Match Day Thread PL: Stoke City vs Liverpool FC

All managers need guys to rely on. That's what the guy should have been sacked. .. for relying on guys named.

Trust is a big thing imo. A manager must trust a player.

It's obvious to me Rodgers just doesn't trust sahko positional in a 4 and certainly not moreno. I would not trust moreno either.

Markovic is so sloppy at times I'd not trust him either.... Luis garcia was dumped by rafa for Mr benayoun for one reason he gave the ball away constantly trying g **** on in his own half.

These guys all need to understand what it is Rodgers needs and adapt to it. Sahko is the main one in that... the other two are not going to solve their issues without changing their games.

 

Those of a certain vintage may remember Stoke legend Alan Hudson.

Well,he reckons Stoke could break into the top four this season

As well as Hughes is doing there,I think that is stretching things a bit

 

Does he mean the Championship top four?

 

Doubt it, Stoke are in the Prem.

 

Non League !

 

What mito said.
No matter what our opinion, we have to accept that our coaching staff see more of, and better understand the players than we do.

 

Not to be pedantic, but you sort of did Jimmy..

"Rodgers somehow has this reputation of improving and coaching players - there's actually very little evidence of this. He seems quick to bin off some but persist with others."

Reading that, you could assume he "hasn't" improved any players
Sterling was doing fine up until he couldn't be arsed and wanted out, not Rodgers fault that Sterling, despite his issues with the Manager/Club wasn't professional enough to do a job once selected to play..
Hendo wasn't good due to the fact that for most of the games was asked to do his own work and be the legs for Gerrard, I expect him to be much better this year when he can focus more on what he has to do than worry about who Gerrard has/hasn't done.
Trust is two way, the manager trusted the senior players to a do a job for him, and more often than not, they failed him (due to their own form or managers formations).
Agreed, he should have then taken that opportunity to give others a chance, to blindly play the same people when not doing a job is his fault and he simply can't do that this year, he won't get away with it!
Both Markovic and Moreno are still young and I hope they are given chances this year which they take!
But right now, Ibe is the better option than Markovic and Gomez has certainly performed better than Moreno in pre-season..

 

I'm currently on holiday and have been out of touch for about a week. How have we played in the friendlies and who has he been picking for those games?

 

****e

 

As you say, I just hope we do give players the chance, certainly the young ones. I suppose my issue is that some players are given more chances than others which I don't think is fair.

 

No arguments there.. no place for blind faith and favouritism.. perform, you're in/stay in, don't then its next man up!

 

hahahaha

 

Exactly.

Now to be fair to Gomez, he has played well this preseason.

But Lovren - there is no way he has impressed that much warrant a start. There is no logical reason.

 

Lovern is a funny one.. the lad's got ability but his confidence is shot..
But you can't rebuild that by dumping him on the bench, like it or not, we've a lot of money invested in him, unlikely to get much of that back should we want to flog him..
So for his and more importantly, ours, a rehabilitated Lovern is the ideal situation..
However, at the expense of Sakho? Think we all agree that would be harsh on the lad!
But he's the manager, he's paid the bucks to make the hard and more importantly, the RIGHT decision!

 

This Stoke talk brings up an interesting question.

Last season we had Southampton and WHam making early in-roads into a top 4 place before falling away to their own degrees but staying somewhat in contention

Who do we think could be 'surprise' contenders for the top 4 this season?? Will it be an established side like Stoke, Swansea or Everton, or could new boys Bournemouth spring something special??

 

FOOTBALLS NEARLY BACK

 

Predicted lineup for this weekend, lads?

Do you think Moreno and Gomez will be sharing pitch time this season?

What about Sakho vs Lovren?

 

This is the thing - he doesn't have ability. Lyon were happy to get rid of for £8m. He was carried at Soton by two of the best CM's in the league.

His form at Liverpool is actual ability.

And we invested a lot in Sakho - who has played well and warranted a starting place. How will his confidence be when he's dropped, unjustly in place of a deluded piece of sh*t like Lovren?

 

Soton will be good as well - they have new boy Claise who looks quality. Interesting to see how he develops in the PL.

And looks like they're interested in Van Dijk from Celtic who looks a good defender.

I also think Everton will surprise a few - massively underachieved last season.

 

You are working yourself up and it hasn't even happened yet!