Liverpool FC Forum

by **maguskwt** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:18 am

1. It has been said that Rafa had bought so many youngsters but all of them came to nought. Now I agree we haven't seen as many youngsters breaking into the first team as we would have liked but I believe Rafa is slowly but surely building a strong youth foundation. The two most exciting prospects are Krisztian Nemeth and Daniel Pacheco. I believe that from next season onwards they will start to feature in the first team more prominently and consistently. They are probably the reason why Rafa was very reluctant on buying new strikers. Since we don't have money he was riding the storm and waiting until these two have developed enough to be featuring in the first team. If Babel now decides to focus on making his liverpool career a success, we are sorted in terms of attacking players for the next 5 years or more.

2. We have the best forward in the world who is only 25 years old. Yes you heard me THE best forward... :censored:

Drogba and Rooney.

3. There are already many young players playing in our first 11. Lucas and Ngog may not be that good, but they got room for improvement. I was and still am very critical about Lucas but he has shown that he can improve which is very encouraging. Aquilani is still only 25 and hopefully he would have overcome his injury woes. I still believe he can make it in the EPL and could be vital to our team next season. Mascherano is also still only 25 and he is the best destroying defensive midfielder in the world and captain of Argentina what more can you want? Our midfield looks equally sorted for the future.

4. In defense, We have two great young defenders in Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel both 25 years of age. They got so so much time for improvemetn as defenders go. I expect Agger in particular to become world class comparable to Rio Ferdinand or even better. I think he has the potential. He just needs to put his injury woes behind and if he can come back for the full season next season, we will have a very good defensive unit. I am abit more worried about Skrtel, he is a good defender in the mould of Carragher but prone to ball watching and losing focus. Hopefully he can improve like Carra did. Glen Johnson is also only 25 years old and can become the best RB in the premiership in the next couple of years. He was an expensive buy but a good buy nonetheless. And then we have 21 year old Insua. Still plenty of room for improvement but promising nontheless. Once these 4 start to click we will have a very good defensive unit. Carragher is getting old and he probably should only feature selectively next season. Then we also have a very young and promising defender in Ayala only 19 years old and already breaking into the first team.

Next season, I am hoping Rafa to feature nemeth and pacheco more prominently. I believe these two will be the key young players if we are hoping to win any silverware next season and if we still have no budget to buy players.

by **Owzat** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:03 am

1. Until an "exciting youngster" breaks into the first team he is no more than that, an "exciting youngster". The team needs fully developed stars, players like Gerrard, Fowler and Owen who were good enough made it into the team at the age these "exciting youngsters" can't shake off that tag. It's not a reason to be optimistic, we've sold players like that before. IF they make the first team AND stick in it, then we'll have a young STAR.

2. Torres is nearly 26 - March 20th so three weeks. Care to state how old the rest are, besides anything else the younger stars are always going to be targets for big spenders.

3. Last game our players were average age of 26, split thus :

19-23 : Babel, Kelly, Lucas, N'Gog, Insua
24-29 : Reina, Torres, Agger, Skrtel, Mascherano, Gerrard, Benayoun
30+ Carra, Kyrgiakos

Both Benayoun and Gerrard are 30 in May, we may have one of the younger squad averages in the Premiership, but is our squad that good and that young that we can expect them all to be under 30 in say three years time and world beaters and Premiership Champions? Not from what is normally expressed on these boards, more like "get rid of Lucas, Kuyt, Babel, N'Gog..............................." - three of those mentioned are not exactly "youngsters" but should be a lot better than they are for their age if you're expecting world class

4. Agger and Skrtel are both 25 now, they should be world class by now even allowing for gaining experience. You summed it up by saying "plenty of room for improvement", let's not pencil players in as potentially world class but hail them if/when they reach that level. I wouldn't be surprised if the back four isn't broken up, one thing Rafa likes is solid defence and clean sheets, the players may get the blame before he'll think about blaming the system. The marking on Thursday was appalling, running at the unmarked player once they knew where the ball was going like schoolboys with no reading of the game or defensive nous

Besides anything else with the "1-4 of reasons to be optimistic", if these are to become a world class outfit shouldn't they be a lot better than struggling for fourth, out of both domestic cups by the 2nd hurdle and one at home to a struggling Championship side, and dumped out of Europe to not even the cream of France and Italy, with scraped 1-0 wins over Debrecen (twice) and pikey united of Urziceni?!?!? Arsenal's kids teams put out better displays, I wouldn't be surpised if Arsenal were to field their carling cup side in the Premiership if they wouldn't make our efforts look even more ordinary than they are.

And what happens when the manc, Chelski, Goner and citeh kids come of age and develop? The 1-4 also appear to ignore the fact that time moves on and other teams develop, this side more mature and experienced might far better in the here and now, BUT time won't stand still.

by **maguskwt** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:57 am

double post

by **maguskwt** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:04 am

triple post

by **maguskwt** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:14 am

Owzat wrote:

1. Until an "exciting youngster" breaks into the first team he is no more than that, an "exciting youngster". The team needs fully developed stars, players like Gerrard, Fowler and Owen who were good enough made it into the team at the age these "exciting youngsters" can't shake off that tag. It's not a reason to be optimistic, we've sold players like that before. IF they make the first team AND stick in it, then we'll have a young STAR.

you must be very very miserable...I choose to see the glass half full ... whether or not what I'm hoping to see comes true is another matter altogether...

But I am really hoping for Nemeth and Pacheco to come through next season...

2. Torres is nearly 26 - March 20th so three weeks. Care to state how old the rest are, besides anything else the younger stars are always going to be targets for big spenders.

SO WHAT? We still have the best forward in the world who is only 26 and plenty more to offer? And why I've already stated all the key players who are 25 yearls old like mascherano, agger, skrtel. "the younger stars are always going to be targets for big spenders." SO WHAT again? so because our players will be targets for big spenders you don't want us to have younger stars? you are stating the universal truth in football and saying that is something to be despaired.... how miserable are you??

3. Last game our players were average age of 26, split thus :

19-23 : Babel, Kelly, Lucas, N'Gog, Insua
24-29 : Reina, Torres, Agger, Skrtel, Mascherano, Gerrard, Benayoun
30+ Carra, Kyrgiakos

Both Benayoun and Gerrard are 30 in May, we may have one of the younger squad averages in the Premiership, but is our squad that good and that young that we can expect them all to be under 30 in say three years time and world beaters and Premiership Champions? Not from what is normally expressed on these boards, more like "get rid of Lucas, Kuyt, Babel, N'Gog..............................." - three of those mentioned are not exactly "youngsters" but should be a lot better than they are for their age if you're expecting world class

So you admit we have one of the younger first 11 in the premiership. We can see this season as a transitional season for the likes of Lucas and Ngog.

4. Agger and Skrtel are both 25 now, they should be world class by now even allowing for gaining experience. You summed it up by saying "plenty of room for improvement", let's not pencil players in as potentially world class but hail them if/when they reach that level. I wouldn't be surprised if the back four isn't broken up, one thing Rafa likes is solid defence and clean sheets, the players may get the blame before he'll think about blaming the system. The marking on Thursday was appalling, running at the unmarked player once they knew where the ball was going like schoolboys with no reading of the game or defensive nous

Besides anything else with the "1-4 of reasons to be optimistic", if these are to become a world class outfit shouldn't they be a lot better than struggling for fourth, out of both domestic cups by the 2nd hurdle and one at home to a struggling Championship side, and dumped out of Europe to not even the cream of France and Italy, with scraped 1-0 wins over Debrecen (twice) and pikey united of Urziceni?!?!? Arsenal's kids teams put out better displays, I wouldn't be surpised if Arsenal were to field their carling cup side in the Premiership if they wouldn't make our efforts look even more ordinary than they are.

And what happens when the manc, Chelski, Goner and citeh kids come of age and develop? The 1-4 also appear to ignore the fact that time moves on and other teams develop, this side more mature and experienced might far better in the here and now, BUT time won't stand still.

I don't want to bother at this moment yout miserable :censored:

by **zarababe** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 2:05 pm

Damn right there are reasons to be optimistic... but not in this forum, If it ain't gloomy it ain't worth posting.

So I look forward to next season with this serving as a big learning point for those who have been complacent (players and administartors a-like), for those who thought a shoe-string tranbsfer budget is enuff to compete in the £70mill pound player market (Morgan

) and win you the league, in the hope that the ejiot 'custodians' are bought-out by an oil rich or curryfied billionaire.. failing that I find an oil field in my 'grounds' and save my beloved Liverpool Football Club !

Oh the trials and tribulation of being a football supporter !

by **Aussie Style** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:26 pm

Things could be worse..lucky were not Pompey fans, or even worse, Bitters

by **leep33** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 6:58 pm

There is a lot to be optimistic for the future but we still need a couple of world class wide players.

by **LFC2007** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:36 pm

I haven't heard anything of Nemeth in months but he is 21 now and as yet hasn't played a game for us. Is he still in Greece? I'd be lying if I said I genuinely thought he was going to make it with us.

Pacheco and Kelly are our standout youngsters I think. But, regardless of whether Pacheco can make an impact, he isn't a CF, he's a creative forward or a Luis Garcia type. So we will still need to sign at least one other proper striker going into next season. I would say that's essential. Just as essential as getting our midfield sorted. Whatever your opinion of Lucas - whether you think he's done an OK job, or if you think he's simply not up to standard - surely everyone would accept that a mainstay pairing of him and Masch isn't going to produce enough if we aspire to challenge for the top honours?

We therefore have to replace one of the two which one assumes isn't going to be Masch - and that's if he stays. That replacement could yet be Aquilani but my preference over that would be simply to stick Gerrard back in there on a permanent basis. The fewer question marks the better.

I don't think we can afford to wander into next season without these two problem areas adequately resolved.

by **Fauxy** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:05 pm

Jesus.... people on this forum can be really miserable

A positive thread is made, some good points from the starter and then he gets a slap in the face by the most miserable post ever made.

Thank god we arent pourtsmouth, Owzat would have shot himself by now.

by **heimdall** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:57 pm

zarababe wrote:Damn right there are reasons to be optimistic... but not in this forum, If it ain't gloomy it ain't worth posting.

So I look forward to next season with this serving as a big learning point for those who have been complacent (players and administartors a-like), for those who thought a shoe-string tranbsfer budget is enuff to compete in the £70mill pound player market (Morgan ) and win you the league, in the hope that the ejiot 'custodians' are bought-out by an oil rich or curryfied billionaire.. failing that I find an oil field in my 'grounds' and save my beloved Liverpool Football Club !

Oh the trials and tribulation of being a football supporter !

Have Arsenal spent more than us these last few years then?
Lucas and Babel room for improvement, well so have I but I don't think I should be a regular starter for Liverpool either.

As long as Rafa is at the club I see nothing positive happening, Pachecho and Nemeth should have been getting regular games this season not next, why do you think Rafa will play them next season when he hasn't played them this season?

by **boodiddy1** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:53 pm

heimdall wrote:
zarababe wrote:Damn right there are reasons to be optimistic... but not in this forum, If it ain't gloomy it ain't worth posting.

So I look forward to next season with this serving as a big learning point for those who have been complacent (players and administartors a-like), for those who thought a shoe-string tranbsfer budget is enuff to compete in the £70mill pound player market (Morgan ) and win you the league, in the hope that the ejiot 'custodians' are bought-out by an oil rich or curryfied billionaire.. failing that I find an oil field in my 'grounds' and save my beloved Liverpool Football Club !

Oh the trials and tribulation of being a football supporter !

Have Arsenal spent more than us these last few years then?
Lucas and Babel room for improvement, well so have I but I don't think I should be a regular starter for Liverpool either.

As long as Rafa is at the club I see nothing positive happening, Pachecho and Nemeth should have been getting regular games this season not next, why do you think Rafa will play them next season when he hasn't played them this season?

Totally agree, we all have rom for improvement. Doesn't neccessarily make you a prem footballer.

If Lucas, babel, insua, kelly, ngog are our future hope then i fear big time. Even Agger is going backwards!!

I really cant understand how lucas gets anywhere near the first eleven. He wouldnt get in most prem midfields! He's slow, first touch is one yard ahead, vision is bad. Stats can tell so many lies. We really need to blood some local youngsters and also purchase some british players. The likes of cattermole, shawcross, cole (both?) etc.

Too many of our players just dont know what is really expected of liverpool players. Where's the passion??

I only see it coming from a certain argie and the two obvious. Although mr happy isnt showing enough IMO.

I'd really love for MON or Jose to come here, but i suppose thats for another thread.

by **Rush Job** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 12:14 am

Not sure about Agger going backwards, what do you base that on? If he manages to keep his injury problems behind him I have no worrys about him being one of the best in the league.

by **Fauxy** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 12:46 am

Rush Job wrote:Not sure about Agger going backwards, what do you base that on? If he manages to keep his injury problems behind him I have no worrys about him being one of the best in the league.

I agree

Agger is massively underrated

by **maguskwt** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 1:16 am

Fauxy wrote:Jesus.... people on this forum can be really miserable

A positive thread is made, some good points from the starter and then he gets a slap in the face by the most miserable post ever made.

Thank god we arent pourtsmouth, Owzat would have shot himself by now.

precisely...

Liverpool FC Forum

Reasons to be optimistic - About the future of the team

Who is online