Topic: So what are these Youth/Reserve Lads like?

[7777]

I think Sterling is a cert mate. He will have an impact too

I think what's the most disappointing is seeing the 'kids' get pulled to bits for not beating a team who are pretty much neck and neck with them this season

As I said earlier in the thread, maybe it'd be a better idea just to have Bradley commentating on his own with the facts rather than co-commentating and analysis from the likes of Wright / Gillespie / Fairclough

We've opened it up now as a club by filming live games and hopefully it will just be for the title run in but this isn't even reserve football and the over-analysis is way over the top

I'd much rather they left it to the Youth Cup and that's it, we don't really need to see the under 18's in every game 

[-Willo-]

I think Sterling is a cert mate. He will have an impact too

I think what's the most disappointing is seeing the 'kids' get pulled to bits for not beating a team who are pretty much neck and neck with them this season

As I said earlier in the thread, maybe it'd be a better idea just to have Bradley commentating on his own with the facts rather than co-commentating and analysis from the likes of Wright / Gillespie / Fairclough

We've opened it up now as a club by filming live games and hopefully it will just be for the title run in but this isn't even reserve football and the over-analysis is way over the top

I'd much rather they left it to the Youth Cup and that's it, we don't really need to see the under 18's in every game 

What else would you rather watch other then them though mate? I think its quite good me personally, just my opinion though 

[7777]

as a long term contributor to the thread i think the point of the current interest is that they're the best bunch of kids we've ever seen at liverpool.

the emphasis is on 'seen' though as through internet and teevee oots like me get to see a lot more of them.

there's also the fact that this thread is generally optimistic even when things aren't going well for the first team. 

long may it continue and i think given the calibre of some of the posters we're not in danger of going too overboard.

I don't think it's particularly on here mate to be honest, I've not seen anything too OTT, Mark Wright really pissed me off today but in general I just don't think we should be showing live games where there is a co-commentator and 'analysis'

I do enjoy watching them playt but I'd rather just see highlights of them playing and that's it

I just don't think at 17 and 18, we should be discussing the in's and out's of a cows arse and whether Morgan (just turned 17) is making the right runs or whether Silva has a tendency to dive or take one too many touches. Let's leave that to Rodolfo who actually has a bit of a clue and knows these kids inside and out

[7777]

What else would you rather watch other then them though mate? I think its quite good me personally, just my opinion though 

For fear of repeating myself

Highlights with factual commentary or even the game with just Bradley commentating. The 'analysis' isn't necessary

Who gives a flying fuck what Mark Wright has to say

[hassinator]

What else would you rather watch other then them though mate? I think its quite good me personally, just my opinion though 

i don't think its a point of not watching them its just understanding that they're young and will make mistakes.

its a pain in the arse losing to the blue shite but i wonder how many of them will make it to their vastly inferior first team?

[-Willo-]

Right them, in a nut shell, organise it, say 5 in each category, 5 who you think will make it, 5 who you think have a chance of making it, but are a bit 'sink or swim' and 5 who just won't make it.

I'll start..

5 who will make it in my opinion..

1. Sterling
2. Suso
3. Wisdom
4. Coady
5. Adorjan

Sink or Swim..

1. Morgan
2. Ngoo
3. Ayala
4. Sama
5. Silva

Won't make it..

1. Smith
2. Amoo
3. Roddan
4. Eccleston
5. Saric

[hassinator]

For fear of repeating myself

Highlights with factual commentary or even the game with just Bradley commentating. The 'analysis' isn't necessary

Who gives a flying fuck what Mark Wright has to say

second that but i did enjoy what borrel had to say after the game.

i think analysis is ok if not provided by a moron there to pick up a cheque.

[James Mac]

Part of the fun is guessing. Here's what Sarge said in 2008:

Yes ok then, going by what i have read on this thread our best XI at present in development is,

                                             Bouzanis

Irwin                Hobbs                               San Jose             Insua

Anderson         Plessiss                             Gutrie                 Leto

                Nemeth                                                Pacheco

Ajdarevic, Ecclestone, Amoo, Huth and Spearing all making a name for themselves.

Of that 11, only 3 are still with the club (okay two are on loan as well).

Whilst I agree this is the most talented batch of youngsters in a long while (depressing that this is the first that are younger than me too), people are always gonna go overboard on the kids, no matter how good they are (no dig at Sarge, by the way). People were talking about Nemeth making first team appearances - where is he now? Struggling to get a game in Greece. I did a "Where are they now" thread on the Youth Cup winning team of 2007 (or maybe 08). What's suprising is that only Spearing remains from it. Players like Coady, Pacheco, Roddan and Flanagan could go the way the other 10 from that team did. Adjoran could be the new Ajdarevic. Suso could be the new Mellor.

All that matters, ultimately, is the experience these kids get. And right now, under Borrell, they've got a great chance of getting it. If even one of them becomes a first team fixture then it will have succeeded.

[Juan Loco]

I'd go along with that 7x4. Don't see what having a co-commentator adds to U18s football, other than to give people the idea that the result is the most important thing.

Personally, I couldn't give a fuck if Borrell doesn't switch to 3 at the back to win a game, or try and 'turn' their defence. Infact, I feel completely the opposite. I don't want the guy in charge of the U18s to want to be Benitez or Mourinho. I want them to teach the kids how to play and send them out there with idea. If they lose a match 'cos they've got no plan B then who gives a fuck, really?

[Juan Loco]

1. Smith
2. Amoo
3. Roddan
4. Eccleston
5. Saric

Smith is 16.

[James Mac]

Right them, in a nut shell, organise it, say 5 in each category, 5 who you think will make it, 5 who you think have a chance of making it, but are a bit 'sink or swim' and 5 who just won't make it.

Goes against the post I just made, but:

Make it:

Sterling
Robinson (if only because he has no one ahead of him)
Morgan
Wisdom
Coady (he has the Spearing-factor - a real drive about him)

Chance:

Flanagan
Roddan
Ngoo
Adjoran
Smith

I don't wanna name anyone that won't make it, as ideally they all will have a role to play. But who I'd classify as "filler" players (in the past the likes of Darby, Irwin, Spearing (until his recent emergence as a quality DM)) would include players like Silva, Ince, Sama.

Thinking about it, the fact I can name Silva, Flanagan, Roddan, Ngoo, Adjoran, and Smith in the "maybe" category says a lot about this current team. A lot of talent about all of them.

[-Willo-]

Smith is 16.

Didn't know that to be honest, I'll take that into consideration now though however. Just when I've seen him, like 3 or 4 times he hasn't really impressed me, and against Utd he looked really poor, but again, probably as he's 16, one thing I didn't know..

Cheers anyway, just a bit of fun, people will probably disagree with me on a lot but was just doing it to pass a bit of time whilst the Utd game kicked off. 

[Juan Loco]

Didn't know that to be honest, I'll take that into consideration now though however. Just when I've seen him, like 3 or 4 times he hasn't really impressed me, and against Utd he looked really poor, but again, probably as he's 16, one thing I didn't know..

Cheers anyway, just a bit of fun, people will probably disagree with me on a lot but was just doing it to pass a bit of time whilst the Utd game kicked off. 

He wasn't meant to be playing in the youth cup this year. If Robinson was fit he wouldn't have been. Set up a goal against United as well to be fair to him.

Think he's a handful going forward, and he's only a first year.

[James Mac]

Think he's a handful going forward, and he's only a first year.

He really is a beast bombing down the wing, isn't he? My Dad said he reminded him of Evra, I suppose I'd agree with that. Solid as well.

[Nebnotsew]

edit: wrong thread!

[hassinator]

What's suprising is that only Spearing remains from it. Players like Coady, Pacheco, Roddan and Flanagan could go the way the other 10 from that team did. Adjoran could be the new Ajdarevic. Suso could be the new Mellor.

All that matters, ultimately, is the experience these kids get. And right now, under Borrell, they've got a great chance of getting it. If even one of them becomes a first team fixture then it will have succeeded.

wise words.  i would never have bet on the wee man being in the first team squad.  its not quite roulette but i'm feeling a similar frisson.

[Fordy]

Goes against the post I just made, but:

Make it:

Sterling
Robinson (if only because he has no one ahead of him)
Morgan
Wisdom
Coady (he has the Spearing-factor - a real drive about him)

Chance:

Flanagan
Roddan
Ngoo
Adjoran
Smith

I don't wanna name anyone that won't make it, as ideally they all will have a role to play. But who I'd classify as "filler" players (in the past the likes of Darby, Irwin, Spearing (until his recent emergence as a quality DM)) would include players like Silva, Ince, Sama.

Thinking about it, the fact I can name Silva, Flanagan, Roddan, Ngoo, Adjoran, and Smith in the "maybe" category says a lot about this current team. A lot of talent about all of them.

Mac for me you should swap Morgan and Ngoo.

I rate Morgan but to make it in to a top 4 or 5 side as a forward start from youth team is tough, very tough. Arensal, Spurs, Chelsea, Utd and Us don't currently have a homegrown player thats made it. Welbeck is the only Utd one but he is on loan and will more than likely move to Sunderland.

Ngoo has more of a chance as he is massive and different.

Think it will be tough for both though.

[TomDcs]

I'd go along with that 7x4. Don't see what having a co-commentator adds to U18s football, other than to give people the idea that the result is the most important thing.

Personally, I couldn't give a fuck if Borrell doesn't switch to 3 at the back to win a game, or try and 'turn' their defence. Infact, I feel completely the opposite. I don't want the guy in charge of the U18s to want to be Benitez or Mourinho. I want them to teach the kids how to play and send them out there with idea. If they lose a match 'cos they've got no plan B then who gives a fuck, really?

Exactlly right that, the academy is meant to teach kids how to perform in a team at a certain level, and in their respective best positions.

All this talk of who's going to make it or not is fine, but at this level (and at reserve level too) you just never know if they will make the step up. Sterling stands out and i'd be shocked if he wasn't fastracked well ahead of schedule, but in the same vein as people who said speo couldn't possibly make it, we won't know if players of sterlings ilk will make it until they've had a season or two of proper integration into the 1st team squad.

[hassinator]

I'd go along with that 7x4. Don't see what having a co-commentator adds to U18s football, other than to give people the idea that the result is the most important thing.

Personally, I couldn't give a fuck if Borrell doesn't switch to 3 at the back to win a game, or try and 'turn' their defence. Infact, I feel completely the opposite. I don't want the guy in charge of the U18s to want to be Benitez or Mourinho. I want them to teach the kids how to play and send them out there with idea. If they lose a match 'cos they've got no plan B then who gives a fuck, really?

can we vote you in there big man?

[Fordy]

I'd go along with that 7x4. Don't see what having a co-commentator adds to U18s football, other than to give people the idea that the result is the most important thing.

Personally, I couldn't give a fuck if Borrell doesn't switch to 3 at the back to win a game, or try and 'turn' their defence. Infact, I feel completely the opposite. I don't want the guy in charge of the U18s to want to be Benitez or Mourinho. I want them to teach the kids how to play and send them out there with idea. If they lose a match 'cos they've got no plan B then who gives a fuck, really?

Don't mind that mate but when you put a gaint on the wing then wonder what the hell is all that about and I am sure the big fella does too.

[Haresy77]

250 odd blokes play Premiership football each week. Roughly half of them (at least) will be regulars which leaves about 125 places up for grabs each week. There are thousands of promising lads out there in our academy and in others but the window of oppportunity is small. Once you reach this level it's about being in the right place at the right time and once in a blue moon exceptional talent comes through - unfortunatley they often don't get the games to show it often enough. I hope some lads come through but blimey the odds are stacked against them even if they are good enough.

[hassinator]

Don't mind that mate but when you put a gaint on the wing then wonder what the hell is all that about and I am sure the big fella does too.

the three fs - formation; formation formation

in a nutshell i think they get to learn about how other players see the game.

its also more likely to get a chance in the first team if you can be versatile.

as juan pointed out being the best number 10 (or in this case 9) in the reserves is really unlikely to translate to the first team.

its where you spend the most money - £23m for suarez; £35m for carroll.

still kelly has kept johnson out of the right back slot when fit so its not impossible....

[barneystuta]

I think Mark Wright was a joke today. No need to over analyze things, as people have said. Leave that to the coaching staff, it is their job at the end of the day.

We got a bit of a spanking today, but it was down to our own defensive errors really. Considering Robinson and Flannagan are currently in our first team (who both are eligible for the Youth Side, and would have likely been playing, had we not had big injuries in those areas in the first team), speaks volumes of how good our youth options really are.

I only saw the first 3 goals, but 1 was from a corner, and the other 2 were from crosses in wide areas. Maybe things would have been different had Flanagan and Robinson been playing?

But would you rather they did, just so we could win the Youth League? Or, have them continuously progressing in the first team? I know which I would prefer.

[Fordy]

the three fs - formation; formation formation

in a nutshell i think they get to learn about how other players see the game.

its also more likely to get a chance in the first team if you can be versatile.

as juan pointed out being the best number 10 (or in this case 9) in the reserves is really unlikely to translate to the first team.

its where you spend the most money - £23m for suarez; £35m for carroll.

still kelly has kept johnson out of the right back slot when fit so its not impossible....

Ok  so why wasn't Morgan moved out wide instead?

Sorry mate I can't have that - Ngoo shouldn't play on the wing.  The only reason why I see him on wing is to stop the players from hoofing and to learn how to keep it on the floor no matter who is on the wing but even that is shit cause it's not often a basketball player will be out on the wing in a football match.

[Fuzion6]

Ok  so why wasn't Morgan moved out wide instead?

Sorry mate I can't have that - Ngoo shouldn't play on the wing.  The only reason why I see him on wing is to stop the players from hoofing and to learn how to keep it on the floor no matter who is on the wing.

Borrell did that last time too and was ridiculous. Just play Ngoo behind Morgan if you want to keep that formation and move the guy previously there wide

[barneystuta]

As for lists of who will make it, really? I know it is a bit of fun, and especially when you look back at previous lists, but it is rare anyone gets them all right.

The biggest differnce for me in this current batch of youth players, is the sheer number of them. Before, we only really had our eye on a handful of players who really stood out. Now, we have many.

Rafa said in a recent interview, before he had control of the academy, that we had 6 or 7 youth internationals. Now we have something like 25-30. (Not sure of the exact numbers, but something like that). That just shows you the sheer number of quality young players we have now. compared with what we had a few years back. Not everyone makes the grade, but the more talent you have, the more chance you have of a few making it.

[thecrouch]

Without reading the whole thread, I'd like to see Pacheco get a decent change next season to see how he gets on.

[Fordy]

Without reading the whole thread, I'd like to see Pacheco get a decent change next season to see how he gets on.

Doubt it. Think he will be staying at Norwich if they go up. Season long loan in the PL will do him good.

[john_mac]

Right them, in a nut shell, organise it, say 5 in each category, 5 who you think will make it, 5 who you think have a chance of making it, but are a bit 'sink or swim' and 5 who just won't make it.

I'll start..

5 who will make it in my opinion..

1. Sterling
2. Suso
3. Wisdom
4. Coady
5. Adorjan

Sink or Swim..

1. Morgan
2. Ngoo
3. Ayala
4. Sama
5. Silva

Won't make it..

1. Smith
2. Amoo
3. Roddan
4. Eccleston
5. Saric

This is exactly what is wrong with this thread, like an 'X' factor for the football manager generation, just absolutely shite!

[thecrouch]

Doubt it. Think he will be staying at Norwich if they go up. Season long lone in the PL will do him good.

What age is he now? 21/22?

[barneystuta]

This is exactly what is wrong with this thread, like an 'X' factor for the football manager generation, just absolutely shite!

 

[Fordy]

What age is he now? 21/22?

20

[thecrouch]

20

Ah right I thought he was older than that. I guess he'd have time to spend a year on loan somewhere then!

[Cpt_Reina]

What age is he now? 21/22?

20. Just.

[Jin]

Right them, in a nut shell, organise it, say 5 in each category, 5 who you think will make it, 5 who you think have a chance of making it, but are a bit 'sink or swim' and 5 who just won't make it.

I'll start..

5 who will make it in my opinion..

1. Sterling
2. Suso
3. Wisdom
4. Coady
5. Adorjan

Sink or Swim..

1. Morgan
2. Ngoo
3. Ayala
4. Sama
5. Silva

Won't make it..

1. Smith
2. Amoo
3. Roddan
4. Eccleston
5. Saric

Though it's fun to do predictions in general, I don't think it's a good idea to speculate on who will make it and who won't from our youth team. The youngsters probably read forums like ours, how do you think they would feel if they read that they won't make it, etc. It's counter productive.

Let them develop at their own pace without the intense scrutiny  the first team gets

[barneystuta]

Doubt it. Think he will be staying at Norwich if they go up. Season long loan in the PL will do him good.

I think this is spot on. It would be a win/win kind of situation for us really. Pacheco will get a chance to "sink of swim" in the Premier League, week in week out. We will see what he is really made of. If he does very well, we will welcome him back with open arms. If he does OK, then we will command a decent fee if we decide to sell. If he does shite, then maybe he isn't good enough.

United have done this with players like Danny Wellbeck, Frazer Campbell, and Diouf in recent seasons. Arsenal did it with Wilshere to Bolton. Chelsea did it recently with Sturridge. Now there is a mixed bag there, players who have looked suitable in the Premier League, others haven't cut it.

We could really could learn from this sort of thing, especially for players in the latter stages of their development. We don't want to be loaning every player out, especially at the ages of 17-19, we want to ensure they are developing in our methods, and the "Liverpool Way". Once they are 20 though, if we feel they are not ready for the first team, then give them a loan, to prove themselves.

[MartinSkrtelsBasement]

still kelly has kept johnson out of the right back slot when fit so its not impossible....

Why do people always say this?

The reason Johnson was moved to the left and Kelly took up the right-back spot was not because Kelly is considered a better player. It's because it would be unfair to throw a young player like Kelly into the side in a particularly unfamiliar position. So, Kenny asked Johnson to go and play left-back because he knows he is an experienced and reliable professional.

It's pretty basic stuff. Johnson is England's first choice right-back and a terrific one at that. If you really think he got dislodged that easily then your a bit confused.

[simplyred84]

Though it's fun to do predictions in general, I don't think it's a good idea to speculate on who will make it and who won't from our youth team. The youngsters probably read forums like ours, how do you think they would feel if they read that they won't make it, etc. It's counter productive.

Let them develop at their own pace without the intense scrutiny  the first team gets

This

[nemo1404]

Though it's fun to do predictions in general, I don't think it's a good idea to speculate on who will make it and who won't from our youth team. The youngsters probably read forums like ours, how do you think they would feel if they read that they won't make it, etc. It's counter productive.

Let them develop at their own pace without the intense scrutiny  the first team gets

This is something that has to be taken into account is the fact that they probably do read this thread. But then again this is the way it is now with regards the availabilty of footage and information in this internet generation. The fact that we can follow some of them that are still only U-16's on twitter further enhances that point.(Our new U-18 rb sending Hayden Panetierre a tweet telling her she is soooooo hot-shows they are human)

[nemo1404]

Why do people always say this?

The reason Johnson was moved to the left and Kelly took up the right-back spot was not because Kelly is considered a better player. It's because it would be unfair to throw a young player like Kelly into the side in a particularly unfamiliar position. So, Kenny asked Johnson to go and play left-back because he knows he is an experienced and reliable professional.

It's pretty basic stuff. Johnson is England's first choice right-back and a terrific one at that. If you really think he got dislodged that easily then your a bit confused.

I think people think this by how well Kelly was playing but I do agree with you. Next year will be very interesting if we do sign an established left back. Hopefully they are injured at different times next year