Europa League - Napoli Away Build up

[peekay]

For a moment I thought that was a quote from Hodger.

The fact I thought that is telling enough in itself.

[Reece]

Is Kelly injured? That has to be the only explanation for him not starting

[SimonNo7]

that would be horrific - especially with Kelly/pacheco/shelvey in the squad and not getting a look in

---------------reina----------------

carragher---skrtel---kyriakos-----konchesky

--------poulsen---spearing

babel-----------cole---------jovanovic

---------------ngog---------------


something like that - right, i've made this point a few times already this season - but we just have such a lack of footballers it's untrue - i mean technical sound players, who can control the ball, see a pass, and deliver it, - yes you need a mixturte of players - you need your carraghers in a side that would fight for every inch, or your kuyts that will work non stop.....but u also need players like agger, gerrard, cole, torres and from what i have seen so far meireles - even youngsters like pacheco and shelvey - who are capable of 'forward thinking', trying to find attacks, keep possesion etc etc


That starting XI has ONE footballer in the side (well maybe two as reina is our most creative player at times ) - and thats Joe Cole who has admitted he's in the worst form of his career

I'll lay off ngog - he's young, has shown he can score goals, and he shouldn't be 2nd choice to torres - he should be 3rd choice with less of a burden on his shoulders. - but the rest of them **** me that is dire.

Where are the goals/attacks/football/possesion/slick passing/movement into space going to come from

[dww]

Is Kelly injured? That has to be the only explanation for him not starting

If that really is the line up then I can only imagine that Roy is trying to knit the back four together - which rather worryingly suggests he is thinking of Carragher as first choice right back. If not then it is just a baffling choice given he is willing to rest Gerrard (Torres it could be argued needs a bit of TLC at the minute).

Roy doesn't make it easy to give him any support does he?

[The_weatherman]

Roy doesn't make it easy to give him any support does he?

It's very easy to loathe him though

[Craig_H]

That's really offensive.

I'm offended just looking at it.

[Neil Young]

I'm offended just looking at it.

[Mostar]

I am not sure if this was posted earlier.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_6456544,00.html

Hodgson prepares changes

Roy Hodgson has told Liverpool's peripheral figures they will get the chance to impress at Napoli.

The likes of Ryan Babel, Milan Jovanovic and Danny Wilson have all failed to hold down a regular berth in the Reds' first team this season but could feature in Thursday's Europa League tie.

With Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger not travelling with the squad to Italy, the trio - along with a number of other bench-warmers - could be set to start at San Paolo.

And Hodgson, who hinted those that play in midweek could force their way into the Anfield game against Blackburn on Sunday, insists the players' response from last weekend's derby defeat to Everton has been positive.

Upbeat
"The players were very upbeat today," the Liverpool boss told the club's official website.

"The training session was very good - the intensity and concentration was as good as one would wish to see at any stage in the season.

"That, in itself, is very commendable when you are down. You can't deny that we are down. We are down because we aren't doing what we want to do, because the fans are angry and disappointed in us; we are down because we are at a great club and should be doing better.

"Unfortunately the reason we aren't doing better is down to a number of factors. But it was great that we all rose above it and got out there and started playing again.

"Now we badly need that result or run of results that will at least take us into a safer position when we can live and breathe again."

Regarding the Napoli contest, Hodgson added: "It'll be a chance for at least four or five players that haven't played so much this year to show me that they should be in the team or that I should be taking them seriously."


Tough
Liverpool are unbeaten in Europe so far this season, but Hodgson is aware that record could go out of the window on Thursday if they do not play well against their Serie A opponents.

"They are good," he said. "I spoke to (Roma manager) Claudio Ranieri at an elite trainer conference in Lyon not so long back and asked him about the Italian league and where the major threat to so called big clubs come from. He cited Napoli.

"Apparently they have a new owner, the son of the famous film producer, De Laurentiis.

"A lot of money has been put into the club, they've invested in some big name South American players.

"They are taking it very seriously. They are fourth in the league. Whatever team we play will have a tough game. We've got great respect for them. We've scouted them, we've been to see them play twice and done our video analysis."

[Shaggy]

"I spoke to (Roma manager) Claudio Ranieri at an elite trainer conference in Lyon

He had to get that in

[Mostar]

He is so delusional that it's so painful to read anything he says.

[destinydude]

He had to get that in

Now now be nice to the old man. He's stepping down and you don't want to wind him up

[PTP]

roflmao- my first thoughts too - an elite trainer conference....who else was there?? - ancelloti, capello, mourinho, hiidink, Trapattoni, wenger??? HOLLOWAY? noooo ****ing claudio Ranieri

[Reece]

roflmao- my first thoughts too - an elite trainer conference....who else was there?? - ancelloti, capello, mourinho, hiidink, Trapattoni, wenger??? HOLLOWAY? noooo ****ing claudio Ranieri

Whose team lost at home in the CL last night. To Basel.

[Kenneth]

He had to get that in

In reality, they were discussing these:

[Neil Young]