Nemeth

[Bari]

None yet, but given that he has been buying 16 & 17 year olds, that is not a great suprise.

Does anyone actually believe that there will be a break through player from the reserves or youth set-up whlist rafa is there? Let's be realistic.

[BFG]

Does anyone actually believe that there will be a break through player from the reserves or youth set-up whlist rafa is there? Let's be realistic.

Yes definately and I think we'll see a big net profit in terms of ins and outs from the young players signed since Rafa came too.

[billy_mac]

Does anyone actually believe that there will be a break through player from the reserves or youth set-up whlist rafa is there? Let's be realistic.

There's a better chance now than before as Rafa has taken it upon himself to go any buy youngsters rather than only take the best of what the accademy can produce, who have never been given a chance. I think Rafa knows how close we are and thats why he bought Dossena instead of just having Aurellio and Insua for the left back berth. I'm a firm believer in good enough old enough. Don't think Rafa ever heard of this.

[wiw]

sorry amigo but everytime that chav plays theres serious harm done - to us!

After his injury I agree - before it, though, (having watched the goals from the start of the season again) he played a major part in quite a few goals. He'll never be a world beater, but as long as his attitude is right he's a decent enough back-up.

[livvy145]

He's just scored for Hungary U19's v Bulgaria

[dww]

I think Rafa just has different standards of what is ready. He has put players like Agger and Lucas straight in but they had some experience in weaker leagues. He also blooded Sissoko at Valencia and then played him as soon as he came - I think the criticism of Rafa not saying "if you are good enough you are old enough" is unfair.

The PL has developed to a degree where it is not enough to be skillful but you also have to be physically developed. That is quite an unlikely combination and in some ways more so if you haven't played competitively at a less stressful level in order to gain what might be termed street smarts (what a horrible term but I can't think of anything better).

I also think Rafa has a tendency to think of players as young until they are about 22-23 and that this means that he sees them as potentially developing for longer. It will be interesting to see how this works for him in the future as we will only really be able to say in another few seasons how well he has done developing the players he has bought in. He certainly seems to have a holistic plan from the youngest players up and to devote a lot of time and attention to youth development. Whether this is a big change from Houllier or whether GH wasn't allowed such a large brief is open to question but it does seem that we now have structures in place that are at least on a par with Arsenal and United who have been the premier teams for producing top level PL talent (except West Ham but they have acted more as a feeder team and have lower standards in their first team with no pressure to win things at that level).

[billy_mac]

He's just scored for Hungary U19's v Bulgaria

On his weak side...

I didn't see it but read about it here

Our keeper Gulacsi played as well. Have we signed this fella? Says on the offal he was signed on loan with a view to a permanent deal.

Who else aside from Simon and Nemeth have we got at this?

[billy_mac]

I think Rafa just has different standards of what is ready. He has put players like Agger and Lucas straight in but they had some experience in weaker leagues. He also blooded Sissoko at Valencia and then played him as soon as he came - I think the criticism of Rafa not saying "if you are good enough you are old enough" is unfair.

The PL has developed to a degree where it is not enough to be skillful but you also have to be physically developed. That is quite an unlikely combination and in some ways more so if you haven't played competitively at a less stressful level in order to gain what might be termed street smarts (what a horrible term but I can't think of anything better).

I also think Rafa has a tendency to think of players as young until they are about 22-23 and that this means that he sees them as potentially developing for longer. It will be interesting to see how this works for him in the future as we will only really be able to say in another few seasons how well he has done developing the players he has bought in. He certainly seems to have a holistic plan from the youngest players up and to devote a lot of time and attention to youth development. Whether this is a big change from Houllier or whether GH wasn't allowed such a large brief is open to question but it does seem that we now have structures in place that are at least on a par with Arsenal and United who have been the premier teams for producing top level PL talent (except West Ham but they have acted more as a feeder team and have lower standards in their first team with no pressure to win things at that level).

Rafa paid a fair bit of money for Agger, Lucas and Sissoko. So there was obviously a bit of pressure to see these players on the pitch after money being spent. He has yet to take a punt on any young fella for a sustained period. In his time since taking over we've won back to back FA youth cups and not one player came into the squad, never mind the team for more than a match here and there. That's a load of crap about being physically developed, look at Fabregas at 16. Look at Owen at 28. If you are good enough you should most definitely be old enough and big enough. I don't think that fowler or owen would have got a go with Rafa in charge. 17-20 is a critical age for footballers. They have money, spare time, the wildness of youth. A lot of talent gets wasted at that age and if players aren't shown an interest in, they'll quickly get feed up and lose motivation.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Hope we don't block him out of a chance in the first team, he may eventually want to move for first team football. Would be a shame if it came to anything like that, Rafa will surely use him next year when he comes back from his loan spell though.

[SERVO1]

I wouldn't mind a 3 to 6 month loan deal so that he gets a bit of a run out at a more competetive level as long as he goes to a footballing team who won't struggle too much in their league. Leeds should be a pretty decent option and with a 3 to 6 month loan deal we get to see how he's doing and decide if we feel it has been a worthwhile move or whether it'd be better to bring him back.

Loan deals can be positive for young players but they need a good attitude and to get played frequently, even if it is only as a substitute every game.

[rage]

if rafa doesn't play nemeth but rather stick with that chav voronin then he needs his head testing.

in the 4 years rafa has been here not one youth/reserve player has made a breakthrough. if nemeth doesn't break through no one will

[Assassin]

if rafa doesn't play nemeth but rather stick with that chav voronin then he needs his head testing.

in the 4 years rafa has been here not one youth/reserve player has made a breakthrough. if nemeth doesn't break through no one will

If Rafa believed any of the youngsters were good enough they would be playing, I am sure he would like to promote from within rather and use his paultry transfer kitty on some really big signings. You have to remember he inherited a rather stagnent youth set up. Over the last couple of years there has been a lot of new talent coming in. I fully expect that to start paying dividends soon

[Johnny]

if rafa doesn't play nemeth but rather stick with that chav voronin then he needs his head testing.

in the 4 years rafa has been here not one youth/reserve player has made a breakthrough. if nemeth doesn't break through no one will

Who signed Nemeth to Liverpool???

[Shanks]

Does anyone actually believe that there will be a break through player from the reserves or youth set-up whlist rafa is there? Let's be realistic.

Daniel Pacheco.

[redstaralex]

I think Plessis and Insua are knocking on the door already but Pacheco's still got a year or more to go

I think that the youth and reserves no longer have 1 purpose i.e. to produce players for the first team, I think that now they're also a business and have to make enough money through sales and / or loans of players that aren't going to make it to pay for the academy and add to the transfer funds for Rafa and his successor