Youth players can only progress so much at that level before they need a chance at the highest club level football. Our youth seem to just sit at reserve/U21 level and never get a chance at senior level so they'll never progress. Only Sterling and Flanno have had a proper go in our first team (Flanno only down to injury) and look how well they've done? Then you look at the ones we've released because they 'weren't good enough' but they never got a real chance. Flanno was considered the third best RB in the reserves when he got his chance and he did fine! Imagine what others players could do...
I think our youth are very gifted. I think Rodgers needs to have faith in them and bring more into the first team (like he promised the owners) rather than looking elsewhere or even at other clubs' youngsters.
It's been well known that we've got **** all money to spend this January and need to sell to buy if we want business. Unless Mario, Borini or Lucas (he still wants out) get offers, no one's coming in. That means Rodgers needs to dip into the reserves and give them a chance. There is zero point in a top class academy and constant investment in youth players if there's nowhere for them to progress to.
Spend big on a goalkeeper and CB. Promote youth for the other positions. Keep Lucas. Send Johnson to the cafe to make sandwiches.
This January was always going to be quiet.
