04 Jul 2016 13:24:25
Hi Eds, Bit of a different question that the usual transfers. Which youngsters/ players do you think our club has really messed up on that could've gone onto big things. I bring in this because I look back at our youth graduations over the last decade and it has been poor. I would really love us to develop a local player that can take the PL by storm again.

{Ed001's Note - tough question, there are so many to choose from. Probably Rossiter I would have to say of the recent ones.}

1.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 14:00:43
I think I'm going to go with Wisdom.

Captain of the England U21's, made his debut out of position at about 19 years old and looked solid.

So what does Brendan do? Continue to play Johnson the next season despite his best efforts to cost us the title, then sign Clyne. Neither of which are really better footballers than Wisdom. Wisdom wasn't ready to play centre back, but he was filling in very well at right back and that is the way young centre backs generally break into the first team. But then just to rub salt into the wounds Brendan sends him on loan to work under Pulis and Neil in consecutive seasons.

I genuinely believe Wisdom could've potentially been a candidate for Liverpool captain one day if he had been utilised properly and not sent to work with dinosaurs who pick their teams based on who is 6ft3+, has the worst criminal record, or can shirt pull with the post pounds per square inch! As it happens though, he has missed 2 whole years of development and has regressed under the violent and boring tactics of his loan bosses. Such a shame.

2.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 15:11:11
You seriously think Wisdom is as good as Clyne?

3.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 15:45:25
Love the Clyne criticism. Wisdom and Clyne comparisons hahahahaha.

4.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 15:50:55
Wisdom would have made a decent squad player. Regular first teamer? No way. Neither should Clyne.

5.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 16:07:57
At the moment, my fear is that Flanno is going to join that list in the near future, but hoping not. Hoping he is injury-free this season to get a chance to impress Klopp and be a first team player for years to come. A Full-back who knows how to defend, rare cases these days. Just hope he improves his attacking side because that is what Klopp likes in his system.

6.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 16:16:12
Totti, there are NO good right or left fullbacks in England anymore as Clyne and Walker are the best of the worst especially Walker, who was hopeless at the Euros. CLyne is not as good as you think he is and if you want to have visual evidence of this, go watch the full City game of last season at the Etihad and you will see for yourself. And believe me, there are many other games like that. Wisdom is better on the ball, a better passer and a better one on one defender than he is. because BR messed him about and lied to him about getting a chance yet sent him out to Norwich doesn't change a thing.

7.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 16:14:54
I still think Wisdom is better than Clyne even now. I like Clyne because he works hard on the pitch and never misses a game through lack of fitness or injury. So his attitude and application must be impeccable. He can also really hit a ball!

But his crossing is inconsistent, he cannot pass to a team mate, has a terrible first touch, and he doesn't know how to time his forward runs. He is also completely incapable of tackling someone head on when they run at him. When he is rushing back or across to cover the gap he himself left, he is pretty good in the slide tackle but if he was in position it wouldn't be necessary. His marking in the box is awful. I know he isn't tall so I don't expect him to be aerially dominating. But he lost headers last year to wingers just as small as him such as our new lad Mane! He doesn't even make an effort to put the attacker off as they head it.

Clyne is certainly not as much of an issue as Moreno, Mignolet or Skrtel. But his lack of defensive acumen is still damaging. Is he a priority to replace? Not really because Flanagan is also better than him.

Wisdom is a far superior passer of the ball to Clyne though, as well as a far better defender. The only things Wisdom is behind Clyne with is pace (slightly), shooting and crossing.

You should watch some of Wisdom for our u21's, England youth, or even his loan in Derby. He showed signs that he could've been the leader our defence still needs today.

Sadly he just never got the chance to kick on and now he has fallen behind. I really hope he gets a move to a good side such as Leicester. He'd be an ideal long term replacement for the aging Wes Morgan.

I think a lot of people massively under rate Wisdom's ability on the ball because of his physique, and just assume that because he is only 6ft1 he isn't good in the air.

If you think Clyne is better, fair enough. Who am I to say you're wrong. But in my humble opinion, Flanagan and Wisdom are both better players.

8.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 16:19:50
The problem with rossiter was that he never grew that's all. He could've got round that by being fit constantly and learning the game unfortunately he spent far too long on the treatment table to actually learn the game and during that time hendo became captain we bought can who's done very very well then grujic who's months older yet has played 50+ top flight games, club captain, international call ups and he's about a foot taller.

{Ed001's Note - the problem was poor training made him unfit, which caused injuries. Nothing to do with height.}

9.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 17:12:08
Clyne was brilliant against Slovakia in the euros. I have high hopes he'll relocate that for the Reds next season.

10.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 17:13:35
Jezza Kyle, are you Tony Pulis? :P.

11.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 17:48:53
Flanno.

12.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 18:46:28
MKSCOUSER I have to agree with others here as Wisdom looked destined to be another squad player and no better. I do agree that poor loans didn't help him but I saw no glimpses of quality enough to warrant the future captain monicker.

13.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 19:09:37
Martin Kelly looked like he would become a beast for us. Really thought he'd be the Carragher successor after a few years learning his trade at right back before settling into the middle. That injury wrecked his momentum horribly.

14.) 04 Jul 2016
04 Jul 2016 21:05:10
I'm looking forward to seeing Ayala playing for boro this season.