06 Jun 2026 22:18:22
LFC have Rio and Abe ready or coming in 3 years max amongst other elite youth talents.
Edwards and co believe they are ahead of the curve and the smartest people in any room!
Knowing what we have in Rio and the academy there would be no harm in buying quality veterans like Mitoma and or Bowen.
06 Jun 2026 22:35:52
I see Rio got on the pitch for the 2nd half of the friendly. First full cap at 17. I can see how we really should be looking to get rid.
06 Jun 2026 22:58:32
You can't rush young players through, especially if they depend on pace. So many careers have been shortened for that reason.
The idea with all the youth is that if even 10% make it through, which is a push, it will create something we have been sorely missing for a long time.
Abe and Rio will have to make do with either the cups and sub roles and or loans for a few years yet.
I reckon the Austrian CB is the most likely to power through the ranks quickly, and also believe that there will likely be 1/2 surprise breakthrough players because Andoni is on it.
06 Jun 2026 23:08:49
What difference would it make Rio getting 1000 minutes with the first team at 17 or playing 2000 plus minutes, starting week in week out for under 21's and 18's? Surely, his body would still be covering a similar distance and doing similar amounts of twists, turns and sprints.
06 Jun 2026 23:29:14
@FSW, I agree with what you are saying about not taking any unnecessary risks with youngsters, especially those whose key capability is pace, but I honestly think that there is no 'one rule fits all'. Some youngsters are capable of playing at a higher level than most for their age. I actually think Rio doesn't rely on explosive pace - at the moment, his most prominent capability is his footwork, rather than speed.
As I say, he's by absolutely no means the finished article and I'm not advocating that he's an automatic starter for our games, but I think that he has the capacity to play in a fair amount of games this coming season.
06 Jun 2026 23:08:48
If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
07 Jun 2026 06:50:53
Rio will get a lot more minutes next season than last. Ability wise, he is ready, but his body probably needs time to build up to the demands. My only criticism of him last season was his propensity to switch off when he lost the ball or didn't have it. Iraola is the perfect coach to improve that.