10 Aug 2021 15:42:18
"Woodburn has an Anfield future" according to Pep. wonder how true that is?

He had a great game yesterday to be fair but I'd be surprised if he broke into the team.

10 Aug 2021 16:52:47
Yeah, I was interested to read that too, Maximosa - of course it could be a way to generate interest!

There was a list posted up either earlier today or yesterday of our U21s to see who we thought could make it as First 11 squad players at least (to avoid HG limits in the future) . Seeing Woodburn on there, my immediate thought was that he'll not be one of the ones that makes it as he's too old. However, he is still only 21 and maybe he's matured late (both as a player and as a human, willing to put in the hard yards in training like Milly, Hendo and others) . So maybe there is a chance there.

I'm getting a bit of a feeling like this year could be our "Chelsea/ Lampard" year. I was mightily impressed with the youngsters that Chelsea used a couple of seasons ago when they had their transfer ban. A few of them at least improved their sell on value through having EPL minutes (Abraham, Hudson-Odoi) and others broke through and established themselves in the first 11 (Mount, James) .

I wonder if we may have that this year, with our options being limited because of the financial implications of CV?

I certainly hope that we don't end up buying for the sake of buying - if a player wasn't on the list (top 5 or whatever) of players for a position we were looking to recruit, I hope we don't buy anyway. I don't think we will as that's not been the style of FSG and Klopp in recent years.

10 Aug 2021 17:12:25
C'mon Zeddicus mate lampard year? So you want Klopp to be sacked like lamps? 😜.

10 Aug 2021 18:23:44
I was focussing on the use of youth rather than the inept management, kopforever ;-) :D.

10 Aug 2021 18:57:38
Wasn't use of youth gone once Transfer ban was lifted?

They're ways to engage youth, (1) is to integrate them slowly by giving then 20-30 mins when You're winning comfortably or (2) playing them coz of injuries in Neco Williams case and be crucified all over SM be it for LFC or Wales.

Coz the margin or error is very very small when you're competing at highest level. Only few can handle to be thrown at deep.

Just imagine if LFC doesn't compete or win anything next season the furore will be on SM?

Think SM has changed everything and it impacts massively on managers, players and their families etc. That's the world we are living now. :- (.

10 Aug 2021 19:11:53
I don't disagree with you there, kopforever. There hasn't been a concerted use of a group of youth players to develop together since Ferguson in the 90s, at least not at the top level. Youth tends to get its chance more often at lower clubs who may not have any choice. More often than not, you do unearth some gems.

Our gems? Well we have Trent, Jones and Kelleher already, knocking on the door or actually in the first team.

Elliot looks like he's next in line, its too early for Gordon, I think, but what a player he could turn out to be.

I wonder if Woodburn can be knocking on the door too, or is it just friendly madness?

{Ed025's Note - exactly that zed...friendly madness mate..

10 Aug 2021 19:50:42
Trent knocking the door? Think he's already eatablish and have already won most of the big prizes in Club football.

Then you've got Gomez, Sterling, Rashford, Mount, Kane, Foden etc etc playing at the highest level tho.

10 Aug 2021 20:14:51
You seem to have missed "knocking on the door or ACTUALLY IN THE FIRST TEAM".

I could have split the sentence - "Well we have Trent, who is already in the first team, Jones, who is almost in the first team, maybe on some days and maybe not on others, and Elliot who is knocking on the door" - but it seemed a trifle clumsy to me. So I just assumed my fellow posters would read the whole sentence and understand the meaning.

:-)

10 Aug 2021 20:20:30
Sry bud I agree with you this is what happens when you're concentrated on Daily soaps and reading the post at the same time 🙈🙈.

10 Aug 2021 20:38:21
Tell me about it, I'm trying to finish a book, do some work and keep an eye on the message boards to check if Saul has been announced!

And my wife has the cheek to say I can only do one thing at a time!

{Ed025's Note - love it zed..