Steaua away Build up

[Lee]

I'd like to see Pacheco start, but of course it won't happen.

Reading his interview above and with certain players missing for various reasons, I'm guessing we'll play 442 and the line-up will be something like;

Reina
Kelly Krygiakos Wilson Aurelio
Babel Poulsen Lucas Jovanovic
Cole Ngog

Hardly inspiring, but any team with Poulsen in never will be.

[Mostar]

I'd like to see Pacheco start, but of course it won't happen.

Reading his interview above and with certain players missing for various reasons, I'm guessing we'll play 442 and the line-up will be something like;

Reina
Kelly Krygiakos Wilson Aurelio
Babel Poulsen Lucas Jovanovic
Cole Ngog

Hardly inspiring, but any team with Poulsen in never will be.

No question about it.

This would be an ideal opportunity for him to get any playing time this year and for that reason I also don't expect him to start.

Also only Roy would use Aurelio agains Steaua and Konk against Villa on Monday

[Lee]

No question about it.

This would be an ideal opportunity for him to get any playing time this year and for that reason I also don't expect him to start.

Also only Roy would use Aurelio agains Steaua and Konk against Villa on Monday

Agree with every word pal

Aurelio should start every game when fit - same as Agger.

[SB]

I'd like to see Pacheco start, but of course it won't happen.

Reading his interview above and with certain players missing for various reasons, I'm guessing we'll play 442 and the line-up will be something like;

Reina
Kelly Krygiakos Wilson Aurelio
Babel Poulsen Lucas Jovanovic
Cole Ngog

Hardly inspiring, but any team with Poulsen in never will be.

Give Jovanovic a run up front with Cole on the left, otherwise

[Lee]

Give Jovanovic a run up front with Cole on the left, otherwise

Yeah I'm guessing Babel, Cole and Jovanovic could or will start in either of those forward positions. All much of a muchness

[little dave hedgehog]

crappy thing is that the players SHOULD be playing for their futures.

it's just that nobody trusts roy to make any good decisions about who has a future and who doesn't. these players need a kick up the backside, but any such kick delivered by roy is delivered with no authority whatsoever and must be questioned.

we need a strong manager with a hell of a right foot and some sort of bum accuracy.

[Mostar]

Agree with every word pal

Aurelio should start every game when fit - same as Agger.

[Baracus]

With our current injuries we really should not be risking Lucas or Raul. Give Jonjo a game

[Mostar]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Liverpool-manager-Roy-Hodgson-has-revealed-the-mental-torment-that-has-undermined-not-naturally-confident-star-summer-signing-Joe-Cole-s-early-Anfield-career-article642049.html

Joe has lost his mojo - Hodgson

Roy Hodgson has revealed the mental torment that has undermined star summer signing Joe Cole’s early Anfield career.

The Liverpool boss admitted that his England international midfielder is far from the easy-going, confident character his image on the pitch presents.

Instead, Cole is wracked with doubt when things don’t go well, and he has suffered badly from almost continual misfortune since arriving on Merseyside, with his form damaged by injury and suspension.

But Hodgson believes that tonight’s Europa League game in Bucharest can provide the former Chelsea star - who was widely recognised as the biggest signing of the summer - with the launch pad for lift off.


“Joe isn’t a naturally confident character. He suffers when things are not going his way, and it has affected him,” Hodgson said.

“Everyone at the club has worked hard to make sure he doesn’t take it too hard and take too much on himself, because he’s quite happy to take responsibility.

“Sometimes those players can take too much on themselves and push themselves even further down. Everyone at the club, but in particular the senior players and his England colleagues here, have done a great job helping him.

“The coaching staff have tried to encourage him, saying ‘don’t worry Joe it will come right.’ Hopefully that will start tomorrow night.”

Cole has missed the last six games through hamstring injury, and suffered further misfortune when he turned an ankle training the day before his proposed comeback game at Spurs at the weekend.

He has never had the chance to get going since his much-heralded move from Stamford Bridge, after being dismissed against Arsenal on the opening day of the campaign and picking up a three-game ban.

Cole has also been a victim of Liverpool’s early struggles, as the team found it hard to accommodate his play and get on the same wavelength.

But Hodgson believes that tonight’s Europa League tie against Steaua, in which Liverpool need a point to qualify for the knock-out stage - provides the perfect chance to get his Liverpool career back on track.

“I am always wary of answering about people’s mental state. It’s difficult enough to judge them physically. But one thing is certain is that Joe’s desperate to show what he can do,” the Reds boss added.

“Because of where he plays, he is one who plays with small margin and then of course the risk of failure is even greater. For some they can get success just by booting the ball away, but Joe can’t do it in the position he plays in.

“I don’t know how frustrated he’s been. He would obviously have liked to hit the ground running but it’s not been possible, largely because of injuries.

“But he has a long time with us, a long contract and we know what he’s capable of doing. The sooner he produces it of course the better for me, but there is no pressure on him in that respect. He is a quality player who will come good.”

Hodgson will name a youthful side against Steaua this evening, and could make 10 changes from the team that started at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

It means he will go into the game against difficult opponents with a hugely inexperienced side, but he believes it is a chance for his fringe players to put their hands up and make a bold statement.

“They way I look at it, the team has done well in the last couple and even if Joe Cole had been fit I may not have changed it,” he added.

“These games, though, give me that chance, and the chance for players to say ‘you may not have looked at changing but look how good am, look how well I’m playing.’

“So in some ways these games become very useful if you’re prepared, as I am to take the risk.

“The team I select will be perceived as much weaker than the one against West Ham and Spurs, but there’s no reason for them to play in a weaker manner. It’s up to them. They have the chance and it’s up to them to grab it.”

[Lee]

Oh ffs. He does it again...

[Mostar]

Oh ffs. He does it again...

An idiot of the highest order.

[Baracus]

he must..must be hated by nearly all the players. never known an lfc manager to belittle players like him. rafa did not to reira, nor ged to fowler iirc

[Ben_Itez]

Can he not just shut up

Verbal diarrhoea of the highest order.

[Icon]

He should be sacked for his oratory skills alone...

[Mostar]

He should be sacked for his oratory skills alone...

Phew. His PR skills are below any acceptable level for LFC manager.

Awesome avatar by the way