Team against Chelsea in the Carling Cup

[The_weatherman]

It's an interesting one, we have to be looking to win but on the other hand for our long term good some of our younger players have to get chances in these cup games. I'd look to be having perhaps 3 younger players in the team or at least planning to bring them on from the bench.

I'd really like Coates to start. Although there is certainly an argument for keeping Agger and Skrtel together to continue their progress as a partnership.

But given the match is only 48 hours after the City one, I think we should rest as many as we can. Definately Agger at least.

[cream]

Strongest team possible against City then take it from there, rest players if needed.

[RichC]

anyone going to this?

[cream]

Carra should brought in to rest Skrtel.

[Corndog]

Nah I wanna win this, strongest side possible needed.

couldn't agree more, i'd rather a carling cup than nothing

[Nicey]

Put it this way if Kenny puts out a strong team that for example included Suarez and he got injured, the ****ing pitch forks would be out saying why are we risking first team players on this nothing competition.

Coates is class give him a run
Spearing is a decent player who has surprised many including me when given a chance
The world and his mother is raving about Sterling, throw him on I say, even if he gets skinned we expectation will be low but for me he looks like that winger who plays for Swansea on the right
Kelly is rock solid
Carra needs games as does Gerrard, I would classify this as less competitive than the vast majority of EPL games
Carroll needs games as does Downing who has not been as bad as some people think, for me hes been quite solid without setting the world on fire ...... yet

Bellers will not be risked for this game nor should Suarez or Kuyt

[Nicey]

couldn't agree more, i'd rather a carling cup than nothing

You would rather the Carling Cup than Champions Lg Football and playing in the Nou Camp next season, Yeah look what good the Carling cup has done some of its recent winners

We are bigger than the Carling Cup in my opinion, we have a strong squad, lets fecking use them, you cant just keep putting your strongest 11 out for every single game, they will all be off to the knackers yard come Feb if you do that

[Nicey]

Carra should brought in to rest Skrtel.

Agger is more injury prone than Skirtel ... he seems to be one of those players who just keeps going week in week out .. did he not set a EPL record last season ..playing every single game or something

[Chris]

Put it this way if Kenny puts out a strong team that for example included Suarez and he got injured, the ****ing pitch forks would be out saying why are we risking first team players on this nothing competition.

Give this "crap cup", "nothing competition" bollocks a rest will you.

And Suarez has played at Exeter and Brighton, I'm sure he'll survive if he's asked to play a few minutes.

The sooner we get a winning mentality going through the club the better and it starts by winning games and cups like this.

[Icon]

Is it a tricky one - we want silverware and I doubt Kenny thinks much less of the CCup than the FA.
But from another point of view, losing players such as Suarez in these games in maddening...

[Nicey]

Give this "crap cup", "nothing competition" bollocks a rest will you.

And Suarez has played at Exeter and Brighton, I'm sure he'll survive if he's asked to play a few minutes.

The sooner we get a winning mentality going through the club the better and it starts by winning games and cups like this.

I think its a crap competition and a nothing competition, if you have a hard on for it thats your prerogative, me I would rather see us test some of our players outside the first 11, we play Chelsea, City, Chelsea all in 9 days, going into December which is mental anyways in terms of fixtures

[RedReet]

Vs Exeter:

25 Pepe Reina

38 John Flanagan

37 Martin Skrtel

22 Danny Wilson

49 Jack Robinson

4 Raul Meireles

26 Charlie Adam

11 Maximiliano Rodriguez

20 Jay Spearing

14 Jordan Henderson

7 Luis Suárez
.................................................. .....................

Vs. Brighton:

25 Pepe Reina

23 Jamie Carragher

34 Martin Kelly

16 Sebastian Coates

49 Jack Robinson

21 Lucas

11 Maximiliano Rodriguez

20 Jay Spearing

39 Craig Bellamy

18 Dirk Kuyt

7 Luis Suárez
.................................................. ............

Vs. Stoke:

25 Pepe Reina

23 Jamie Carragher

5 Daniel Agger

34 Martin Kelly

16 Sebastian Coates

21 Lucas

11 Maximiliano Rodriguez

20 Jay Spearing

14 Jordan Henderson

9 Andrew Carroll

7 Luis Suárez
.................................................. ....

Having fielded such strong teams against lesser teams with no Academy/Reserve players getting a look in bar the more experienced FB’s, I doubt we’ll start anything but our strongest team on the day against Chelsea. It mightn’t be our strongest 11 possible, but I’m sure most of our strongest 11 can handle 2 games in a couple of days with those that need a rest being swapped for those that usually occupy the bench on match days.

I really think Kenny wants to win this competition.

4 away draws in a row BTW.

[Fernandinho]

I think it will generally be our strongest team but fringe players such as Carroll, Downing, Henderson, Kelly, spearing and maybe a left back getting a run.

The rest of the gaps will be filled by first team players.

[Shaggy]

Strongest team possible against City then take it from there, rest players if needed.

Exactly.

We need to win this Cup this season but there is no way we're gonna rest players against City in order to keep them fresh for Chelsea.

Strong as we can against City and then another strong side against Chelsea. If there's players who can go again then great but if we need to make changes then we have the squad to do it now. Look at the bench yesterday - Kelly, Henderson, Spearing, Downing, Carroll, Carragher. They could all start at Chelsea and the side would have a first team look about it.

[Fernandinho]

So to clarify, this game is after we play City?

If yes, who do we play after the chelsea game?