They don’t make centre halves like Alan Hansen anymore, but could Leny Yoro be the answer to Liverpool’s prayers in defence?
IT’S great news about Alan Hansen.
For many of us, he’s the man we think of first when people talk about legendary Liverpool centre backs.
Younger people often smirk when us older lads claim that X was the best of whatever position in the history of the club, citing numerous health and nutrition improvements in the current crop, but I don’t care this time. Alan Hansen is Liverpool’s greatest centre half. Don’t @ me. Virgil van Dijk is great, but Jockey was perfect.
‘Jockey’. I’ve never understood that ‘e’ in his name given that it references his nationality rather than being the world’s tallest horse rider. Must be just me.
He came to us in 1977 from Partick Thistle when he was just 22 years old and, as was the custom back then, was used only sporadically when he arrived. Strange to think that one of the greatest players in our history had to work his way in to oust Tommy Smith. I suppose you’ve got to be sure when it comes to your centre backs.
This is still the same case today.
I recently appeared on The Gutter show with Rob Gutmann, Neil Atkinson and Stu Wright where we discussed the replacement for Joel Matip and maybe even Ibou Konate.
Naturally, Leny Yoro’s name came up and, though I inadvertently called him ‘Lenny Lawro’ on more than one occasion, I promoted his cause. Admittedly, I’ve only seen him play a few times but he’s a hell of a player. His tackling and reading of the game are great, particularly for such a young player.
If we splashed the cash, my only bugbear is that we might have to go through a season with just him and Jarell as centre halves. Good though they may be, they’re only 18 and 21 respectively. I’d prefer an older hand next to one of them should something happen to Virgil.
I mean, it’s probably a moot point anyway as Madrid will probably swoop for him, barely play him and send him off on an unsatisfactory loan to Getafe or whoever a year later. As long as no one else can buy him, they’ll take a financial hit. Political transfers.
And that’s the problem Liverpool face these days. Finance. In May 1977, we could afford to risk £100,000 on a kid from Clackmannanshire, but £40-60m on a centre half who may need to spend some time getting used to the league, his new team, our football and a new country? I can’t see that. There’s an ocean between bravery and risk aversion.
Jockey’s fee seems paltry nowadays. It’s the equivalent of £778,000 today. Jesus, we could spot a player back then.
Now the scouting team have had to find a Leny Yoro before he becomes Europe’s hottest property, before he becomes Leny Yoro.
We’ve done it before by bringing in players from smaller clubs – Andy Robertson, Harvey Elliott etc – but those are players who have to bed in before they get a sniff of first-team action. The problem with summer transfer windows is that people want, even expect, first team ready players. And they need them to settle in at once.
But we’ll probably never see Lenny. Not for a good while, anyway. The enormous clubs always have first dibs. We’re an enormous club too, but we’re often scared of saying so. Once Madrid made come-hither glances at Jude Bellingham last season, we were out.
Oh, I know we bid for Caicedo but how many of us thought that that was likely? I always thought that was done to irritate Chelsea rather than a serious consideration and I’m all for that.
That sounds harsh. We’ve spent a ton on the team that won everything, but we seem to prefer our young players to be under contract in their teens. Buying a teenager for experienced international figures doesn’t seem our style somehow.
Maybe that will change under Arne Slot. No one knows. No one knows anything yet. This is a weird state of limbo.
It’s good news for Jarell Quansah, though. There’s only one spot next to Virgil and Joe Gomez seems to be more full-back these days, in the same way people have stopped talking about Trent Alexander-Arnold being a right back. He is a right back, by the way. I’ve never been convinced about his (ugh) ‘quarterback’ thing.
Maybe Ibrahima Konate is the long-term solution, but his Goodison performance got a lot of people’s backs up last season.
All the same, there’s a defensive question to be answered.
In the meanwhile, Jockey’s out of hospital and that’s the best possible news. Word has it that he was taking the piss out of Graeme Souness when he visited him, so that was always a good sign. I’ve only met him once. He was taking the piss out of Steven Gerrard that time. Long story.
I just wish he were 22 again and looking for a club.
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We’re never seeing Yoro playing for Liverpool.
Even if he agrees, John Henry / FSG will fly over pronto to persuade him to go to Madrid – no way FSG are spending on LFC transfers – especially when top for will be secured with a zero net spend.
Lets keep celebrating FSG’s and John Henry’s bank balance – that’s what we’re all here for and what most of these articles are here to defend, right?