Two of my favourite young players at Liverpool have agreed on new 3 years deals at Liverpool. Midfielder Jay Spearing and full-back Stephen Darby – both 20 – are expected to put pen to paper on the new deals later this week. It is great news that we are able to retain our own local homegrown talent as in some cases they would have decided to go to mediocre Premiership teams in the bid to get regular first team football.
It is important for us to keep our youth team players but at the same time, after they have made such a commitment from their end, it is only right for Rafa to give them a fair crack at playing in the first team.
If Alonso and / or Mascherano leave this summer then we are going to be very thin in midfield and may have to sign some replacements. But if that is the case, I would not mind seeing Spearing coming in and being the ‘new’ Mascherano of the team. He has what it takes. He has the short stocky built of Mascherano and they play a similar type of football. I am not saying Spearing is as good as Mascherano, he is probably very far from it, but I think given the opportunity he would not let us down.
As for Darby, now that we have signed Glen Johnson, Darby can not be a regular right back in the first team but if Arbeloa does leave for Real Madrid then Darby could just work his way up to fighting the ever injured Deggen for the back up right back slot. Personally I would pick Darby over Deggen any day. We have to give these guys and the rest of the youth team players a shot at the first team.
I’m with you on this one Ron. These guys need to be given a chance and not only in the Carling Cup. Pacheco is the one I am really keen to see get a break.