This Is Exactly What We Need

BRENDAN Rodgers must feel pretty good about the past three games.

Not only did we do away with a team substantially beneath our weight class quite easily but we also put up a similarly enticing display against relatively stronger opposition in the form of Leverkusen. His tiki-taka philosophy can already be seen in the number of passes and the off-the-ball movement.

What will please Rodgers most however is the returning dividend of domination having won the last two of these three games by comfortable margins.

Although tiki-taka will be given the lion’s share of credit, this may also be attributed to the new sense of competition that Rodgers’ style has brought with it. Apart from an essential core of about 5 players that I assume any astute Kopite knows, the remaining outfield positions are pretty much still up for grabs. This has forced club veterans to be at their best and with the influx of new talents who will obviously be looking to justify their acquisition and cement themselves in Rodgers’ team core, they will pretty much be kept there for a few weeks at least.

Both Borini and Carroll have already managed to find the net in just two appearances each. Both strikers seem hungry for goals and sufficiently motivated, albeit for possibly different reasons. Raheem Sterling has dazzled with his ability and though he may not be looking at regular first team involvement, he is still looking to imprint himself as a key part of a future Brendan Rodgers team should he (Rodgers) manage to manoeuvre his way through a tricky first season and effectively impose his style of play on the team.

A fully aware and well-composed Sebastian Coates showed that there is hope for our defence should Daniel Agger be scooped up by City and their Arab money. I doubt Martin Kelly would perform any less brilliantly if given the chance though and these two youngsters, like Sterling, will definitely be looking to show the gaffer just how vital they may prove to be whenever given the chance.

In midfield, where our matches will most likely be won and lost under Rodgers, there is an army of players with much to prove. For most of them, first team football is a necessity and with the signing of Joe Allen and his desire to incorporate the likes of Lucas into his system, Rodgers has highlighted the traits he is looking for in any midfielder.
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Downing, Henderson and Adam were substantially shielded by Kenny Dalglish when he was in charge in my opinion and being part of the starting XI may have been something they took for granted as they were almost always played regardless of their performances. Joe Cole, another underachiever of a season past will also be looking to display his return to form. In the event that they fail to crack Rodgers’ first eleven, these players will still be hard pushed to establish themselves as worthy and dependable replacements whether off-the-bench or in squad rotations in the busier weeks of the season.

The potential drop from favoured starter to bench-warmer is something any player fears. Rodgers has proven himself as a manager who is somewhat willing to give chances to all players and gaining the assurance of a place in his ‘strongest side’ is something that obviously lies ultimately with the players themselves. This I hope, for the most part anyway, should keep each squad member on his toes .With the start of our EPL campaign imminent and the manner and magnitude of our first five matches, I think a team full of players itching to prove their worth is exactly what we need.

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