15 Jan 2019 12:14:49
Any one else hear that TAA is out for at least 4 weeks?

1.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 12:20:22
I have not heard that but that is worrying news. Might have to resort to Fabinho or Milner filling in there.

2.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 12:29:40
Confirmed, Gini a doubt for the weekend too.

3.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 12:39:59
Never understood the Clyne situation. End of season yes season short sighted. Gomez and TAA out. Has to play Milner. can't play Camacho against Zaha.

4.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 12:41:59
Hopefully Matip is fit enough because he'll need to play CB with Milner or Fabinho RB!

Goodness me these injuries!

5.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 12:48:24
play fabinho CB and milner RB. think we well be just fine.

6.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 13:21:36
If we play Fabinho CB and Milner RB then we are left with only Hendo and Kieta in midfield as Gini is also injured.

7.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 13:24:05
Don't forget that Hoever (who came on at CB against Wolves), his natural position is at RB. Maybe he'll be on the bench as cover, but he certainly looked more than competent when he played.

8.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 13:26:41
We will be Ok

Robertson VanDijk Fabinho Milner.

9.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 14:05:19
Matip was on the bench V Brighton so he could well be back in the starting 11 for the Palace match.

10.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 14:28:52
Absolutely no need for panic chaps. We can still put out a strong defence/ midfield against Crystal Palace :

Alisson

Milner Matip VVD Robbo

Fab Hendo

Shaq Bobby Sadio

Mo.

11.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 14:38:31
Hoever's natural position is not RB, he is a CB.

He has been playing RB above his age group much like Joe Gomez did for a long time.

Also, I don't think he should be thrown in any time soon. He is doing very well progressing where he is. The Wolves game should've been a nice cameo for him for 20 minutes at the end, instead he was thrown into the cauldron in a disjointed team.

I would rather play Fabinho and Milner out of position rather than put a 16yr old into the firing line. What if he makes a mistake that costs us a game, or even worse costs us the title? He might never recovery as the "fans" would destroy him.

I think there's a time and a place for young players to be bedded in. As we reach the business end of the season when we're closer to the league title than we have been in years. that's not the right time.

By all means have him on the bench and give him minutes, but don't pin our hopes on him.

12.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 14:56:19
We should absolutely not be relying on a 16yr old in critical PL matches. Milner is a better RB than Clyne so happy to see him start there any day and still have Hendo, Gini, Keita and Shaqiri for midfield. and Fabinho too when Matip and Gomez back.

Itâ€™s gutting to see him injured but not a crisis, we have quite a few players who can cover there.

13.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 16:00:13
Talksport reporting it .

14.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 16:36:26
We wonâ€™t be relying on him letâ€™s get the lad on the bench and give him more confidence how will we no how good he is unless we try him again.

15.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 16:40:01
If hoever is on a red card from an under 23 s match does this apply to the premier league?

16.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 17:10:37
Love of god Matip is back already Gomez is not far behind milly will play RB.

17.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 17:13:22
Says 2 weeks on BBC, it was done in the warm up before kick off. Should be ok with Fab the new Steve Harkness. ðŸ˜.

18.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 17:21:40
I agree with you Reusch. If you're good enough, you're old enough.

Jack Robinson if I remember correctly made his debut against Arsenal at 17 and did very well. Milner, Rooney, Lennon and Jeffers all got thrown in at the deep end at 16. Owen, Mcmanaman and Fowler got a chance at a young age too. Gomez and Trent are now first team regulars too after being given a chance and trusted.

19.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 18:26:16
Epic-How many centre backs have played at 16?

20.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 18:31:44
Cobra666 - The only one I can think of is West Ham's Reece Oxford. Didn't he get man of the match on his debut against Arsenal?

I am however referring to the right back slot, but Hoever showed perfectly capable in the centre.

21.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 18:34:39
Also, Hoever turns 17 on Friday. Happy Birthday to him :)

22.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 20:04:40
Milner will cover RB, no problem, Matip will play, then I think we have a 2 week break, so most players out should be back by then,
Gomez will be like a new player for us,
I think by the end of the season, people will think that VVD and Gomez are probably the best centre half partnership in the world .
YNWA .

23.) 15 Jan 2019
15 Jan 2019 21:24:44
Epic every player you mentioned there is a forward or winger where you can afford to make more mistakes. At the back you simply canâ€™t. If we had a 16 year old at the back Palace would target him with everything theyâ€™ve got and it could set him back immeasurably.
Why not just player Milner there who we know we can trust until Gomez and TAA are back. Simples.

24.) 16 Jan 2019
16 Jan 2019 00:09:30
Agree Bobby.

Comments like â€˜if youâ€™re good enough, youâ€™re old enoughâ€™ are fine, but itâ€™s also about when you choose to introduce inexperienced youth players and against whom.

In a close title race, in a defensive position (where a mistake costs a goal, not lost possession) and against a player like Zaha would not make any sense to me when you have Milner and Fabinho as established international pros more than capable of playing in that position.

Hoever will get him time, but I donâ€™t see Klopp taking a risk like that at this stage.

25.) 16 Jan 2019
16 Jan 2019 00:52:38
Now look, TAA is injured. should have kept martin kelly.

26.) 16 Jan 2019
16 Jan 2019 04:00:33
A 16 year old cannot have a natural position, heâ€™s 16!

27.) 16 Jan 2019
16 Jan 2019 09:27:17
BB I think this game will be too soon for Hoever but a lot of great defenders have made their debut at 17.

Varane - 17
Mendy - 16
Marquinhos - 17
Gimenez - 17
Laporte - 17
Sule - 17
De ligt - 17

Even in the prem you have

Ferdinand - 17
Bellerin -18
Barry - 17 (maybe played midfield)

At some point you have to give the kids a chance otherwise what's the point in the academy.

28.) 16 Jan 2019
16 Jan 2019 16:22:50
Bobby, not really. Robinson, Trent and Gomez aren't strikers or wingers.

I also replied to Cobra about any other Premier League defender starting at the age of 16, and which I could only think of Reece Oxford at West Ham making his debut in their season opener against Arsenal. I know his chances have been limited since then, but a MotM awarded in that game does suggest that he did a bit more than OK.

The list above that Happy Red Pants put forward says a lot. Some of those defenders are some of the best in Europe and they started young. Wouldn't you want Hoever to be mentioned in the same breath as some of those players?

And for the record, I'm not saying that he should be picked ahead of Fabinho or Milner. I'm merely saying that he's an "option" and the idea of such shouldn't be discarded because he's only just turning 17.