Tommy Smith: Sweeping Changes Led To Liverpool FC Humiliating Downfall

I wasn’t at the Northampton game on Wednesday night. But I don’t think I could have been any angrier even if I had been.

As soon as the penalty shoot-out ended, I switched the radio off and went to bed.

Like all other listening fans, and of course the thousands of supporters who paid their money, braved the rain and went along to support their side in what should have been a routine cup game, I’d long since heard enough and had enough.

I know there were six international players on duty plus some other apparently up and coming youngsters. And for that reason we should have had enough to see off a lowly League Two side at Anfield.

But a fair share of the blame for this woefully embarrassing defeat simply has to go to the manager for making 11 changes – yes 11 changes – to the line-up.

I’m sorry but this is just utterly ridiculous to me.

I played for eight years in a team that barely changed under Bill Shankly.

The first team line-up and approach was replicated through the ranks. So if one of us did get injured, the left-back or right-half or whoever would be replaced by someone from the reserves who was groomed in the position and what was expected. He would step up and fit in.

How on earth are 11 players who have never played together as a side before be expected to play really well? To me they just can’t.

Had Roy Hodgson instead announced in advance that he would be playing people like Gerrard, Reina, Torres and Carragher in his starting line-up, then many more fans would have turned up I’m sure and we would have had no problems.

Remember, playing at Anfield is a cup final for a side like Northampton and to entirely change our side from the weekend has played right into their hands.

I know it’s early days for Hodgson and he’ll certainly be learning a lot about his squad. But I really hope that after Sunderland today he looks to keep the same side against Utrecht in midweek and again against Blackpool in a week.

If players need resting let them instead ease up on the training, as we used to do.

Because wholesale changes invariably bring wholesale misery in my book.