Heighway leaves Reds academy post

[enema of the state]

To develop a player he has to coach them or be involved with them day to day

It would be difficult to be heavily involved in recruitment whilst doing the development as well

I dont doubt what you have been told but I personally dont think hes involved with development whatsoever

They are two entirely seperate issues

and many people, in many walks of life, have direct managerial responsibility over things they have little involvement in the day to day running of

[Howard_lfc]

Ironic that SH is leaving at the very time we may have some actual progress with youth players making the grade judging on the FA Youth Cup Final performances.

[enema of the state]

Ironic that SH is leaving at the very time we may have some actual progress with youth players making the grade judging on the FA Youth Cup Final performances.

its an interesting question.

i was delighted to see those lads stick it up the scum in front of their own fans

but the academy has to be judged - not on junior silverware - but on how well it supplies the club with 1st team players.

If even 1 of those lads becomes a carragher/gerard/owen then thatll mean more than the silverware and that experience at old toilet will stand them in good stead for future tussles there.

[Mumsafan]

It said on the tv that he was coach when they won it in 1996 as well. Who came thru from that lot? Carragher?

[bazza76]

It said on the tv that he was coach when they won it in 1996 as well. Who came thru from that lot? Carragher?

Liverpool: Naylor, Prior, Brazier, Carragher, Roberts, Quinn S., Quinn M., Thompson, Cassidy, Owen, Newby.
West Ham: Finn, Moore, Coyne, McFarlane, Partridge, Keith, Ferdinand, Lampard, Boylan, Hodges, Omoyinmi.

[dom9]

its an interesting question.

i was delighted to see those lads stick it up the scum in front of their own fans

but the academy has to be judged - not on junior silverware - but on how well it supplies the club with 1st team players.

If even 1 of those lads becomes a carragher/gerard/owen then thatll mean more than the silverware and that experience at old toilet will stand them in good stead for future tussles there.

On the one side, people want youth to be given its chance in the first team, on the other hand, they us to be challenging for the league and champions league every year.

In the past 5 years, the best young kids have played in first team, some more than others. But Warnock, Mellor and Walsh have been moved on because they were not quite at the level we need.

It seems to me that Heighway was more intrested in developing the youngsters as people first and footballers second. While this is admirable, Rafa wants players that can fit into the first team sqaud within a reasonable period of time. This means importing youngsters frm further afield.

Its tricky. Morals or success.

[dww]

It seems to me that Heighway was more intrested in developing the youngsters as people first and footballers second. While this is admirable, Rafa wants players that can fit into the first team sqaud within a reasonable period of time. This means importing youngsters frm further afield.

Its tricky. Morals or success.

I think that part of the problem was that those players gained first team experience too late and it halted their development. Particularly Warnock, who I admit had some serious injuries which may have got in the way. Until recently we have been relatively unwilling to send young players on loan or play them in the League Cup (particularly under Houllier).

[dom9]

When Houllier was in charge, the League cup was the most realistic trophy to win. It would not have been acceptable to field a weakened team. Indeed we prided ourselves on it.

[dww]

When Houllier was in charge, the League cup was the most realistic trophy to win. It would not have been acceptable to field a weakened team. Indeed we prided ourselves on it.

I think one or two young players in the squad at least and playing some games wouldn't have significantly weakened the team. Certainly in the earlier rounds. The league cup is not a trophy any big club should have as a major aim at the start of the season. I also seem to remember we won some other competitions under Houllier and finished 2nd with a points haul which until recently would have guarenteed the title. I think you are being over harsh on his regime.

[dom9]

Perhaps, but he would have been slaughtered for it

[dww]

Perhaps, but he would have been slaughtered for it

He got slaughtered on the occasions we went out anyway. And we gained nothing except more tired players. If we are unwilling to play them in the League Cup then we should have loaned them out more frequently. I only remember Otemobor to Bolton and Murphy to Crewe as loans of players on the fringes of the first team.

[dom9]

He also had Gerrard, Carragher and Owen, not to mention Thompson.

I know that Owen and Carra played under Evans, but the academy had a purple patch at that time. It was lucky that such an exceptional bunch of youngsters grew up on Merseyside then. You can't rely on that long term, that's why Rafa wants import them from elsewhere.

If they are good enough, they will play. Simple as that.

[red g]

He also had Gerrard, Carragher and Owen, not to mention Thompson.

I know that Owen and Carra played under Evans, but the academy had a purple patch at that time. It was lucky that such an exceptional bunch of youngsters grew up on Merseyside then. You can't rely on that long term, that's why Rafa wants import them from elsewhere.

If they are good enough, they will play. Simple as that.

look down the rd at scum, the purple one had a purple patch with his youth team as well in the nineties.

[dom9]

Exactly. They haven't produced much since.

Having said that, they could spend £20-30M on the likes of Ferdinand, Rooney, Veron, Van Nistelrooy etc each time, to add to the foundation of that team. We have been playing catch up.

[dww]

A real difference is though that Man Uniteds youth team has produced a string of £500k-£1m players they have sold on which has helped finance youth development. They have also had a large set of players out on loan which IMO helps give the best chance to players who may develop with games like Carra, rather than be naturally exceptional players like Gerrard.