Roy Hodgson has got some big dilemmas going into Liverpool’s first competitive match in the Europa League on July 29th. Certainly the signing of Joe Cole will boost everyone at the club but for the short term, the size of the squad is worryingly thin. Roy has stated that the newly appointed “Sports Science people” have said that it will be “foolhardy” to play any of the World Cup players in the European qualifiers after only three or four days of training:
“The medical staff’s advice is to not use these players. If we have enough players to put a team out without them is another question. Things can happen before July 29. Do I envisage having to field a B team? It could be.”
It seems that that the new manager will have to go into his first proper game as manager without a first team. He will have no choice but to rely on youngsters. Commenting on young winger Paul Ince, Hodgson has this to say:
“I remember Thomas back in 1995, as a small boy running around, kicking balls in his dad’s apartment. He made sure Paul didn’t get too much peace after training. He probably did his best to make sure Paul stayed fit! But I have been impressed with him. He is a talented young man; in an ideal world, you wouldn’t be thrusting him into matches of this calibre but, who knows? It might be very good for him.”
Relying on youngsters is certainly not ideal, but I think it will give them a tremendous opportunity to show their abilities and see if they are capable of playing at the required level. Hodgson would have surely wanted to have more first team players available as to make sure he gets his reign off to a successful start but he may be surprised by the quality of players at his disposal.
The introduction of youngsters can either go two ways, they go into their shells and show little of their talent, or they show no fear and go out and play to the best of their abilities. When Alan Hansen said “you can’t win anything with kids” he was proven wrong, and although it wouldn’t be good to compare our youngster with those of Manchester United’s talented generation of over a decade ago, there are still useful players who could make any impact.
Many of the players included in the pre-season squad to Switzerland will have to be considered for the tie on July 29th, and with his comments, there is an outside chance that Tom Ince will be one of those making an appearance on the left wing. The squad is very limited in terms of key players and only Alberto Aquilani, Lucas Leiva, Philipp Degen, Diego Cavalieri and David Ngog have any worthwhile first team experience. There are possibilities that Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Milan Jovanovic could be ready for the tie but that still leaves at least four places up for grabs in the team.
The youngsters in the squad include Jay Spearing (CM), Stephen Darby (RB) , Martin Kelly (RB,CB) Peter Gulacsi (GK), Steven Irwin (CM,LB), Nathan Eccleston (ST, RW) , Daniel Ayala (CB), Martin Hansen (GK), David Amoo (RW), Lauri Dalla Valle (ST), Thomas Ince (LW, CM), Jonjo Shelvey (AM) and Victor Palsson (DM, CB). If we assume that the Reds will play 4-4-2 against either Rabotnicki or FC Mika then a right winger, a striker, a centre back and a full back will be needed to be found. A centre back slot will probably go to Daniel Ayala, with either Stephen Darby or Martin Kelly filling in at left back while possibly David Amoo, even a central midfielder in Jonjo Shelvey or Nathan Eccleton playing right side. The striker berth would have to go to either Lauri Dalla Valle or Nathan Eccleston unless Roy wants to revert to playing Jovanovic up front and putting a youngster such as Ince on the left wing.
It’s certainly a selection headache for Hodgson, one I wouldn’t envy him in his first competitive match. He has already stated that he is looking for some quick signings so they can be included in the team for these matches, but with the tie being only 10 days away, that is a tall order. It looks as though Roy will have little choice but to show faith in some of our young guns.
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That’s the way reds legend start to grow up.
Go Thomas!!!
Who’s to say they aren’t as good as Manure’s crop 15 years agom
This will be a chance to see. Rafa was often criticised for not playing them, this will show if he was justified in not playing them. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
We should field a B team as the Europa Cup is of no meaning this season as the only thing that matters is a top 4 finish inthe PL
Riera’s still at the club, and in the squad in Switzerland. Unless he leaves between now and then, he’d have to be the favourite for left wing, wouldn’t he? Jovanovic would then play up top with Ngog.Or do you think the club won’t risk cup-tying Riera in Europe?
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