Steaua Bucurest Build up - Home

[DannyMan2006]

Here's a thought. Babel is supposed to be being considered for a role as striker or up top. Could there be a chance that Cole will start on the left and Babel will be playing of N'Gog?

Seems unlikely but I'd love to see us give it a go.

[DannyMan2006]

If he's playing Maxi then who is going to play on the right against United? He surely can't start two games in 4 days

Course he can, same goes for Konchesky.

Neither played international football and neither needs a rest.

[wiw]

Not ideal though is it?

[DannyMan2006]

Here's another thought. Every player who started against Birmingham has been rested if they played International football. Only Pepe plays, but he's a keeper so can get away with it.

Maxi and Konchesky weren't called up and they play. Only exception to the rule is Carra, who let's face it, needs as much rest as he can and we have plenty back up as far as CB's are concerned.

[DannyMan2006]

Not ideal though is it?

I'm no expert, but I've always been told that at this stage of the season players are still short of match fitness and need to play games as opposed to resting.

Of course, would be a bit of an ask for those who played International football to slog it out again, so it was a good idea to rest them.

Take Joe Cole and Ryan Babel. Both have hardly played this season, it wouldn't exactly be putting them out if they had to play Thursday and Sunday. And in the case of Maxi, he's hardly played also as Kuyt had been starting on the RW.

[DannyMan2006]

I should clarify, my initial line up was to play Babel right and Pacheco on the left. I'm merely suggesting why the team sheet may be what it is.

[Mostar]

Not as a DM he shouldn't. I have no problem with Spearing playing tbh. He is a very talented player and only his height holds him back IMO. I think he deserves a chance to see how he does.

Pacheco I would play, unless Roy wants to get a look at Babel as a LM. Babel is someone I think should be in the first team given our present options, so if he has a good game at LM then I'm happy with that.

Maxi looks out of sorts and needs a confidence booster and needs a game. He didn't play in the international break so it's not like he needs resting.

TBH I'm happy enough with the team line up. I'm just worried what it may mean for Sunday.

Poulsen and Lucas both rested - Does that mean Roy has it in mind to play them both? Skrtel and Carra rested, does that mean Skrtel continues against United? No doubt Gerrard, Johnson and Torres will be starters. Will Jova start on the left no matter how well Babel does?

We are playing at home so Raul can serve as DM. We don't need two DMs.

In regards to Jay, he is a decent lad but he'll be 23 in November and he will never make it. If anybody is talented that is Pacheco and not Spearing and at this point in his career Pacheco should be getting all the playing time in Europa League, FA and Curling Cup, especially as he will only get few minutes, if lucky, in PL competition.

In regards to resting some, I hope you are wrong specifically in case of Lucas/Poulsen pairing. They were awful and I can tolerate one of them but not 2 at the same time.

I'd be very worried if Roy starts the same team vs Mancs as against Brum with an exception of Cole (instead of Jova). That team has no chance of success.

[Mostar]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/sep/16/roy-hodgson-liverpool-steaua-bucharest

Roy Hodgson ready to face criticism by resting Liverpool's star men

Roy Hodgson ready to face criticism by resting Liverpool's star men• Gerrard and Torres may not play against Steaua Bucharest
• Manager looks to rest players for Manchester United game
Tweet this (11)Andy Hunter
The Guardian, Thursday 16 September 2010 Article history
Roy Hodgson has defended Liverpool's early-season form despite a middling start. Photograph: Nigel French/Empics Sport

Roy Hodgson has dismissed concerns over Liverpool's early-season form and is prepared to risk further criticism by making wholesale changes in Europe before Sunday's visit to Manchester United.

Liverpool host Steaua Bucharest in their opening Europa League Group K fixture tonight with Hodgson adamant changes are necessary as he continues to assess the squad and with the trip to Old Trafford following three days later. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who the Liverpool manager says is in "good mental condition" despite a subdued display at Birmingham City last Sunday, are both likely to be rested against the Romanians, who are joint top of their domestic league after seven matches.

"What we will do is pretty much what Sir Alex did against Rangers," said Hodgson. "The day you stop looking forward to games because you are too afraid of criticism if it doesn't work out is the day you have to walk away from the job.

"We have a lot of new players playing in the team, and a new beginning is a new beginning. I came from having two-and-a-half years with the same team, same players and same ideas and same philosophy [at Fulham]. Now I am at a club where I am trying to put a team and a philosophy together. Everything is new all the time and every training session and match is a learning curve and I will learn from those things."

Hodgson has lost only one of eight matches as Liverpool's manager so far - and will be the first incumbent to win his first five European games with victory over Steaua - but the level of performance has been inconsistent and prompted José Reina to appeal for patience following the fortunate goalless draw at St Andrews.

"The style of play will get better," said the manager. "Birmingham was not one of our better games but the style of play wasn't a problem against Arsenal and that was the same style we played against Birmingham. Nothing has changed other than the fact we have lost one or two players through injury."

The Liverpool manager admits his team "need to be more creative, need to improve defensively and need to be better at set plays. We need to be better at all the things we work at." That, believes Hodgson, will enable Torres to recapture form as well as fitness, with the Spain striker described as "diabolical" and looking "fed up" against Birmingham by the former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp.

"He certainly isn't fed up," responded Hodgson. "I think it is very wrong for people to read someone's state of mind from watching them play 90 minutes' football. You have to be some wonder psychologist to be able to do that."

Liverpool (4-2-3-1, probable) Jones; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Kelly; Lucas, Meireles; Pacheco, Cole, Jovanovic; Ngog.

Subs from Reina, Konchesky, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Wilson, Gerrard, Rodríguez, Poulsen, Spearing, Torres, Babel.

Steaua Bucharest (4-4-2) Tatarusanu; Emeghara, Abrudan, Geraldo, Latovlevici; Radut, Anghelov, Apostol, Tanase; Stancu, Kapetanos. Subs from Lungu, Gardos, Martinovic, Bonfim, Nicolita, Bicfalvi, Matei, Surdu.

If true, it's pretty good line-up except I wish he picked Babel over Jova.

[Pablo]

I think Roy sees Spearing as the defensive of the two CMs, but Shelvey would be the more creative in this pairing. As such, he's probably behind SG and Raul for that single position.

Fair enough but Spearing appears to be playing CM in a 4-4-2 tonight. The exact position Shelvey plays too. It's clear Spearing is ahead of him in the pecking order for ANY CM position IMO.

So are we done with Spearing now then? Won't there always be a new, younger option waiting in the wings for all young players?

Again, it's nothing to do with age, I just don't rate him, having seen him numerous times, so I think it's a waste of time him playing. Like El Zhar who used to get on ahead of Pacheco, when we all knew he'd never make the grade anyway, it's pointless.

[-V-]

Spearing just isn't good enough.

I really expect to see Pacheco start tonight and not Maxi.

[Reece]

Spearing just isn't good enough.

I really expect to see Pacheco start tonight and not Maxi.

Agree on both there, although I'd replace "expect" with "hope" in the latter.

[the rev leeroy brown]

i'm hoping for:

jones,

kelly, agger, skittles, konchesky

cole, lucas , meireles,

babel, ngog, pacheco

[-V-]

I suppose the only reason for leaving Pacheco out would be that he is naturally a left sided player, as is Joe Cole and Babel has also mostly played left. So that leaves us with only Maxi on the right. But surely we can try Babel on the right and Pacheco on the left. Surely

[Reece]

I suppose the only reason for leaving Pacheco out would be that he is naturally a left sided player, as is Joe Cole and Babel has also mostly played left. So that leaves us with only Maxi on the right. But surely we can try Babel on the right and Pacheco on the left. Surely

Would at least like to see it tried

[danperkins]

Spearing just isn't good enough.

I really expect to see Pacheco start tonight and not Maxi.

Spearing is sub standard, good lad and good heart good not LFC standard, must rather see Pacheco or Babel instead of Maxi