Reflecting on Liverpool’s draw with Napoli in mid week, manager Roy Hodgson believes big spending may not be necessary if both Jonjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing can keep performing as they have in the Europa League:
“They did the club proud on Thursday and I’m really pleased with them. Jonjo made his first start and he showed everyone what a good signing from Charlton we have there. I remember when I gave Jonjo a start in pre-season against Borussia Moenchengladbach and he did extremely well. I think Jay has been very unlucky not to play more because every time he has played this season, in the Europa League, even the Carling Cup and he played in pre-season for me, he has never played a bad game for the club during my short time here so far. I’m really pleased with Jay and I think it’s very good for the club that we have local boys like him who show that we don’t necessarily have to go out and recruit expensive players from other clubs. I wouldn’t have any hesitation in playing Jay and Jonjo in the Premier League.”
Hodgson also stated that he feels he has the backing of captain Steven Gerrard, and that the rumours of discontent in the Reds dressing room were coming from “people outside.” He revealed that he had a good chat with the Reds midfielder before the match with Napoli on Thursday:
“As Steven Gerrard said to me the other day – he believes, like me, that we will get through this. He believes, like me, that we will be stronger for it. I speak to Steven a lot and communication between a player and a coach is a two-way thing. I was explaining to Steven why I was leaving him behind and he understood. The doom and gloom that surrounds us is not coming from within the club, not from me and not from the players – it’s coming from people outside who are having a field day and delighting in the fact we are having a bad time. But we have had performances when we have been unlucky and when it just hasn’t gone our way – therefore it’s all been doom and gloom.”
STELLA ARTOIS WORLD DRAUGHT MASTERS
Gerald and Carragher have way to much influence on team matters. We need a strong manager to take charge of Liverpool who is not scared to make the hard decisions. Hodgson is clearly not strong enough. he should not be consulting with players simply because he perceives them to be the most popular with fans.
If players are causing disharmony or are a negative influence on team matters they should be dropped or sold.
If they are not performing (carragher) they should be dropped. Liverpool will never move forward until we have a manager who makes the hard decisions.
I can`t agree more mate!
one of my worries about appointing Hodgson was over whether he would be strong enough to make the difficult decisions like dropping Carragher.
He obviously isn’t
The sad thing is that he doesn’t even seem capable of making the easy(ish) and obvious decisions either 🙁
Wayne stick to annoying Fergie.
If Gerard and Carragher left it up to Scratch me chin in bemusement we’d be in a worse state than we already are.
He couldn’t run a kids team, maybe thats a bit unkind, under fives possibly.
“i wouldn’t have any hesitation in playing jay and jonjo in the premier league” funny that, because i haven’t seen them roy! for such an articulate man you don’t half talk some bollocks!
on the players themselves, i like the look of shelvey, he could have a big future but spearing…not in a million years! and what ever happened to danny wilson? when are you going to give the lad a crack?
Is Hodgson referring to us, the fans, when he says “people outside”? Doesn’t he realise we are the club (as well as the players. I wasn’t aware we were delighted that we were having a bad time. Didn’t think I could be any more annoyed with this man.
Its the press that he is referring too, not the fans. Fans don’t print stories of players wanting out/dressing room problems. Fans don’t make up stories that hold no truth.
I wouldn’t have any hesitation in playing Jay and Jonjo in the Premier League – really?? So how come we haven’t seen them being given a chance with “the big guns” even when the senior counterparts have been perfoming like crap!?
I’m right with you in all that you said there btw Steve – Spearing’s a decent player, but you need to be exceptional in some way if you’re going to cut it at the top level as a midget. Admittedly that’s not a PC opinion, but it is the plain hard truth…
Agreed. Although height is not everything. Look at Kuyt, how strong he is in the air. It’s not due to his height. Sure he cant compete in the air against a chap like Viera, but it’s football and feet are on the ground. As far as I’m concerned if he can perform I don’t care how he does it.
I wish we had seen some more creativity in team selection in recent weeks. But if you through a young developing individual into a team getting torn to pieces what affect might that have on his confidence. You are only going to get a limited number of chances. Sad but true.
jay spearing is as good as merrelis lucas polson maxi in fact in some ways he is better why ? because he keeps the ball. Against napoli he gave the ball away twice in the game . He keeps the game moving and if you know anything about liverpools style of play over the last 50 odd years it is pass and move and this boy is one of the few that can do this consistantly to the standars set by shankly him self .As for the midget jibe was not maradonna small sammy lee small mesi small alan ball small ian st john small bobby collins small gerd muller small iniesta small so that was a stupid comment to make jay wright this lad is good enough to be given a chance to play for liverpool fc the boy has been there over ten years right through the ranks so do you think liverpool football club dont know what there doing if he wernt good enough he would of been let go especialy with his height issue that you bring up no he is at liverpool because the coaching staff think he has what it takes to play at the top level .
Maradonna, Sammy Lee, Mesi, Alan Ball, St. John, Bobby Collins,Gerd Muller, Iniesta. JAY SPEARING – nah! Sorry
read my statement again Albey; “you need to be EXCEPTIONAL in some way if you’re going to cut it at the top level as a midget”. Makalele & Diarra while their strength to compensate for their lack of size whereas Zola, Maradonna, Messi et al have their skill (while also not playing in the centre of the pitch with winning the ball a major part of their role)
Spearing looks a better player than Gibson or Lucas (who is too small for his role too imo) but as a central midfielder in the Premiership his lack of stature is a massive black mark against him
We’ve got and had many players that are not good enough; the fact that management show any faith in them does not prove otherwise
Jim lynch your missing the point there all small men and made it and giving a chance jay could make it to . Dont know what length of time you watched the reds but i remember sammy lee first game and people said simlar things as there saying about jay but sammy went on to prove every doubter wrong he went on to win trophys with lfc and played international fooball for england . Jay wright the lad must be exceptional to get to were he is today when you have people like steve highway stating when he left that he wished he could be around to see jay spearing in the first team says a lot and steve has brought through some top top players so personaly i would go with profesionals football people and as for jay having to be exceptional in the premier league the lad has not had a chance to prove what he is capable of doing and never will do when people dont want to give him the chance to prove him self .
I have been very impressed with Jay Spearing’s performances this season.
What about Pacheco, i’d like for him to get more games
I firmly believe Shelvey is star quality as is Pacheco and believe there is a few up and comers on the list who are better than Spearing.
IVE TOLD YOU ALL; sell poulsen, babel, itandge, el zhar and darby also aquilani that lot brings you close to; 25 mill add that to the money that the new owners can give the new manager.
get in the boss at atletico madrid and bring aguero with him and then buy a winger LIKE MATA OR YOUNG
REINA
KELLLY CARRA SOTO AURELIO
JOHNO GERRO RAUL MATA
AGUERO
TORRES
this website is starting to come up with more bullshit than caughtoffside, Shelvey looks decent and could be good in the future, but is not ready for the first team, while jay Spearing will never be good enough for the first team
What about Pacheco? He is the most talented of all our youngsters yet he has to play for the Reserves when he’s already too good to play there. He needs to play against better players to improve and he’s earned that right as much as Spearing and Shelvey.
Why are you all still battering Roy? We’ve just won our first game in absolutely ages, confidence is sky high and we have a run of games where we can move up the table. So just support whatever team he puts out and get behind LFC.
We played really well against Blackburn, had we been 4-0 up at half time people would be raving about us. SOme of the play down the right hand side would have made barcelona proud! Maxi finally showing his true colours, Meirales looks more assured in every performance and dare i say it, Lucas actually looked like a liverpool fc player.
I feel Hodgson should go. We need a strong personality who can handle senior players. Carragher might have had a good game on the 24th as a right back, but it baffles me why he wouldn’t try to blod youngsters. The way we are going we will surely loose Kelly. Quality people like Agger should be playing more then Skertle.
Will Hodgson play Agger. Hmmm, No. Agger is a quality footballer who likes the ball at his feet, so doesnt fit into Roy’s ‘Hoof it’ style. He will leave soon and I will be gutted.
How has he turned World class players (gerrard, Torres) into mere championship mediocrity. This is entirly down to his Tactics (I use that term loosely). Perhaps play Johnson on the right wing..oh no, my mistake.. Roy doesnt use Wingers!!
Just let the team play football and stop restricting our best players to sit back and pass sideways.
And one last thing. Our new 1st team coach is a 70 year old ex Keeper, who had a season at Wimbledon back in the 70’s. He is doing an amazing job of trying to destruct Reina’s whole career by getting him to change his keeping style!!! Jog on you complete mugs.. Im sure there is a job opening for your mediocrity at Rotherham!!!