Rafa's contract

[Dan]

Don't know if anyone was listening to R5 this morning but they had the chairman (or summet) of one of our local supporters club claiming that Rafa had a clause in his contract that meant zero input into the academy - literally nothing, and it was left entirely to SH. If i remember correctly the academy was one of the first things Rafa identified as needing attention when he came in.

 

Does anyone know who this guy was and where he got this from? It seems strange to come up with such obvious bullsh*t on national radio.

[RP]

Don't know if anyone was listening to R5 this morning but they had the chairman (or summet) of one of our local supporters club claiming that Rafa had a clause in his contract that meant zero input into the academy - literally nothing, and it was left entirely to SH. If i remember correctly the academy was one of the first things Rafa identified as needing attention when he came in.

 

Does anyone know who this guy was and where he got this from? It seems strange to come up with such obvious bullsh*t on national radio.

 

 

That has been the story for years.

[honourablegeorge]

Always been the case that the Academy has been autonomous.

 

Steve Heighway need to jsutify hsi existence though, because he's producing exactly f*** all. Rafa should be in charge.

[Dan]

That has been the story for years.

 

Really? No input whatsover? I knew it was minimal but am surprised he agreed to it.

[Falconhoof]

Anyone can see that our youth policy is failing when its compared to Arsenal's.

Rafa has his scouts finding all these players but it was strange when arguably the best find, Barragan, was let go. Maybe the lad was homesick but he'd stand comparison with Arsenal's young talents, he's head and shoulders above Peltier.

 

I'm sure DIC will want an appraisal of what the academy has achieved and want Rafa to make recomendations.

[jimmylibel]

I very much doubt such details would be in his contract. I'm sure however it was outlined to him that the Academy is run as an autonomous unit and that is the way things work at the club. Thankfully it looks like that practice is changing.

[charlie clown]

there was a lot of tension between Houllier and Heighway though so maybe there was something agreed when Rafa was brought in in order to trya dn cut out the battles that had developed when Ged was in charge.

[Bootle Buck]

I was watching the local youngsters last night and couldn't help but thinking of Otsemebor and Welsh three seasons ago. You would love to see them make the grade and get a regular spot, but the chance of that happening seem so remote.

[Kahnee]

I was watching the local youngsters last night and couldn't help but thinking of Otsemebor and Welsh three seasons ago. You would love to see them make the grade and get a regular spot, but the chance of that happening seem so remote.

 

If memory serves, they both got their chance but were found wanting. along with Stephen Wright, their subsequent career path hasn't shown up any mistakes on our part.

 

I sometimes think we're so desperate for another star to emerge that we allow hype to develop too quickly

[Bailo]

It's an insane situation if true.

 

We do seem to rely on local lads though for the next big thing - Arsenal had one Londoner in the team yesterday if memory serves me correctly.

[Guest Greasy Belcher]

Liverpool seem to invest more in youth policy and academy / development than any other club in the land. We've had some world class players come through, but they seem to be one in a thousand if were lucky. The majority find it impossible to break into the squad and end up nowhere.

 

I dont fault the set up, I think the game as a whole is in a mess. How on earth as kids supposed to step up from reserve / youth team action into hundred mile an hour tornado premiership football matches. Imagine, spending years being groomed for technique and composure. ball control and fitness. Only to be clattered in the back by Rio Ferdinand or Robbie Savage within your first 5 seconds of premiership football. Imagine training your whole life for a break and then being roasted like a peanut by an arsenal winger running at 100 miles an hour. (only to have dudek as your last line of defense).

 

This result highlights what rafa has been saying for a few months now. Premiership teams should be allowed to field reserve teams in the lower leagues. Because it is really destroying youth development te way it is.

[Maldini]

I believe it's true, I think the logic is not that I agree with it) that managers may come and go and each could have a different philosophy to youth development and in the long term it could have negative effects on the young players, mixed messages etc.

 

It seems to be changing now anyway.