Liverpool FC Forum

[flombs]

ill agree peewee.You can have a mediocre player amongst a team of real talent who are playing beautiful football and you wouldnt notice or care how mediocre that player was.
You put a mediocre player amongst our lot at the moment and you wouldnt wipe your with them.

whatever the problem is at Liverpool we have the talent but no matter how good we are on paper we look !

[anti-hero]

im annoyed  that liverpool are in no way interedted in freedie adu

Adu? 



Adu is a prime example of how well the American media hypes up its players.


He's good.

But not that good.






So what if he got a pro contract when he was just 14?

The amount of pressure on this kid is too much. Its unhealthy. Americans are expecting him to lead the country to the 2010 World Cup, and now Europeans are falling for the hype.

You just can t expect a teenager who's barely even making it into D.C United to set the Premier League on fire.

[Ciggy]

it seems everyone here may be missing a massive point, maybe the arsenal youngsters are no better than our youngsters but the get the chance to play in an exciting flowing football team, as opposed to our defensive negative set up, maybe this is the difference, put those arsenal players in our team and take away their atacking freedom and see how mediocre they look

Nail on head, I think even if we had Torres,Shevchenko,Fred from Lyon , Henry, or any world class striker they would struggle to make an impression the way we are currently set up to play AWAY from home.
They would play better at Anfield though.

[66-1112520797]

Moreover, it remains to be seen how the likes of Eboue or Clichy or Walcott develop from here.  They may prove to be great, great players or they may be flashes in the pan.  Only time will tell whether these players are better than, say, our young prospects.

I think its pretty safe to say that Eboue, Toure (who's been established for a while) and Fabregas are quality players. As for Clichy he's got a big pair of shoes to step into after the absence of A. Cole and Walcott at this point is still a bit part player so the jury is possibly still out on those two. But I do think out of all the Premiership managers Wenger is the best at spotting young talent, there's no doubt in my mind. And even though he's had to blood them in earlier due to the veterans leaving and retiring, its an even bigger/harder gamble to call when putting youngsters in, but he's done it right.

[red37]

Moreover, it remains to be seen how the likes of Eboue or Clichy or Walcott develop from here.  They may prove to be great, great players or they may be flashes in the pan.  Only time will tell whether these players are better than, say, our young prospects.

I think its pretty safe to say that Eboue, Toure (who's been established for a while) and Fabregas are quality players. As for Clichy he's got a big pair of shoes to step into after the absence of A. Cole and Walcott at this point is still a bit part player so the jury is possibly still out on those two. But I do think out of all the Premiership managers Wenger is the best at spotting young talent, there's no doubt in my mind. And even though he's had to blood them in earlier due to the veterans leaving and retiring, its an even bigger/harder gamble to call when putting youngsters in, but he's done it right.

he's had his fair share of stinkers too let it be said:  but id agree with your assessment of Wenger totally. He/his support staff definately have a network covered thats unearthing untapped talent on a far more regular basis, than the competition. The only possible sticking point in all that for these continental managers, (of all managers) is the sanctions Uefa are considering regarding the limit/use of non-eu personel,- so im led to believe anyway.

[The Manhattan Project]

Djemba Djemba was a hidden gem.


He should have stayed hidden.

[alxy]

I believe it's all in the system. Ferguson and Wenger have had years to come in and stamp their mark on their clubs. The system is set up so well that youngsters coming in automatically know what they have to do and do well, i.e. the system makes them look much better than they actually are.

Whereas in Liverpool, Rafa has had just 2+ years to put his system in place. Obviously things are not perfect yet, and he is concentrating on that first. Because of that, youngsters really need to shine and play much above themselves to be seen in a favorable light.

Not that we haven't seen any do so. Momo for one, has really shone above all the others (youngsters). Though I would like to see some others coming through the academy ranks like Carra, Gerrard and Owen.

[azriahmad]

Sure Wenger has had his fair share of stinkers - Jeffers, Stepanovs etc. - but he has a knack of buying unknowns very cheap and turn them into world beaters. Fabregas was bought for only 2 million, Toure cost the same or less (but look at how long it took him to be at his present level - some a seasons, before this he was just a bit beter than Traore), Eboue, Anelka (a snip at only 500,000 quid when he later sold him for 22.5 million), Vieira (not exactly cheap at 4.5 million but what a player he became and was still sold for a high price after 9 seasons despite being in somewhat in a decline by then).

Hleb is not an unknown, he had the highest assist in the Bundesliga before he came to Arsenal and he cost 10.5 million. Wenger puts a lot of emphasis on speed and being very skillful hence his recruits have this main feature.

We paid 5.5 million for Igor Biscan, 4.5 million for Cheyrou. 4.5 million for Diao, 10 million for Diouf, all of whom have been disasters. Diouf did not get to play at his favoured position. Houllier had more misses than hits and his judgement on potential is not that good.

Since Rafa took over, he has brought a lot of youth into the club and perhaps we won't see them unless we have an Arsenal-esque injury crisis. Bad Bob was right about that - Fabregas had to be blooded fast because of the then injuries to Vieira and Gilberto, Ebuoe also came in a lot for the injured Lauren and Toure only blossomed last season after being thrust as the main central defender with their injury problems.

Rafa is more on the cautious side and he won't expose the young players too soon unless he has no choice.

[mattylfc]

Danny Murphy was another steel IMO. I mention him because me and a mate were talking about him the other day.  Gerrard says in his book how much he thought of Danny as a person and as a player.  He's the sort of person we could have really done with right now, can play all across the midfield.  Always liked Murphy!

[tubby]

Actually wernt we origninally interested in Vidic before they came along and got him?

Anyway i wouldnt complain too much. Those teams have also bought many players over the years that have turned out to be duds as well.

In regards to "gems" it is a little annoying how expensive promising youth can cost these days. It would have been nice to involved in players like Rooney and Walcott but our expenses didnt permit it.

Hopefully some sort of investment can mean that we can challange for these sorts of players in the future.

[mattylfc]

Its very annoying Bav, the cost of young players today.  It would be great if we could sign the likes of Aaron Lennon for a reasonable price.  Its such a shame to see SWP at Chelsea too, he will be sitting on the bench for so long at Chelsea because no-one will want to pay the asking price and when he does leave, it will probably be to a lower club that wont be challenging Chelsea.

To think back to the time when we sold Ian Rush, for his money we got John Barnes, Peter Beardsley and John Aldridge.  How good would it be to find a gem in the mould of John Barnes, what a hero.

[puroresu]

Virtual unknowns before we signed them who have turned out to be "hidden gems" that others are jealous of:

Sissoko
Agger
Alonso
Garcia
Hyypia
Riise

Potential "hidden gems" currently in the squad (time will tell):

Aurelio
Gonzales
Palletta
Carson
Martin
Anderson
Hammill
Antwi
Hobbs
Lindfield
El Zhar
Roque

Academy products have have come through and made the grade:

Gerrard
Carragher
Fowler

And that's just members of the current squad, without reference to past Reds greats.  Bottom line: we're not doing too badly so quit your whinging.

Sissko was only unknown to those who dont watch European football.

Agger - Ill give you that one

Alonso was not unknown. His price tag alone shows he was not unknown and again only those who think the Prem is the football worth watching never knew about Alonso.

Garcia - same as Alonso.  He was well known before he went to Liverpool.

Hyppia - Give you that one

Riise - I wouldnt class him as unknown.  Another example of being unknown only cos people dont check what is happening in European football.

[taff]

Wenger has been at it longer at a big club than Rafa and success means people get shown to him quicker.  He does however have an excellent eye for talent but Im sure if we went on an Arsenal board we would see them moaning especially regarding Europe.

Wenger is an excellent manager in my view and has developed a great team but we havent done too badly either apart from this slump at the mo

[bigmick]

Rafa's transfer record is good IMHO. There have been plenty of successes with only a single expwensive failure sofar in Morientes and you couldn't really blame him for that one. Hopefully Pennat won't prove to be the second although the current signs are not that promising. I reckon in time he'll come through.

[taff]

I hope Pennant comes through although I have my doubts alongside my optimism for him.
Bellamy I wouldnt worry about to be honest he will come through good.
Kuyt well what a guy but his pace is weak and its goals we need now not effort, same with Bellamy.

Do you know I think it might be time to unleash the Fowler, he is the only natural scorer we have