Topic: Neco Williams Appreciation thread

[Sangria]

looks so good further up the pitch. that pass to salah was pure perfection. helps that we got players that make that kind of runs

i guess we will have to see how he shapes up defensively against quick and tricky wingers..he might have to learnt the hard way

remember trent being the target by opposition wingers not so long ago as he was defensively "suspect". Hardly the target now as they know they going to get nothing.

Trent will continue to be the target of choice for opposition attackers. As the alternatives are Robertson, Van Dijk or Gomez.

[Oskar]

Think he deserves a start on Sunday.

You can see why he's so highly rated and why he'll be in the first-team squad next season. Hopefully he'll get a couple of starts in the remaining games, but Villa at home seems an ideal game for any of the young players to be given an opportunity.

[El Lobo]

I’d make him buy breakfast for everyone tomorrow though. Should never swing the ball straight out at a corner!

[aka_da_saus]

The standards are so high now to try and become an established member of our first team squad . And Iv been watching neco closely last 6 months and only potential weakness I can find that might be a problem is that does he lack abit of pace / acceleration when defending ? Or am I just imagining things . He has everything else . Just noticed it a couple times he has been left behind by rapid wingers .

[Ratboy3G]

Think he deserves a start on Sunday.

You can see why he's so highly rated and why he'll be in the first-team squad next season. Hopefully he'll get a couple of starts in the remaining games, but Villa at home seems an ideal game for any of the young players to be given an opportunity.

Agree with this, I think he's deserved a start against Villa at home.

[MD1990]

Williams is such a threat going forward.

Wont be long before he get his first senior goal

[Gaz123456]

Can see him more games in midfield in the coming years (and being very successful).  Good as he is, I don't seeing him taking Trent's place at right back.

[Suareznumber7]

Can see him more games in midfield in the coming years (and being very successful).

eh........not too sure about that. 

[Too early for flapjacks?]

The standards are so high now to try and become an established member of our first team squad . And Iv been watching neco closely last 6 months and only potential weakness I can find that might be a problem is that does he lack abit of pace / acceleration when defending ? Or am I just imagining things . He has everything else . Just noticed it a couple times he has been left behind by rapid wingers .

Looks quicker than Trent to me. Trent isn't the quickest himself.

[royhendo]

Tough ask wasn’t it? Lamptey was a challenge with no real cover.

[Dim Glas]

Bet Kloppo takes full responsibility for this!

It was tough, but he’ll be ok! He’ll come on as sub again this season at right back and he’ll be right as rain.

[tubby]

It's a learning curve, isn't it.  Felt like he was trying to force things a little, which is understandable after our fast start.  He'll be fine.

[Oskar]

I thought he played pretty well; got beaten once or twice by Lamptey's pace but overall I think he and Klopp will be happy with the majority of his performance.

He needed more help than he got from Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wijnaldum, I'd like to see play at left-back with Mane ahead of him. He's a great prospect with a huge future ahead of him at the club, hopefully we see more of him before the end of the season.

[farawayred]

Neco's first start reminds me a bit of Trent's - being targeted early on, facing a tough speedy player in Lamptey, etc. Both had shaky moments but played decently well, though not great. And see what became of Trent only a few years later...

[disgraced cake]

He struggled in those last 20 minutes, but it was half as much down to the entire team dropping off, should have went for the throat at 2-0, but to be fair Brighton done well. They were always going to expose him on the left. Positives for sure though, just hope his next start is from the right

[DanJay87]

He was in during the first quarter but that dope ref didn't play the advantage.

First start, out of position, up against their brightest player Lamptey, and a yellow by the end of the half. Baptism of fire, but the good things we saw prove we've got a player there.

[Fitzy.]

In truth, he got himself a little lost by the time halftime arrived. However, that’s perfectly fine at this stage of his development. In possession he’s a real talent - the rest can be coached and emerge as he gets more starts.

[classycarra]

Wasn't bad at all, and every indication he can ply his trade on the left in the same way he's been getting minutes on the right. Was a bit of an all action performance, with the vast majority being good. Not surprised (and am pleased) that he played his usual game, as opposed to an overly cautiously 'try to get through this without mistakes' kind of game.

Obviously the goal came down his side, but I don't think it's all on him. Don't think Chamberlain did much to help him cover two players there (and this was post-yellow), not to mention the midfielders were slow to drop in for the cross.

Only way he looked his age was his stamina, but he was sprinting up and down the pitch enthusiastically. Shame the ref ruined him being put through by not allowing the advantage. Seem to remember TAA came off on his debut against Spurs with a yellow so he's in good company tonight.

[Haggis36]

Wasn't bad at all, and every indication he can ply his trade on the left in the same way he's been getting minutes on the right. Was a bit of an all action performance, with the vast majority being good. Obviously the goal came down his side, but I don't think it's all on him. Don't think Chamberlain did much to help him cover two players there (and this was post-yellow), not to mention the midfielders were slow to drop in for the cross.

Only way he looked his age was his stamina, but he was sprinting up and down the pitch enthusiastically. Shame the ref ruined him being put through by not allowing the advantage. Seem to remember TAA came off on his debut against Spurs with a yellow so he's in good company tonight.

I thought he had a very promising performance in difficult circumstances (out of position, no cover) but I also thought he looked visibly uncomfortable on his wrong side. Taking a split second longer to decide what to do with the ball, checking back in, getting himself twisted in circles a few times. Was a tricky game, but watching that I thought it was obvious he was out of position. I'd like to see him have a full game at right back, as I think he gives a totally different performance.

[Reeves]

Lads, he's a right back with a right foot.Plain and simple. Really unfair on him starting him left back. Madness. No wonder he was taken off at HT.

[Oskar]

Lads, he's a right back with a right foot.Plain and simple. Really unfair on him starting him left back. Madness. No wonder he was taken off at HT.

He started at left-back because he can play at left-back.

He was taken off because he was on a yellow card, just like Gomez was taken off at half-time against City because he was on a yellow card.

Give it a rest.

[Dim Glas]

Lads, he's a right back with a right foot.Plain and simple. Really unfair on him starting him left back. Madness. No wonder he was taken off at HT.

what about lasses? Such a chauvinistic post!

As for Neco, you best get on the phone to that Jürgen Klopp fella, tell him that he fucked up.

[RedForeverTT]

If you ask Neco, he would rather play goalkeeper than not play at all.

There is no other way. Everything is a big step up from playing youth football to first team level. It’s an education that will do him a whole world of good.

[El Lobo]

The manager also happy with his performance, just taken off as he was on a booking.

I’m not sure I believe him though, Reeves disagrees. And with his track record, who is anyone else to disagree?

[classycarra]

Lads, he's a right back with a right foot.Plain and simple. Really unfair on him starting him left back. Madness. No wonder he was taken off at HT.

Dear Jurgen. Dear oh dear oh dear oh dear. Why oh why oh why. From Reeves

"Madness". "Unfair". You what?

Was taken off on a yellow, with valuable minutes and lessons to learn, and with the team winning two one. Weird thing to get worked up about.

[farawayred]

If you ask Neco, he would rather play goalkeeper than not play at all.

There is no other way. Everything is a big step up from playing youth football to first team level. It’s an education that will do him a whole world of good.

Ha-ha, keeper... It's true what you said, but it brought memories of Steve Staunton putting the gloves on against the Bitters when Sander Westerveld was red-carded... And he saved a beautiful free kick.

[Adeemo]

We need a left footed deputy for Robertson, the whole left hand side drops too many levels when he doesn’t play, the balance is all wrong. I’ve no doubt if the options remain the same and Robbo is out at all next season, it will be Milner who plays left back.

Oh and Neco Williams is going to be one hell of a right back.

[RedForeverTT]

Ha-ha, keeper... It's true what you said, but it brought memories of Steve Staunton putting the gloves on against the Bitters when Sander Westerveld was red-carded... And he saved a beautiful free kick.

My goodness. I have to watch some YouTube to see that. And he is not even that tall!

[wemmick]

Good experience. Tough day for him.

[Coolie High]

Great talent but to be fair, he looked unnatural playing there , he needs to probably work on his left foot because many a time he had the opportunity to go on the outside and didn’t use it.

I don’t think it’s only about working on his left, but being confident enough also to take it on the outside, he misplaced a couple passes because he was always looking to come inside and they cottoned onto it at times.

[Hij]

In truth, he got himself a little lost by the time halftime arrived. However, that’s perfectly fine at this stage of his development. In possession he’s a real talent - the rest can be coached and emerge as he gets more starts.

This basically. He waned as the half went on. But it's not exactly his proper position and while he ended the half pretty badly he looked bright early on. The yellow made it almost certain he came off and too right as well as I'm sure no-one would want to see him walk on his first team debut. We won the game overall and I'm sure he will learn from it. Good luck Neco.

[Morgana]

If you ask Neco, he would rather play goalkeeper than not play at all.

There is no other way. Everything is a big step up from playing youth football to first team level. It’s an education that will do him a whole world of good.

This.

And I think he showed real quality at LB today, esp. bearing in mind that even Robbo has a tough day at the office when Sadio is absent from that left side. It was a trial by fire for Neco and I think he passed it with a B+/A-.

[Gnurglan]

He got another appearance. That's how I see it. We'll see more of him and probably then down the right.

[Ghost Town]

Klopp said before the game that other players would need to help him in defensive situations. That help was perhaps not as forthcoming as it should have been. He did really well until that moment when Lamptey did him for pace and Neco stuck a momentary arm out to his shoulder and then fell. After that he was a bit less sure of himself.

But it's his first start, in a less familiar role. He will learn and improve and prove the doubters wrong. Shame that advantage wasn't allowed or he might even have got a goal or assist.

[Ghost Town]

Lads, he's a right back with a right foot.Plain and simple. Really unfair on him starting him left back. Madness. No wonder he was taken off at HT.

Have you got a bet on about how many things you can be wrong about in a calendar year, or something?

[Rheinbacher]

He was unreal first 25 minutes but struggled against Lamptey 1 v 1 as the half went on,made a few rash tackles. Good learning experience,Trent got the run around a few times in his first couple of seasons. Looks class on the ball.

[duvva 💅]

Have you got a bet on about how many things you can be wrong about in a calendar year, or something?

Nah, he only bets against us. Maybe he put a bit too much on Brighton this time?

19 year old makes first start, but is played out of position. Happens a lot, particularly centrebacks being played at full back. It’s all experience, the good and the bad and he’ll have learned plenty.

[afc tukrish]

Have you got a bet on about how many things you can be wrong about in a calendar year, or something?

Madness, plain and simple. Really unfair, lad...

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Looked a bit gassed after 20 mins. Game had a pretty good tempo. Didn't get great protection from Ox and Gini at times. Would love to see him at RB against Burnley. He's taken a few decent shots with his left so I was hoping he would be confident enough on his weaker foot to go on the outside but kept cutting in. Bit streaky at times with his defending but it's what you'd expect at the stage he's at and similar to Trent in his first few games.

[royhendo]

Did well again.

It does underline just how good Trent is though. He was fine, but then we started opening things up from the right.