Man City Build up...

[Neil Young]

And Coates woudn't be?

Just for the record, I don't really know which would be better, Coates or Carragher. They're both a risk, but for different reasons. Coates may have the athleticism but he has looked dodgy to me, although that could be entirely down to lack of experience. Is Sunday the best day for him to get more experience?

Carragher has that obviously but is a risk too, for reasons we can all agree on, whether or not he's recovered from Thursday.

Either way, it's less than ideal as Rodgers knows, otherwise Skrtel and Agger wouldn't be the first choice pairing.

[Mostar]

And Coates woudn't be?

Just for the record, I don't really know which would be better, Coates or Carragher. They're both a risk, but for different reasons. Coates may have the athleticism but he has looked dodgy to me, although that could be entirely down to lack of experience. Is Sunday the best day for him to get more experience?

Carragher has that obviously but is a risk too, for reasons we can all agree on, whether or not he's recovered from Thursday.

Either way, it's less than ideal as Rodgers knows, otherwise Skrtel and Agger wouldn't be the first choice pairing.

He needs to play in order to get experience.

He is very, very talented CB (Copa America a year ago proved that) but he will stay only that unless Rodgers gives him a chance.

If BR plays Carragher on Sunday I don't see Coates staying around much longer, which would be shame.

[SB]

And Coates woudn't be?

Just for the record, I don't really know which would be better, Coates or Carragher. They're both a risk, but for different reasons. Coates may have the athleticism but he has looked dodgy to me, although that could be entirely down to lack of experience. Is Sunday the best day for him to get more experience?

Carragher has that obviously but is a risk too, for reasons we can all agree on, whether or not he's recovered from Thursday.

Either way, it's less than ideal as Rodgers knows, otherwise Skrtel and Agger wouldn't be the first choice pairing.

Totally agree with that but I'd rather gamble on the newbie & give him the chance to gain experience. Even if Carra does the job we still need to get Coates some game time to gain experience & that will only happen due to injury barr the odd cup game. One game here or there isn't as good as getting a run of games but if he does the job for us he'll get some belief.

[Neil Young]

He needs to play in order to get experience.

He is very, very talented CB (Copa America a year ago proved that) but he will stay only that unless Rodgers gives him a chance.

If BR plays Carragher on Sunday I don't see Coates staying around much longer, which would be shame.

That's a bit extreme. If Rodgers opts for Carragher's experience against the league champions, it doesn't mean he'll always select him ahead of Coates.

I can think of plenty of teams I'd prefer for Coates to gain experience against.

And, from the admittedly little I saw, he didn't look that great in the Olympics.

[SB]

That's a bit extreme. If Rodgers opts for Carragher's experience against the league champions, it doesn't mean he'll always select him ahead of Coates.

I can think of plenty of teams I'd prefer for Coates to gain experience against.

But it would be a massive show of faith from BR for the lad.

[Neil Young]

Totally agree with that but I'd rather gamble on the newbie & give him the chance to gain experience. Even if Carra does the job we still need to get Coates some game time to gain experience & that will only happen due to injury barr the odd cup game. One game here or there isn't as good as getting a run of games but if he does the job for us he'll get some belief.

Sure, I agree. Over the course of this season I hope Coates gets enough time and performs well enough to be pushing Skrtel and Agger for a first choice starting place. Naturally that would mean him moving well ahead of Carragher in the pecking order.

I'm simply saying that if Carra starts tomorrow, it's not an irrational choice by Rodgers.

[Mostar]

That's a bit extreme. If Rodgers opts for Carragher's experience against the league champions, it doesn't mean he'll always select him ahead of Coates.

I can think of plenty of teams I'd prefer for Coates to gain experience against.

And, from the admittedly little I saw, he didn't look that great in the Olympics.

Would Hearts be one of them?

[Neil Young]

But it would be a massive show of faith from BR for the lad.

Yes, that's a fair point.

Equally though it might backfire if (arguably) some of the best strikers in world football tear him apart.

[Neil Young]

Would Hearts be one of them?

Yes, of course.

But maybe it was more important for Carragher to have got ninety minutes under his belt this season before playing against the champions.

There are good arguments for and against. We'll find out tomorrow for sure which way Rodgers has gone.

[SB]

Sure, I agree. Over the course of this season I hope Coates gets enough time and performs well enough to be pushing Skrtel and Agger for a first choice starting place. Naturally that would mean him moving well ahead of Carragher in the pecking order.

I'm simply saying that if Carra starts tomorrow, it's not an irrational choice by Rodgers.

If Carra had of put in a MOTM performance vs Hearts we wouldn't be having this discussion but Carra has looked ordinary for a while now & an accident waiting to happen. I have no confidence in him at all any more unfortunately.

[Mostar]

Yes, of course.

But maybe it was more important for Carragher to have got ninety minutes under his belt this season before playing against the champions.

There are good arguments for and against. We'll find out tomorrow for sure which way Rodgers has gone.

Personally there is no good arguments any longer to play Carragher ahead of Coates.

[Neil Young]

If Carra had of put in a MOTM performance vs Hearts we wouldn't be having this discussion but Carra has looked ordinary for a while now & an accident waiting to happen. I have no confidence in him at all any more unfortunately.

Fair enough, I don't feel too much better about the prospect myself. I suppose on balance I think it's a bigger gamble to play Coates. High risk for not much gain on this occasion/against these opponents. Playing at Anfield changes the balance a bit though. I'd be more excited if Rodgers picked Coates. But I won't criticise him if he goes for Carragher, even if he ends up having a 'mare.

Ultimately we'd all rather it was Agger and Skrtel. It's less than ideal.

[Neil Young]

Personally there is no good arguments any longer to play Carragher ahead of Coates.

Ok, thanks for taking the trouble to discuss the ones I put forward.

[SB]

Fair enough, I don't feel too much better about the prospect myself. I suppose on balance I think it's a bigger gamble to play Coates. High risk for not much gain on this occasion/against these opponents. Playing at Anfield changes the balance a bit though. I'd be more excited if Rodgers picked Coates. But I won't criticise him if he goes for Carragher, even if he ends up having a 'mare.

Ultimately we'd all rather it was Agger and Skrtel. It's less than ideal.

We'll see soon enough who BR chooses.

[Redspin]

And if we do then carra will get the blame no doubt. The decline of carragher is vastly over exaggerated on here. He is in decline and he is slower but he still reads the game well. No one would have him as first choice and in an ideal world he wouldn't be needed on sunday but as it stands his experience is still required over Coates.

Carragher's decline is, if anything, understated on here. He's a very poor player now and, although I can't see any advantage in his playing against City, I fear that he'll be selected. That alone will be worth a goal start to City.