Player Development

[Fernandinho]

As of late every couple of months we have had a new youngster who is going to be the next big thing, last year it was Nemeth and for a while Eccleston earlier this year as well as Pacheco, soon it is gonna be Dalle Valle and Amoo. Do you feel that they simply arent up to scratch in the first place or that we are failing to turn this youngsters into future superstars? Also i would love to fast forward to see how well someone like Raheem Sterling who is another one of these "next big things" develops in the next few years to see what happens to him.

[5europeancups]

As of late every couple of months we have had a new youngster who is going to be the next big thing, last year it was Nemeth and for a while Eccleston earlier this year as well as Pacheco, soon it is gonna be Dalle Valle and Amoo. Do you feel that they simply arent up to scratch in the first place or that we are failing to turn this youngsters into future superstars? Also i would love to fast forward to see how well someone like Raheem Sterling who is another one of these "next big things" develops in the next few years to see what happens to him.

From what I understand, one of the players most expected to break through is Steve Irwin.

If you look at Liverpool's reseves/youth team this year they seem to have taken a step backwards. Its all very disappointing

[Fernandinho]

yeah i thought so im pretty sure they dominated games last year, and they lost to the burnely reserves on the weekend and isnt burnely a small town (im from australia) as well as the fact that if they are anything like their first time u woudlnt expect them to be great

[Exiled_red]

There's a huge step between reserves and first team, the vast majority of players don't make it at any club, I'm not sure we're any different to any other club, we're creating players that are championship / lower premiership level. Players at the level we require are few and far between.

[The Birdman]

From what I understand, one of the players most expected to break through is Steve Irwin.

If you look at Liverpool's reseves/youth team this year they seem to have taken a step backwards. Its all very disappointing

I'm not sure I've ever read a positive post from you recently on any single subject.
Who has taken a step backwards?

[JohnOK]

Actually our reserves are miles better this season. Last season we were at the foot of the table and until the last couple of games this season we were challenging for the title.

The main reason we have fallen back recently is that so many of the reserves have gone on loan a la Spearing, Ecclestone, Darby etc who were part of a very successful side under John McMahon.

[Fernandinho]

Yeah good point, I didn't consider the idea of loanees in regards to the reserves performances. I guess another point to consider is that the players have to come from somewhere in the world, why shouldn't they come from a nation with one of the richest footballing histories and with football throughout the entire society as I am sure it is through England.

[kris90210]

There's a huge step between reserves and first team, the vast majority of players don't make it at any club, I'm not sure we're any different to any other club, we're creating players that are championship / lower premiership level. Players at the level we require are few and far between.

I like the look of Kelly and Pacheco. Can see them making an impact if given games.

[Matt]

There's a huge step between reserves and first team, the vast majority of players don't make it at any club, I'm not sure we're any different to any other club, we're creating players that are championship / lower premiership level. Players at the level we require are few and far between.

We're no different to any other top club really. Teams have many players at all different levels but finding 2 or 3 that make the grade is the football equivalent of panning for gold.

Some other Premiership teams bring through more youth players into the first teams, but not many are up to scratch.

The big issue for me is giving young players enough competitive games, which doesn't happen at the moment.

[Exiled_red]

We're no different to any other top club really. Teams have many players at all different levels but finding 2 or 3 that make the grade is the football equivalent of panning for gold.

Some other Premiership teams bring through more youth players into the first teams, but not many are up to scratch.

The big issue for me is giving young players enough competitive games, which doesn't happen at the moment.

I think this is something which is starting to improve, Insua, Ngog, Kelly and Pacheco are all youg players who have been given their chances in the past 18 months or so.

And although it's something that seems to attract critisism I think getting rid of some of the promising players who aren't progressing is a good thing, as it stops them blocking up the system by occupying places in the reserves and holding the U18s back. I wouldn't be suprised to see a mass clear out of the reserves in the summer, for this reason.

[Matt]

Agreed - I think it's a fine balance between working with what you've got and procuring new talent. At the moment though I think there are too many players for the number of games we have.

The frequency reserve fixtures now, due to fixture pile-up, is much more like what it should be over a whole season IMO.

[the rev leeroy brown]

i dont see any real genuine football talent of a high level coming through in the british game at all. somehow teams like barca excel at finding and nurturing youth talent but british clubs in general have found it almost impossible.

even when one or two do make it to first team level they are not what i would call "real" talent.......danny guthrie, danny gibson, martin kelly, young boy eastwood at the arse, etc... players who will make it but only at championship level IMO. not sure how to re-address this as the ruling about having homegrown players in your squad wont really make them better. it just makes the team as a whole worse.

[Needles]

I think you'll find that the success of the reserves are no indication of the quality of players coming through. Most managers will tell you that they don't care if the reserves never win anything providing that players make the step up to first team football.

[Exiled_red]

i dont see any real genuine football talent of a high level coming through in the british game at all. somehow teams like barca excel at finding and nurturing youth talent but british clubs in general have found it almost impossible.

even when one or two do make it to first team level they are not what i would call "real" talent.......danny guthrie, danny gibson, martin kelly, young boy eastwood at the arse, etc... players who will make it but only at championship level IMO. not sure how to re-address this as the ruling about having homegrown players in your squad wont really make them better. it just makes the team as a whole worse.

I think the problem is a lack of competitive games. It may seem an odd way of thinking about it but I believe that good young players become stagnent by playing at the same level too long, they in effect 'find their level' and find it difficult to progress beyond it when given the opportunity. Obviously you need the ability in the first place but I think that this is a problem in player development in England.

[Reece]

I think you'll find that the success of the reserves are no indication of the quality of players coming through. Most managers will tell you that they don't care if the reserves never win anything providing that players make the step up to first team football.

Needles to say, this is correct