Sorry if this turns into a rant

[The Birdman]

what are reasonable expectations regarding the development of the youngsters?[/QUOTE]For me reasonable expectations of our youngsters are to be worth more when we sell them than we bought them for.
I would love them to break into the 1st team but we have to be realistic and think that maybe 1-2 a season will start to make an impact.
The bottom line is if we sign a youngster for say £250,000 we should be able to sell him 2-4 years later for more than that.

[Kenneth]

The only think I'd like to add is that Walcott is wank.

[BobTheCharmer]

I'll go as far to say that from what I've seen the only young lads with a chance of breaking through are the ones brought in, Spearing won't play 10 games for the 1st team, he gets MOM and raved about because people look at him through scouse tinted glasses which is understandable because we're all desperate for the next Robbie, Carra or Gerrard.

People rave about him because he's the only one who's consistently putting in performances during the reserve games. Looks a great prospect.

But under Rafa I have a feeling he won't get a chance.

[FT9]

The two best young players from Hungary.

Two of Swedens best talents.

The second best young Barca striker.

One of the best young players from Real.

Eccleston.

Insua.

I think Rafa has done some excellent signings.

when 1 of them ever blasts into the first team like McMananamananmamanman, Owen, Fowler or Gerrard and stays there and makes a difference to the team I will agree with you.

At the moment they are POTENTIALLY excellent signings - they're **** all until they put a ball in the net and win us a cup final

[carheex]

The two best young players from Hungary.

Two of Swedens best talents.

The second best young Barca striker.

One of the best young players from Real.

Eccleston.

Insua.

I think Rafa has done some excellent signings.

Says who?? none of the above means a thing unless they make a positive impact in the first team. Which of the above do you think could be a first team regular, and at whose expense?

[Joe King]

I thought the group of lads that went to Spurs and beat them in their own back yard were pretty special however they physically didn't have the build to push them into the first team. These lads will obviously get older and the fitness team at Melwood will get them to become more bigger (meals, weights etc) - there has been a massive difference to a lot of the younger players coming through like Gerrard and Carragher. So the future does look bright for Rafa and hopefully for these youths.

[carheex]

I thought the group of lads that went to Spurs and beat them in their own back yard were pretty special however they physically didn't have the build to push them into the first team. These lads will obviously get older and the fitness team at Melwood will get them to become more bigger (meals, weights etc) - there has been a massive difference to a lot of the younger players coming through like Gerrard and Carragher. So the future does look bright for Rafa and hopefully for these youths.

Feeding our players??? it'll never catch on!

[Joe King]

Feeding our players??? it'll never catch on!

You know what I mean. The set menus given to the houselady and the sort

[einar]

Says who?? none of the above means a thing unless they make a positive impact in the first team. Which of the above do you think could be a first team regular, and at whose expense?

I´d say that every attacking player from the age of 16-19 is more talented then Crouch, Voronin or Kuyt where at the same age.

I have seen a bit of the young players in the last 3 years or so and the players that have come in since the takeover are really a class above what we had before. At least in terms of technical ability.

[dww]

I sometimes wonder what some people on this site expect from our youngsters. If a young bloke doesnt get off to a flying MOM in his first game 'he's lightweight, 'wont make it', 'not LFC standard', and various other negative comments. I remember a pre-season game that Hobbs did poorly in and he got slated no end. He looked good against Cardiff last night. Leto looks like he will be the player to complain about. It seems like we have some truly gifted youngsters on the books and with the bloke from Ajax running the academy they will be very technically proficient. Im not having a go at any posters on this thread but what are reasonable expectations regarding the development of the youngsters?

I think reasonable expectations are that we regularly generate players in the Arbeloa mould who are solid at the basic skills of football and are tactically aware and capable of filling in in a number of positions in the squad.

In addition you have to hope that every now and again a player will come along who is capable of making a real difference to the side. I think there is far too much expectation from some that the young players we buy will all come off or replicate the level of ability at adult level that they have amongst their peer group when young.

I really feel that at the minute we should be looking to see players like Hobbs stepping up to the level where they are a genuine option in match day squads for PL games.

[Parm]

I´d say that every attacking player from the age of 16-19 is more talented then Crouch, Voronin or Kuyt where at the same age.I have seen a bit of the young players in the last 3 years or so and the players that have come in since the takeover are really a class above what we had before. At least in terms of technical ability.

sorry mate, but that is rubbish, there is no way on earth you could ever substaniate this outrageous remark.

[einar]

sorry mate, but that is rubbish, there is no way on earth you could ever substaniate this outrageous remark.

Let me try again.

I´d say that every attacking player ,brought in since the takeover, from the age of 16-19 is more technically talented then Crouch, Voronin or Kuyt where at the same age.

I dont know what to say. I have seen these boys play, and I have seen Crouch, Kuyt and Voronin play.

It´s just my opinion.

Having said that, I also think Pongolle is a more technically gifted player then our current trio. That does not make him a better player.

[AFII]

I will never understand why we sold Pongolle and signed Voronin if it was a decision based on football and not money.

[einar]

I will never understand why we sold Pongolle and signed Voronin if it was a decision based on football and not money.

Yeah. I always liked Pongo. Maybe there was something we did not know.

[bigfooty]

It's not a big surprise to me that so many of Arsenal's youngsters have come and gone since then, it's been mirrored in the first team too with massive players like Pires, Freddy, Henry, Sol, Viera, Bergkamp and others leaving. The fact is though that since 2003-2004 Wenger has pretty much rebuilt his team from scratch at a fraction of the money that Rafa has splashed out, yet we still rely on Gerrard and Carra to get us out of trouble at both ends of the pitch. Of course, we've got more silverware than them, but if Wenger takes either main trophy this season and we don't then he'll pretty much establish himself as the greatest ever Premiership manager imo.