Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:32 pm19th Jan 2011 - Latest News Lfctv
In our latest column from the club's youth base, Academy director Frank McParland tells us how a lift from Kenny Dalglish resulted in a training session with Steven Gerrard and co for two lucky starlets.
I was at home relaxing on Sunday night when the phone rang.
It was the boss. He told me he'd be down to the Academy on Monday morning at 9.30am sharp and to make sure I had the kettle on!
So, we got everyone together first thing the next day and got them to dress smart for the occasion.
When Kenny arrived we had a quick cup of tea and then he addressed everyone - both Academy staff and players.
He told us that he is focused on spreading the message that this is 'one club' and is very keen for us to get together with the staff from Melwood to actively talk about our young players.
He wants to get down here as much as possible.
He assured the players that there would be big opportunities ahead for them to be involved in first-team training sessions and that some of them will be going away with the first-team for Barclays Premier League games so they can sample the experience of it all.
He mentioned that he was really pleased with the Youth Cup win over Crystal Palace and that the lads had the chance to play at Anfield. We are now using the prozone that the first-team have and will analyse the stats of that performance with it. We have scheduled meetings to discuss this further with Damien Comolli and all of the other fitness people from Melwood.
Everything has been hugely positive and it is great that the Academy is so heavily involved in Kenny's plans.
After that meeting he decided to take Conor Coady and Suso up to Melwood with him to train with the first-team.
He took me and the two boys down to Melwood in his car which was obviously a great moment for them. I watched them train with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole and Fabio Aurelio - all the players who weren't involved against Everton.
They both did very well and were a credit to the Academy. I have to say that just watching Gerrard in training was special. Conor and Suso came off the pitch and said that for a 20 minute spell the skipper was unplayable. I was watching and I had to agree with them!
The two lads will now spend the rest of the week there and it is very possible they will go to the game with Wolves and stay at the hotel.
After the session, the boss decided he would drive us back and we watched the U15s train in the afternoon. It was a really good day - but it didn't stop there.
The first-team had the day off on Tuesday and Kenny was at Melwood for various meetings. However, it didn't stop him hot-footing it down to Kirkby to watch an U17s friendly with Shrewsbury.
We had a lot of the scholars who haven't been playing regularly for Rodolfo involved, as well as Jason Banton who we signed recently. He scored and did okay for us which was a positive because we all want to have a good look at what he can offer us.
The fact Kenny took up a place in the dugout alongside Rodolfo was also a nice touch and it will have given all the lads involved a huge lift to have the opportunity to impress the first-team boss.
It's certainly exciting times for us here and great that the boss is bringing us altogether as one.
In our latest column from the club's youth base, Academy director Frank McParland tells us how a lift from Kenny Dalglish resulted in a training session with Steven Gerrard and co for two lucky starlets.
I was at home relaxing on Sunday night when the phone rang.
It was the boss. He told me he'd be down to the Academy on Monday morning at 9.30am sharp and to make sure I had the kettle on!
So, we got everyone together first thing the next day and got them to dress smart for the occasion.
When Kenny arrived we had a quick cup of tea and then he addressed everyone - both Academy staff and players.
He told us that he is focused on spreading the message that this is 'one club' and is very keen for us to get together with the staff from Melwood to actively talk about our young players.
He wants to get down here as much as possible.
He assured the players that there would be big opportunities ahead for them to be involved in first-team training sessions and that some of them will be going away with the first-team for Barclays Premier League games so they can sample the experience of it all.
He mentioned that he was really pleased with the Youth Cup win over Crystal Palace and that the lads had the chance to play at Anfield. We are now using the prozone that the first-team have and will analyse the stats of that performance with it. We have scheduled meetings to discuss this further with Damien Comolli and all of the other fitness people from Melwood.
Everything has been hugely positive and it is great that the Academy is so heavily involved in Kenny's plans.
After that meeting he decided to take Conor Coady and Suso up to Melwood with him to train with the first-team.
He took me and the two boys down to Melwood in his car which was obviously a great moment for them. I watched them train with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole and Fabio Aurelio - all the players who weren't involved against Everton.
They both did very well and were a credit to the Academy. I have to say that just watching Gerrard in training was special. Conor and Suso came off the pitch and said that for a 20 minute spell the skipper was unplayable. I was watching and I had to agree with them!
The two lads will now spend the rest of the week there and it is very possible they will go to the game with Wolves and stay at the hotel.
After the session, the boss decided he would drive us back and we watched the U15s train in the afternoon. It was a really good day - but it didn't stop there.
The first-team had the day off on Tuesday and Kenny was at Melwood for various meetings. However, it didn't stop him hot-footing it down to Kirkby to watch an U17s friendly with Shrewsbury.
We had a lot of the scholars who haven't been playing regularly for Rodolfo involved, as well as Jason Banton who we signed recently. He scored and did okay for us which was a positive because we all want to have a good look at what he can offer us.
The fact Kenny took up a place in the dugout alongside Rodolfo was also a nice touch and it will have given all the lads involved a huge lift to have the opportunity to impress the first-team boss.
It's certainly exciting times for us here and great that the boss is bringing us altogether as one.
The future is looking very very bright indeedy !