Liverpool FC Forum

[god_bless_john_houlding]

The problem with quality for every position our squad may lose so many players in the summer we can't afford to bring in the quality that's required so our kids may be the only option.

Obviuosly Rafa knows which players are good enough for the future and thinking about it I probably am rushing these kids in a little too early but within the two years you keep talking about we would of signed Spanish players of a similar age who will be regualrs in the 1st team squad enforcing our kids, who probably have the same amount of talent as these Spanish players, to leave for lower league football again.

[LFC2007]

The problem with quality for every position our squad may lose so many players in the summer we can't afford to bring in the quality that's required so our kids may be the only option.

Obviuosly Rafa knows which players are good enough for the future and thinking about it I probably am rushing these kids in a little too early but within the two years you keep talking about we would of signed Spanish players of a similar age who will be regualrs in the 1st team squad enforcing our kids, who probably have the same amount of talent as these Spanish players, to leave for lower league football again.

If these younger players leave for lower league teams it's because they're not good enough and the talent isn't coming through - not because Rafa signs young foreign talent. There is a problem with developing young talent through academies at this moment in time, it's not just Liverpool, you look at all the top clubs an you see young foreign talent being scouted out as there just isn't the depth in local talent. Times have changed, we're not in the same age as Sammy Lee was, the game has become more globalised. Clubs turn to wherever the talent is, if that's abroad then that's where you must look.

I don't see the depth of our squad being a problem after this transfer window anyway.

[god_bless_john_houlding]

There is talent in our youth set up hence we have won the youth cup 2 years running but fair enough if they're not good enough to make the grade then so be it, mind you there have been plenty of players who have made the grade and still not good enough and are depriving these talented youngsters of a place at the club they love. I think that's my major problem with not giving the kids ago, they would run their hearts out for LFC and don't get the chance because of the likes of Josemi, Kromkamp, Nunez or Morientes.

[LFC2007]

There is talent in our youth set up hence we have won the youth cup 2 years running but fair enough if they're not good enough to make the grade then so be it, mind you there have been plenty of players who have made the grade and still not good enough and are depriving these talented youngsters of a place at the club they love. I think that's my major problem with not giving the kids ago, they would run their hearts out for LFC and don't get the chance because of the likes of Josemi, Kromkamp, Nunez or Morientes.

They may have won the youth cup, but the overall standard across the U.K. has not been as good as in previous years, there is a problem with Academies full stop. Trying to find talent good enough in this day and age in an area as relatively small as Merseyside is very difficult. Compare the pool of young talent on Merseyside to the rest of the world and you can see why managers turn to young foreign talent - not only that but our young talent is not as technically gifted as the pool of talent say in Barcelona for example.

[god_bless_john_houlding]

I don't think talent disappears, it's still there, maybe more difficult to find a team of talent like our 90s youth sides, which included the likes of Owen, Fowler, Macca, Gerrard, Carra along with bit part players like Davie Thompson, Tony Warner, Lee Jones, Andy Parkinson (later went on to TRFC) Jason Koumas (WBAFC) but the ones with talent which seem to be the few all us LFC fans agree on should be given a fair crack of the whip sooner rather than later.

[LFC2007]

It's not a case of talent disappearing, but clearly Fowler, Macca, Gerrard, Carra and Owen are a million miles better than what we've had over the past 6 years. Like I said there is a problem with the Academy system, it's not just us - we are not producing the talent as a country - it's as simple as that. If there is better talent abroad then you would be stupid to ignore it, it is part of the modern game - not just us. If our young players are good enough they will get just as much a chance as these young foreign lads, as it happens they aren't. How many times has Rafa been saying it, we have a deficit in talent at British academies, in addition our youth teams play much fewer games than those in most other foreign teams. They are more experienced and ready for the step up.

[god_bless_john_houlding]

Fair enough--the lads coming from abroad may be more adapted to making the step up qicker and if they can they great because no matter how much I want to see local lads given the chance if it is a group of forigners who aid us in winning the league I'd happily s,ettle for it. So I suppose it's all about the talent the lad has and how quickly they make the grade, obviously the lads now, don't have the know how on how to make the step up. My opinion on that was moving the accademy to Kirkby. Before that the YTS would train with the 1st team at Melwood so they knew the experinced players and settling into the 1st team wasn't as difficult. That's why we haven't produced a really good kid from our youth side since the accademy was moved IMO.

[LFC2007]

You probably have a point about the academy, I remember an interview with Steve Heighway a few years ago when he made the point that he didn't see his job as to provide players for the first team - but to provide the local youngsters with an education, not just in football. I'm sure Rafa understands this but perhaps he wants a director with the clear objective of bringing players through for the first team.

[JoeTerp]

Yeovil sign Liverpool man on loan
Lee Peltier
Peltier recently played in Liverpool's friendly with Crewe
Yeovil Town have signed Liverpool midfielder Lee Peltier on loan.

He made his Glovers debut in central midfield in Saturday's friendly against Bristol City at Ashton Gate, which finished in a 2-2 draw.

The 20-year-old, who can also play in defence, has not yet appeared in the Premier League for Liverpool.

However, he has made three League Cup and one Champions League starts, and had a seven-game loan spell at Championship side Hull last season.

Here is who is out on loan as of today:
MF Paul Anderson (Swansea City- to June 2008) - 19 years old
DF Godwin Antwi (Hartlepool United - to June 2008) 19 years old
GK Dean Bouzanis (Sydney FC - to February 2008 due to minimum age restrictions) turns 17 in October
MF Danny Guthrie (Bolton Wanderers - to June 2008) 20 years old
MF Adam Hammill (Southampton - to June 2008) 19.5 years old
DF Lee Peltier (Yeovil Town - to June 2008) 20.5 years old

Is there anything to read into the fact that some players are getting loaned to championship and prem teams while others are going to league one?  What does it say about how Rafa rates a player if he sends them out on loan or not?  Who else do you see going on loan this season: Insua, Lindfield, El Zhar, Darby, Roque, Palletta, Threlfall, Hobbs, Idrizaj?

[god_bless_john_houlding]

I don't think it matters where a lad is sent on loan because the one who's be raved about most higyly, Paul Andserson has be shipped out to Swansea, who are the lowest of the sides were our players have gone this summer.

I'm still a huge fan of bringing some of them through and the odd 2/3 have been given a chance in pre-season but I think it's a little to early to push some of them in. If we again have failed in the league come March, yet are still fighting strongly on a European front, then for the remaining Premiership matches, some of the youngsters should be given a chance as well as those league cup games.

[Owzat]

If youngsters are prodigious talents then they'd be knocking on the 1st team already like Carra, Stevie G, Robbie and Mikey. Truth is the players need to be doing this by quite an early age or the gaffer will simply sign in what he needs for the first team.