Young Players Coming Through

[Tyler]

Its great to see young players (Plessis, El Zhar) coming through and getting chances - part of what following a club is about is not just the big money signings but excitement when a young player could be the "one".

 

Credit has to go to Rafa for this. Clearly when he came we had nothing in the junior ranks and he has slowly assembled some genuine prospects.

[Cooger]

I think there are signs that the youth structure is working.

 

We're producing talent. Now whether they can make the step up into the first team is debatable. Some certainly have a chance, with Nemeth, Plessis, Spearing, Darby, El Zhar and Pacheco leading the way.

 

But if they don't make the grade, it appears that they will be sold for a decent fee. Take Guthrie for example, he's gone for a good fee which can help fund the youth structure or Benitez's transfer budget.

 

I thought that was the point of the acedamy / youth structure. Guthrie and others fund it to keep it running and then you wait for a Fowler, Carragher, Gerrard or Owen to come along who can enhance the first team.

 

In four years the structure has changed radically. The youth team in now not only full of young talent, it's winning.

[Anfield Fox]

I think there are signs that the youth structure is working.

 

We're producing talent. Now whether they can make the step up into the first team is debatable. Some certainly have a chance, with Nemeth, Plessis, Spearing, Darby, El Zhar and Pacheco leading the way.

 

But if they don't make the grade, it appears that they will be sold for a decent fee. Take Guthrie for example, he's gone for a good fee which can help fund the youth structure or Benitez's transfer budget.

 

I thought that was the point of the acedamy / youth structure. Guthrie and others fund it to keep it running and then you wait for a Fowler, Carragher, Gerrard or Owen to come along who can enhance the first team.

 

In four years the structure has changed radically. The youth team in now not only full of young talent, it's winning.

 

Good post but where are the Fowler's, Mcmanaman's, Carragher's, Gerrard's or Owen's? Gerrard was the last to break through exactly 10 years ago.

[Tones]

I remember under GH our reserves used to full of Diaos and Cheyrous, who couldnt get into the first team. It was full of players just collecting a wage and not really putting much effort into the reserve side. Now it is basically a youth team, and its just won the reserves league against senior professionals. It has a lot of talent in it, as have the real youth teams. Certainly looks promising for the future.

[Mike]

el zhar is 22. not going to make it - certainly at liverpool. some of the other younger ones might though.

however, its worth remembering how good and unique you have to be to make it at a top club and perhaps only nemeth at 19 has the raw ability that marks him out as potentially special from what we've seen to date.

 

consider how owen, gerrard, rooney etc stood out by the time they were 19 for a comparison.

[Cooger]

Good post but where are the Fowler's, Mcmanaman's, Carragher's, Gerrard's or Owen's? Gerrard was the last to break through exactly 10 years ago.

 

Well I don't think we can blame Benitez for this.

 

He clearly didn't rate the structure Houiller created and a result we've seen lots of changes. For starters the system is different, with Steve Highway making way. I don't think Benitez was overly impressed with the young talent he inherited four years ago and we've seen lots of young talent come in as a result.

 

These structures take time, Wenger didn't do it over night.

 

But there are signs that the structure is working and talent is coming through. You never know how well players will develop. Everyone knew Owen would be great, but not all players are like that. Carragher is an example of a player who developed later on into the player he is now. Players such as Nemeth and Pacheco have got a great chance, but you just don't know how they will develop. Some are great straight away, some keep developing to 23, some look great to 18 but then can't take the next step.

 

The key is we're producing talent and some will make it. The ones that don't, it appears they will bring in decent fees. Hamill for example probably won't make it here, given he wasn't used in pre season, but I suspect we'll get some fee for him.

 

This is more positive than not producing at all. That way there is a chance of producing the next Owen, Fowler or Gerrard.

[Cooger]

I remember under GH our reserves used to full of Diaos and Cheyrous, who couldnt get into the first team. It was full of players just collecting a wage and not really putting much effort into the reserve side. Now it is basically a youth team, and its just won the reserves league against senior professionals. It has a lot of talent in it, as have the real youth teams. Certainly looks promising for the future.

 

Agreed it was a depreciation centre, rather than a structure to develop and produce talent.

 

 

el zhar is 22. not going to make it - certainly at liverpool. some of the other younger ones might though.

however, its worth remembering how good and unique you have to be to make it at a top club and perhaps only nemeth at 19 has the raw ability that marks him out as potentially special from what we've seen to date.

 

consider how owen, gerrard, rooney etc stood out by the time they were 19 for a comparison.

 

El Zhar might not make it, but he'll probably bring in some fee, just like Guthrie did. I'd rather reserves like this, on low wages and could have a chance of a bright future. Rather than depreciating flops such as Cheyoru, Ferri, Diao, Traore - who are on big wages and are hindering the young talent coming through.

[Mike]

Agreed it was a depreciation centre, rather than a structure to develop and produce talent.

El Zhar might not make it, but he'll probably bring in some fee, just like Guthrie did. I'd rather reserves like this, on low wages and could have a chance of a bright future. Rather than depreciating flops such as Cheyoru, Ferri, Diao, Traore - who are on big wages and are hindering the young talent coming through.

 

no argument there.

[Zoob]

At least now we're looking at players such as Plessis, Pacheco, Nemeth & Insua rather than Welsh, Partridge Newby and Wright

[rikf]

Agreed it was a depreciation centre, rather than a structure to develop and produce talent.

El Zhar might not make it, but he'll probably bring in some fee, just like Guthrie did. I'd rather reserves like this, on low wages and could have a chance of a bright future. Rather than depreciating flops such as Cheyoru, Ferri, Diao, Traore - who are on big wages and are hindering the young talent coming through.

 

 

Champions league winner Traore?

[Maldini]

At least now we're looking at players such as Plessis, Pacheco, Nemeth & Insua rather than Welsh, Partridge Newby and Wright

 

I think it's just the fact that the former are a lot better than the latter. We're now producing players who can justify a place in the squad.