He has more obvious potential than Wisdom as he has proven himself to some extent already. Kelly has shown similar levels to date but is two years older so potential has to be assumed to be less, though these things are always estimates and for all we know Jones/Kelly are playing as well as they ever will.

As to using reserves, it's about balancing that with ensuring success on the field. And many youngsters can go on loan anyway so will get the first team experience. And going to a big club you can expect to work with better coaches in better facilities and learn from better players and managers.

Kingkenny I think your first sentance partly substantiates my argument. You say he has more obvious talent as he's proved himself already. Why's this cause he's played for a lesser team which has given him first team experience. By your definition we can't play our youngsters because they are not experienced enough.
I still think Kelly is potentially better than Jones and better suited to Liverpool. But how can he prove himself at cb without being played there.

But its kind of irrelevant then because he's already at a big club. He may well be worth £19m as he is exactly as good as Jones. But Wisdom isn't on the market so his current valuation is pointless. Your argument seems to rest on a player having a big name is important but that is not so until they are in their prime. When they both reach their prime their respective values will be important.

I'm sort of confused as to what your point is.

Ok two players with potential Kelly and Johnson, for arguments sake of equal potential. One goes to a lesser club, more opportunity to get first team place, the other goes to a bigger club, less opportunity. By getting first team experience the former is more in the limelight and therefore to general perception is regarded as experienced. The other even though same age is regarded as inexperienced. Who should the bigger team pick. By your definition the one who started at the lesser club. Therefore other young players seeing this faced with the same choice, who will they pick?

Not at all. You've already said the other youngster is at a bigger club. So the other youngster is eventually bought by a bigger club also and the two are in the exact same position, while the first youngster has probably been on loan and hence has experience, higher wages in that period and better facilities and staff to work with

Yep but the one already there gets supplanted by the 'more experienced' player.Having said that I think our policy wil be to use our reserve players more which will save us millions.

Basically id rather save the 17 mil for a position we need more and play Kelly in the centre. I think he will be equally as good, more dedicated and costs us nowt.

Ah I see now. So basically we shouldnt buy Jones. Yes that's certainly arguable. But if Kenny is looking at Jones it suggests to me he's not happy with what we have and he thinks Jones is better. And I trust his judgement on player potential.

I agree I do trust Kenny. I think we will spend about 70 million but that'll be a one off as it will not be sustainable especially if we revamp our stadium. Therefore we will have to rely more on our youngsters brought on by Rodolfo.

I agree with the o/p. 17 million for Jones would be shocking considering he is not presently a 17 million pound & may never be. It would represent a huge gamble.

A blind allegiance to our manager does not change this. We would have spent 70+ million on 3 players who thus far have not demonstrated they are worth it & may never be.

I just hope we are not excluding ourselves from purchasing dozens of world class players & narrowing the pool from which we can chose by adhering to the criteria of English, young with potential for resale value.

This is risky, very risky.