The only players we should be pursuing are those with Premier League pedigree.

[Ron_Justice]

We see this idea thrown around a lot - see numerous posts in almost every single thread that isn't about an EPL 'name' - but really, when you think about it, that line of thinking is utter rubbish. Just like the idea that there's virtue in employing no one but the same old merry-go-round of EPL managers (Pulis, Alardice, Hughes, Warnock. Bruce etc) is BS.

I think we, as fans (I'm sure we're all guilty of it at some point) need to check ourselves when we start to think along the lines of 'we can't keep bringing in lower league players, we need proven Premier League quality'* and need to consider the logic of this line of thought. If those are the only players capable of playing in the EPL -- 1) How come Shearer, Henry, Scholes, Van Nistelroy, Ravinelli, Adams, Deane etc. aren't still playing? -- 2) Where did the current crop of Premier League players start? Did the they just materialise as ready to go PL starters one day? -- 3) What does this attitude say about our current 1st team and their pedigree!?

Be interested to hear some thoughts as to why people think signing someone like Daniel Sturridge** is a better option than a young, hungry, up and coming lad that's scored 10+ goals, in a promoted team from the lower leagues, for example.

*personally I think this is just short hand for "I've never heard of 'A. Smith' but I've heard of Danny Welbeck (for want of a name) so he must be good"

**Again just a name to illustrate the point. If My Sturridge ends up ticking CWAK's boxes, so be it, but I'd be hugely surprised it that type of player is the corner stone of strategy moving forwards.

'

 

[Snowflake]

Surely we need a balance. Two or three proven Prem players,two or three good Championship players and a handful of “ones for the future” that CW rates.
On this basis both the first team and the overall squad would be better than the season just ended.

 

[Ron_Justice]

Surely we need a balance. Two or three proven Prem players,two or three good Championship players and a handful of “ones for the future” that CW rates.
On this basis both the first team and the overall squad would be better than the season just ended.

Balance may well be the way, but realistically, who are those proven players going to be? A 'name' on the wrong side of their career trajectory? Not sure this is the best option for a first 11 player - See Jags this season. Someone like Zaha - Obvious talent, still young, but failed to really kick on for what ever reason who'd fee would dwarf that of any signing to date. As has been pretty widely discussed (although without any real evidence, as far as I can tell) we can't really shop in the market where established players from the top 6 would be brought in. So we're back to a position of taking players that are surplus to requirements at established teams. Is this a better option than this years McBurnie from the Champ / L1?

 

[Snowflake]

Balance may well be the way, but realistically, who are those proven players going to be? A 'name' on the wrong side of their career trajectory? Not sure this is the best option for a first 11 player - See Jags this season. Someone like Zaha - Obvious talent, still young, but failed to really kick on for what ever reason who'd fee would dwarf that of any signing to date. As has been pretty widely discussed (although without any real evidence, as far as I can tell) we can't really shop in the market where established players from the top 6 would be brought in. So we're back to a position of taking players that are surplus to requirements at established teams. Is this a better option than this years McBurnie from the Champ / L1?

There were 500 squad players last season and 300 of those must be proven at Prem level. Even taking out the stars and our squad that leaves a decent pool to fish in.
I am not good at spotting available individuals at the right price but I think our management team can.

 

[blade too long]

Strange as Liverpool always bring in players from lower leagues.
Always have. They seem to have done well

 

[8lade]

Strange as Liverpool always bring in players from lower leagues.

Not sure who in the current Liverpool set up came from a lower league team (if anybody) but with the Chelsea/Man City model (if it looks talented buy it and loan it out) being adopted by more clubs anybody with any talent is getting swept up early. Liverpool used to do it but the football landscape has changed significantly from those days.

 

[Danetheblade]

Not sure who in the current Liverpool set up came from a lower league team (if anybody) but with the Chelsea/Man City model (if it looks talented buy it and loan it out) being adopted by more clubs anybody with any talent is getting swept up early. Liverpool used to do it but the football landscape has changed significantly from those days.

Andrew Robertson is one I can think of.

 

[Joshp]

Andrew Robertson is one I can think of.

Wijnaldum came from relegated Newcastle.

 

[8lade]

Andrew Robertson is one I can think of.

Not quite as Hull were PL and were getting relegated they also sold Maguire at the same time.

 

[finlaytheblade]

We see this idea thrown around a lot - see numerous posts in almost every single thread that isn't about an EPL 'name' - but really, when you think about it, that line of thinking is utter rubbish. Just like the idea that there's virtue in employing no one but the same old merry-go-round of EPL managers (Pulis, Alardice, Hughes, Warnock. Bruce etc) is BS.

I think we, as fans (I'm sure we're all guilty of it at some point) need to check ourselves when we start to think along the lines of 'we can't keep bringing in lower league players, we need proven Premier League quality'* and need to consider the logic of this line of thought. If those are the only players capable of playing in the EPL -- 1) How come Shearer, Henry, Scholes, Van Nistelroy, Ravinelli, Adams, Deane etc. aren't still playing? -- 2) Where did the current crop of Premier League players start? Did the they just materialise as ready to go PL starters one day? -- 3) What does this attitude say about our current 1st team and their pedigree!?

Be interested to hear some thoughts as to why people think signing someone like Daniel Sturridge** is a better option than a young, hungry, up and coming lad that's scored 10+ goals, in a promoted team from the lower leagues, for example.

*personally I think this is just short hand for "I've never heard of 'A. Smith' but I've heard of Danny Welbeck (for want of a name) so he must be good"

**Again just a name to illustrate the point. If My Sturridge ends up ticking CWAK's boxes, so be it, but I'd be hugely surprised it that type of player is the corner stone of strategy moving forwards.

'

Nothing wrong with prem experience but not ones looking for there last good pay day

 

[Cerberus Blade]

We see this idea thrown around a lot - see numerous posts in almost every single thread that isn't about an EPL 'name' - but really, when you think about it, that line of thinking is utter rubbish. Just like the idea that there's virtue in employing no one but the same old merry-go-round of EPL managers (Pulis, Alardice, Hughes, Warnock. Bruce etc) is BS.

I think we, as fans (I'm sure we're all guilty of it at some point) need to check ourselves when we start to think along the lines of 'we can't keep bringing in lower league players, we need proven Premier League quality'* and need to consider the logic of this line of thought. If those are the only players capable of playing in the EPL -- 1) How come Shearer, Henry, Scholes, Van Nistelroy, Ravinelli, Adams, Deane etc. aren't still playing? -- 2) Where did the current crop of Premier League players start? Did the they just materialise as ready to go PL starters one day? -- 3) What does this attitude say about our current 1st team and their pedigree!?

Be interested to hear some thoughts as to why people think signing someone like Daniel Sturridge** is a better option than a young, hungry, up and coming lad that's scored 10+ goals, in a promoted team from the lower leagues, for example.

*personally I think this is just short hand for "I've never heard of 'A. Smith' but I've heard of Danny Welbeck (for want of a name) so he must be good"

**Again just a name to illustrate the point. If My Sturridge ends up ticking CWAK's boxes, so be it, but I'd be hugely surprised it that type of player is the corner stone of strategy moving forwards.

'

The value of "experience" is overrated in terms of playing football imo. It may be different in other types of work. For example, I wouldn't want a builder to build me a house if he'd never built one before. I wouldn't want a surgeon to operate on me if he'd never done an operation before. But when it comes down to football, we're talking here about having a set of skills and being fit enough and hard working enough to put them into practice, against others, in a football game.

If we take a player from a lower division and put them on a football field against a Premier League side it's not like they won't have a clue what to do. I've no doubt that they will find it harder to do it, because the players they are up against are better quality than perhaps others they've played against. But if they are good quality themselves and playing in a team with other good players around them, that's only a matter of time before they adapt quickly to the circumstances.

Look no further than our own team last season. There was little or no Premier League experience amongst that group of players. We started out a bit cagey, a bit more restrained than we were used to seeing, then we gradually adapted to the pace of the Premier League, started playing with more confidence and more expansively, and look what happened!

So I agree with you. I don't think it matters whether a player has Premier League "experience" or not. What matters is if they are good enough and motivated enough to apply themselves effectively. In many ways, I think buying players with "experience" just means that you are paying a lot more, because they've proved they can be effective at that level. That has to be weighed up against players of similar, or greater ability, who just haven't had that chance yet.

With us being one of the least wealthy clubs in the Premier League, we're not really in a position to go out and buy "the finished product", but we're in a great position to find the next "finished products" and that's what our focus should be on imo.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

It’s a load of old bollocks.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Would rather have a player or players that have some " Je ne sais quoi " be they from where ever.