Martin Kelly

[Craig_H]

Also dont forget that he's essentially a CB, and being asked to play at fullback.

[red g]

Also dont forget that he's essentially a CB, and being asked to play at fullback.

I didn't forget, thats why i mentioned it in my post above that you didn't read

[Craig_H]

In this one?

think that sums it up, As people have alluded to not his best game, but then just doesnt look out of place.....I am sure he wont excel in every game, but in Agger/Wilson/Ayala/Skrtel and Carra still playing for next few years we are sorted for centre backs for next 10+years

You didnt mention it at all, you little scally.

[red g]

In this one?



You didnt mention it at all, you little scally.

brilliant, that was the point of my post, mentioning Kelly at Centre back with the others.........just forget to mention his name in my post.

[Craig_H]

brilliant, that was the point of my post, mentioning Kelly at Centre back with the others.........just forget to mention his name in my post.

[Rudo]

I really rate the lad but i thought he had a shaky one tonight tbh.

[sssiho]

I thought he had a good game, young lad, big stage, certainly no worse than some of the others.
Why oh why can we not score goals!!!!

[Rich]

Biggest compliment for Kelly is that he looks like a first teamer

[RichC]

Biggest compliment for Kelly is that he looks like a first teamer

couldn't agree more with that - looks like he'll get some chances this season as well - can only be a good thing.

[Parr_Zee]

Yeah, I didn't think he was that good tonight, but like some people say, even though he wasn't great, he still looked comfortable at this level.

[The Birdman]

couldn't agree more with that - looks like he'll get some chances this season as well - can only be a good thing.

Yeah, I didn't think he was that good tonight, but like some people say, even though he wasn't great, he still looked comfortable at this level.

Which is all you can ask for isn't it??
He is a young local lad who when picked to play for the 1st team hasn't let anyone down and generally looks comfortable at that level.

I've seen him live play centre back and right back and he's technically good, comfortable in possession and seems to have recovery pace.
Ok when he plays left back he cuts in a little too much but Jamie Carragher for about 3 years anyone??

He seems to have slipped under the radar a little, there has been a lot of noise about Spearing and how he should play more, (no chance imo) lots of noise and media articles about us not producing any local youngsters but Kelly justs gets on with it with minimum fuss.

I'll stick my neck out and say he will still be with us in 10 years time and could well be the modern day equivilent to Carra

[DannyMan2006]

Looks like the first youngster in a long while we will not need to sell.

[Shaggy]

Kelly is the main reason Luke Young would've been a terrible buy. We don't need journeymen blocking the boy's path.

[The Birdman]

Kelly is the main reason Luke Young would've been a terrible buy. We don't need journeymen blocking the boy's path.

Which imo is what Babel and Kyriakos are doing, not 'journeymen' obviously but for me they are blocking the progress of players like Pacheco and Wilson/Ayala

[DannyMan2006]

Kelly is the main reason Luke Young would've been a terrible buy. We don't need journeymen blocking the boy's path.

Which imo is what Babel and Kyriakos are doing, not 'journeymen' obviously but for me they are blocking the progress of players like Pacheco and Wilson/Ayala

I was keen to bring in Young as he could play RB/LB and at the time of the deal we were in a position where we had seemingly no LB's.

I never questioned Kelly didn't have the talent, was just concerned that last season both he and Johnson got injured and we ended up with Carra/Skrtel/Masch at RB for important games last season.

I also weighed up the fact Insua looked promising and then when he got left in the firing line for a continued amount of time he went to pieces. I don't want this to happen to Kelly.

IMO youngsters should be brought through in stages, that is

1. Reserves football with a few appearances on the bench for doing well,
2. Followed by the odd league cup and Europa cup games,
3. Then being introduced as a member of the squad as back up to the regular first team starter,
4. Finally finished off with regular first team starter.

Ideally I would have preferred Kelly to be at stage 2, as this keeps him out the firing line and also allows us time to see if his injury problems will clear up. I think he is possibly at stage 3 in our squad now, but I still think Kelly has to answer questions about whether he is good enough before he should actually be there, in much the same Insua needed to prove he was good enough.

because rushing the natural development of a player brings it's own risks.