01 Nov 2022 10:01:52
Seen a discussion further down about the HG quota and I wanted to check my understanding with the Eds.

Currently we have the following who are HG:

Kelleher
Gomez
Alexander Arnold
Phillips
Henderson
Milner
Oxlade Chamberlain

I can see at least 4 of that list being here next season - Kelleher, Gomez, Hendo and Trent.

Possibly Phillips and Milner, definitely not the Ox.

However, I do not see such a pressing need to be focussing so much on HG player recruitment as we have a number of players who have secured their place in our First Team squad who are U21 - Elliot, Carvalho, Jones and Ramsay. They will all qualify as HG when they are over 21, as will Pitaluga and Bajcetic.

We also have Williams and VDB who are out on loan at the moment who will also qualify when they come of age.

As the Eds have said over the past few years, the HG quota is not a requirement, the limit is on 17 non-HG players, rather than 8 HG players. If we do not have quite enough HG players (as is the case this season) they we have a smaller squad and/ or have U21s in our squad, which we have this year. 3 of the 4 that I mentioned - Jones, Elliot and Carvalho - have been integral squad members this season and have played a large number of minutes. I like that, we have been saying for years that we'd like to see more youngsters coming through, we finally do!

Eds, is my understanding of the HG system correct? Pretty sure it is as I have checked with you in the past, but I am of an age now where my memory is going!

{Ed002's Note - Correct Ziddicus. However, what I do expect to happen moving forward is (a) a push to lower the maximum number on non Home Grown players from 17 to 13, (b) an increase in the number of "Club Developed" (having been with the club for a year before turning 19) players which currently only impacts UEFA competition, and (eventually) (c) changing to matchday squad such that a minimum number of Home Grown players must start the game (say four), and a minimum number of Club Developed players (say four again) need to be in the match day squad. There are already rules surrounding this in other countries.}

1.) 01 Nov 2022
01 Nov 2022 14:28:06
Thanks for that Ed002. Do you have a sense as to the earliest these changes could happen? Do clubs require being given a minimum of x seasons notice of these changes?

The English premium is only going to go up!

{Ed002's Note - UEFA want all FAs to adhere to a number of changes by 24/25. I terms of reducing the number of non-HG players the plan has already proposed to reduce the number by one a year. But it will happen.}

2.) 01 Nov 2022
01 Nov 2022 14:30:48
Club developed is an issue. We only have Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Jones and Elliot (I think) in the team at the moment who count or will count as club developed by the age of 21. I don't think Carvalho will count as he was nearly 20 when he signed him.

Seems fine on the surface, but I'm constantly told Jones isn't going to be good enough and should be sold, and I could see Kelleher leaving in the next couple of years too. How long is he happy to be #2 when he's good enough to be #1 in a PL team? So that leaves us relying on someone like Williams to step up.

3.) 01 Nov 2022
01 Nov 2022 15:05:11
SR, for when Kelleher wants to move on (and I don't think it will be long, he's too good to sit on the bench) we have Pitaluga who is thought of at least as highly and is also CT given how long he's been with us. I'd love us to be able to do something like the 2 year loan deal Chelsea did with AM for Courtois as I think Kelleher will be that good.

We need to remember that a squad is 25 players (ideally! ) and not every player needs to be a '95' rating or higher. Can Jones become a Mr Reliable to fill in when required, I think he can. Will he be the first name on the team sheet? Possibly not.

Elliot, Trent and Bajcetic will also count as CT, and I'm sure we'll have others coming from the Academy in due course.

I think it was Ed001 who said that he's rather have 'squad fillers' from the Academy than pay high fees and wages for other players to warm the bench. I heartily agree. Every now and then we will unearth a gem, like we did with Trent and City have done with Foden.

4.) 01 Nov 2022
01 Nov 2022 16:08:41
I might have the wrong end of the stick, but I think reducing the non-HG number drastically will have the Premier League and the big clubs up in arms. Even more so with the ESL (or derivatives of) continuing to rear itself. UEFA won't be winning any more friends with that proposal.

{Ed002's Note - They want to encourage clubs to develop players of their own.}

5.) 01 Nov 2022
01 Nov 2022 16:22:24
Kelleher is very injury prone for a player that doesn’t play!
And as for Milner not being here nxt season I wouldn’t bet on it he’s been one of our best players this season!

6.) 01 Nov 2022
01 Nov 2022 16:30:34
I get the intention, Ed. I just think it will not be greeted well by the biggest clubs that already have issues with UEFA.

Cue Man City buying the Home Office :D.

{Ed002's Note - if it is a level playing field they tend not to worry - many countries already having similar rules.}

7.) 01 Nov 2022
01 Nov 2022 18:34:57
Milners contract situation worries me he’s been available for 18 games and played 17. He should be at say Leeds as an experienced squad player like Young at Villa or in the Championship. Klopp needs to be told no if he suggests a renewal.

8.) 01 Nov 2022
01 Nov 2022 20:40:30
One kiss I’d rather Milner then any of Jones ox or Keita.

9.) 01 Nov 2022
01 Nov 2022 20:49:23
I agree that Milner can still put in a shift when required. I would be happy for him to sign another 1 year if needs be. That's why I said that Milner could "possibly" still be with us next year and therefore qualify as one of the overage HG players.

10.) 02 Nov 2022
02 Nov 2022 07:24:57
Isn’t Milner being used as the old pro / mentor for the likes of Elliot, Carvalho, Jones, Bajcetic, Ramsay et al? I think Millie offers just as much, if not more to the squad off the pitch than on.

11.) 03 Nov 2022
03 Nov 2022 09:21:45
WDW, that's right, but as he moves to the stage where he is unable to put in a shift on the pitch, he could still play the same role as a player-coach or a straight coach (at least that's my hope - what a great example to set! )

12.) 03 Nov 2022
03 Nov 2022 14:38:46
Do you expect this to a lot of transfers for younger players, similar to Ben doak and kane Doherty recently signed at Liverpool?

{Ed002's Note - I would not expect "a lot".}