07 Jun 2023 19:44:54
One player that seems to be getting overlooked with all this midfield talk is Bajcetic. I hope he's a part of whatever midfield rebuild we have in mind.

Considering we have him, Trent potentially to add in, macallister incoming and perhaps a few more, our midfield is starting to look very competitive.

{Ed025's Note - you sound like the spokesperson for FSG Wassa.. :)

1.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 20:08:17
I’m with you there Wassa.

2.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 20:14:33
Baj is the future of this club. he ain't being overlooked at all. Baj thuram and mcalistair will do me nicely thanks.

3.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 20:17:01
Both he and Curtis have been given assurances about plans to include them in the team going forward.

4.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 20:44:57
Baj is 18 - he has plenty of time. He is also not ready to be a regular starter in big games if we want to seriously challenge this year. He will get plenty of minutes in Europa league etc or coming off the bench but he has time on his side. Should just be stuck to Thiago like glue this year trying to learn.

5.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 21:00:19
The age shouldn't matter though. If he's 18 and the worst midfielder we have he won't play but if he's better he should in spite of his age. Was alright for Fowler, Owen and Trent.

6.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 21:14:49
And Jude Bellingham.

{Ed025's Note - good point zed..

7.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 21:30:58
If their good enough their old enough .
Bajetic should easily be getting minutes next year he’s proven he deserves it . He will be used the same way as Elliott I would think .
The signing of mac allister suddenly makes Curtis Jones job for a starting place look harder now though . Some good competition won’t do us any harm at all ??.

8.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 21:55:42
Bellingham is a monster though, Bajcetic is not physically ready yet imo.

9.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 21:56:20
Yes but he isn’t quite ready yet imo. Faded a lot in games and decision making was questionable at times. All to be expected given he is so young so not a criticism at all. Just think he needs another year or two in and out the team to let him develop, particularly physically. Great squad option though and lots of potential.

Also tough to compare to Trent as totally different coming into the team at RB vs CM and be expected to dictate play.

10.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 21:59:07
Very much agreed. As long as injuries do not impact his availability and performance, and his attitude remains of a professional level, Bajcetic really does seem like a great prospect. I honestly can see him becoming a first team regular in a year or two. As of right now, he will be a very capable squad rotation player.

When you consider Hendo's age, Thiago's availability and being out of contract in a year, and Fabinho's difficulties this season, then I can definitely see increased involvement for Baj next season. It is entirely possible all 3 will leave end of next season any way, or, at least, a significant reduction in playing time. So, there will be room for him to move up, I don't believe his development will be stifled with 3 midfield incomings.

There will be a lot more room for rotation, especially with us being in the Europa league. We can use a greater number of combinations all over the pitch, then if we were in the Champions League, for instance, where the competition is greater. My hope is that Baj, Doak and Bradley receive more game time this season, featuring in Europa and early stage FA Cup and League Cup. Those 3 are my pick of the youth players, or at least, the ones that seem ready.

Fingers crossed everything works out. Either way, it is a nice headache to have. Our midfield has been a constant source of negativity, and rightfully so. With more options, keeps everyone on their feet and hungry to compete.

11.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 23:03:15
I have to say when Baj was introduced some of the comments in the press by those around him, especially his dad had me a bit wary about Liverpool being a stepping stone, similar to Bellingham at Dortmund. Obviously I could have been reading to much into the comments, but, like I say some of the stuff did give me pause for thought.

12.) 07 Jun 2023
07 Jun 2023 23:11:34
That entire coaching staff needs to be sent home if they are overlooking Bajcetic.

13.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 00:32:04
He's still a kid. Needs 20 games max per season in the first team. Anymore and he risks harming his body as it's developing and becoming another Fowler or Owen. Leave him be and let him develop, 2/ 3 years from now he can be coming in as possibly Henderson, fabinho thiago etc leave.

14.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 04:53:40
Where is this 20 games max per season based on? Trent played around 35 games when he was a similar age to Baj, Mbappe and Haaland, played about 30, and Bellingham played 40. We can manage his game time without putting an arbitrary number on the number of times he should be playing just so we can justify an additional signing.

Last season has shown that he can step up when required and did not look out of place at all playing in the PL. If he needs a rest, we have players like Hendo and Fab who can cover for him. Morton too if he shows enough during pre-season. But for me, he should already be a starter.

Buying both Thuram and Kone who are not that much older than him and possibly not that much better is just unnecessarily blocking him from playing. Buying either of them would make more sense.

15.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 07:04:02
Nobody knows what injuries Bellingham will have in the future, people are right to call out Fowler and Owen even Rooney.
The say 27 is supposed to be a peak age for a player but you could name a lot of players who were overplayed while young and were on the slide by then.

{Ed025's Note - you cant really judge a player on what might happen in the future wishy washy, im sure if any player turned out to be another Fowler or Rooney the supporters would be more than happy mate..

16.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 07:53:14
New transfer policy should be not to buy anyone over 35 mill then Incase they get injured.

17.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 08:24:44
Rooney or Fowler were hardly the best in terms of given their bodies a helping hand at longevity now were they?

18.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 12:44:20
If he's good enough, he's old enough - whilst we need the midfield strengthened, i do not want to go overboard and block players like Bacjetic getting games

A lot will depend on Trent's role - personally, i'd like him in midfield and let Ramsay and Bradley compete for the rb spot - leaves us more balanced, in my humble opinion obviously lol

If Trent goes to midfield then we would have MacAllister in the lcm spot and Trent in the rcm spot. I think we really need a new cdm - seems we want either Kone or Thuram - are they cdms?

That would be 2 new signings plus Trent in midfield. We would then have them backed up by Jones, Bacjetic and Elliott and also Henderson and Thiago with much needed experience - if we sign a cdm, I think Fabinho could go

That would be 8 names for 3 starting spots. Even accounting for the injuries Henderson and Thiago seem to routinely pick up would this be enough?

Bacjetic had a bad injury there, but hopefully will recover well. Elliott seems injury free usually and Jones could be a concern but they are not at the level Keita and Ox were injury wise so should be ok?

There is still the likes of Clarkson and Morton coming back from loan to consider - integrate into the squad or loan again?