Youth Development

[Tee]

This is the main area of Rafa's management that has me really worried.

Do our younger players get a decent enough chance to break into the first team squad? Is the odd cameo appearance followed by months out in the reserves what they deserve? Can it be good for their confidence?

I am talking about Plessis, Darby, Spearing, Nemeth, Pacheco, Insua.... all players IMO who should by now be fighting for a place on the bench at the very least.

Or am i getting this completely wrong and they are simply not good enough?

Without starting a Rafa-bashing thread, do these young players get enough game time to allow them to develop their full potential? I am not so sure you know and am concerned that the last home grown player to break into the team and make any sort of impact was Stephen Warnock a good few years ago.

With the youth team succeses and reserve team successes we should have had at least 1 or 2 regulars in the squad by now. IMO.

[Sarb]

There isn't any youth development at the club. It's p*ss poor to be honest

[bobbyfallon]

the reserve league is **** and we end up having to send players out on loan. this should help but i see it as more a means to an end for the players as very that go out on loan make an impact and come back

[Tee]

the reserve league is **** and we end up having to send players out on loan. this should help but i see it as more a means to an end for the players as very that go out on loan make an impact and come back

My point is, shouldn't these young players get more of a chance to make an impact here at Liverpool though?

[Sarb]

Yes they should Loop, they should. But I've said many a time our transfer policy and youth policy are totally flawed. We go and buy the likes of N'gog and Voronin after investing millions in young players and not giving them a chance.

It's a big worry. We may be good now, but I don't see us being that good in say 5 or 6 years time if we don't have money to spend because our youngsters just aren't given a chance. For once, I'm for bringing in a quota to be honest. I've been totally against it in the past, but I worry for the future of the club the way things are going at the moment. We seem to rely totally on buying in 'established' players rather than giving youngsters a chance...bear in mind that some of these youngsters have cost millions of pounds also

[refugee]

We are fighting for the title and the pressure to win all the time is immense. If Rafa played a youngster and he made a mistake that cost us points he would be massacred by press and fans alike.

Rafa is caught in a catch 22 situation and the only way he can win is if a world class youngster breaks through i.e. Owen or Fowler. These types of players are very rare and will break through at any team.

[Tee]

Yes they should Loop, they should. But I've said many a time our transfer policy and youth policy are totally flawed. We go and buy the likes of N'gog and Voronin after investing millions in young players and not giving them a chance.

It's a big worry. We may be good now, but I don't see us being that good in say 5 or 6 years time if we don't have money to spend because our youngsters just aren't given a chance. For once, I'm for bringing in a quota to be honest. I've been totally against it in the past, but I worry for the future of the club the way things are going at the moment. We seem to rely totally on buying in 'established' players rather than giving youngsters a chance...bear in mind that some of these youngsters have cost millions of pounds also

Really is disappointing after thse 2 youth FA Cup wins that none of them have broken into the team/squad on a regular basis. And what is worse is that when they are given a chance they have looked pretty good.

[Sarb]

No I don't agree. You get more of a slating when you buy in a player who is mediocre than you would if you promoted a home grown youngster and gave him an opportunity

It may be a catch 22, but you've got to get a balance regardless. We don't have the balance

[Rich]

I think most clubs are suffering to be honest - how many United youngsters get a look in?

Their centreback Evans is now I guess, but he's spent a lot of time out on loan.

The league need to look into this by introducing a better structure for reserve team football, and by changing the subs rule to include a couple of youngsters in first team squads.

Perhaps some outlandish ideas need to be looked at? Reserve team cup where the winning team actually get something worth winning? Winning the reserve league actually assists the club somehow - increased revenue/UEFA Cup place/extra SKY game the following season.

[Sarb]

Spot on Loop

We've increased the number of subs already but still not getting a look in. It's a sad state of affairs really

[Tee]

What effect must it have on the players as well? Not a good one I would have thought, knowing they will get very little or no opportunity despite their performances.

It does seem that Nabil El Zhar is getting more game time, but I fear it is almost a means of putting him in the shop window with the odd cameo appearance, and I don't expect to see him have a long future at the club.

[BFG]

Spot on Loop

We've increased the number of subs already but still not getting a look in. It's a sad state of affairs really

In the Premier League and Champions League this season these young players have all got game time: Plessis, El Zhar, Kelly, Spearing, Darby, Insua.

Arsenal aside, if you can name me one other big Premiership team with more young players getting a game other than in the carling cup then I'll be astonished and using Arsenal as an example doesn't really stand up when you compare their league and CL standing to our own even if they have used more youth players.

Rafa also has a great record of bringing in youngish players for decent money, playing them and turning them into world beaters - Torres, Mascher, Reina, Agger, Skrtel, Arbeloa so I think you're dislike of Rafa is taking over here once again.

[Sarb]

BFG, I don't have a dislike of Rafa. I'm commenting on the topic. But it's easy to slant it and say it's an anti-Rafa agenda.

Besides, you proved my point. You listed all the players he's bought in and turned into talents. What's going to happen when the money runs out and some players leave/retire. Then we're in trouble without a doubt

[BFG]

BFG, I don't have a dislike of Rafa. I'm commenting on the topic. But it's easy to slant it and say it's an anti-Rafa agenda.

Besides, you proved my point. You listed all the players he's bought in and turned into talents. What's going to happen when the money runs out and some players leave/retire. Then we're in trouble without a doubt

Did I ****.

Buying a player of 20-23 years of age, playing him and doubling/ tripling his value is youth development. You don't stop being a young player when you turn 20 and if Rafa can keep doing that how will we ever be in trouble? We'll always have players who are worth more than we paid for them.

Look at all the young players who have played at the highest level in this season alone and we won the CL group and are top of the league. Surely that's something to be commeded, not labelled as 'piss poor.' People like you are making every thread really hard to read at the moment, that's why I called you anti Rafa. We're top of the league and you make this place feel like a dignitas clinic.

[bobbyfallon]

My point is, shouldn't these young players get more of a chance to make an impact here at Liverpool though?

if it was up to me id have one or two on the bench for each game and a squad full of them for the carling cup games.

could nemeth make it at the top level for liverpool ?? we wont know until he gets a chance