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Liverpool have a host of young centre backs at the club, and it is hoped that one of them will break through to feature somewhat regularly at senior level in the next few years. Lloyd Jones is one defender who has been labelled as a "hot prospect" to use Football Manager terminology and has made appearances in League Two for both Cheltenham Town and Accrington Stanley. 17 appearances last season isn't bad, but the youngster turns 20 in October so it's time for him to log some serious minutes to develop his game. He will have the opportunity to do so at Blackpool FC on a youth loan.
Blackpool, owned by the extremely unpopular Oyston family, have been in a terrible mess for a while now. The latest in what seems to be a never-ending story of club conflict is the a bid from the Blackpool Supporters' Trust (BST) to buy the club from the Oystons. Finishing bottom resulting in relegation from the Championship and hardly having any players to start last season isn't the best tale to tell for 2014/15, but former West Ham United assistant Neil McDonald will hope to make his mark after being appointed manager in early June.
Is this the best club for Jones to step up from League Two to League One? There is the fact that playing in adverse conditions can build character, resilience, and fighting spirit. Such trite descriptions are often meaningless but are necessary for success during difficult moments on the football pitch. Maybe throwing a young player into the definition of disarray isn't the best idea, but that's what Liverpool have decided to do. Jones will be playing at the highest level of his career to date so should relish testing himself at a higher level.
The 19-year-old signed a fresh two-year-contract in May and needs to play. Blackpool hardly have any players to block Jones' path to the first eleven so this could be a fine example of opportunism to ensure a youngster plays as many games as possible to gain experience. Hopefully Jones will get the opportunities he requires to come back to Liverpool as a more rounded and confident player.
