• You may have to login or register before you can post and view our exclusive members only forums.
    To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Hearts (away) 23rd August

Forums Unread posts
Status
Not open for further replies.
Whitey85

Whitey85

Active
Member
So any team suggestions for this one? They aren't very good and our fringe players aren't the most inspiring bunch. I'll go with:-

Reina, Kelly, Coates, Agger, Robinson, Adam, Shelvey, Henderson, Downing, Morgan, Sterling.
 
I think Borini might get a game up top in the middle with Suarez rested, Carroll on the bench again to save him from being cuptied.

------------------Reina-------------------
Kelly---Coates----Agger----Enrique
---------------Spearing-----------------
--------Shelvey------Henderson-----
-Assman----Borini-------Sterling----

Can Assman play or is he cuptied?
 
I'd play the side that's due to play Citeh. The first team clearly needs game time together.
 
------------------Reina-------------------
Johnson---Coates----Skrtel----Enrique
---------------Lucas-----------------
--------Allen------Gerrard-----
-Assaidi----Carroll-------Suarez----

I'd play that team against Hearts and maybe City depending on the performances of Assaidi, Carroll and Coates.
 
Hearts yesterday received a boost ahead of tomorrow’s glamour clash with Liverpool when they received clearance to include new signing Peter Enckelman in the eagerly-awaited Europa League tie.

Enckelman was recruited on Friday on a short-term deal after back-up goalkeeper Mark Ridgers sustained a serious knee injury playing for Scotland under-21s against Belgium last week.

With question marks over Jamie MacDonald’s short-term availability as he awaits the imminent birth of his first child, manager John McGlynn moved to snap up the experienced former Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers No 1 to solve a crisis that threatened to leave him with just 18-year-old Jack Hamilton between the sticks.

With Enckelman having been signed beyond the 8 August deadline for Hearts to have submitted their squad list to Uefa, a measure of uncertainty still surrounded the former Finland internationalist for the visit of Liverpool.

However, with the governing body leaving room for the late registration of one player up until midnight on the day before the first-leg match, the Gorgie outfit yesterday received confirmation that the 35-year-old can play against the Reds if required.

Enckelman, who was on the bench for Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, said: “I’m always ready to step in. One of the good things about being slightly older is you’ve got the experience behind you which comes into play in these situations. I look forward to being part of the set-up here and seeing what the season brings.”

Meanwhile, Ridgers should be back in action in November after doctors told him he does not need an operation on his injured knee.

The 22-year-old damaged his posterior cruciate ligament playing at East End Park last Tuesday and was told to expect at least three months on the sidelines.

The former Ross County trainee visited a specialist on Monday amid fears his recovery could take even longer if surgery was required.

However, the Inverness-born youngster was given good news after scans indicated he does not need to go under the knife.

Reacting to the news online, Ridgers said: “Delighted I don’t need an op and it’s just the three months and not longer. Now for the hard work and on the road to recovery. #PMA [positive mental attitude]”.

With 12 weeks of rehabilitation ahead, McGlynn is optimistic everything goes 
according to plan.

He said: “It’s a bonus for the lad that he doesn’t require surgery. It’s a bad enough injury without the need for an operation.

“So, that’s good news for everyone. Hopefully his recovery goes well and to the timescale set by the experts.”

Liverpool go into tomorrow night’s game on the back of a disappointing 3-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion on the opening day of the Barclays Premier League season. Anfield legend Graeme Souness believes his old team are not the force they used to be, but insists Liverpool will still be way too strong for Hearts.

“There is a gulf between the Premier League in England and the SPL in Scotland right now,” explained Souness.

“Although Liverpool are not one of the great teams any more, they certainly still have some good players. And they have one truly great player in Steven Gerrard – he would get into any Liverpool team of the past. If Gerrard plays, he’s the one you have to concentrate on. Keep him as far away from goal as possible. Andy Carroll can be unplayable if he gets the right sort of service. There are so many threats, maybe just too many.

“It’s not just Hearts. If Liverpool were playing any team in Scotland now, it would be the same. It’ll be a different Liverpool to last year, but it’ll still be a very strong Liverpool. Like any Scottish club playing a team from the Premier League, Hearts have it all to do.

“Although Liverpool aren’t the force they were and are just behind some of the teams down here, they’re still arguably the second biggest club in England. They’re still an enormous club on the world stage, so you have to respect their fantastic European pedigree.

“Hearts have always an outside chance over two games. They are underdogs, though, and realistically you have to fancy Liverpool because of the quality of player they have.

“You’re relying on lots of them having two off nights for Hearts to go through.”
Click to expand...
 
Isn't Enckelman the cunt that let the ball roll under/over his foot and into the net at Birmingham whilst playing for Villa?
 
Hearts defender Andy Webster says his side have learned the lessons of their European failure last season as they prepare to take on English giants Liverpool in a Europa League qualifier on Thursday.

The Jambos face the Anfield side in the first leg of a Battle of Britain tie at Tynecastle for a place in the group stages of the Europa League.

Hearts have a painful experience of taking on English opposition at the same stage of the competition from last year when they were handed a 5-0 mauling by Tottenham Hotspur.

But Webster hopes his team-mates can draw on that experience to claim a better result against Brendan Rodgers' side.

"The excitement is building ahead of the Liverpool game," Webster said.

"That's why we worked so hard last season, to qualify for these big competitions.

"It's something slightly different from the norm and it's something to look forward to.

"It's a massive occasion, playing against a massive club and top-level footballers. It's going to be a great test.

"We need to take the experience we've had into the Liverpool game.

"Spurs were a top-quality side and the tie was pretty much over before it started.

"I think we can draw on that experience and look forward to Thursday night.

"Like any top-level opposition, if you give them time and space then they are going to cut you open.

"Hopefully we can get a bit tighter to them.

"You can't be gung-ho against this type of opposition or they'll pick the passes that lead to them scoring.

"We have to approach it with caution but at the same time try to put pressure on them. It's a fine balancing act.

"With top players, one step in the wrong direction and before you know it, they are in and scoring a goal.

"That's the difference and that's why Liverpool and their players play at the top level."

Rodgers' reign as Liverpool boss got off to a shocking start at the weekend as they were hammered 3-0 by West Brom, increasing the pressure on his side to get a result on Thursday.

But with players such as Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, Pepe Reina and Steven Gerrard in the Liverpool ranks, Webster insists the Hearts players won't read anything into the result.

"Any time a massive club like that gets beaten, it's a surprise," Webster said.

"They'll be looking for a reaction on Thursday. But whether they win 3-0 or lose 3-0, they still have top players.

"Their squad is full of international players and any time you get beaten you're looking for a response and any time you win, you're looking to keep that momentum going.

"For them, it's a change of competition and a change of scenery.

"For us, it's a great occasion and although tough, hopefully we can do well."

The defeat to West Brom on Saturday was Liverpool's worst opening result for 75 years.

Liverpool captain Gerrard admits he and his team-mates are hurting and vows they'll take out their frustration on the Jambos in Thursday's play-off first leg at Tynecastle.

"After a 3-0 defeat everyone is concerned," Gerrard admitted.

"It's important I and the other experienced players take responsibility for a poor defeat.

"We have to put it behind us. We have to dust ourselves down and bounce back against Hearts.

"We have to react in the right manner and look to put things right in the coming games."
Click to expand...
 
el_pistolero_No7 said:
------------------Reina-------------------
Johnson---Coates----Skrtel----Enrique
---------------Lucas-----------------
--------Allen------Gerrard-----
-Assaidi----Carroll-------Suarez----

I'd play that team against Hearts and maybe City depending on the performances of Assaidi, Carroll and Coates.
Click to expand...

Official site says Assaidi can't play against Hearts as he's cup-tied this round:

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/no-hearts-debut-for-assaidi

No Hearts debut for Assaidi

Oussama Assaidi is not eligible to play in Liverpool's Europa League play-off matches against Hearts.
​
The Morocco winger, who became the club's third summer signing on Friday, is cup tied having featured for Heerenveen in the qualifying rounds.​
​
However, he will be available should Liverpool reach the group stages.

<... blah blah blah unrelated stuff deleted ...>
 
Jose Enrique will miss Liverpool's Europa League play-off first leg trip to Hearts as manager Brendan Rodgers prepares to field a much-changed side.

Enrique was unavailable for last Saturday's 3-0 Premier League defeat at West Brom due to a knee injury, which he picked up in training.

The left-back will continue to receive treatment at the club's Melwood training base in the hope that he will be fit to face Manchester City on Sunday.

Captain Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Glen Johnson and Martin Skrtel are also set to sit out the game as Rodgers rests a number of key players.

Morocco winger Oussama Assaidi will miss the match, as he is cup tied, having played earlier in the Europa League qualifying rounds for his previous club Heerenveen.

However Assaidi, who arrived at Anfield last week in a £2.4 million deal, will be eligible to play in the group stages if Liverpool overcome Hearts.

Andy Carroll is also in line to make his first start of the season, with a potential move to Newcastle or West Ham having stalled.
Click to expand...
 
NOT Playing : Gerrard, Skrtel, Enrique, Assaidi and Johnson.

So maybe :

------------------Reina-------------------
Kelly------Carra----Agger----Robinson
-------------------Lucas-----------------
-------------Adam------Shelvey
Downing ------Carroll-------Borini

Must be good enough for a physical away game at Hearts.
 
DHSC said:
I wonder why we are resting players 4 games into the season.
Click to expand...

Because you need to spread your resources over the whole season not just the end !

We have a very tough match on Sunday - less than 3 days on from this match, why even take the chance of an injury ?
 
I assume they will not be travelling either so will be doing specific training in Melwood instead. Is Johnson injured?
 
Liverpool (provisional squad): Reina, Jones, Kelly, Agger, Carragher, Coates, Flanagan, Shelvey, Lucas, Adam, Allen, Henderson, Spearing, Downing, Borini, Carroll, Wilson, Robinson, Sterling, Eccleston.

Might just be Frogfish's lineup.
 
Slight surprise in seeing Allen in the squad cos he'd played 180 mins in the previous wk and cos our no. of options in midfield. If he does start, then it's probably Rodgers relying on him to impose the style of gameplan he wants?
 
I'm more surprised to see Wilson and Eccleston make the trip. One is the forgotten man while the other seems to be gone one week and staying the other.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

the count
    • Like
  • Locked
In memory of @gkMacca
Replies
21
Views
3K
Roopy
Roopy
Oncy
    • Like
  • Locked
From a sows ear.
Replies
18
Views
1K
#roadred
#roadred
redhorizon2
  • Locked
£770MILLION Spent
2
Replies
39
Views
5K
localny
localny
the count
    • Like
  • Locked
Talk to Tony.................
Replies
8
Views
1K
juniormember
juniormember
L
    • Like
  • Locked
Time For Brendan Rodgers To Be Pragmatic (again)
Replies
26
Views
2K
mark1975
mark1975
Back
Top Bottom