Tiago Ilori

[Fosterbloke]

Ilori + Matip sounds like a very good pairing.

If Sakho doesn't recover his form he might find himself as 4th choice!

I'd keep - Ilori, Lovren, Sakho, Gomez.

[Gray]

Matip and Hummels sounds better.

[Irishnev]

Matip and Hummels sounds better.

I am really not convinced Hummels would do well in the Premier League, he is great on the ball but struggles against pace and physical forwards and the EPL is full of them. We need a nasty ass CB - if we could get anyone I'd love Jose Gimenez at Atletico but a more get-able player would be Mateo Musacchio who I think would excel here - strong, quick and can play. He almost went to Spurs for big money and then he had a bad injury but since he has returned for Villareal he has been playing v well.

[Exiled_red]

I think people are getting a little carried away he's had one or two good games in the cup, we need to give him a run of games in the league to see how he does before we make him the solution to our defensive problems. This season is the ideal opportunity for that given our league season is effectively over

[Phoenix07]

I think people are getting a little carried away he's had one or two good games in the cup, we need to give him a run of games in the league to see how he does before we make him the solution to our defensive problems. This season is the ideal opportunity for that given our league season is effectively over

[Buzzo]

He needs brought through carefully over the next year or 2 in the same way Man U have with Smalling. I think there is enough evidence though that he's got real potential and talent.

[Tee]

Must really be missing something here, he looks nowhere near good enough, even potentially. IMO of course. But will be delighted if I am proved wrong.

[Chazza]

Must really be missing something here, he looks nowhere near good enough, even potentially. IMO of course. But will be delighted if I am proved wrong.

I agree

[Fosterbloke]

Must really be missing something here, he looks nowhere near good enough, even potentially. IMO of course. But will be delighted if I am proved wrong.

What is good enough then? Name me five defenders in the PL that are good enough for Liverpool and why.

[RichC]

I think people are getting a little carried away he's had one or two good games in the cup, we need to give him a run of games in the league to see how he does before we make him the solution to our defensive problems. This season is the ideal opportunity for that given our league season is effectively over

Without a shadow of doubt, he's a young CB with some potential he might make the step up but it's more likely that he won't.

[Tee]

What is good enough then? Name me five defenders in the PL that are good enough for Liverpool and why.

Don't get your point but there are more than 5....

Koscielny
Vertonghen
Alderweireld
Kompany
Smalling
Cahill
Shawcross
Mertsersacker
Reid

[RichC]

More to the point after only a couple of appearances alongside a load of other young players why is Illori good enough to be a mainstay of the central defence at the moment ?

[Phoenix07]

Must really be missing something here, he looks nowhere near good enough, even potentially. IMO of course. But will be delighted if I am proved wrong.

He hasn't even played two full games for us (although minute wise, he has because of extra-time). Exiled Red is right in that he needs a run of games before it can be determined whether he is the answer to our defensive problems. Ilori has been at Granada, Bordeaux and Aston Villa, and wasn't fancied at all.

If we sell him (which I think is very, very probable), I'd include a buy-back clause, or a sell-on clause.

[G]

Always amazed at how fast people are willing to declare somebody the next great thing after some good showings, almost as quickly as they are willing to write players off if they aren't MOM in every game after joining.

No patience in the game these days. The lad showed up better than our main centre backs against West Ham but still along way to go to prove himself.

[RichC]

That he did but more of a sad indictment of our main CBs