Brendan Rodgers

[Gingawaria]

Really?

Imo and obviously my specs are slightly tinted…

We’ve got the second highest scorer in the PL and arguably best player.

Top assist maker in the PL so far who is also world class, despite not being at his best.

The best DM in the league, if he can get himself fit again.

The best RB in the league.

One of the best CB pairings in the league.

We’ve got our most exciting group of young players since the days of Gerrard and Owen etc.

I think once we get everyone fit and playing well, with a few extra additions we have a very good team. Certainly not the worst in my life time.

I think they key word Matt used was 'squad'. Our first team can match up to anyone's in the league imo, behind that though, there's very little.

Case in point, when Lucas was injured, we didn't have a good enough DM to cover his position and we suffered badly because of it.

[Alex]

I think they key word Matt used was 'squad'. Our first team can match up to anyone's in the league imo, behind that though, there's very little.

Case in point, when Lucas was injured, we didn't have a good enough DM to cover his position and we suffered badly because of it.

Think you're wrong here. Man Utd are stronger than us over all, as are City and certainly Chelsea. We might be stronger in certain positions. But thats not enough. Johnson and Suarez are the only players who would walk into those teams.

[RedReet]

I think they key word Matt used was 'squad'. Our first team can match up to anyone's in the league imo, behind that though, there's very little.

Case in point, when Lucas was injured, we didn't have a good enough DM to cover his position and we suffered badly because of it.

Aye, that’s fair enough, but it would only take a couple of signings to make a major difference. 1 DM and 1 CF in the summer would have made a massive, massive difference.

[RedReet]

Think you're wrong here. Man Utd are stronger than us over all, as are City and certainly Chelsea. We might be stronger in certain positions. But thats not enough. Johnson and Suarez are the only players who would walk into those teams.

I think the head to heads certainly proved we can at least 'match up'.

Gerrard, Lucas and Pepe wold likely make them too, not that it makes any difference.

[Mostar]

Nope, the only important thing is the players are good enough. Why they are from should never be important, just the quality.

Absolutely.

"Born in Liverpool" is wrong approach and I hope we don't do that.

Best academies in the world like Ajax or Barca are recruiting most talented kids regardless of their roots and we should do the same.

[Tee]

Absolutely.

"Born in Liverpool" is wrong approach and I hope we don't do that.

Best academies in the world like Ajax or Barca are recruiting most talented kids regardless of their roots and we should do the same.

It is only natural though that the scouts will (hopefully) be able to identify and recruit the talented local kids.

[el matador]

look... from a football recruitment perspective poverty breeds footballers.

Liverpool is a pretty deprived area and it produces some fantastic players. They are definitely there and its up to the scouting team to find them and nurture them before they turn to drugs, crime etc...

There is no question that the talent is there though and thats what rodgers is getting at.

[DannyMan2006]

Absolutely.

"Born in Liverpool" is wrong approach and I hope we don't do that.

Best academies in the world like Ajax or Barca are recruiting most talented kids regardless of their roots and we should do the same.

Ajax & Barca both produce more local players than foreign ones. I think that is what Rodgers was getting at. We really shouldn't have to travel thousands of miles to fill out a full youth team. We should be very capable of identifying local talent and bulking it out with the best we can attract from around the world. Which is exactly what Ajax & Barca have always done.

In fact, tell me one group of successful youth players in the history of world football where the majority haven't been local. Talking about a batch of kids that come through in the same era, like Pique, Busquetts, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, etc at Barca. Then at Man Utd, Butt, Nevilles, Scholes, plus relatively local players like Beckham, Giigs & Sharpe who were all boyhood Man Utd fans. I think, lol.

In a successful XI man youth team, I think we should be able to have 5 local lads, 3 from the rest of the UK and 3 from around the world.

[Mattshark]

look... from a football recruitment perspective poverty breeds footballers.

Liverpool is a pretty deprived area and it produces some fantastic players. They are definitely there and its up to the scouting team to find them and nurture them before they turn to drugs, crime etc...

There is no question that the talent is there though and thats what rodgers is getting at.

You do realise that Liverpool has quite a low crime rate don't you?

And what actually makes good footballers is hard work, ability and the correct training. Not poverty, if that were so, Malawi would be a footballing stronghold.

[Neil Young]

Why are you so against Rodgers saying it? It doesn't necessarily mean there's going to be a drop in standards.

And there are several possible advantages in having players from Liverpool at the club, not the least of which to my mind is retaining some soul and distinctiveness in an era of internationally owned franchises staffed by players from here, there and everywhere.

And you never know, maybe local lads are currently favouring joining Everton because they see Liverpool as being less interested or harder to break through into. So all he's doing is actually widening the talent pool.

I can't think Rodgers is advocating, let alone planning, a return to the pre-Benitez recruitment and development policy.

[TheElephantMan]

And there are several possible advantages in having players from Liverpool at the club, not the least of which to my mind is retaining some soul and distinctiveness in an era of internationally owned franchises staffed by players from here, there and everywhere.

We've been fortunate to have some incredibly talented foreign players in recent years (Suarez, Torres, Alonso etc), but supporters identify more with the local players. We should be making more effort and hopefully becoming more successful at developing players from the huge pool of local youngsters available.

[Chazza]

[el matador]

You do realise that Liverpool has quite a low crime rate don't you?

And what actually makes good footballers is hard work, ability and the correct training. Not poverty, if that were so, Malawi would be a footballing stronghold.

footballers come from council estates not from middle class backgrounds.

where there's desperation there's fighters. people who have the drive to succeed against the odds.

[G]

What is the point is saying that stuff. Your job is to improve them, never heard any other manager brag about it

I really want to like you Bren but you make it difficult.

[Gibbo]

Nout like blowing your own trumpet Brendan.