04 Feb 2016 07:58:12
I'm sick of people consistently describing 'hype' over Ilori. Sure some people went over the top but the reality of the situation is that with our dire defense over the past 3 years, people were confused as to why we did own another CB who was loaned out year after year to team who didn't really need him, and wasn't given a chance. Very few people ever thought he was some sort of savior of the back line - they just wanted to see him given a chance with the chuckle brother combination of Skrtel and Lovren failing game after game, Sakho and Toure injured and Can being confused as a CB. So can people stop bleating on and exaggerating about how much most fans thought Ilori was capable of? Much like all our best young players atm, they just want them to be properly tested before we go out and spend another £70m on a bunch of average players!

1.) 04 Feb 2016
04 Feb 2016 08:18:05
hijkle How do you propose we do that, testing, even better How would you line up the squad for our next game assuming no injured players will be back cause I'd really like to know what you mean by giving the youngsters a chance.

{Ed001's Note - no, we don't want this page to be just full of team lists, it gets boring. There is a page for that. It is not difficult to figure out what is meant anyway, you can't need it explained to you!}

2.) 04 Feb 2016
04 Feb 2016 08:29:28
ed its not that I don't understand what I'm trying to ask is which of the youngsters do you think should step up into the first team and start.

{Ed001's Note - but he is not saying that is he, he is saying they should be tested out, which means the odd game here and there, substitute appearances etc. Rather than being loaned out and ignored before being released when their contract expires.}

3.) 04 Feb 2016
04 Feb 2016 08:56:59
I think Ilori has potential and definitely deserves chances if he trains well enough.

He was okay in the Exeter replay. I was just disgusted by his fitness in the initial Exeter game. He was blowing out his backside after 50 minutes. You can blame lack of first team football if you want, but Jon Flanagan came back from over 600 days out injured and lasted 105 minutes in his first start. Even when he was subbed he offered to continue.

I do agree with you though Hijkle. I wanted Ilori to be kept for this season and given a chance. Looks like Klopp will at least assess him to be fair. His performances at the U21's Euros were brilliant. The only question is can he finally step up to mens football? Physically he is still too fragile. Ability wise he has it all for a centre back. Whether or not he makes it will come down to mental and physical strength.

{Ed001's Note - did Flanno play on the Exeter pitch? Did Ilori ask to be subbed or did he keep going even though he was clearly shot? I fail to understand this whine about him being tired out, everyone was struggling in the second half.}

4.) 04 Feb 2016
04 Feb 2016 09:20:44
i think we will see changes in the Sunderland game and youth will be tried. Texeira came on late against Leicester. i think a few other should be given substitute appearances and starts. Flannagan and Smith might as well start. i think this season, what's left of it should be about assessing the youth so we prepare ourselves for next season. i just can't see us bridging the gap between us and top 4 . all teams in top 4 right now almost seem dead certain to remain there given their form and depth in squad. we should test the youth in league now. not saying drop everyone from first team but in matches like the next one against Sunderland at home you have to test some players. i understand going for experience in away matches but there is no excuse for not playing youth in home matches against bottom 3 opponent. given that they have performed well in limited chances they have been given. they played well in EL, in cup games against good sides like Hammers, stoke. so if they can do it in a cup game, they can do it in a league game also. it at-least adds desire, hunger and pace to the squad if nothing else. i mean the only thing that stops Texeira from being as good as Coutinho if not better is he has absolutely zero minutes of football at top level while Coutinho since he was 18 is playing day in day out at highest level.

5.) 04 Feb 2016
04 Feb 2016 13:32:11
Thank you Ed001 - exactly what I meant.