18 Jul 2023 23:07:33
I get that Kalvin Phillips isn't for everyone but we do need to replace the HG players we have lost or potentially selling. With the high cost of HG players depending on the wages he would demand he isn't the worst option if he can get back on track, not many options for HG transfers. Mount wasn't signing a new contract massive sum, Rice not signing a new contract massive sum. Rumour is Forest turned down 50 mil for Brennan Johnson who has played less than 80 first team games in total. Anyone got other HG options they would think are realistic, be around the 1st 18 and worth discussing?

1.) 18 Jul 2023
18 Jul 2023 23:29:04
Why must we replace the HG players we have lost?

If we had NO HG players, we would run with a squad of 17 plus U21s (for example, Bajetic and Elliot) .

Its not a REQUIREMENT to have 8 HG players, it's just that you can only have 17 non-HG players in a squad.

BTW, in terms of HG players we have who are not leaving (as far as we are currently aware), we have Kelleher, Gomez, Trent and Jones (if we lose Nat Phillips, which is looking likely) . All 4 of these players also qualify as Club Trained for the UEFA squads.

In and around our first team squad, we also have Elliot and Bajcetic who will both qualify as HG and CT when they come of age.

We are heavily linked with Lavia who will also qualify as HG when he comes of age, but not CT.

We also have players like Gordon, Doak, Pitaluga and Bradley who will also qualify as HG and CT when they come of age.

So I don't think we need to stress too much about HG (at least not enough to be 'keen' on K Phillips) . It is a consideration, however, which could command a premium for someone like Lavia over another younger player who spent their youth overseas.

2.) 18 Jul 2023
18 Jul 2023 23:31:49
I don’t think the club should be signing players on the basis that they are HG.

They should prioritise the right types of players and if some of them happen to be HG then that makes them more attractive (but likely more expensive) .

3.) 18 Jul 2023
18 Jul 2023 23:35:59
Davies, Kelleher, Trent, Gomez, Curtis are HG.

I don’t think we need to be overly worried as we have so many u21s at a good level - Elliott, Bajcetic, Carvalho, Bradley, Beck, Quansah, Gordon, Doak, Chambers and Clark. Some of these may make it at the club.

If we get Lavia then he would count as HG in a few years.

I’d be more worried if we didn’t have any promising kids.

4.) 19 Jul 2023
19 Jul 2023 00:05:21
Nicely explained Zed.
I'm just thinking we need some form of experience, if we lose Fab we have 1 non HG space left and ideally 2 positions (DM and LCB) if we play the same system that need addressing plus maybe another Mid, at least one of those is a starting spot. He wouldn't be in my top 20 of options if I was making the choice from an open market but as a squad option that doesn't take up our last non HG spot I think it's worth the risk. I'm with you on your earlier comments regarding Lavia I think he is the best option for the reasons you stated, that would then give us the option of looking at a more prominent lcb option seeing as every is struggling to land one.

5.) 19 Jul 2023
19 Jul 2023 00:21:04
FPF I think the future looks promising too but from that list of u21s only Elliott has any real experience, Badger looks ready to me but may need time after an injury, the others need either a loan for experience or gradually re/ integrated.
I would love nothing more than for one of those boy's to have a chance in the 1st team and never look back but how often does that happen. 1 or 2 games where they are finding their feet and some people will be writing them off forever and posting that we should have extended Keita's contract!

6.) 19 Jul 2023
19 Jul 2023 03:59:21
Homegrown? how about just sign the best players? lol :p
anyways, 17 plus u21 players doesn't fill me with much confidence lol.

7.) 19 Jul 2023
19 Jul 2023 08:31:15
Davies, Kelleher, Trent, Gomez, Curtis are HG. That’s 5 of the required 8.

Lavia, if we bought him + Elliott and Bajcetic would easily be as good as buying 3 senior HG players for the sake of it.

As for the non-HG limit of 17 - we should move Matip on and this new system might mean the end of the road for Tsimikas. Adrian is a funny one but presumably the club had an idea when giving him a new deal.

8.) 19 Jul 2023
19 Jul 2023 08:49:03
I can't say I've really paid attention to Phillips so unsure how good or bad he is. As for attitude I remember concerns about when we signed Mascherano after him not exactly pulling up pots at West Ham and presz reports saying he was causing trouble and not looking interested. Only being young at the time I thought if it's in the paper then it must be true. Then apart from his last couple of months and the cloud he left under I had no complaints. Point is why not reserve judgement if he signs and see if the lad can plat and can tow the line.

9.) 19 Jul 2023
19 Jul 2023 09:32:45
The club is clearly not overly concerned with the homegrown situation, as Phillips would have been retained while Adrian would have been exchanged for a homegrown goalkeeper. The homegrown situation is far from problematic enough to be trying to sign the likes of Kalvin Phillips. If he couldn’t start even a quarter of the league games for City last season, he should NOT be being targeted as a potential starting DM for Liverpool. ENOUGH of this weird obsession among some of our fanbase of signing mediocre players in the belief that Klopp can turn them into Luka Modric. We should be targeting Caicedo or Tchouameni.

10.) 19 Jul 2023
19 Jul 2023 09:39:32
The whole idea of the HG rule was to encourage clubs to bring their own players through, and it's worked so far - so much talent being given a chance and I've never seen England produce so many players in my lifetime.

I like Phillips, people are being harsh on him. But realistically he's average, and I'd much rather see us bring our own players through than sign average English ones. Same reason I never wanted Mason Mount.

11.) 19 Jul 2023
19 Jul 2023 09:41:53
If we signed a youngster called Wells and he eventually joined the senior squad would he be HG Wells? Sorry, couldn’t help myself.

12.) 19 Jul 2023
19 Jul 2023 09:55:13
BigBabz are you honestly comparing KP to Mascherano? West Ham at the time were a mess of a club and barely stayed in the league. You can compare temperament but in terms of talent they’re galaxies apart.

13.) 19 Jul 2023
19 Jul 2023 10:11:43
No not comparing ability as I've never really watched Phillips. Just comparing a lot of people judging him before he's signed in the same way I remember being dubious and Mascherano. I based it simply on what I had read and heard rather than using my eyes and watching him.

14.) 19 Jul 2023
19 Jul 2023 10:26:24
LuvForClub, you can want the HG issue or non issue (depending on opinions) to be solved while at the same time, not looking to sign a bang average, injury-prone player like Kalvin Phillips. You make it sound like we should sign him only for perceived HG issues and other non footballing topics without actually looking at what the player actually is and could offer us which is IMO, absolutely nothing right now cos well, he doesn't even play cos he has injury and weight issues (Pep said so, not me) . I don't get that.

Also, we spent years moaning about how Naby, Ox, Thiago and MAtip were never fit or often injured but it seems all that goes out the window when Kalvin Phillips is concerned. Again, I don't get it.

For me, Phillips is a non starter no matter how anyone wants to dress it, HG need or otherwise. IMO, he was never good enuff to begin with and I don't care about what he did for England cos even the perennially terrible Harry Maguire and Nathan Dier look good for England. He is simply not what we need. Just my take.