07 May 2018 20:24:44
Ed1, Dom Solanke has been getting labeled as a failure and as someone without the ability to play for Liverpool, which I find very frustrating considering his age and lack of game time this season. What is your personal view of him and do you think a loan is best next season or keep him involved around the first team?

I keep hearing from people and seeing comments saying he is useless and will never be anything more than championship level. Granted he hasn't been great for us but he reminds me a little of how harry Kane was before he broke through at spurs and given time and confidence could be a very good player.

{Ed001's Note - he is just a kid and it takes them years to grow into the team. Carragher got this kind of abuse too, right up until almost the end of his career with us. People have no patience and expect a player to have an immediate effect. Some will, but most won't and need time to develop and fit into the team. Solanke has the ability to be a long term forward for us, he just needs to learn not to rely on physicality like he did at youth level.

For instance that entire England team that won last summer was physically stronger than the rest and that was the main reason they won it. They were at the same level technically but could bully the opposition physically, but none of them have been able to transfer it to first team football because they are the ones being bullied physically. Give them time to develop and judge them when they have grown into men.}

1.) 07 May 2018
07 May 2018 21:02:31
Solanke won’t make it at Liverpool.

2.) 07 May 2018
07 May 2018 21:06:46
great reply Ed's, cheers for the insight.

{Ed001's Note - I missed a bit out though, I should have said that none were able to transfer it except for Lewis Cook, the one player who was not physically stronger than the opposition.

Youngsters like Solanke are almost relearning the game, going from being physical brutes bullying opponents to being amongst the smaller players who get knocked around. It holds them back, which is why smaller players tend to adapt more quickly, as they are used to being knocked around.}

3.) 07 May 2018
07 May 2018 21:18:13
Spot on, Ed. It seems like if a young player is not doing a Messi, SG or in Solanke's and Origi's cases, Harry Kane after his first few games, he is crap and needs to get binned. Patience is dead if English football and that is just sad.

{Ed001's Note - Harry Kane was awful in his first few games, in fact first few seasons on loan he struggled badly. He was just lucky they were out of the spotlight.}

4.) 07 May 2018
07 May 2018 21:23:18
Great points there Ed, I have previously been a Solanke basher but I do get it, these things take time, it's too early to say he won't make it, far too early.

{Ed001's Note - you only have to look at the stick Alexander-Arnold was getting a few weeks back, people just have no patience. They forget these kids are learning to play at a completely different level.}

5.) 07 May 2018
07 May 2018 21:53:54
Agreed mate, same goes for Gomez, sure the lads made mistakes, plenty infact but that's part of learning and I'm confident both Gomez and TAA will grow to be vital cogs in our team. They're all still very very young. I mean Wilson, had a great season at Hull, everybody singing his praises because sure, he's done good overall but if he was at Liverpool next season and didn't do great we'd have the same kind of stuff, people wouldn't be happy with him saying 'he won't make it' without thinking of their ages and how they are still learning everything about the game. It's a shame really, more people need more patience.

6.) 07 May 2018
07 May 2018 22:16:48
i get the point about solanke but what if his physicality was the main part of his game. he's 20 so he's got plenty of time to hit the gym but right now he doesn't offer much.

7.) 07 May 2018
07 May 2018 22:17:50
The problem is with the business nature of the game these days. Players won’t get the same opportunities as they did 25 years ago when the likes of Fowler came through. The stakes are too high and fans want constant new signings with the hundreds of millions of TV money the clubs get.

Solanke won’t get enough game time with us unless Firmino suffers a terrible injury or Klopp leaves and we change the way we play. He’s 21 this year, he needs to play some games 🤝.

8.) 07 May 2018
07 May 2018 22:20:37
You can't win with this one im afraid mate, we want the youngsters to play yet we expect them to be perfect, Gomez and TAA have learnt more from playing in the 1st team this season then spending 5 seasons in the reserves, I fully expect both to have long careers with us, solanke is the current whipping boy, yet we call for Brewster to be fast tracked to the 1st team, Wilson has done superb with hull and I would like to see him get a chance next season, although I wouldn't be against him going on loan to a mid table premier league team to see how he handles himself, patience sadly is becoming scarce where these young players are concerned.

9.) 08 May 2018
08 May 2018 06:35:17
A great read regarding Solanke and young players in general.
Woodburn is another. Can see the boy has talent and is already an international, but has now been taken out the limelight.
Learning his trade training with the team.
Would like to see Harry Wilson added to squad for next season.
Been watching him and seems to have learned a lot this season.
The old phrase of "you never stop learning" should be drummed into them.
Loftus Cheek has also developed this season. I think the penny has dropped with him that he needed to work harder and focus.
Remember the U17 England squad that won the World Cup, and turned their shirts around so their names could be seen?
They are already in the system at their respective clubs. Scouts know who they are. To me it seemed they are impatient. Work hard, stay grounded and focused. Be willing to develop and listen, then the rest will follow.
Having said all that, a lot of young footballers suddenly think they have made it already and to a point, stop trying.
Did anyone notice that the whole of the Crewe team at the weekend were, Academy players? They won 2-1.
Crewe are known for having a great Academy that turns out player after player.

10.) 08 May 2018
08 May 2018 11:20:55
My point exactly, Ed01. People forgot how pee poor Kane was cos I remember you saying that a couple years ago esp. during his loans BUT he was out of the spotlight and frankly, no one care for Spurs at that time after the AVB debacle. He flew under the radar and go it done. It is like saying I wanna go to heaven BUT I don't wanna die". You simply CANNOT say that you want kids to get chances YET are not interested in them being given time to grow, make mistakes and learn from them. That is just a big, fat contradiction. You are either ready and willing to persevere with those you think will make it or you get rid, plain and simple. you cannot have it both ways. That is just ludicrous.