8 Mar 2015

'It would be incredible': €6m star reveals lifelong Liverpool 'dream' and hopes for FA Cup glory

Liverpool defender Javier Manquillo is currently out of favour at Anfield, but he still harbours hopes of playing at Wembley this season, and if the Reds are only one game away from making the dream a reality.

Speaking to the official Liverpool FC website today, Manquillo enthused:

"To play at Wembley would be incredible and would fulfil a dream I have had since I was little.

"Let's play this game against Blackburn first and go little by little before we think about winning a trophy.
"

Unfortunately for Manquillo, the chances of him making the team for the semi-final (if Liverpool get there) are slim:

* Only 1 league starts since December
* Only 3 starts overall in the last 18 games.
* Didn't even make the squad in 7 of the last 18 games.

Manquillo has clearly paid the price for Liverpool's terrible 3-1 defeat to Crustal Palace in November. Prior to that game, he was basically a regular, but since then, he's been warming the bench more often than not. Rodgers' man-management of €6m-rated Manquillo has (at times) been questionable:

* Dropped him after LFC's 2-1 victory over West Brom.
* Dropped him again after LFC's 2-1 win over Swansea.

* Dropped again after the 1-0 away defeat to Real Madrid, a performance widely recognised praised for its defensive solidity.

Statistically, Manquillo is one of Liverpool's most solid defenders, but the main reason for his extended absence from the team appears to be the 343 formation.

The Spaniard doesn't offer much going forward, so playing him as a right wing-back is a non-starter, especially when there are infinitely better options, such as Raheem Sterling, Lazar Markovic, and even Glen Johnson.

I maintain, however, that Manquillo could've done a great job on the right-side of a back three. Can is doing a good job there, but if Manquillo had been given a run of 20 straight games in that position, I'm sure he would've done a similarly good job.

There is one chink of light, however. Manquillo's only two starts this year have come in the FA Cup, so there may be a chance of some Wembley action after all...

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20 comments:

  1. The disappointment for me this season was Rodgers not selecting the fringe players in the Europa. Borini, Balotelli, Manquillo etc should have been entrusted with those games. I can't see any rationale for playing Manquillo at centre back at present with Loveren and Toure available. I could see Wisdom there next season. Manquillo has had a decent season for a youngster and should kick on mentally and physically next season. If not back he goes with little lost. Interesting to see if he is better than Flanni.

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  2. Manquillo is a good solid squad player and at 6m is a excellent addition to the team. Hope he gets alot of playing time .
    Far better player than Wisdom !

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  3. Manquillo an Flanno should both compeete for RCB.

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  4. SG not in the squad today it would seem

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  5. Liverpool starting XI: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Sterling, Can, Henderson, Markovic, Coutinho, Lallana, Sturridge.
    Subs: Ward, Toure, Lambert, Moreno, Sakho, Balotelli, Williams.

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  6. Liverpool: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Johnson, Markovic, Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge

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  7. Is he a RCB or RWB? I think RCB..

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  8. Blackburn: Eastwood, Henley, Baptiste, Kilgallon (c), Olsson, Marshall, Evans, Williamson, Conway, Cairney, Gestede

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  9. Don Henly, John the Baptiste

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  10. Clint Eastwood starts too

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  11. Not sure makes me nervous

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  12. Oh I thought he was on the ranch, oops I meant the bench.

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  13. On the left I would say, with no Moreno

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  14. The most annoying thing is seeing Johnson get picked ahead of him as a sub. i would rather us finish the match 10 v 11

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  15. If he is WB, who is in the midfield? Defensively I mean? Cause that makes Can a CB..

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  16. Yes, I hope not Hendo, he is in good scoring form.
    Where I am I think they still use dial-up, so my chances of getting a stream signal are about 20/1 against.

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