Liverpool FC: Rogers - We Are Heading In The Right Direction

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Steve Hunter @Shunter77 --Scott Rogers insists the future remains bright for his young, developing Liverpool Ladies side after an encouraging Spring Series campaign.
Despite defeats in their final two games to big-spending Chelsea and Manchester City, displays against the likes of Arsenal and Sunderland showed that the team are well equipped to make a strong challenge when the Women’s Super League returns in September. With five players set for action for their countries in the Women’s European Championship in July, the majority of the squad will go on their holidays.
Before taking a deserved break himself, Rogers sat down with Liverpoolfc.com to reflect on the first part of 2017...
--Scott, the season started early for you with the Women’s FA Cup and the small matter of a derby with Everton – a pleasing outcome in the end… From our point of view, our pre-season didn’t quite go to plan. We only played two games because a couple of teams dropped out on us, so the FA Cup tie was always going to be tough with it being a Merseyside derby and Andy Spence has developed a really good young team at Everton. We managed to get through it and it’s always a positive when you a win a derby. We won it in extra-time, which gave the girls some more minutes and it put us in a good stead for the rest of the Spring Series.
You gave a debut to Ali Johnson and she came up trumps with the assist for Shanice van de Sanden’s winner… She did and Ali has done really well for us. Whether she is ready to start regularly at this level yet is something we have to work with her on. We’ve got to educate her on this is a step up from playing development league football, but technically her left foot is very special and we have got a few of them at the club. Ali is a great prospect and what a great cross it was for Shanice to put us in the next round.
After suffering semi-final heartbreak by being edged out 1-0 to eventual winners Manchester City, preparations turned to the Spring Series, so what were your expectations and hopes? We didn’t equip ourselves very well at City, it wasn’t us and we didn’t get going. Offensively we didn’t do enough. What I love about this group is we sat down and reflected on what we have done well, what we haven’t done so well and then got back on the training pitch. The girls worked very hard and we started the Spring Series really well.
You were also parading a new signing in the experienced Casey Stoney – how big a capture was that for you? It has been massive because I felt last year we were a little bit inexperienced so I went from one extreme to the other. To bring someone in with Casey’s experience, because she has played in many games at the top level and won many trophies and medals, she brought a calming influence to the dressing room. She also has that little bit of know-how when we are up against teams who have proved to be tricky in the past.
You also managed to get Laura Coombs back on a permanent deal after her successful loan spell last year… We were delighted to bring her back. She has been brilliant in the Spring Series for us and it’s important we keep developing this group and pushing them on.
You also managed to get a new No.9 in with the arrival of Jess Clarke – another exciting signing for the team… I was looking for a new No.9 and I almost fell upon one because I put Natasha Harding up there and she has been fantastic in the Spring Series with her movement and some of her link-up play has been different class. Getting Jess in was a big boost for us and what I like about the forward line we have is the ability to change it and the ability to interchange. With players like Natasha, Jess, Shanice van de Sanden and Niamh Charles we have some very good forwards at this football club now.... -Read more: http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/ladies/265532-rogers-we-are-heading-in-the-right-direction
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