Rafa looks for diamonds.

[lfc4ever]

cant argue with the fact there seems to be two camps alright. Wonder what exactly is the difference of oppinion is between the two? just who is in charge or methods.

Heighway sees it as an extension of the UK Schooling system, further education for local youngsters who happen to be decent young footballers, combined with excellent footballing coaching lessons, so naturally not a lot will come through, but the ones that do will be local and we can identify with that, the ones that don't make it at LFC will either drop down the leagues or at least have a decent education (one which LFC is paying for (will have paid for), and others see that as a waste, or at least should be jointly funded, as to how is another matter)

Rafa wants it as first & foremost to be known as a footballing academy for talented youngsters no matter where they come from (and remaining within the FA Rules of poaching UK Kids as well - 50 mile radius is still in effect ffs!), so scouting the world for talented youngsters, which Heighway is at odds with, one wants it to remain a local education with football thing, one wants worldwide scouting for youngsters to go to an LFC School of Excellence for Football only.

Who is right?? Tough call with the new UEFA regs coming in within the next few years, but one thing is certain, we certainly need more coming through that's for sure. It's just how that is achieved that is the bottom line.

[Neil Young]

Is what Rafa said not just a way to motivate the Youth Cup squad - "I'm looking for someone to make it like Jamie C, is it going to be you?" kind of thing.

[Meursault]

I thought this thread was about the watch that Rafa will have to buy for his wife when we win number six...

This was what I thought of too when i first read the title of the thread.

I thought it was always an expensive watch whenever he won an honour, although some diamonds wouldn't be too shabby to celebrate the 6th.

[Maestro]

Isn't Heighway retiring at the end of this season in any case?

[Guest]

Isn't Heighway retiring at the end of this season in any case?

Yep I think he is.

To be fair to him, he hasn't done a bad job whilst he was there. The Academy was hugely successful but I guess it has to move on with the times, not cling on its past successes.