ALEX PEARCE DROPPED

[royalsteve]

And Gorkss was the best last year, and just like Pearce wasn't good enough this year. What on earth makes you think he'll be good enough for Liverpool?
FTR I disagree that the contract issue is the main reason he isn't playing. The main reason he isn't playing is that he's been utter shit, while Morrison and Mariappa have been better than him.

LOL at you comparing Gorkss to Pearce, AP is 24 and has a lot of potential where as Gorkss is 31 and has the pace of a disabled snail. He is not good enough to get into Liverpools starting 11 but it is clear he wants Premiership football and BR knows how good he potentially is.

Alex Pearce has not been utter shit, he hasn't played at the level you would of expected him to play at after his performances last year, but he has not been utter shit. Morro has been good and has scored more goals, but I wouldn't say he has had a much better season that Pearce. NA is trying to build a team for next season and Pearce wont be here so there is no reason for him to be playing.

spot on. I suspect morisson and mariappa will play in defence next season

[SCIAG]

And Gorkss was the best last year, and just like Pearce wasn't good enough this year. What on earth makes you think he'll be good enough for Liverpool?
FTR I disagree that the contract issue is the main reason he isn't playing. The main reason he isn't playing is that he's been utter shit, while Morrison and Mariappa have been better than him.

But you generally know nothing about football so...

[Ian Royal]

Adkins, rightly so, doesnt seem to want to play a player that he knows wont be playing for us this season

Two words: Steve Sidwell.

Not really comparable to the end of a season under a new manager looking at what he's got to work with next season.

[Unbelievable Jeff]

Him and Carragher waving at each other yesterday, seems to suggest he's already agreed to join Liverpool

Why would Liverpool want a one-paced no-mark defender who can't even get into the worst team in the division?

the reason he isnt in the team is down to a contract issue, not because of his lack of talent.
He was one of the best players in the league last year.

I actually think the reason he is not in the team is because of his lack of passing ability. Not saying that Morrison is good at passing, just he is better than Pearce and as we saw yesterday Adkins wants us to pass It out from the back

[SCIAG]

Pearce should show Adkins a clip of him splitting the Bristol City defence in two for Long to score. Or point out that he was good enough for Brendan Rodgers.

[Snowball]

Personally I think AP is out because he's going

Why give him air-time when we can spend time developing Morrisson?

[Terminal Boardom]

I think it's more a case of NA finding out about his squad in a matchday environment. At least he can go into the close season with an idea of where the squad requires improving. If it is also to do with the contract situation then why waste a place in the starting XI for someone who may well have informed the club that he has no intention of signing a new contract. Especially the case with the club staring relegation in the face.

My only hope is that everyone gives NA time to shape and mould a new squad capable of playing entertaining and exciting football which also delivers with positive results. Time will tell.

[under the tin]

I think it's more a case of NA finding out about his squad in a matchday environment.

^^^^Exactly this.

The timing of Brian's dismissal was queried by many, but I believe that it was never a case trying to get someone in to keep us up; it was already far too late.
NA has the luxury of the remaining games to have a proper look at what he has inherited, and will learn ten times more about the attitude, application and character of this squad in real match situations against motivated, committed opposition than he will in a whole summer of training sessions, and half-paced pre season games against the likes of Didcot or Aldershot.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

I think it's more a case of NA finding out about his squad in a matchday environment.

^^^^Exactly this.

I would have agreed with you, considering that in the past 2 games Adkins has had a look at just about ever striker and midfielder who's a serious contender for the first team - even Carrico!

But he hasn't tinkered with the defence at all.

[The Beardy Man]

I think it's more a case of NA finding out about his squad in a matchday environment.

^^^^Exactly this.

I would have agreed with you, considering that in the past 2 games Adkins has had a look at just about ever striker and midfielder who's a serious contender for the first team - even Carrico!

But he hasn't tinkered with the defence at all.

and there was me thinking he has tried 2 different players at left back, 2 different players at right back, 2 different centre back combinations and 3 different goalkeepers in 3 games....

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Last two matches :
Back Four vs. Southampton : Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly
Back Four vs. Liverpool : Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly

Don't know if your post was trying to be sarcastic or if you'd completely missed the point I'd made.

[LoyalRoyal22]

Glad they dropped him. We need to focus on the future and let the money grabber leave if he wont accept our contract.

[The Beardy Man]

Last two matches :
Back Four vs. Southampton : Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly
Back Four vs. Liverpool : Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly

Don't know if your post was trying to be sarcastic or if you'd completely missed the point I'd made.

I just don't think it was a valid point. The only established first team squad players (in defence) he has yet to look at in the first team are Harte and Cummings. We may see either or both get a chance in the coming games, or it may mean either or both have little future at the club under Adkins. Not sure how much change you are arguing for game by game?

It could be you would like to see the likes of Keown and Sweeney get a look in, which is fair enough, though perhaps he is waiting for games with nothing mathematically on them before giving out first team debuts just to have a look at someone.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Last two matches :
Back Four vs. Southampton : Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly
Back Four vs. Liverpool : Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly

Don't know if your post was trying to be sarcastic or if you'd completely missed the point I'd made.

I just don't think it was a valid point. The only established first team squad players (in defence) he has yet to look at in the first team are Harte and Cummings. We may see either or both get a chance in the coming games, or it may mean either or both have little future at the club under Adkins. Not sure how much change you are arguing for game by game?

It could be you would like to see the likes of Keown and Sweeney get a look in, which is fair enough, though perhaps he is waiting for games with nothing mathematically on them before giving out first team debuts just to have a look at someone.

Not at all. The point I was making was that in his first two games Adkins swapped around a lot in all positions. But after the Southampton match he left the defence exactly the same whilst still making 4 changes in other positions.

That suggest to me he's seen enough about the defenders and has made his mind up about who the best back 4 are, and he's sticking with them - but he's still chopping and changing and looking at the strikers and midfielder.

[The Beardy Man]

Not at all. The point I was making was that in his first two games Adkins swapped around a lot in all positions. But after the Southampton match he left the defence exactly the same whilst still making 4 changes in other positions.

That suggest to me he's seen enough about the defenders and has made his mind up about who the best back 4 are, and he's sticking with them - but he's still chopping and changing and looking at the strikers and midfielder.

Fair enough, must admit my own reading of the situation is that I do not expect to see Harte, Pearce or Shorey here next year. On that basis he is getting a better look at what remains. Where that leaves Cummings is also up for debate (unless he is injured, which given not featuring for the U21's as an overage player is possible).