Youngster Sam Magri is going on trial to liverpool next week with a view to a move. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/magri_lined_up_for_liverpool_switch_1_3538352 This is very disappointing news, something we are going to have to get used to i suppose.
Can't help thinking I wish it was Kitson off to Liverpool We have to do what we have to do now really. Just hope Webster stays.
Its just annoying that it is our youngsters who are leaving rather than the likes of Kitson etc. Has beens on stupid wages, who are still damaging the club.
Once again it seems that Portsmouth will squander its young talent. Can do anything to stop him moving and it'd be a good move for his career but once more a highly rated young player will pass through our ranks without once getting a shot in the first team. I thought Magri would break through this season but he's just been on the periphery and never gotten the chance. Redknapp, Perin, Zajec and Hart never gave the youth a chance. Adams brought through Wilson, Grant tried to bring through Ward, Ritchie, Sowah and Begovic, Cotterill's only established Ward in the first team while selling off the rest that might have broken through and Appleton so far has only seemed prepared to bring Williams and Webster through gradually. I understand Appleton's desire to protect his young players and his reluctance to throw them in the deep end, so to speak, but it would be nice to see some actual development on that front. Far as I remember, the last time any Pompey team featured a respectable amount of home grown talent was under Jim Smith in the early 90's when we had Knight, Awford, Symons and Anderton in the first team.
Shame if he does leave us - brilliant young prospect - let us hope we receive enough money for him (unlike Ryan Williams to Fulham).
But what a chance for the lad. If he has to go, then so be it. At least he's happy and I hope it works out for him.
So do I, meowth - BUT it would have been nice to see him pull on a first team shirt, for PFC. It would be great if Liverpool paid us a decent fee for him (£500,000 +) and then loaned him back to us for next season.
It would be sad to see him go, but what an opportunity for him. When something like that comes along, you cannot stand in his way. It will be down to Pompey to negotiate the best deal they can get. I'm sure he and his family will hope that's the case as they're fans themselves.
This has happened to many other players before- I always think a player should stay at their club until they are 20; as the bigger clubs often wreck their career. Just look at Conor Wickham as an example, he was an outstanding player at Ipswich, and Premier League side Sunderland have seriously disrupted his career. Jermain Beckford to name another
Alright lads, Liverpool fan here. I've seen this story doing the rounds in the past couple of days and all I know of him is that he's a centre-back and has played for the England Under 16's, Under 17's and Under 18's. By the looks of these comments, he's rated highly at Pompey and you would be disappointed to see him leave. I guess with your financial situation as it is (Has it got any better yet?!) you would have to let him go if the price was right. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Yes, that would be nice, wouldn't it? I remember many Saints posters wondered out loud whether Wenger might loan us back Theo or Alex when they were on the point of leaving. The thing is though, has this sort of thing ever happened in the past? I can't think of a single example. Anyone else think of one?
Magri is very highly rated as has been for years - the fact that he's been England's under 17 captian is a testament to this. We have not actually seen him in the first team yet except for some friendlies pre-season so those of use who dont regularly see the youth play cannot tell you much about him. I know that he can play pretty much any defensive role including the defensive-midfielder role. Even if we weren't in financial dire straights we couldn't stand in his way if Liverpool want him - if he does well there he could become a major star of the national team and potentially an international superstar while the best he could do here is become a cult like Linvoy Primus, not to mention how much more money he could make at Liverpool. A decent price for him in the current situation would by £500,000 but according to this: http://www.emirates247.com/sports/liverpool-try-magri-arsenal-for-hoillet-2012-02-20-1.443997 we're only going to get £150,000 from you for him - which is a steal for you.
This is very disappointing news, something we are going to have to get used to i suppose. My friend , we are well used to selling off our best assets !!!!!!!!! I just dont know when we will ever be able to hold on to our best prodigees to flourish in our team . Its heartbreaking seeing some of the players that have graced FP playing for other clubs .
Thibaut Coutouis last summer involving Chelsea- they loaned him back to the club they purchased him from
Thanks for the reply! Nice to see the lad is highly rated down at Pompey. Our new owners are looking towards the future and we are looking to buy promising younger players (Like Jordan Ibe from Wycombe) and I guees Sam is another highly-rated youngster that our scouts must have seen the potential in! Just to let you Pompey fans know... Sam started and completed the 90 minutes as our Under 18's beat Everton's Under 18's 3-1 in the mini-derby! Regarding the price, i'm sure if your administrator has an ounce of business sense, he'll put in clauses for future performances. (First-team appearances etc.) Good luck for the rest of the season!
Have Liverpool definitely signed Sam from PFC, Chris ? Or are negotiations still ongoing with the player & ourselves ?