Well if we were guessing that the Europa leaugue was not really of that much importance to Roy and that he feels it could in fact damage our chances of finishing in the top four
of the Prem. The article below only serves to confirm that thinking. Personally I agree with him and he knows from his experience with Fulham that your luague place can be affected by trying to win the EL. We need to finish in the top 4 of the Prem this season full stop.
Liverpool to leave Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres out of Steaua Bucharest tie
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson plans to leave out Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres for Thursday's Europa League tie with Steaua Bucharest.
By Rory Smith
Published: 7:30AM BST 16 Sep 2010
Shuffling the pack: Roy Hodgson will make changes against Steaua Bucharest Ferguson's decision to make 10 changes was widely criticised after Manchester United managed only a goalless draw at home to Rangers in the Champions League on Tuesday, but Hodgson is adamant that will not deter him from resting a number of senior players.
That will include Torres, despite Hodgson issuing a further stinging rebuke to Jamie Redknapp, who had suggested the striker looked "fed-up and lethargic" against Birmingham last Sunday. "He is not fed up," said the Liverpool manager. "I think it is very wrong for people to read someone's state of mind from watching them play 90 minutes' football. You have to be some wonder psychologist to do that."
In their stead, Hodgson, like Ferguson, will hand a number of his squad players the chance to prove their credentials, an exercise he believes is crucial as he looks to learn more about his side's capabilities.
"What we will do is pretty much what Sir Alex did," said Hodgson. "There is no point having a squad of 25, most of whom are internationals, and then trying to play the same XI. Games like this are important for me to try to get to know players better, because I am still learning about a lot of them, especially those who I have not had chance to do much work with yet."
That learning curve may be an aspect of his new job that Hodgson relishes, but his need to experiment with his side is unlikely to help Liverpool overcome a stuttering, disjointed start to the campaign.
Though Daniel Agger, likely to be restored to the team after his exclusion against Birmingham last Sunday, insists the club's players are much happier under the new regime, Hodgson admits he "does not know" when his methods will start to bear tangible results.
"There is no answer," he replied, when asked how long it would take to mould Liverpool in his own image, rather than Rafael Benitez's. "The style of play will get better. Birmingham was not one of our better games, but the style of play was not a problem against Arsenal, and that was the same. I am not unhappy with what the players have done
Home 