Pacheco inspires reserves to vale win.

[Mike]

I cant wait until Nemeth gets back from injury and gets a slot on the bench.

The only thing is if we are 3-0 up, would Rafa stick N'gog on ahead of him?

I'm not having a go at N'gog but i am genuinelly more excited about Nemeth and think he deserves a chance, he was great for the reserves last season and is a confident young lad who is constantly improving.

[JPK]

Nathan Eccleston has become the latest Academy graduate to make the move to Melwood on a permanent basis.



The England youth international will train with Gary Ablett's reserve team squad and is regarded as a player with a lot of potential.

He was handed the number 39 squad number this season and also named in Rafael Benitez's Champions League squad.

Under-18s boss Hughie McAuley is delighted to see Eccleston make the move and said it's a great boost for the Academy.

"It's great news for Nathan because this is what he has been striving for," McAuley told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"He did very well in pre-season when he trained with the reserve team and I know Gary was very impressed.

"This news has given everybody at the Academy a boost. When you see a young lad who has been at the Academy since the age of 14 go to Melwood it's fantastic.

"This is what our job is all about preparing young players so they can make that move to Melwood. Nathan's move will give all of the young lads with us a lot of confidence, because if you play well and impress then you are more than likely to get a chance to go to Melwood.

"Nathan is an exciting player with a lot of potential. He can take defenders on and score goals. He knows he's still got a lot of hard work ahead of him but he's not afraid of that. He will still play in our Under-18 team this season as well so we are delighted to have him available."

Meanwhile, reserve boss Ablett believes Eccleston deserves his opportunity.

"Nathan has done well when he has trained and played for us and he has a good attitude," said Ablett.

"He really impressed during pre-season and we are looking forward to having him with us.

"The Academy is massively important for Liverpool and I don't think you can underestimate how good a job the likes of Hughie and John Owens do.

"Without the help of Hughie my first year as reserve team manager wouldn't have gone as smoothly as it did and I've got a lot to thank him for.

"I speak to Hughie three times a week and we want to see the local boys progress because it is the lifeblood of the club. We all want the same thing which is the best players at our club."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N161508080930-0957.htm

He deserves it and hopefully Amoo and Pourie are next. Pourie's 2nd goal at the weekend was awesome.

Spanish youngster Francisco Duran has spoken of his determination to prove himself to the Liverpool coaching staff after 18 months of injury hell.
A cruciate knee ligament injury has meant the midfielder has barely featured since arriving for Malaga in January 2007.

Now on the road to recovery, Duran claimed an assist in his reserves comeback against Port Vale on Monday.

The 20-year-old hopes his throughball to countryman Daniel Pacheco will be the first of many contributions as he attempts to finally kickstart his Anfield career.

"I want to show them how I can play. I know Gary Ablett and the other coaches don't know me very well as a player because of these two injuries," Duran told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"I am feeling better. I am back training with the team and obviously I am happy about this, though I have to take things slowly because I have been out for a long time. Maybe in a couple of months I can start playing at a good level.

"I have spent a lot more time in the treatment room than on the pitch since I came here but I hope this year will be different.

"It has been frustrating for me. I came here and was very happy, but after two games I got the injury and haven't really played since. But I had to be strong and keep pressing."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N161507080930-0922.htm

I have a feeling Duran will be a dark horse and make the first team squad yet.

[Mike]

Watched an academy game on LFC TV the other night and have to say Ecclestone looked talented, was constantly causing problems; the same can be said for Amoo.

[El Jefecito]

I thought the Scouse Mafia said Ablett and Rafa had it in for the Academy players? No?

[Vermilion]

I thought the Scouse Mafia said Ablett and Rafa had it in for the Academy players? No?

Just took/takes time to get everything as Rafa wanted/wants it, but i do feel we are now getting there with how we go about recruiting and developing youngsters.

Love little Pacheco and the way he plays, could be a superb find if he keeps developing at this rate, same go's for a couple of others too.

[Matt]

They are on Poorscousertommy which is an invite only site.

I think you're 50% right.

[El Jefecito]

Just took/takes time to get everything as Rafa wanted/wants it, but i do feel we are now getting there with how we go about recruiting and developing youngsters.

Love little Pacheco and the way he plays, could be a superb find if he keeps developing at this rate, same go's for a couple of others too.

Everyone seems to have a woody for Pacheco. They say he just needs to improve on his finishing and he is ready.

Well, I watched Nemeth last year and he was miles and miles ahead of anyone else. Everything we won last year was at one point or another down to Nemeth sticking a leg / knee / bum out. He doesn't have anything he needs to work on other than playing in big games.

My main concerns about big squads etc directly relates to Nemeth, he should be playing in the first team NOW. Forget N'gog a) who doesn't know how to play the liverpool way, or b) Pacheco who needs to work on his composure and finishing.

Rafa needs to work out how players like Nemeth, who just have it, get into the first team NOW!


Hmmm, in retrospect this rant may have been intended for another thread

[Sarb]

You're spot on El Jef.

[El Jefecito]

You're spot on El Jef.

Glad it is just not me that sees the log jam we are getting ourselves into.

Nemeth + Experience = King Kenny.

Please Rafa, don't **** it up!

[DannyMan2006]

Glad it is just not me that sees the log jam we are getting ourselves into.

Nemeth + Experience = King Kenny.

Please Rafa, don't **** it up!

Problem is I also saw Nemeth miss a load of easy chances last year. In the prem he would get slated for missing some of those chances. From what I hear the most concerning thing for Rafa is a players build and physichal attributes. IE, if Nemeth is not filled out properly yet or is not fit enough then he will not get games.

N'gog and Plessis seem to have the tall gangly build and can therefore cope in the premiership, hence they are the two who look most likely to break through next. Indeed both have played in the first team.

Players such as Spearing and Pacheco will get a chance, but will have to wait longer than the other two. You have to remember that Pacheco is similar in build to Luis Garcia, and he had lumps kicked out of him and struggled in the prem. However he was a revelation in Europe. Luis was a man at the time, Pacheco is still a young boy. Let him fill out and grow before we expect to much.

There have been to many wonderkids rushed throuh at to young an age when they have not been mentally or physically ready. Rafa as an ex youth coach knows what he is doing.

[MrMichael]

They are on Poorscousertommy which is an invite only site.

I think you're 50% right.

Well, I make it more like 33%

[Guest]

Well, I make it more like 33%

I make it back to 50%. Don't think Neil Young will go down too well with serious posters.

[Sarb]

Problem is I also saw Nemeth miss a load of easy chances last year. In the prem he would get slated for missing some of those chances. From what I hear the most concerning thing for Rafa is a players build and physichal attributes. IE, if Nemeth is not filled out properly yet or is not fit enough then he will not get games.

N'gog and Plessis seem to have the tall gangly build and can therefore cope in the premiership, hence they are the two who look most likely to break through next. Indeed both have played in the first team.

Players such as Spearing and Pacheco will get a chance, but will have to wait longer than the other two. You have to remember that Pacheco is similar in build to Luis Garcia, and he had lumps kicked out of him and struggled in the prem. However he was a revelation in Europe. Luis was a man at the time, Pacheco is still a young boy. Let him fill out and grow before we expect to much.

There have been to many wonderkids rushed throuh at to young an age when they have not been mentally or physically ready. Rafa as an ex youth coach knows what he is doing.

Comes back to that mixed transfer policy. Buying promising youngsters then buying average young back-up players when you sell someone. Youngsters just aren't getting the chance at the club to be honest

[DannyMan2006]

Comes back to that mixed transfer policy. Buying promising youngsters then buying average young back-up players when you sell someone. Youngsters just aren't getting the chance at the club to be honest

Not really mate. When they are ready they will get a chance. If they play well enough they will get another chance. If they're not good enough then they will be sold.

I am noticing are reserve and youth u-18 team getting a little too large though. That could become a problem as they don't play nearly enough games. Glad to see we've been playing the friendlys lately.

If, after two youth cup wins and success at reserve level, if we still have no youngsters coming through in the next few seasons then I will start to question Rafa. But at the moment the progress is correct. From youth cup victory, to success at reserve level. The next step is players training regularly with the first team squad. Some have achieved that already. The next step is to get games with the first team, again some have already done that. Then they need to be playing in the games that matter. A couple have done that.

The final few steps are to establish themselves in the squad. Normally this is where the likes of Potter, Guthrie and Warnock faltered. Plessis is struggling along at the moment. Hopefully he and others can do better.

[Mike]

Glad it is just not me that sees the log jam we are getting ourselves into.

Nemeth + Experience = King Kenny.

Please Rafa, don't **** it up!