Youth rules at Liverpool as Rafa's empire-building starts with Anderson, Idrizaj, Hob

[spike starski]

Two things for me, firstly I've always thought that the apparent rule (this may have been changed since thuogh) for signing youngsters only travelling within summat like a 45 mile radius has stood against us being where we are geographically.

Secondly, it's obvious that Rafa wants to develop stronger links between the senior squad and the Academy. Simply because he believes in having players who are coached in consistent ways so that they can come in and fit into his unit, understand his way and that.

[redblood]

More than nice - I think its important.

Yeah I agree mate I think it's very important that's more what I wanted to say.

[redblood]

Two things for me, firstly I've always thought that the apparent rule (this may have been changed since thuogh) for signing youngsters only travelling within summat like a 45 mile radius has stood against us being where we are geographically.

Secondly, it's obvious that Rafa wants to develop stronger links between the senior squad and the Academy. Simply because he believes in having players who are coached in consistent ways so that they can come in and fit into his unit, understand his way and that.

Well it would make sense that all the players are familiar with the way the senior team plays and I could never understand why it should be different.

[Howard_lfc]

Two things for me, firstly I've always thought that the apparent rule (this may have been changed since thuogh) for signing youngsters only travelling within summat like a 45 mile radius has stood against us being where we are geographically.

Secondly, it's obvious that Rafa wants to develop stronger links between the senior squad and the Academy. Simply because he believes in having players who are coached in consistent ways so that they can come in and fit into his unit, understand his way and that.

Weclome Spike.
I've seen that username before somewhere......

You're second point is so valid and is exactly how come Wenger gets these kids through to the first team and they slot in so easily.

[sniff]

yes but if Wenger leaves where will that leave the youth set up.
Surely the youth players need a broader coaching system, rather than basing it around one manager's ideas.
Just a thought

[loco_law]

I think one glaring issue here is the difference between managing a team to win cups and championships, and training players to be able excel in a higher league.

This debate goes on day in and day out in North America with coaches and managers here getting axed on a much more frequent basis. Coaches that have excelled at the collegiate level for years get an offer for a pro team (NBA, NFL, etc) and can't cut it.

It takes a different breed of manager to be able to motivate kids to play above the league they are in. Not only do they have to prepare for the game ahead of them, but they have to train to be better than anyone else in that league. If the manager is only training them to win the games, which I believe SH was doing to "pad his stats as a youth manager", then the kids will never be able to take it to the next level as they are too concerned with the team playing well instead of developing individual talents.

Just an opinion. But the right one.

[Dero]

Maybe the suggestion of 7 subs, 2 from the academy/own ranks and 4 allowed could be something to consider? I read about it from another poster here this week and I reckon it could be a good one.

I threw that idea around on rawk last year after remembering Rafa sayong something about having 7 subs not 5 (in line with a lot of other major euro leagues). The reason is that then you can put 2 under 21 or so aged players on the bench to give them 10-15mins at the end of a game without the risk of having a weakend bench if you still need to get someting from the game. I think we would have seen some/more of players like Anderson, Insua, Gabby and Lindfield.

[ronan]

He cannot be blamed for taking this action because no player from the Academy looks like making the first team in the foreseeable future. Steven Warnock spent the last few months of his tutorial there before Academy coach Steve Heighway told Gerrard Houllier that he had a bright young spark ready for the first team. But when Houlier went to see Warnock he was moreimpressed by Steven Gerrard, a player that Heighway did not really rate. Houlier took Gerrard to Melwood the next day.


that part is bull****.

[JHP]

The bit about Houllier finding Gerrard when looking at Wornock is in direct conflict with Gerrard's book. I would tend to believe Gerrard.

Therefore assume rest of article is also crap.