22 Aug 2025 13:31:33
Genuine opinions please no bias towards Liverpool or overly critical because your always worried we didn't get the guy you wanted.
Who's the better player/ prospect between hato and YLFP.
I've seen YLFP is supposed to be a VVD replacement in the future. Is he really that highly thought of.
Personally I have always thought Italian defence, Spanish midfielders Brazilian wingers and French forwards have produced the best players in those areas.
Thanks everyone.
22 Aug 2025 13:48:04
Slot and the team made their choice, which speaks volumes.
22 Aug 2025 13:48:05
I wish I could tell you but my time machine is broken ATM ?.
22 Aug 2025 13:50:03
YLFP, always back your own.
22 Aug 2025 13:54:33
Well defenders should preferably be taller so YLFP gets the nod there. Also ain't many defenders bullying Lukaku. Haven't seen Hato having to bully any strikers in Dutch league.
22 Aug 2025 13:55:06
Sent to early. Added to the fact that chelsea 9 times out of 10 ruin supposedly good prospects.
22 Aug 2025 14:12:50
Only time will tell. What I can say is that I am more than happy with YLFP and when the Italians are getting so excited about a young defender then you know he has potential. Can he fulfil his potential? I hope so, and I will be cheering him on all the way whilst he is in a Liverpool shirt.
22 Aug 2025 14:34:22
Looking forward to the YLFP playing personally
Up the champs.
22 Aug 2025 14:35:23
When you have the YLFP, you don't need anyone else. I've heard he is the only person Chuck Norris is scared of.
{Ed025's Note - if he came up against Duncan Ferguson he would be quaking in his boots TF.. :)
22 Aug 2025 14:41:53
I've not seen enough of either to make a fair comparison. But what I would say is that at 18 years old Leoni was playing CB in Serie A. Whereas at 19 years old Hato was playing LB in the Eredivisie.
Maybe it was more due to the needs of Parma/ Ajax, but Hato strikes me as a similar player to Gomez was at that age; better as a LB but capable as a CB. Whereas Leoni seems to be more trusted in the heart of the defence at CB even in a much harder league.
I have faith in our scouts over Chelsea's scouts. Their scattergun approach is a touch embarrassing to be quite frank. If you sign 20 players a season then by the law of averages you'll get 2 or 3 right!
22 Aug 2025 14:46:28
Well more importantly Liverpool must think it’s the YLFP or they would at least have made an effort to sign Hato.
I’m happy to go with the club ?.
22 Aug 2025 15:25:02
When YLFP WAS BORN he drove himself home from the hospital, on his first day in School he whisper in his dad's ear. " your the man of the house until I get home"
YNWA.
22 Aug 2025 15:26:23
@Phil, The comparison is a bit unbalanced. Hato seems more experienced and older than YLFP, if Im not mistaken. Also with him being seen as a VVD replacement? Yeah, let's pump the breaks on that, pal.
22 Aug 2025 14:41:58
Thats a different story Ed, no one wants be on the end of that stare ?.
{Ed025's Note - well certainly not me mate.. :)
22 Aug 2025 14:51:01
Billy Whitehurst would’ve used YLFP as an earbud and flicked him in the bin. He made Duncan Disorderly look like Danny La Rue.
22 Aug 2025 15:19:15
Italian defenders are not scared of Duncan Ferguson, Ed025.
Just ask Alessandro Pistone.
{Ed025's Note - he would have pistone,d himself if Dunc turned on him Rigsby.. :)
22 Aug 2025 15:29:45
Behave ed25 YLFP WAS sitting in Big Duncan house when he got home, told him " I let myself in, put the kettle on! I got to tell you a few things!
I'm the Daddy now!
{Ed025's Note - then he wakes up in the street with a black eye, 3 missing teeth and a mark on his head like Gorbachev mate.. :)
22 Aug 2025 15:30:54
Ps Ed 25 don't tell big Dunc I said that lad.
{Ed025's Note - my lips are sealed Chrisy..
22 Aug 2025 15:54:49
I always feel central defenders play in a partnership and you judge the partnership together. They rely on each other, covering different aspects of the game.
So I find it hard to judge either player unless they’re playing with a CD partner.
Leoni has height, pace, composure and can read the game. He’s a tremendous prospect, but he needs to be partnered with the right player to fully succeed.
22 Aug 2025 16:02:52
Our Italian track record hasn't been the greatest so hopefully this lad becomes the exception! We're due a bit of fortune on the Italian front :)
22 Aug 2025 16:13:08
Well, despite only having played 17 games in serie a, YLFP is expected to be Bastoni's partner in the national team within the next two seasons, that's how highly he is thought of (though I would have thought Scalvini would be pegged for that role) . His ceiling is absolutely immense if he lives up to what is expected of him. Hato is probably a more reliable bet and is further along in his development but we couldn't offer him the playing time he was looking for, plus he has been playing primarily as a left back.
22 Aug 2025 16:22:01
It's been rumoured that YLFP can be a wheelie on a unicycle.
22 Aug 2025 16:29:04
Formation/ system has a lot to do with the answer here.
I haven't seen much of either, but from what I know, Hato is probably a very promising option for a LCB in a 3-man defense, and Leoni more of a traditional CB in a 2-man pairing.
Could be that both teams bought the best player for their current style.
22 Aug 2025 17:08:33
I once saw, from very close quarters, Billy Whitehurst and Steve Walsh going at it on the pitch.
Not for the faint hearted.
22 Aug 2025 17:37:16
I hope they wore protection, Rigsby. Rubber up!
22 Aug 2025 18:59:30
Let Duxan Ferguson come up against Maldini or Baresi or Costacurta. He will be gazumped.
{Ed025's Note - hard knock Italians are like hens teeth Amman, our big Scot would swat them like flies mate...the 3 of them at once.. :)