Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that the club will have a near-ful strength squad for this weekend's Premier League game against Newcastle.
In his pre-Newcastle press conference this afternoon, Rodgers noted:
"We’ll arrive with our strongest squad of the season at Newcastle.
"Johnson, Allen, Cissokho are all back. They haven't played games, but they've been training a lot.
"Coutinho is not ready, though. He's working with the physiologist on the field. He's looking very good, but he's still not strong enough to return to training".
It's interesting to note that Rodgers believes that the current available squad *without* Coutinho is his 'strongest' of the season, which seems a little strange considering the Brazilian's importance to Liverpool's overall effectiveness.
Michael Ngoo and Joao Teixeira recently returned early from their loan spells, and Rodgers indicated that financial reasons were the reason for that. However, he also made a general comment about young players going out on loan:
"Some of the young players are just not good enough. That's the harsh reality. We want them to go out and play [on loan], but they've got to be good enough, and if they're not, they won't play".
One journo tried his best to ramp up the tedious Suarez media conspiracy again, but when asked about the Uruguayan's obvious dive against Argentina, Rodgers employed the fabled Wenger defence:
'To be honest, I haven't seen it, so I can't comment. It's all part of the story. There's nothing to say really'
With Uruguay facing the real possibility of not qualifying for the World Cup, expect to see more desperate Suarez 'gamesmanship' in the upcoming play-off against Jordan.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
In his pre-Newcastle press conference this afternoon, Rodgers noted:
"We’ll arrive with our strongest squad of the season at Newcastle.
"Johnson, Allen, Cissokho are all back. They haven't played games, but they've been training a lot.
"Coutinho is not ready, though. He's working with the physiologist on the field. He's looking very good, but he's still not strong enough to return to training".
It's interesting to note that Rodgers believes that the current available squad *without* Coutinho is his 'strongest' of the season, which seems a little strange considering the Brazilian's importance to Liverpool's overall effectiveness.
Michael Ngoo and Joao Teixeira recently returned early from their loan spells, and Rodgers indicated that financial reasons were the reason for that. However, he also made a general comment about young players going out on loan:
"Some of the young players are just not good enough. That's the harsh reality. We want them to go out and play [on loan], but they've got to be good enough, and if they're not, they won't play".
One journo tried his best to ramp up the tedious Suarez media conspiracy again, but when asked about the Uruguayan's obvious dive against Argentina, Rodgers employed the fabled Wenger defence:
'To be honest, I haven't seen it, so I can't comment. It's all part of the story. There's nothing to say really'
With Uruguay facing the real possibility of not qualifying for the World Cup, expect to see more desperate Suarez 'gamesmanship' in the upcoming play-off against Jordan.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Haha yeah because Uruguay are really worried about Jordan...Brutal honesty from Rodgers there. People always hype up youngsters but the truth is that if you can get one into your first team every three years or so, you've done tremendously well. If you want to challenge for the title and the champions league anyway. I hope he employs that same brutal honesty when he assesses the first team players
ReplyDeleteHe didn't say strongest possible squad, only strongest this season and with the bench much deeper than it was when Suarez initially came back. When Coutinho is ready and returns then we will have our strongest squad of the season again.
ReplyDeleteRodgers was I believe at the u21 game in which Teixiera came on as sub after returning from Brentford - he scored a great individual goal within a minute put yessil clean through with a wonderful pass a few mininutes after and run the rest of the game - if he's not good enough scrap the u21s because he is the best of them.
ReplyDeleteMy last word on Teixiera - he needs a wake up call - he wants so stroll because he knows he is better than the rest - that Is what coaches are paid for getting the best out of players - do your job coaches don't ruin him like you did with suso.
ReplyDeletei would rather have moses then coutinho anyway
ReplyDelete1) he suits suarez and sturridge perfectly with his strength
2) his pace lets us relieve pressure
3) looks more likley to score or make something happen
competition is good
i think coutinho could make a decent central midfielder in modric mold
trexeira is not good enough nor is yesil or ngoo
ReplyDeletethe players to look out for are kent,rossiter and wilson
Close to full strength team. My my if Coutinho is back for the Arsenal game fighting fit and everyone else is up to speed that will be a really good team and a great bench. How long has it been since we could say that?
ReplyDeletecant believe he said texeira aint good enough, are aspas allen wisdom sterling alberto any better? NO. But they getting chances and texeira not, another pacheco or assaidi looks to me, this seems to be personal rather than proffesional if thats the case then let the boy go and find a good club where they would appreciate him more.
ReplyDeletealonso is old it is either him or gerrard so barley strengthening the team
ReplyDeletematic is not better then lucas
mata yes
mata,gerrard,lucas,henderson and allen good
not better though then juventus or barcaloena or bayern
Of course it's the strongest team this season, virtually identical to that before the injuries - coutinho + Suarez = strongest team yet. After the game, the other side will be known as "New Astle".
ReplyDeleteWAYNE ROONEY
ReplyDeleteYou need to check that again Eric, you missed one "R".
ReplyDeleteMascherano!
ReplyDeleteMATA,GREAT!!!PASTORE VERY GOOD!!
ReplyDeleteI would rate Mata to LFC, equal to Suarez to AFC, I would say they both have the same chance of happening.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think Brucie is bluffing, knowing we have to buy in January, then he can say, I told you so.
Lucas learned from him & tried to emulate him, but Mascherano's the best I've ever seen play in DM. Positioning, speed of thought, ball winning and anticipation are world class.
ReplyDeleteJust look at the benches of the big spenders and take your pick; with a world cup looming, those players will be desparate for game time.
ReplyDeleteNo way it'll be Mata.
ReplyDeleteIf that happens, I'll have to change my trousers.
Douche bags serve a valuable purpose. We should show them more respect.
ReplyDeleteYou've got that wrong mate.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually Mr. Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd MartÃn Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Ranulph Thomas Sherman Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorffwelchevoralternwarengewissenschaftschafe rswessenschafewarenwahlgepflegeundsorgfaltigkeitbeschutzenvonangreifeudurch ihrraubgierigfeindewelchevoralternzwolftausendjahresvorandieerscheinenersch einenvanderersteerdemenschterraumschiffgebrauchlichtalsseinursprungvonkraft gestartseinlangefahrthinzwischensternaitigraumaufdersuchenachdiesternwelche gehabtbewohnbarplanetenkreisedrehensichundwohinderneurassevonverstandigmens chlichkeitkonntefortpflanzenundsicherfeuenanlebenslanglichfreudeundruhemitn icheinfurchtvorangreifenvonandererintelligintgeschopfsvonhinzwischenternart Zeus igraum Senior
...but he said United should sell Rooney to Chelsea to keep the league strong. He wouldn't go back on that. No way, Jose.
ReplyDeleteWe need to get in there with a pre-pre-contract.
ReplyDeleteNo chance. Chelsea wont sell him and probably don't have the right to recall him from Everton.
ReplyDeleteIt would be hilarious though.
and the euros
ReplyDeletethen the world cup
Rakitic, por favor. He'd fit in excellently. We should get him before someone else big comes in. He's the kind of profile of player we should be looking at.
ReplyDeleteHe's come out with this kind of thing before and we ended up signing no one (or no one of note anyway).
ReplyDeleteSuspect he knows F*** all. Just because he was a player doesn't mean he has any decent links within the club for genuine info.
Having said all that, I think he means Pastore. Or he could just mean he's heard that FSG will push the boat out in Jan.
I have a feeling they will too. I think they wanted to this summer but we couldn't attract the players we wanted.
Whereas in Jan, a lot of teams will have dropped out of the champs league, plus we might look like we're in a stronger position.
Spurs will get him before we do ;)
ReplyDelete...but not before we're in advanced talks with him.
ReplyDeleteKonoplyanka is a big name.
ReplyDeleteThat was a pretty bad dive (not that there's such a thing as a "good dive"), and it was pretty obvious that the contact was minimal.
ReplyDeleteDisappointing to see him resort to that tactic. It really does overshadow the positive talents that he possesses.
If he dives for us (he hasn't in a year now), I will be disappointed.