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Young players watch

Mamardashvili is having a mediocre season down in La Liga, apparently - maybe we won’t sell Kelleher just yet…

Or maybe we’ll cash in on Alisson and give Irish Kevin his chance???
 
So for those who follow our youth teams and loaned out players regularly - who do you think has a genuine chance of making it at LFC? In American sports they analyze every detail in order to rank their “prospects” in terms of draft order - who are our top 5 “prospects” currently?

I don't follow it like I used to but it seems clear that Nyoni is way out ahead as the best prospect. I'd say he's likely to make it.

McConnell and Bajcetic both have half a chance. I think Doak's talented but I'd be surprised if he makes it. He's done well on loan but not been outstandingly brilliant, but the real issue is I'm just not sure where an old-fashioned jinky winger fits in the modern game. Feels like that sort of player is almost better off trying to be a full back these days.

Danns I like but probably isn't agile enough to play at the very top.

The only other one worth mentioning is Ngumoha, who's very highly rated but I'm personally not convinced by. Lots of stepovers and dribbling in circles. He's really skilful though, and has a great shooting technique with hardly any backlift.
 
I don't follow it like I used to but it seems clear that Nyoni is way out ahead as the best prospect. I'd say he's likely to make it.

McConnell and Bajcetic both have half a chance. I think Doak's talented but I'd be surprised if he makes it. He's done well on loan but not been outstandingly brilliant, but the real issue is I'm just not sure where an old-fashioned jinky winger fits in the modern game. Feels like that sort of player is almost better off trying to be a full back these days.

Danns I like but probably isn't agile enough to play at the very top.

The only other one worth mentioning is Ngumoha, who's very highly rated but I'm personally not convinced by. Lots of stepovers and dribbling in circles. He's really skilful though, and has a great shooting technique with hardly any backlift.


There was or is a theory that football like fashion and music is in the habit regurgitating the past and repeating past trends.

The theory basically used Guardiola as the, lightening rod, I guess, and looked at how he was changing his team setup over the last few years - with him basically being considered the best modern coach and the trendsetter of a lot of how the game is played today. The idea being as soon as everyone else starts copying you, you lose a huge part of your competitive edge, so you need re-invent yourself.

So, from his desire for absolute control and possessions based football to pass [or bore] teams into submission, the introduction of Haaland to his front line suggested a shift in strategy.

He subsequently followed that up by starting to sign “jinky wingers” who ran at people at pace to cross and create opportunities for the central goal scorer, as opposed to inverted wide forwards and a false 9 creating space for them.

I presume the reason being that, in attack, he can increase the ”playing area” and therefore create more space in the centre and half spaces for the CF and midfield runners from deep.

If it works, then it’s more likely that players like Doak, who are fast and good at taking on players out wide will become more relevant as more managers copy Pep’s new style.

Doesn’t mean it’ll work… maybe Pep is a latter day David Bowie - a genius who constantly reinvented himself, but not always in a good way - as anyone who bought a Tin Machine album can attest to.

Also doesn’t mean Slot is going to follow suit - maybe he’s Iggy Pop, has found his groove and is just going to stick to it.
 
There was or is a theory that football like fashion and music is in the habit regurgitating the past and repeating past tends.

The theory basically used Guardiola as the, lightening rod, I guess, and looked at how he was changing his team setup over the last few years - with him basically being considered the best modern coach and the trendsetter of a lot of how the game is played today. The idea being as soon as everyone else starts copying you, you lose a huge part of your competitive edge, so you need over-invent yourself.

So, from his desire for absolute control and possessions based football to pass [or bore] teams into submission, the introduction of Haaland to his front line suggested a shift in strategy.

He subsequently followed that up by starting to sign “jinky wingers” who ran at people at pace to cross and create opportunities for the central goal scorer, as opposed to inverted wide forwards and a false 9 creating space for them.

I presume the reason being that, in attack, he can increase the ”playing area” and therefore create more space in the centre and half spaces for the CF and midfield runners from deep.

If it works, then it’s more likely that players like Disk, who are fast and good at taking on players out wide will become more relevant as more managers copy Pep’s new style.

Doesn’t mean it’ll work… maybe Pep is a latter day David Bowie - a genius who constantly reinvented himself, but not always in a good way - as anyone who bought a Tin Machine album can attest to.

Also doesn’t mean Slot is going to follow suit - maybe he’s Iggy Pop, has found his groove and is just going to stick to it.

I just want to say this is an all-around fucking quality post the likes of which you will probably not find anywhere else but SCM. Well done.
 
I just want to say this is an all-around fucking quality post the likes of which you will probably not find anywhere else but SCM. Well done.

Agreed, the post of a true Dirty Slot. I don't recall seeing these in the Kelly's Heroes era
 
I don't follow it like I used to but it seems clear that Nyoni is way out ahead as the best prospect. I'd say he's likely to make it.

McConnell and Bajcetic both have half a chance. I think Doak's talented but I'd be surprised if he makes it. He's done well on loan but not been outstandingly brilliant, but the real issue is I'm just not sure where an old-fashioned jinky winger fits in the modern game. Feels like that sort of player is almost better off trying to be a full back these days.

Danns I like but probably isn't agile enough to play at the very top.

The only other one worth mentioning is Ngumoha, who's very highly rated but I'm personally not convinced by. Lots of stepovers and dribbling in circles. He's really skilful though, and has a great shooting technique with hardly any backlift.
I think Bajcetic at 17 was better than Nyoni.
 

View: https://x.com/LewisSteele_/status/1902338165190386066

Stefan Bajcetic has been compared to Sergio Busquets on loan at Las Palmas – just two months after ending a difficult stint with Red Bull Salzburg.

The 20-year-old has quickly become a fan favourite for his ‘pure talent’ and ‘exceptional attitude’ as the La Liga club look to avoid relegation.

It marks a strong turnaround from his apparent struggles in Salzburg, where he only completed one full 90 minutes and saw Jurgen Klopp’s former assistant, Pep Lijnders, get sacked as the Austrian heavyweights faltered.

Many fans are wondering what the future holds for the midfielder after an injury ruled him out for most of last season, and his time with Salzburg left a lot of question marks.

‘Bajcetic couldn't even come close to reaching his potential,’ Aleksandar Andonov, head of sports at SALZBURG24, tells Confidential. ‘A closer look at his performances suggested that he wasn't playing with full effort and wasn't fully committed to the club on the field.’


Damning words indeed, especially for a star who was courted by Barcelona in the past. Liverpool recalled the Spaniard in January and flung him out to the Canary Islands, where fans and the media give glowing reviews to Confidential.

One fan purrs: ‘Stefan definitely stands out from others. You can see his pure talent almost all the time. He is our star and every Las Palmas supporter would love to have him here for as long as it's possible.’

Meanwhile, local journalist Manuel Garcia says: ‘He reminds me of Sergio Busquets, because of how he drives the ball and how he moves around the field.’

Now, now. After just seven games, any such comparison should be taken with a spoonful of salt.

And the stellar form of Antony at Real Betis, after his plight at Manchester United, serves as a reminder that thriving abroad does not necessarily equal Premier League success.

But the early indications are that Bajcetic is showing the defensive grit that defined his impact at Anfield before his injury. Few players in La Liga have made more tackles, blocks, interceptions, or aerial wins than him per 90 minutes since he arrived.


A reminder as well of Slot’s words in August on Bajcetic. ‘I hope it will be a big year for him because he’s a very talented player and I think he could become a very important player for us, but only if he gets playing time now,’ said the Liverpool head coach.

‘It’s a smart decision, at least in our opinion, to let him go somewhere, where he will hopefully play a lot of games. Then for next season, we’ll have a player. If he fulfills his potential, he could definitely, definitely play for us in the future.’

Let’s see what the future holds, then.
 
There is no doubt that Bajcetic has talent but can't help but feel that we'll end up selling him.
 
Sounds like the loan has done him the world of good. Excellent. Really hope he comes back this summer and can compete for a first team place.
 
Now, now. After just seven games, any such comparison should be taken with a spoonful of salt.

Went to check and young Bajcetic has indeed played in the last seven games for Las Palmas -- as a result of which they have lost five of those games and drawn the remaining two.
 
I’d treat it like preseason with him. The results don’t matter. It’s about playing time and his attitude. If they are spot on then he will have a place here next season. Maybe slot will share minutes between him and Gravy.
 
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