I'm sure we will field a strong team but there are bound to be a few changes. Here are the thoughts of two of the possible candidates. Jay Spearing is hoping to get the Carling Cup call from Kenny Dalglish on Wednesday night and show he can cope with the physical demands a match at Stoke requires. "With the new players that have come in I haven't had as many chances as I would have liked, but at the end of the day it's down to me to keep working hard every day in training and show the manager I deserve a chance when the time comes. "I have to look at the positive side of things. The boss has put me on the bench for every Premier League game so far and I have played in the Carling Cup games, so I can't complain about that. "I've got to do everything I can in training to show the boss I am ready if he needs me to play against Stoke. "If I do get the chance to play it will be a massive game for me. They have a lot of six foot plus lads in their team and it's a chance for me to show that I can be put up against anyone, of stature and size, whoever, and do a good job for the team. "If we get the ball down and play the football we are capable of then we can cause them a lot of problems." Jon Flanagan admits it would be a dream come true to help Liverpool claim a first appearance at the new Wembley. Flanagan told Liverpoolfc.tv: "It's been amazing being part of the Carling Cup run so far. It would be great to help the club go all the way to Wembley. If I actually played some role in that it would be really special. "Whether I play on Wednesday or not, I don't know, but we have to keep going and try and win those games. If we can get a first appearance at the new Wembley it would be fantastic for everyone involved with the club." Flanagan is currently locked in a three-way battle for the right-back slot with Martin Kelly and Glen Johnson. He acknowledges that the position is one in which the Reds are well covered and believes he can learn a great deal from the more experienced duo. "There is strong competition for the right-back slot," he said. "But I'm learning things from both Jonno and Kells because they are more experienced than me. I've just got to keep improving every day and give it my all. "They offer me advice about positional play and things like that, so it's good for me to have such professional teammates helping me. They've been a great." He added: "It's unbelievable to be involved with the first team now. I've had a great 12 months and hope to keep progressing and play more first-team games for the club in the future."
the club website is at its full best spinning out stores then. I'd be utterly shocked if eithe rplayer gets anywhere but the bench on this one. I expect lucas to return here and to be frank we are playing STOKE. they'll blow us out of the water at the brittania if we don't play the full side. And then what fluff will the website need to put out on thursday to distract from that disaster?
It's nice to get the opinion of players though? The club site is always going to be all fluffy but I think it's good to hear from fringe players like these. I agree that wee need a full side but think that Flanno may get a game with Spearing on the bench.
for me though... first you've stevie on about winning cups... then you get kids talking about thier chances of a game. In the end fine people want to hear from players and thats ok by me but there's no co-incidence that the stuff we hear is shaped to bascially be propaganda for the club. I think its a bit dishonest to be frank. 2Back in the day" you had a few mags and it took a week to come out. thats still going but there at least you heard IN DEPTH from the players. The website in particular (not the tv channel) is full of sound bite snatches that constantly and miraculously mirror what good spin would say. We lose they are on the old must ry harder rubbish... I mean you didn't hear anyone say v utd... god lucas was pants wasn't he? No or v norwich nobody like oh STEVIE was commenting on how many shots suarez misse dor how many times he fell over. So to me if you've got a guy on about winning cups the immediately after we just chcuked 2 points away and 4th place, let alone 1st place moves further away..... see my point? players ought to stop talking or being quoted in non reality scenarios.... john flanagan should NEVEr be exposed to hype about hoping to play cos when he's not selected he's then looking like he was talking out his backside. heads down and start getting results!
oh and my team. Reina johnson carra agger enrique Lucas Adam henderson Squarez downing Carroll gerrard to be launched from the bench for adam...... (protect him. Flanagan to similarly cover johnson if kelly is not fit. Carroll must play 90mins sometime henderson for more pace at least v stoke than kuyt and downing is under big pressure to perform.
