What next for Jack Hobbs

[SB]

Liverpool defender Hobbs happy at Leicester
06.01.09 | tribalfootball.com

Liverpool defender Jack Hobbs is happy with his progress on-loan at Leicester City.

"My main aim is to do well for Leicester and then I will go back to Liverpool in the summer," Hobbs told liverpoolfc.tv. "I'm here until the end of the season and I'm in a winning side.

"I'm developing well as a player. I can't tell you what will happen in the future, but I'm just focused on this season.

"I've got another year at Liverpool and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

http://www.tribalfootball.com/liverpool-defender-hobbs-happy-leicester-220428

So what next for Jack Hobbs?

Is he good enough now for a spot on the bench next yr?

Is he the long term replacement for big Sami?

Do you think he'll go out on loan again next yr?

A lot was expected when we signed JH a few yrs back so where to now do you think?

Has anyone seen much of him this yr whilest at Leicester and how has he been doing?

[Matt]

I thought he generally did okay in the few games he played for us and would be a decent option as 4th choice when Hyypia stands down either this or next year.

But if the lad has any ambition he'll go and play somewhere where he's in the team every week.

[dww]

Difficult to tell - a lot depends on Sami as to whether there will be a free reserve berth in the squad even for him to come back to. Insua has shown what reserve team football with top players can do to develop a player, but then he also has input with the Argentinian youth sides who also have a good record of advancing talent. I tend to feel keepers and CBs need to get games under their belt more than players in other positions (possibly defensive midfield is specialist in that way too but many players move to that position after getting a chance more generally in midfield). If Rafa thinks he has the talent I think next year a six month loan and then see in January what our situation is, otherwise cash in now (obviously).

I wouldn't write him, as has been said by myself and others too many times in the past, Rafa seems to be willing to give young players until maybe 23 to develop.

[SB]

Difficult to tell - a lot depends on Sami as to whether there will be a free reserve berth in the squad even for him to come back to. Insua has shown what reserve team football with top players can do to develop a player, but then he also has input with the Argentinian youth sides who also have a good record of advancing talent. I tend to feel keepers and CBs need to get games under their belt more than players in other positions (possibly defensive midfield is specialist in that way too but many players move to that position after getting a chance more generally in midfield). If Rafa thinks he has the talent I think next year a six month loan and then see in January what our situation is, otherwise cash in now (obviously).

I wouldn't write him, as has been said by myself and others too many times in the past, Rafa seems to be willing to give young players until maybe 23 to develop.

With that in mind Dave, should we be looking to extend his contract now so he doesn't walk out on a free?

[dww]

With that in mind Dave, should we be looking to extend his contract now so he doesn't walk out on a free?

I would be tempted to but it does depend on what Rafa sees in him. There is no point if Rafa no longer sees potential in him - it's just throwing good money after bad. Due to his age we may even be able to swing some compensation if his contract runs out any way.

[SB]

I would be tempted to but it does depend on what Rafa sees in him. There is no point if Rafa no longer sees potential in him - it's just throwing good money after bad. Due to his age we may even be able to swing some compensation if his contract runs out any way.

Surely Leicester's paying his wages now and I wouldn't have thought he'd be costing us much if he re-signs. If rafa has seen something in him, & I'm confident that he has due to him seeing some first team action, surely he's worth a punt

[dww]

Surely Leicester's paying his wages now and I wouldn't have thought he'd be costing us much if he re-signs. If rafa has seen something in him, & I'm confident that he has due to him seeing some first team action, surely he's worth a punt

He certainly saw something in him. It is a case of if he still does. I agree if he does then the cost is minor and he should be signed up. Leicester may or may not be paying some or all of his wages and we can't guarantee that anyone would in future either way. If we want him to go to a team and get games we might be better of doing a deal where we pay the wages in exchange for guarantees of pitch time at a club at the correct level.

[PTP]

i'm not so sure about jack hobbs, i doubt we would miss him much if he went, certainly so with the fact agger and skrtel are only about 24/25. And without wanting to be over critical or two harsh on hobbs, if he was going to be good enough to be competing with them two for the centre back spots we would have seen more from him.

But it's always a risk with these young players, worst case scenario is selling him on, and then he goes on to become a top player for someone else

I'd say best scenario for liverpool would be, treat him well and ensure he has a good relationship with the club (ie don't **** him over so he hates the club) let him move on to wherever (say leicester) but with a first option buy back clause. So say if a couple of years he has developed and looks good enough, we buy him back.

[Resu]

i'm not so sure about jack hobbs, i doubt we would miss him much if he went, certainly so with the fact agger and skrtel are only about 24/25. And without wanting to be over critical or two harsh on hobbs, if he was going to be good enough to be competing with them two for the centre back spots we would have seen more from him.

But it's always a risk with these young players, worst case scenario is selling him on, and then he goes on to become a top player for someone else

I'd say best scenario for liverpool would be, treat him well and ensure he has a good relationship with the club (ie don't **** him over so he hates the club) let him move on to wherever (say leicester) but with a first option buy back clause. So say if a couple of years he has developed and looks good enough, we buy him back.

This is a very good point when any player leaves. You don`t know where he ends up, as a player or a coach.
People talk, and having ex-players that still loves/likes the club is valuable.
Have a look at Xabi, he`s said more than once that the talks with Westerveld and Kvarme helped him choose Liverpool.

[mersey86]

It's going to be a combination of factors. Is he ready to be genuine first team cover, and is he happy to do that? The first decision is up to Rafa. If Rafa is happy with him, then I'd expect Hobbs to jump at the 4th centre defence role, especially with Carra pushing 30. As a fan its always nicer to see the home-grown or cheap and developed players make the grade, so I'm hoping he is considered worth persevering.

[dww]

It's going to be a combination of factors. Is he ready to be genuine first team cover, and is he happy to do that? The first decision is up to Rafa. If Rafa is happy with him, then I'd expect Hobbs to jump at the 4th centre defence role, especially with Carra pushing 30. As a fan its always nicer to see the home-grown or cheap and developed players make the grade, so I'm hoping he is considered worth persevering.

I think people are making too much of the Carra pushing 30 thing - look at Sami. I'm not sure I would be willing to wait that long to get a real shot. On the other hand looking at how Rafa has used 4 centrebacks this year and the fact that Sami is getting to a point where his age will catch up to him at some point I guess there is a chance.

[anfieldanfield]

Move on lad.

[Parm]

I cant see him shifting Jamie, Skrtel and Agger from the first team. At best he can hope for is a ressie spot and that Sami moves on in the summer. But given Sami's form and fitness opportunities do look limited for Hobbs.

[DannyMan2006]

Hobbs has time on his sie and is progressing very well. He has done an Anderson in a way in that he has been brilliant in League one and really found his feet. In my view we should do the same with Hobbs as we did with Anderson. Get him to sign an extension and then see how he does in the Championship.

With the club loaned to paying the majority or all of the wages we are not loosing much, especially as a player who finds his feet in the Championship will command a higher fee.

The best move would be to join a club likely to get promoted if possible. That way if they do he then ends up first choice at a premier league club. Same applies to David Martin who has done just as well.

[SB]

Hobbs has time on his sie and is progressing very well. He has done an Anderson in a way in that he has been brilliant in League one and really found his feet. In my view we should do the same with Hobbs as we did with Anderson. Get him to sign an extension and then see how he does in the Championship.

With the club loaned to paying the majority or all of the wages we are not loosing much, especially as a player who finds his feet in the Championship will command a higher fee.

The best move would be to join a club likely to get promoted if possible. That way if they do he then ends up first choice at a premier league club. Same applies to David Martin who has done just as well.

It's funny that you mentioned Anderson as I was thinking of postiong this.

Paul Anderson gives Man City the blues



Published Date:
07 January 2009
By Chris Harby


WEDNESDAY, 4pm: Liverpool FC footballer Paul Anderson believes he is nudging ever closer to the standard required to become a Premier League regular.
The former Melton schoolboy played the full 90 minutes in Nottingham Forest's 3-0 humbling of Manchester City in one of the big upsets of this season's FA Cup.

The winger saw a lot of the ball during the third round tie and tormented City's defence all afternoon.

The 20-year-old came close to adding to City's misery after the break with a mesmerising run which left Irish international centre-half Richard Dunne standing before pulling his shot wide.

It was a thrilling moment for Anderson who is midway through a season-long loan with Forest from the Anfield giants: "It was a weird feeling because to me Dunne has been one of the best defenders in the Premiership for years.

"I ran in, gave him a bit of a shuffle and he didn't know what to do, but unfortunately I couldn't get my shot on target."

In a fledgling football career, the former Melton Foxes player has previous experience of Premiership opposition while on loan at League One champions Swansea last season. Anderson again refused to be awed by the top flight and was a big threat to Reading in the Carling Cup.

He added: "I felt I did OK on Saturday, I caused a little bit of trouble, worked very hard and did my defensive duties well which is important against a team like City.

"You never know how you can compare yourself to these players, but last year I had one of my best games for Swansea against Reading and I felt I have done the same this year. Maybe I'm not too far off this kind of level.

"It was a great day for the club and for all the players and we really enjoyed it. We were really surprised how close the standards were between us and a Premiership team.

"They have got some top class players there, but on the day we ruffled them up a bit, played some really good stuff and were the better team on the day."

While the cup tie threw up an enticing fourth round tie at bitter rivals Derby County, hauling the Reds out and away from the bottom three remains the primary concern.

Despite the dismissal of manager Colin Calderwood, who fought hard to bring Anderson to Nottingham, the 20-year-old is looking forward to working with new boss and former Derby manager Billy Davies.

"I think he is going to be brilliant for me. He wants training to be very high tempo, short, sharp, quick stuff which is how it should be and how I like training to be.

"We don't want to get relegated and we feel we are far too good for that as we showed against Man City.

"I wanted one of the big boys in the cup, but obviously it's going to be a massive game. I think we are all very confident of getting through and to be honest we don;t fear anyone in our league."



Sounds like he's doing well