Spearing and Darby agree new deals

[Tatterdemalion]

according to sky

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...415992,00.html

Liverpool duo Jay Spearing and Stephen Darby have agreed new deals, skysports.com understands.

The Reds have been in talks with the home-grown pair for the last few months as they look to secure the duo on long-term deals.

The pair are entering the final year of their existing deals and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is keen to reward them with three-year extensions.

Midfielder Spearing, who captained the FA Youth Cup-winning side in 2007, made his debut for the first team last season and impressed as a substitute in the UEFA Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Full-back Darby is highly-rated at Anfield and he made three appearances in the first team last term.

The duo are expected to put pen-to-paper on the contracts next week when Liverpool return for pre-season training.

Good news, as it clearly demonstrates that we're beginning to get some youngsters through who might at least provide squad back up, allowing Rafa to spend more elsewhere. Who knows, perhaps they will do more than that. Also an interview doing the rounds with El Zhar as to how he believes Rafa will give him more chances.

I think it's important that we spend less on squad players and grow them at home, and give them a shot at being regulars.

[Vermilion]

This is good, very good.

[DannyMan2006]

Great news.

Youth players are more likely to be happy as squad cover so even if they never make it as regulars they could still do a great job. The success of MUFC is based on players like Brown and O'Shea who have never quite made it as regulars.

[lickedlollipop]

I'm happy for them, great news!

[Paul12]

Do you think they are read for the first-team yet? I ask particularly of Darby, because if we sell Arbeola we only have Johnson and sicknote - unless we are going to play 'leggy' Carragher or 'I', no full back me' Srktel out there occasionally to give Johnson a rest.

And where do you think Spearing fits in to our current two defensive midfielders, two wide midfielders and a link man midfieler set up?

[dww]

Great news.

Youth players are more likely to be happy as squad cover so even if they never make it as regulars they could still do a great job. The success of MUFC is based on players like Brown and O'Shea who have never quite made it as regulars.

Thats very true. It also helps if you are quite versatile.

We haven't really developed a coherent youth setup yet which to me makes it less likely for players to come through as there is no real reason why young players coming from our academy would be a better fit for our style of play than players bought in from elsewhere. You see the huge advantages at places like Arsenal, United and Barcelona when the behind the scenes setup is linked to the first team well.

As such if either Spearing or Darby manage to forge careers with us it will be even more to their credit as the system has not made it easy for them.

Do you think they are read for the first-team yet? I ask particularly of Darby, because if we sell Arbeola we only have Johnson and sicknote - unless we are going to play 'leggy' Carragher or 'I', no full back me' Srktel out there occasionally to give Johnson a rest.

And where do you think Spearing fits in to our current two defensive midfielders, two wide midfielders and a link man midfieler set up?

You have to think that their limited first team opportunities indicate that Rafa doesn't feel they are quite ready yet. Insua was introduced slowly over a period of time and you might expect the same approach to be taken to these two.

The right back issue is a difficult one. Especially with the departure of Hyypia we look quite weak in terms of squad depth pretty much across the backline. I suppose the converse way of looking at it is that Darby, Kelly et al could well have more opportunities.

Spearing is an interesting one. The problem I talked about above of players who don't really suit the team philosophy particularly seem to apply to him. I guess there are several places he could get games - attacking fullback, a dynamic second CM (more Barry than Alonso in the middle) seem obvious but he might do well to target a set position and work on the tactical aspects of being a holding player or converting to a more attacking position.

[Kenneth]

Probably been resigned so we can sell them on for a fee next summer.

[dww]

Probably been resigned so we can sell them on for a fee next summer.

Quite possibly. Also worth keeping the more promising homegrown players on longish contracts for the CL squad if nothing else.