7 Oct 2013

'I'm impressed': Gillespie insists €8m LFC star is 'close to the finished article'. Already...?

With no fewer than six players competing for places, Liverpool currently have an embarrassment of riches in the defensive department, and although Tiago Ilori appears to be way down the pecking order right now, Liverpool legend Gary Gillespie believes he's ready to go straight into the first team.

Speaking to 5-Times this week, Gillespie - a defensive stalwart during Kenny Dalglish's first spell in charge - Enthused:

"I am impressed with Liverpool's strength defensively.

"I watched young Tiago Ilori in an U21 game recently and he looks close to the finished article, but he needs to strengthen up a little. We have signed a good prospect".


'Close to the finished article'? That's some major praise for a 20-year old player with practically zero experience in top-flight football, but Gillespie watches the U21s more regularly than most, and being a defender himself, he clearly knows what he's talking about.

This is great news for LFC's squad depth, and hopefully means we'll actually get to see Ilori - who cost the Reds €8m - play sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately, with no Capital One Cup games available, and no FA Cup action until January, it's hard to see how where Ilori will get the chance to impress over the next few months.

Gillespie also reserved praise for Kolo Toure, who is quickly becoming a firm fan-favourite:

"The enthusiasm he [Toure] shows is a great credit to him. He has played in really good successful sides at Manchester City and Arsenal and to come to Liverpool and maintain that is brilliant. He has really surprised me".

Toure is probably my favourite of Rodgers' summer signings. Top man, and brings much needed leadership qualities to the squad.



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24 comments:

  1. If wisdom got a few games then why not illori .10 x the player

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  2. To be honest I think the young lads should be brought in the final 15 minutes of the match so that they can have an exposure to what PL is and that is the time when teams start hustle and bustle.

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  3. true they played really well today

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  4. 100 per cent agree Jamie

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  5. If we're three goals up maybe. The way we've been playing we spend every second half camped out in our own half. Not the best situation to start trying things

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  6. Mr. Point Of View8:51 am, October 08, 2013

    I predict we will see ilori more after jan window. Either sktel (nopoli?) or agger (barca?) will leave.. BR playing either both them now is try to raise the value $ ???

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  7. For now Ilori has done nothing outside of the reserves so let's wait until he establishes himself before we start selling people. For now, Agger, Skrtel and Touré are still the best proven defenders at the club.

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  8. Agree, Toure has to be not just BRs signing of the summer, but one of the premier leagues top summer signings, if you take into account we got himon a free. Great business.
    I must admit i was a little skeptical at first. I always liked Toure at Arsenal and City, but after seeing so little of him i figured he'd lost something, pace, ability, strenght. Something.
    After all why would city let him get down to the last year of his contract, especially when they looked so vulnerable whenever Kompany was out.
    But he has lost nothing, and i'm more than durprised at his pace over a short sprint, although that may be down to sheer determination to get a ball before an opponent, something he has in spades.
    Love his commitment to the game, and his voice on the pitch. He's no spring chicken, but the fact he's excelling at top level still shows how seriously he takes his job. Long may he continue.

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  9. If Skrtel maintains his form and he is still sold then BR is not the man for the job. I think both Agger and Skrtel should stick around because Coates is out for the entire season, Illori has no experience and Toure is 33 next year.

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  10. how do you know hes 10x the player of Wisdom. How many times have you got to see him play???

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  11. Well, giving these young lads a shot might fix it. They might come on to prove something to BR and who knows they'll be the ones fixing the second half issue.

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  12. Our second half issue is not a defensive issue. It's a tactical one combined with poor transfer decisions in the summer.

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  13. Where is Ilori going to play though? That's the question.
    I say train him as a DM.

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  14. Well, it is of course defensive as well if you ask me. The defense drops back more than you can expect them along with attacking players trying to defend as well. What BR should do now is launch attack with even more confidence in the second half so that we don't have to defend which we're ideally not so good at if you look at the matches.

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  15. What BR should do is leave well enough alone. If we're 3-0 up against Crystal Palace there is no need to change our tactics in any way what so ever. Not to be more offensive nor defensive. We should just play our own game, every game. I think he's saving his midfielders by letting them drop deep and that is a direct result from us only having four central midfielders in our squad, one of them being the injured Allen. Had he brought in a CM in the summer or not sold two of the ones we had, there would be no need to be saving anyone right now.

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  16. Personally I would like to see the young players sent out on loan in January with a view to being in 4 competitions next year. I would only buy 1 Top quality player in January(another striker in the 10-15 mil bracket) and then next summer I would get rid of any player who Rodgers deems to be surplus to requirements and then introduce the likes of Suso,Mcgloughlin,Texeria, etc to the first team.
    I have got to say that I am really happy with the first team and the young players we have. A million miles form the squad we had 2 years ago with Adam,Downing,Poulsen etc.
    Brendan deserves credit for this.

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  17. Toure is also my favourite signing too. Hes so enjoyable to watch and more than that he provides such a boost to our team. He is also an absolute beast in defence. Such quality.

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  18. I think he has planned something which is not working out how he's planning it all. Maybe something wrong with his game plan or might be possible that he wants teams to think that we're piss poor in second half intentionally and is waiting to launch some sort of master stroke later in the season. ;)

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  19. My best summer signing would be Mignolet, already earned lot of points. Whenever I am going through a bad day, I see that video where Mignolet saves the penalty against Stoke and every Liverpool player pounce on him with joy. Makes my day every time I watch it, god I love this club.

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  20. I think it's just negative tactics....again...

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  21. Ilori is supposed to be a speedster and as a defense man why not try him as DM to add pace to a ponderous midfield? BR is thinking this way by putting Sterling out there last game. Ilori might fit that thinking as well. How bad of a passer could he be compared to Sterling? After watching last game twice, it's amazing how many bad passes Sterling still makes. Love his pace but .............

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  22. I think BOTH Toure and Mignolet are great signings. When would have had 0 to 3 points in the first three games without Simon, period! Toure has been great; steady, good passer and physical when necessary. I guess BR can add two great signings each period !!! One or two more intervals, and we will be rockin' .........

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  23. Before joining Sporting Lisbon,Tiago Illori are playing as striker.Why not start now try to give playing for striker position before new signing are coming this january.

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