Jay Spearing

[Exiled_red]

I think the way the season went was exceptionally fortunate for the young lads to come through. With injuries, low expectations, new management there were opportunities there that perhaps weren't there before. This season is very similar to the end of the Souness era when several young players came through. Fair play to Hodgson. He started the ball rolling with the young lads and talked a good game about trimming the squad. He saw we were weak at LB and CM, he just bought crap.

What you say about signings is dead on. We mustn't fill up the squad with mediocore pro's to give the young lads a chance. Houiller and Rafa were guilty of signing too many squad type players. Money shouldn't be wasted on fees & wages for sqaudies, use the young lads and spend the money on top players. Which does seem the direction we are going.

I'd only buy a LB, CB, CM and 2 wingers in the summer. And a CB i'm not sure of because of Kelly's and Flanagan's development. Top CM needed as Spearing is a very good replacement for me.

It's a difficult balance, looking at the current squad and the way people are playing I think we need to address certain positions, but we should only be signing players who we genuinely believe will be first team regulars, to be fair that's about 4 players. The players whose places they take next year will be the squad players, and we can get rid of the dross. I think we'll then have a good mix of quality experienced players and good youngsters, without an army of journey men blocking their progress.

If we qualify for the Europa league the early rounds of that and the Carling cup should provide a decent amount of games for the youngsters to get some experience. I think one or two might benefit from a year away on loan to other Premiership clubs if possible.

[The Birdman]

Spearing is the one I am still least convinced about.
I hold my hand up and freely admit that I didn't think he had these types of performances in him as even watching him regularly in the reserves he was good but not outstanding.
In fact I think Kenny did an interview where he said that Jay had suprised him working with him every day.
He's also 22 (I think) so I think he'll settle into being a squad player

[The Birdman]

It's a difficult balance, looking at the current squad and the way people are playing I think we need to address certain positions, but we should only be signing players who we genuinely believe will be first team regulars, to be fair that's about 4 players. The players whose places they take next year will be the squad players, and we can get rid of the dross. I think we'll then have a good mix of quality experienced players and good youngsters, without an army of journey men blocking their progress.

If we qualify for the Europa league the early rounds of that and the Carling cup should provide a decent amount of games for the youngsters to get some experience. I think one or two might benefit from a year away on loan to other Premiership clubs if possible.

Completely agree, hopefully Norwich, QPR and whoever just stays up will take some of the young lads

[Rudo]

Spearing is the one I am still least convinced about.
I hold my hand up and freely admit that I didn't think he had these types of performances in him as even watching him regularly in the reserves he was good but not outstanding.
In fact I think Kenny did an interview where he said that Jay had suprised him working with him every day.
He's also 22 (I think) so I think he'll settle into being a squad player

He's doing the business atm, so lets just take it game by game.

Think the lad has surprised us all.

[Neil Young]

that's a good point. apart from your gerrards and fowlers who are exceptional talents, for most young players careers it really is in the hands of the gods. if gerrard was fit would spearing of had the run of games? if we had loads of money and thus a bigger squad, would any of the youngsters get a chance?

I think it's important to play youngsters in the amongst the first team. when you play your reserves in the league cup and europa, it can be hard for them trying to make their name playing alongside the likes of poulsen.

I also think we have to be careful with the spending this summer, top quality reinforcements but not so many that the likes of spearing and kelly don't see any action.

I'm not sure it's quite like that. I mean, you're right we can see that players like Fowler or Gerrard are good enough when they're really young. And even then it's not a given that they'll go on to fulfil their talent.

But for the rest I'd suggest most of us aren't equipped to make a judgement about their potential. Players like Lucas looked poor and yet this season he's proved the doubters wrong (who knows whether he can keep it going next season though).

If any of us could reliably judge which pretty good but not outstanding players are likely to be good enough then we should be professional scouts.

Of course my point is we shouldn't be so quick to write off a young player. The majority aren't world beaters at 18 or 19 and many don't really blossom until well into their twenties.

[Shaggy]

He's been called into the England U21 squad.

[anfieldanfield]

If a club offered 6 million for Spearing this summer, would you take it ?

[Shaggy]

I would've laughed out loud at that suggestion a few weeks ago.

Now, not so sure. No I probably wouldn't!

[Kenneth]

Not a question that can be answered in isolation as it depends on what the money would be used for. But if Kenny said he was selling Spearing to fund a player he wanted, then yes.

[Chazza]

He's been called into the England U21 squad.

At the age of 22, 23 in November

What is the rule here, if they were 21 or under at the time the qualification started?

[banditos]

He's been called into the England U21 squad.

Nice reward for his recent form.

[Reece]

Not a question that can be answered in isolation as it depends on what the money would be used for. But if Kenny said he was selling Spearing to fund a player he wanted, then yes.

Pretty much this

[Finnish_Red]

Nice reward for his recent form.

Hard to believe he is still that young. He's been around for so long and looks like 40.

[yamiedo]

If a club offered 6 million for Spearing this summer, would you take it ?

Put a 0 on the end of that and we may be in business

[Shaggy]

So what now for Spearing? After doing so well and getting a new contract, he's gonna be looking at Henderson coming in, with Adam likely to follow and thinking "****". Plus with Gerrard, Lucas and Meireles also competing for a slot he could well find himself 6th choice for centre mid.