Liverpool coach Ablett admits transfer focus outside of England

[JPK]

Liverpool reserves coach Gary Ablett says the asking price for young English players is forcing them to shop abroad.
Ablett told the Sunday Times: "In the past, Liverpool would have looked to bring in youth players with potential from clubs down the English league, but these days the market is such that if we go in for a player from a lower division club, that club asks for ridiculous money. That's why we've looked to recruit more from the continent . . . and that's the direction we'll continue to head in."

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=95895

Ramsey is a good example here. There are probably loads of better players of the same age all over the globe and very few of them would command such a high fee.

[Matt]

I do agree to an extent, it's an overinflated market but I think sometimes I think the club should swallow their pride and dig deep.

Spurs did it with Bale, Utd did it with Ferdinand and Rooney and even Walcott at Arsenal is starting to find his feet.

If we don't buy Ramsey because we're back in that position where we're squabbling over a million or two, someone else will take a chance and pick him up and there's a decent chance he'll turn into a special player.

[Darkon]

The transfer market is resembling that of the late 90's - early 2000's currently, where it was silly money that decided where players ended up. Seems like the transfer market has picked up again, and it will keep going like this as long as the tv-deals etc. are on a high!

And the worst place is defo england atm, everybody is asking for silly amounts, and get away with it because clubs like the scum, chelski and some degree arsenal are willing to pay it for youngsters...

Sometimes I could see the benefit of the draft system in th U.S...

[Imy]

Liverpool reserves coach Gary Ablett says the asking price for young English players is forcing them to shop abroad.
Ablett told the Sunday Times: "In the past, Liverpool would have looked to bring in youth players with potential from clubs down the English league, but these days the market is such that if we go in for a player from a lower division club, that club asks for ridiculous money. That's why we've looked to recruit more from the continent . . . and that's the direction we'll continue to head in."

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=95895

Ramsey is a good example here. There are probably loads of better players of the same age all over the globe and very few of them would command such a high fee.

Compare that to how much Nemeth a Hungarian international and possibly more talented player cost.

[RedReet]

I do agree to an extent, it's an overinflated market but I think sometimes I think the club should swallow their pride and dig deep.

Spurs did it with Bale, Utd did it with Ferdinand and Rooney and even Walcott at Arsenal is starting to find his feet.

If we don't buy Ramsey because we're back in that position where we're squabbling over a million or two, someone else will take a chance and pick him up and there's a decent chance he'll turn into a special player.

Bale £10m, Insua £1m?

Walcott £12m, Babel £11.5m?

Ferdinand £33m, Agger £5, Skrtle £6.5m?

Possibly a bit biased, but think I’d stick with the foreigners.

Forgot about Rooney, but Nando for me any day too.

[Matt]

Bale £10m, Insua £1m?

Walcott £12m, Babel £11.5m?

Ferdinand £33m, Agger £5, Skrtle £6.5m?

Possibly a bit biased, but think I’d stick with the foreigners.

Pound for pound you're right but my point was more that the likes of Ferdinand and Rooney have gone on to be outstanding players, Bale is going to get there going by the start of last season and Walcott may get there if Wenger doesn't stifle him.

Odds are that there will be an outstanding player coming through the ranks every year or two and if we baulk at the price there will be 3 or 4 other teams that will pay.

[RedReet]

But we're not just talking a few million with these players. If you are willing to pay £30m + for any player, then you'd expect a world class talent, regardless of their nationality.

Ferdinand = Agger + Skrtel + Nando

[Matt]

Again, agreed but the point was that someone was prepared to pay the asking price.

Did you read Barrett's article about the 'seven stars who got away from Liverpool'?

[DannyMan2006]

Pound for pound you're right but my point was more that the likes of Ferdinand and Rooney have gone on to be outstanding players, Bale is going to get there going by the start of last season and Walcott may get there if Wenger doesn't stifle him.

Odds are that there will be an outstanding player coming through the ranks every year or two and if we baulk at the price there will be 3 or 4 other teams that will pay.

The point Ablett is trying to make is that for a young british lad costing £2m, you can find an equally talented foreign lad for £1m.

He's not talking about the likes of Rooney and Ferdinand who were already full blown premiership players.

The obvious answer is that lower british clubs are asking for to much money when selling their talented young players. Mind, some would say that they deserve to get some money out of the premiership in some way.

[Catrin]

Price is just a convenient excuse. The main issue is quality. We are not looking for the best young talent in the UK, we are looking for the best young talent in the world. If UK lads are amongst the best young talent in the world then I've no doubt that the club would be looking to sign them.

The lack of British players in the PL is because they are not as good as their foreign counterparts. How many British players are there in the lower leagues that would be playing in the PL if only they were cheaper?

[Exiled_red]

While in a ideal world you'd like to see more homegrown talent in the team, but examples of players like Walcott, Bale and Ramsey none of whom had played above Championship level at the time of their transfers (or touted transfers) went for figures around £10m is crazy. Yes they could turn out to be bargins *IF* they fulfil their potential, but £10m is alot of money on any player. Both Bale has been at Spurs for a year now and Walcott at Arsenal 2 years, neither has had a major impact YET. We are still in the position of needing to improve our squad now if we spend £10m on a player we need to see the rewards immediately

[Catrin]

Both Bale has been at Spurs for a year now and Walcott at Arsenal 2 years, neither has had a major impact YET.

Walcott hasn't yet justified the hype, but he has shown glimpses that suggest that he might still have it in him to be a major star. Bale started quite well but was then injured.

[El Jefecito]

The prices are ridiculous today, but imagine what they will be like if 6+5 comes in.

[Ferrrrnando]

I had a few ablett's the other night actually.

[Parm]

The point Ablett is trying to make is that for a young british lad costing £2m, you can find an equally talented foreign lad for £1m.

He's not talking about the likes of Rooney and Ferdinand who were already full blown premiership players.

The obvious answer is that lower british clubs are asking for to much money when selling their talented young players. Mind, some would say that they deserve to get some money out of the premiership in some way.

wouldnt a better way forward be to forge links with severla lower league clubs, loan them some of players/kids and have first pick of their kids etc?