Encouraging words from Claridge... Nice mention of Amoo too
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Encouraging words from Claridge... Nice mention of Amoo too -
Any chance of a c&p here please?!
Thanks very much for being ‘This Mornings’ Farmer’ -
t is plain to see why much was made of his capture by Liverpool. The striker has a touch of the Fernando Torres about him
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Comments (8)
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Lauri Dalla Valle
Lauri Dalla Valle impressed against Birmingham as Liverpool raced to a 3-0 lead in the FA Youth Cup semi-final. Photograph: Keith Williams/Action Images
Have Liverpool discovered the new Fernando Torres? I say that partly in jest but Lauri Dalla Valle, although having an awfully long way to go, certainly has many similarities with the dashing Spaniard. Both are centre-forwards, blond, exceptionally sharp mentally to spot a pass, physically quick, do more than their fair share of work without the ball and certainly find goals easy to come by. It is plain to see why so much was made of Liverpool's capture of him.
I had the privilege of watching this young lad play in the second leg of the FA Youth Cup semi-final at St Andrew's where Liverpool took a 3-0 lead after half an hour and never looked in danger of relinquishing it. The damage was done by two players in particular and I would like to give David Amoo a special mention as his partnership with Dalla Valle was almost unplayable for an overstretched Blues defence. The young Koppites tore into their opponents, creating chances at will and Dalla Valle showed he had that knack of being in the right place at the right time as he finished off a scramble in the box, neatly placing the ball with his weaker left foot in the bottom corner perfectly beyond the keeper's reach, neither snatching at the chance or trying to put too much power on the ball.
After Amoo had danced his way past two defenders to put them 2-0 up, the Finn took centre stage again with a little help from the home keeper who went to throw the ball out, changed his mind and let go of possession. The ball dropped between him and Dalla Valle, who reacted brilliantly by making a difficult opportunity look easy as he lifted the ball over the goalie's despairing dive and side-footed it into an empty net.
At 3-0 the game was effectively over and no one could have blamed him if he thought his work was done, but he chased and closed down, picking when he was best able to win the ball to affect the play which is important as you can't use all your energy trying to win the ball back.
He never gave it away when he had his back to goal, holding the ball up and making sure he retained possession for his team. His first touch and speed of thought meant he was very rarely tackled in tight areas and he always had a picture of what to do when being closed down.
Everything he does comes naturally. Some things can't be taught – qualities that separate ordinary players from very good ones – and even at his age his positioning in build-up play and knowledge of where to stand when the ball comes into the box seems spot-on. Some players have lots of the ball but make very little impression in games, but everything he did seemed to impact on the match in some way.
Little wonder his signaturewas coveted by so many big clubs. As a 15-year-old he chose Internazionale but then moved back home to Finland after only a year in Milan. At 17 sometimes the choices you make off the pitch can be as important as the ones you make on it and his decision to go to Liverpool, which looks a perfect match, means he's got both just about right.
How he rates
Age 17
Born Joensuu, Finland
Position *Centre-forward
Height 5ft 11in
Weight 11st 7lb
From Jippo
Pace 8
Heading 8
Shooting 9
Awareness 9
Passing 9
Team *responsibility 9
Value £1mComment
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Does that mean he lives in a caravan?Originally posted by Reece View PostOriginally posted by fah-qComment
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Lauri Dalla Valle (born September 14, 1991, in Kontiolahti, Finland) is a Finnish professional football player currently playing as a midfielder for Liverpool FC youth team. He has represented his country numerous times in U-17 National Games.
Dalla Valle has been chosen as the best player of Finnish Nike Premier 2005 and Pohjola Cup 2006. Urheilulehti appraised Dalla Valle as the most promising 1991 born Finnish player and ultimately one of the most talented Finnish players of all time in its issue released in November 2006.
Several clubs were interested in Dalla Valle and Liverpool invited him to a test camp in autumn 2006. In October 2007 Chelsea offerred Dalla Valle a 3.5 year contract with a million pound signing bonus. Furthermore they promised to double any offer by Liverpool. Nevertheless, in November 2007 Dalla Valle announced that he had chosen Liverpool as his new team. The parties signed a contract extending until 2011.
This is not the first time Dalla Valle is playing abroad. Earlier he spent about three months in Italy, playing in Inter, but he returned back to Finland to play in Joensuun Jippo.
Lauri Dalla Valle's father, Loreno Dalla Valle, is an Italian businessman running a mushroom export business in Joensuu.
chose us over chelsea
niceComment
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IF he really is talented then we should start giving him a taste of the first team from next season otherwise he will just be another young player who wastes away in the reserves and loses motivation to improveComment
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Some Finnish friends of mine whose son is on Forest's books know him and his family. They cannot speak highly enough of him and how he's Finland's great new hope.
A couple of years and he could be pushing for a place in the first team squad i reckon. Maybe even less if he progresses rapidly.
Not seen him play but he's the real deal apparently.'Religion is killing each other over who has the best imaginary friend'Comment
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Why rush him into action? He has only just move to the reserves and is still playing for the youth team.Originally posted by -V- View PostComment
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this kid is definitely better than Macheida at Scum and I'd love to see him get a run in pre-season and maybe Carling cup.Originally posted by Mattshark View Post'and boy could he play!.Comment
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That seems sensible enough, though I think Nemeth is probably ahead of him at the moment.Originally posted by kopster View PostComment
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Originally posted by Mattshark View Post
Plus Pacheco and Ngog.
"My commitment to Liverpool is 100 per cent. I would die for that Liverpool shirt. I think the club loves me and I feel the same, no matter what the situation." - Pepe Reina, Nov '09.Comment
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I think it would be sensible to give him and Nemeth both a taste of the big time. Its not rushing them its valuable experience. I rate Nemeth and im a little dissapointed that he has not had any first team action yetOriginally posted by Mattshark View PostComment
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Nemeth has been injured most of the season, and has looked really rusty since coming back.Comment
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Mmmmm, Chanterelles.Originally posted by Rafael Benítez Maudes View PostTrey Nyoni: countdown to stardom-2 years1year0.5 yearsComment
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True, hopefully start of next season thenComment
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