Harry Wilson

[Gray]

As said previously on here,I see him as a Lallana replacement.

[Exiled_red]

I think we have to take into account that he will be club grown for us, that's very handy to have usable squad players who count as club grown.

This is something that we are going to have to start considering more and more in our transfer policy. Club trained isn't such an issue as it only applies in Europe but we need 8 association trained players in a 25 man PL squad, at present that isn't so much of a problem we currently have: Clyne, Milner, Henderson, Ox, Lallana, Sturridge who need to be registered, currently Gomez, TAA and Solanke count as youth players so don't need to be registered in the 25, but we can choose to do so if we wish (Gomez and Solanke would need to be registered from next season).

However it is looking likely that Sturridge will leave in the summer and there are question marks over the future of Clyne, Milner's contract situation is unclear and Lallana isn't getting much game time, if all those were to leave that would leave a massive hole in that area of the squad, similarly I wouldn't be surprised if Solanke weren't here next season (either being sold or loaned in the summer

Of the players we currently have out on loan (who are likely to return) only Wilson, Kent, Ojo would need to be registered and count as association trained. This is partly why I am confident that Wilson will be in the squad next year. There are other youngsters either out on loan or currently at the club who could be involved as youngsters

Realitically we could be looking at just:
Gomez
Henderson
Ox
Wilson

Hopefully Milner will stay making 5. We could keep Clyne and Lallana for another year, Solanke needs more experience if he is to be involved so if we see a future for him a loan until the end of the season would be useful.

When we consider club trained players things become more complicated as only Gomez and Wilson would count as club trained for next season.

[The_weatherman]

This is something that we are going to have to start considering more and more in our transfer policy. Club trained isn't such an issue as it only applies in Europe but we need 8 association trained players in a 25 man PL squad, at present that isn't so much of a problem we currently have: Clyne, Milner, Henderson, Ox, Lallana, Sturridge who need to be registered, currently Gomez, TAA and Solanke count as youth players so don't need to be registered in the 25, but we can choose to do so if we wish (Gomez and Solanke would need to be registered from next season).

However it is looking likely that Sturridge will leave in the summer and there are question marks over the future of Clyne, Milner's contract situation is unclear and Lallana isn't getting much game time, if all those were to leave that would leave a massive hole in that area of the squad, similarly I wouldn't be surprised if Solanke weren't here next season (either being sold or loaned in the summer

Of the players we currently have out on loan (who are likely to return) only Wilson, Kent, Ojo would need to be registered and count as association trained. This is partly why I am confident that Wilson will be in the squad next year. There are other youngsters either out on loan or currently at the club who could be involved as youngsters

Realitically we could be looking at just:
Gomez
Henderson
Ox
Wilson

Hopefully Milner will stay making 5. We could keep Clyne and Lallana for another year, Solanke needs more experience if he is to be involved so if we see a future for him a loan until the end of the season would be useful.

When we consider club trained players things become more complicated as only Gomez and Wilson would count as club trained for next season.

I think Lallana will stay, mostly because of this. We could do with a back up keeper who counts as home grown, Wilson and maybe Woodburn could be answers but we need more, like you say, Milner, Sturridge, Solanke and Clyne are not hanging around much longer.

[Exiled_red]

I think Lallana will stay, mostly because of this. We could do with a back up keeper who counts as home grown, Wilson and maybe Woodburn could be answers but we need more, like you say, Milner, Sturridge, Solanke and Clyne are not hanging around much longer.

Long term if players like Wilson, Woodburn etc can reach their potential it will make things alot easier, at present I think we need to look to develop those who we believe can make it (as we are doing with Wilson but at present it seems like he is the only one close). We need to look to develop the 17 or 18 year olds like Brewster, Woodburn, Camacho and Jones etc now get them a few years good experience then they can hopefully offer something in 2 or 3 years time.

At present we need to look at either keeping some of the squad players who are on the fringes of the side or signing some new players who count as homegrown, not really sure who we could be looking at though, we were linked with Ryan Sessegnon but can't think of many others. A backup GK as you say would be a useful place to have a homegrown player, Ward could have been useful from that perspective, but he's gone now.

[Fosterbloke]

What about Nat Phillips, Connor Masterson and Curtis Jones?

[Exiled_red]

What about Nat Phillips, Connor Masterson and Curtis Jones?

Masterson and Jones would count as club trained, Phillips wouldn't. I'm not sure any are close enough to the side to be included next season as squad players, none have any first team experience, and all probably need a loan move for experience IMO. Jones is only 17 so has time on his side, and based on his preseason form we should be looking to develop him by getting him appropriate game times through loan moves like we did with Wilson.

It will be interesting to see if either (or both) of Phillips or Masterson play in the FA cup tie against Wolves (I would hope we will rest the first 11)

[Frenchie]

What about Nat Phillips, Connor Masterson and Curtis Jones?

Masterson and Jones would count as club trained, Phillips wouldn't. I'm not sure any are close enough to the side to be included next season as squad players, none have any first team experience, and all probably need a loan move for experience IMO. Jones is only 17 so has time on his side, and based on his preseason form we should be looking to develop him by getting him appropriate game times through loan moves like we did with Wilson.

It will be interesting to see if either (or both) of Phillips or Masterson play in the FA cup tie against Wolves (I would hope we will rest the first 11)

..and Brewster

[pezzzer]

He looks like a real prospect for our attacking style, I'd happily see lallana move on and Wilson take his position in the squad.
I've got a mate who's a Derby County fanatic who is dreading us calling Wilson back in January, he said we did that with a certain Jordan Ibe and they were flying until we took him back.
Hopefully Wilson fares better for us.

[frank the tank]

Ibe has proved to be a bit of a let down. He was going to be a star - and some people reckoned he was a better all-rounder than Sterling. Proved not to be the case.

[red g]

Ibe has proved to be a bit of a let down. He was going to be a star - and some people reckoned he was a better all-rounder than Sterling. Proved not to be the case.

Was this more of a case of wishing due to the fall out of Sterling? Was he that good in the reserves? certainly his numbers have never stacked up like Wilsons.

[Norbs]

I never saw the fuss about Ibe

[pezzzer]

Some were touting Ibe as the new Digger when he was hauled back from Derby after ripping it up in the championship.
A classic case of a player finding there level, we did well to get the 15 odd million from Bournemouth for him.
Wilson does look a better bet though but as always time/chances will tell.

[RedReet]

He had massive potential. He was very good at youth level, powerful, direct, strong shot. He obviously did very well at Derby and when he returned, he was excellent against Everton and was unfortunate not to score after hitting the post (IIRC). If that shot had of went in, who knows what might have been or if he didn't get injured a few weeks later?

He was very impressive the next pre-season though and looked like he was ready to kick on, but it just didn't happen for him that season. We do have a tendency to overhype our youth players, but IMO Ibe deserved the hype and with a bit of luck could have went on to have a much different career.

[RedReet]

Some were touting Ibe as the new Digger when he was hauled back from Derby after ripping it up in the championship.
A classic case of a player finding there level, we did well to get the 15 odd million from Bournemouth for him.
Wilson does look a better bet though but as always time/chances will tell.

TBF, Ibe wasn't much older than Wilson when he was at Crewe and it didn't work out. A few more seasons in the Championship might have been a better path for Ibe too.

Either way, £15m was a crazy deal at the time.

[Patricks_Berger]

If he wasn't a Liverpool player would you be looking to sign him?

If he was coming on a free.