****e

still a good start imo - not time to fill the pants yet mind
i used to rate steven wright at first

[dww]

Not rested, more protected...Blackburn are a hard tackling team, and with Dossena being are only fit CL left back, it was a good decision to leave him out.

Makes as much sense as anything else I suppose.

[dww]

I actually feel disappointed hearing that Insua isn't in the CL squad. I guess there was no real need at the time though with two first team LB's ahead of him.

Added to the fact he isn't home grown/trained which has to count against a young fringe player getting in (which I guess is what the rule is designed to do) and that Arbeloa and Carra can cover the position.

[Finnish_Red]

Not rested, more protected...Blackburn are a hard tackling team, and with Dossena being are only fit CL left back, it was a good decision to leave him out.

More or less what I had in mind, just didn't manage to spell it out in the right way

[Greebo]

I actually feel disappointed hearing that Insua isn't in the CL squad. I guess there was no real need at the time though with two first team LB's ahead of him.

Dont think he's CL registered. Might well be when the new registrations are open before the knock-out stages - as might Hyppia be.

[rage]

insua played as doseena had a slight injury. boy did well but i'd be surprised that if fit the italian will walk back into the team

[Resu]

Dont think he's CL registered. Might well be when the new registrations are open before the knock-out stages - as might Hyppia be.

The problem is the rule about home-grown players etc.
if Insua and Hyypia gets included, some else has to go.
Skrtel could be dropped if he doesn`t get fit, and that means Hyypia in. For Insua to get a place we`ll have to drop Aurelio or Dossena, I don`t think Rafa will sacrifice any of the other foreigners to get another LB in. The two most likely to get dropped are N`Gog and Lucas, but I don`t think it will happend.
If Pennant leaves in janaury we need to find another player to fill that hole, and could be Hammil if he returns.
As for new signings, it won`t be easy to find a good player available in january, and that hasn`t played in CL/UEFa this season.

[dww]

The problem is the rule about home-grown players etc.
if Insua and Hyypia gets included, some else has to go.
Skrtel could be dropped if he doesn`t get fit, and that means Hyypia in. For Insua to get a place we`ll have to drop Aurelio or Dossena, I don`t think Rafa will sacrifice any of the other foreigners to get another LB in. The two most likely to get dropped are N`Gog and Lucas, but I don`t think it will happend.
If Pennant leaves in janaury we need to find another player to fill that hole, and could be Hammil if he returns.
As for new signings, it won`t be easy to find a good player available in january, and that hasn`t played in CL/UEFa this season.

We're allowed one who has played in the UEFA these days I believe.

Heskey, Owen, Valencia and most of the players we have been linked with all seem to fit the criteria too.

[Resu]

I think you`re right, with the "new" rule.
The players we`re linked with can actually play in the CL, but it says a lot about the quality of players we`re looking at. They are not world beaters, Owen can be, but we all know the gamble signing players like this will be. We did get Mascher in january, but that was a spesical case.

[dww]

I think you`re right, with the "new" rule.
The players we`re linked with can actually play in the CL, but it says a lot about the quality of players we`re looking at. They are not world beaters, Owen can be, but we all know the gamble signing players like this will be. We did get Mascher in january, but that was a spesical case.

I think there are a lot of decent players who would be available if we had the money. I don't think we do. I'd expect Pennant out and that money to be available and little else. I don't however feel that we need that much more to be honest.

We need to add an alternative to our attacking play. More and more to me the best value way of doing this seems someone like Heskey. I think he can get more out of the likes of Benayoun and Keane as well as offering a target up top himself.

I think the idea that we can afford to buy a really top level player is somewhat fanciful. However looking at where we are in the league and how we have done in the second halves of seasons relative to our rivals I think it may well be that we don't need to.

Returning to the Insua topic: did he come to us young enough to ever qualify as home club trained in Europe?

[MindGuerrillas]

Returning to the Insua topic: did he come to us young enough to ever qualify as home club trained in Europe?

Yes, he was 18 when he came here so he'll be counted as a home-grown player at the end of next season. (3 full seasons at the club before the age of 21)

[MindGuerrillas]

actually, having thought about it a bit, I'm not sure. He was here on loan for a while before we signed him permanently. I don't know whether time spent at a club on loan counts towards the three years. Does anyone know?