http://www1.skysports.com/football/...oss-brendan-rodgers-ready-to-rotate-his-squad Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admits he is planning to rotate his side in the coming weeks to give 'oxygen' to his fringe players. Rodgers was speaking after the Reds reverted to a 4-3-3 formation for Saturday's 4-0 win over Fulham, with Kolo Toure rested and Daniel Agger joining Martin Srktel at the heart of the defence. Rodgers says more players will taste first-team action over the busy festive period as the second-placed Reds look to push on from their strong start to the Premier League campaign. He told the club's official website: "I just decided to change it (on Saturday). "I have said to the players that between now and January we have one game a week. "The players are working very well and very hard on a daily basis but I need to give oxygen to some players, so they can see a light at the end of the tunnel. "It is important that I use the players well. "Kolo has been sensational since he has been in but Daniel Agger is a top player. I just need to balance the team out when I can."
good to hear, but worryingly he is only talking about defence, what about resting Gerrard and Lucas when we can and giving Alberto etc more game time.
well...... could it be that gerrard is phooked and the fa sticking a needle in his hip will maen he'll be gone by seasons end for the WC? could it be that he admits he's not used the bench enough? who knows.
Why does he need to use the bench more though? Let's be honest our "bench" still ain't great (bar the centre backs). The first team has got us into a decent position. To throw that away just to please players who haven't been good enough would be madness. Fine if he wants to give oxygen to certain players (as long as form doesn't suffer) but who can honestly name more than 3 or 4 he can bring in and not risk weakening the team?Plus we're only playing one game a week and if we've got players who can't deal with it we're going to be ****ed if we do get a European place.
Surely when he says he is 'giving oxygen' he means to the fringe players. He's not saying any first teamers need a rest but rather that the fringe players ,because we only play one game a week, need hope (oxygen) and he intends to use them. Would mean Allen ,Alberto, Aspas, etc getting some game time. Moses too I guess. He can rotate his defense because he has good cover so whoever plays will fill in ok ( providing a he sticks to 4-4-2) which is a big change to last season. But he needs these fringe players to play and earn their corn. If not they will become disenchanted and will not perform at the required standard when we need them too. A good cup run will help.
Hence why I put "Fine if he wants to give oxygen to certain players (as long as form doesn't suffer) but who can honestly name more than 3 or 4 he can bring in and not risk weakening the team?" Sorry but this isn't the way we should go about things IMO. If he brings in players to the first team just so they don't start sulking he risks damaging our league position and for what? To keep the likes of Allen, Aspas or Moses happy? In an ideal world we'd have European competition to use the whole squad more but we haven't. Alberto, Moses and Aspas knew that when they arrived. Allen had enough games to cement his place and he didn't, Hendo came in and proved much more useful so why should a player like that lose his place? Or is Rodgers just planning to play the squad players for a game or two then drop them back to the bench? That'll do wonders for their confidence eh Bit of a weird one from R Brenda this one.
