Think most of us would agree we have little to play for in the league now. So I want KK to be brave enough to drop the players that are under performing and blood the youth! We have little to lose and so much to gain; I really do think bringing in a few of the younger lads is the way to go. At least they will play with heart and passion, something a few of our so called star players could do with watching from the bench!!!
I started a thread about this last week. Be interesting to see if peoples opinion has changed after yesterdays performance. http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/129436-Is-it-time-to-blood-some-youth
And if we did blood the younger players, how far do we go with it? What players would you bring in and in what formation would you play?
4-2-2-2 reina johnson-skrtle-coates-enrique spearing-shelvey/gerrard/suso sterling-bellamy suarez-carroll
I wouldn't start them, but I'd certainly have them on the bench. Nothing says you're playing crap than being subbed off at half time for an untested 18year old...maybe it'll give them a kick up the arse.
we have plenty to play for. 4th is still possible. Each link position is worth money. And dont forget ride. I'd like to see Shelvey play more though.
i think Adorjan and Morgan are worth a try, and i cant for the life of me understand why Sterling or Coady havnt had a look in yet some of the delivery has been shocking, and a few players deserve to spend a few weeks watching from the stands, not the bench. 4th is well beyond us and we may as well rest a few players to play in the cup.
As much as I would like to see some youngsters getting a chance, it is important to finish as high as possible since each league position is worth about £1m, feel free to correct me if I am wrong here. Personally, I think that is too big a change and even if we did make sweeping changes, I wouldn't be happy about Carroll keeping his place. There is absolutely nothing wrong with our back four either. I'd actually play a strong starting eleven and have the youngsters on the bench if anywhere. Rafa's 4231 is the way to go. We are lacking goals, the forwards are not getting them and the midfield don't seem to like getting into the box so, IMO, we need to push Gerrard further forward and I'd be tempted put Carragher in one of the holding roles whilst Lucas is injured (I know, I know): Reina Johnson - Skrtel - Agger - Enrique Carragher - Lucas Kuyt - Gerrard - Bellamy Suarez Obviously, Lucas is not available so play Spearing instead. Coates instead of Agger whilst he isn't available. My back-up eleven would be: Doni Flanagan - Kelly - Coates - Aurelio Henderson - Spearing Maxi - Shelvey - Downing Carroll Still got Adam, Robinson, Sterling, Wisdom, Suso and Coady to choose after that too. We have the depth, we just need to use it.
Definately got to get Gerrard further forward. -----Spearing---Henderson--- -Bellamy--Gerrard--Suarez-- -------------Carroll------------- As for youth, Shelvey could be great as an impact sub. I think Shelvey is a great attacker, could work great against tired legs.
I was 50:50 between playing Kuyt / Carroll to be honest, I think Suarez would be more effective from a wide position but he wouldn't offer much protection to the fullback meaning he could not play on the right. Bellamy isn't as effective from the right IMO so opted for Kuyt there with Suarez up top. Suarez, Kuyt and Bellamy would interchange and provide a vast amount of movement for Gerrard to either pick them out or take advantage of the holes being left behind.
This was on 1 of the other threads the other day and my thoughts are still the same.Whilst i agree with some of the above i do think we still have a lot to play for in the league.Like mentioned every place is worth money, Yes it was painful saturday but think of it this way.We bring a few of our youth through and they can't change things for us.That is going to have a knock on effect on their young minds.And you watch certain quarters of our support will be booing and calling for heads to roll if it went worse No we can't ask our YOUTH to sort our 1st team problems out.Our 1st team have to pull their finger out and fight to save what can be saved END OF
I don't think it would be wise to start the youngsters. By all means put them on the bench and give them a little run around. And for those who think we have nothing to lose - remember that 7th place isn't secure and there is a strong possibility of finishing below Newcastle, Everton and Sunderland.
Yeah and its the current "first team" squad who have got us in the position where those clubs are breathing down our necks. Almost everyone above seems to presume playing some youngsters will see us drop down the league...from what I can see it's the senior players who can't win games so why would blooding some of the hard working youth players be so unwise? It's a crying shame that we as a club have become so resistant to using young players (unlike a certain club from the other end of the east lancs)...but then as Jockey famously said...you never win anything with kids
I share your concern but I remember when we had to rely on Insua and Ngog who were decent prospects, and most fans were slating them after a few poor performances. Imagine what the does to their confidence.
Yeah but at Anfield we end up so often with youth players who have no confidence anyway because they never get a sniff of first team action. We have a multi million pound academy there that should be producing players capable and confident enough to play first team football. Do Kelly, Spearing, Flanagan and Robinson look like lads short of confidence. Not really no. As far as I can see we've got a whole first team of old heads who's confidence, certainly in front of goal looks pretty grim as it is.
Both were brilliant in the reserves and fans were asking ofr their inclusion in the first team too. Look where that got them...
Throwing them straight in to the first 11 would be wrong, but surely it is time to start putting the likes of Sterling on the bench? If we're 1-0 down and he comes on for 15 minutes we're hardly gonna be getting on his back if we lose are we? And if we're 2-0 up in a game then it's great experience to get these youngsters on the pitch.
I would play Shelvey more and Hendo and Adams alot less, they have frustrated me the most (with Downing a close third).
How come no one wants to see Henderson in the side? His work ethic is fantastic, just like Lucas and Kuyt when they got all the stick they got when they first joined, look how they turned out!
I want Henderson in the Middle with Gerrard, drop Adam from the squad and bring Sterling into the squad
