Mersk, your football club always was and always should be about winning trophy's. And they've won the League Cup more times than anyone else. To say the competition is about 'keeping players fit and giving young prospects a chance' is to both the detriment of the club and an insult to what should be a great competition IMHO. And you're not alone in that thinking. I'm not sinballing you out personally. The clubs themselves are as much to blame in that way of thinking/ prioritising these days as any fan. But I can assure you most everyone in the ground tonight wants to see the strongest possible side and a comprehensive victory. The way it should be done.
Well, this part is, imo, merely a matter of opinion. Of course I agree - on general basis - that the club is about winning trophies. But when participating in 4 different competitions, it also becomes a matter of priorities. And to me it's abundantly clear that the League Cup ends up at the bottom of the list in that regard. Thus it's the best competition in which to give youth players a chance. If we reach the semi final, then I'll agree on fielding our strongest available team. But until then, I'd argue the importance of giving key players a rest and youth players a chance.
Which brings us onto Rodgers. Not only is he desperate for a win, he's desperate for silverware. He's already the longest serving L'pools manager (not including Hodgson's 6 months or Moran filling in after Kenny for 7 games) since Shabkly walked through the doors back in 1959 to NOT win a trophy his first three years in charge. He goes weak tonight, gets shocked, and that run rolls over to 5 winless games and another trophy is lost you bet your *** they'll be a serious outcry.
I'd argue he's desperate in general, but that's another discussion. He should be desperate for a win
every game, not just in this one. Maybe he is, but it honestly doesn't seem like it when he's constantly playing people out of position and using formations and tactics that simply don't make sense, as reflected in our results. As for the serious outcry, it's already here regardless of tonight's game. It could intensify, sure, but tbh I don't see how a win against Carlisle with our strongest team could possibly alleviate any of it.
With no disrespect intended, you or anyone else not bothered watching a stream or TV or not might not care if he puts out the scrubs and loses. But myself and anyone else at the game tonight sure as **** will.
Straw man argument. I never said I didn't care about the performance or the result, I said I wouldn't be looking for a free stream tonight commentated by some Arabian who's constantly yelling. If you're aware of a broadcast with English commentary, please inform me, as I'd obviously like to watch the game. When I pointed out that "maybe we should be glad the match is not televised" I was obviously sticking it to Rodgers and how we've been playing recently, along with our results. It's sarcasm, and I apologize if it wasn't clear enough.
Your football club should be going ALL out to win EVERY competition it can.
It's what really built on and it's LONG past time we got back to that.
You're speaking as if you have no confidence in our squad. Yes, I want Rodgers to field a weaker team, in the sense of giving youth players some time on the pitch. But how on earth is that synonomous with losing? Are you saying we should always field our strongest team, and never even rotate? Because that's what your comment implies. Besides, the effort and contribution by some of our first team players has been poor lately. Take Lovren, who started out decent but eventually destroyed his apparently fragile mentality through weak displays, and subsequently getting dropped. That's a £20m player. Take Lallana, who imo is overrated and still hasn't done anything to justify his price tag. Why not give Teixeira a chance instead? Or at least start Firmino, an even more expensive player? I could go on, but you get the point: Playing (allegedly) weaker players does not equal not going all out to win. It's about mindset, effort, and the willingness to fight for every ball. Like Ings did against Norwich.
I wouldn't mind seeing a team like this tonight:
Bogdan
Clyne-Gomez-Sakho-Enrique
Rossiter
Can-Milner
Teixeira
Ings-Origi
And yes, that's a diamond. Bogdan hasn't gotten his debut yet, and deserves a chance. Especially after Mignolet's mistake last game. Bogdan is more of a physical presence, and that could be important in a game like this.
Clyne is our only proper right back at the moment, especially with Flanno still out. Gomez deserves a chance in his best position, and Sakho was simply too good against Norwich to drop. The same could be said about Moreno, but we have more options on left back than right, and Enrique is back in training with the first team and should be given a chance fight his way back into the squad. If he doesn't take it, it's on him.
Rossiter needs playing time. Can and Milner in front of him will help him out massively, and Teixeira has himself claimed he and Coutinho are similar players who play in similar positions. Just give the kid a chance.
As for Ings, his effort last time out was fantastic. Origi hasn't been given a proper chance yet, and tbh I expected him to contribute more than what he has so far. With Benteke possibly out for some time, and Sturridge as fragile as he is, he should at least be given a chance in a game like this.
This team should be more than capable of beating Carlisle. With players like Moreno, Skrtel, Lucas, Coutinho and Sturridge on the bench, Rodgers'll have plenty of options if things don't work out.
