Reserves / Youth teams thread 12/13

[The Birdman]

The interesting thing (to me anyway) was a conversation I had with a lad I used to play football with. He's now Chelsea's under 18's head of globel scouting and player recruitment and he was explaining how aggressive we are at the moment all driven by Frank McParland.

He went on to say that as a club throughout all the age groups we produce white, solid, big, strong, aggressive types of footballers (Niall Heaton last night sparked this conversation) so consequently we 'recruit' in his words - black, athletic, mobile, quick players which are more prominent in London than in Liverpool.

Interesting to hear that Chelsea were interested in Sterling, Ibe, Sinclair and Ojo (all fitting his description above) but that we were willing to shell out what it took in each case to get the player signed.
In Sterling and Ibe's cases it was cash upfront (500k each) in Sinclair's case a brand new car swung it and with Ojo our total deal to MK Dons will be worth £1.3m.

£1.3m for a lad who was 15 when we signed him, that's guaranteed money to MK Dons, not related to appearances etc...

[Tee]

The interesting thing (to me anyway) was a conversation I had with a lad I used to play football with. He's now Chelsea's under 18's head of globel scouting and player recruitment and he was explaining how aggressive we are at the moment all driven by Frank McParland.

He went on to say that as a club throughout all the age groups we produce white, solid, big, strong, aggressive types of footballers (Niall Heaton last night sparked this conversation) so consequently we 'recruit' in his words - black, athletic, mobile, quick players which are more prominent in London than in Liverpool.

Interesting to hear that Chelsea were interested in Sterling, Ibe, Sinclair and Ojo (all fitting his description above) but that we were willing to shell out what it took in each case to get the player signed.
In Sterling and Ibe's cases it was cash upfront (500k each) in Sinclair's case a brand new car swung it and with Ojo our total deal to MK Dons will be worth £1.3m.

£1.3m for a lad who was 15 when we signed him, that's guaranteed money to MK Dons, not related to appearances etc...

I think it is heartening to see the efforts an commitment that has gone into the Academy. That money we have spent has been spent wisely IMO and will bear more fruit very soon.

I have always wondered about the general lack of black players in our history though, it does not really reflect well IMO but seems as though that is changing.

[BigChief]

White?!? hahaha, sounds racist. But true. So there is some grass roots consideration going on then? I'm impressed.

If clubs are looking to move away from hoofball footballers they really need to start tapping into the English-Asian (by that I mean Pakistani/Indian/Bengali) market too. Offer their parents a new car and they'll sing your song. The first club to tap that market will be on to a winning model mark my words.

Really happy to hear the Ibe, Ojo and Sinclair stories. FSG are here to stay and they mean business with their 'build 'em young' policy.

[Pablo]

The interesting thing (to me anyway) was a conversation I had with a lad I used to play football with. He's now Chelsea's under 18's head of globel scouting and player recruitment and he was explaining how aggressive we are at the moment all driven by Frank McParland.

He went on to say that as a club throughout all the age groups we produce white, solid, big, strong, aggressive types of footballers (Niall Heaton last night sparked this conversation) so consequently we 'recruit' in his words - black, athletic, mobile, quick players which are more prominent in London than in Liverpool.

Interesting to hear that Chelsea were interested in Sterling, Ibe, Sinclair and Ojo (all fitting his description above) but that we were willing to shell out what it took in each case to get the player signed.
In Sterling and Ibe's cases it was cash upfront (500k each) in Sinclair's case a brand new car swung it and with Ojo our total deal to MK Dons will be worth £1.3m.

£1.3m for a lad who was 15 when we signed him, that's guaranteed money to MK Dons, not related to appearances etc...

Interesting. Ojo is an absolute beast!

[saj]

White?!? hahaha, sounds racist. But true. So there is some grass roots consideration going on then? I'm impressed.

If clubs are looking to move away from hoofball footballers they really need to start tapping into the English-Asian (by that I mean Pakistani/Indian/Bengali) market too. Offer their parents a new car and they'll sing your song. The first club to tap that market will be on to a winning model mark my words.

Really happy to hear the Ibe, Ojo and Sinclair stories. FSG are here to stay and they mean business with their 'build 'em young' policy.

99.9% of English-asians are ****ing ****e. I have played with many. You get the odd one who looks amazing as they play amongst asians all the time. But the minute they start playing against people who are English, they get smashed to bits. Although admittedly our 5 a side team turned over a team of ex pro's/youth players 8 -1. This was around 10 years ago and we were all asian. I don't think that market will ever be a winning model.

When I moved to London, I started playing with English people. It was a massive shock as the games were so much more physical and I got shouted at for dribbling. I had to change my game. But now on the odd game when I play with asians it's a joke - I literally can shield the ball and walk past people as asians are not physical at all.

[baitman]

its great to see the club stumping up some hard cash to get these young lads signed, but they can just walk away once they are 18 and sign for who they want.
i wonder how many of the current batch of potential stars [as a percentage] will be still with us when they are 20...

would we have been better scooping them up at 18 from other clubs after thoroughly scouting other teams and next gen, etc. at least then we could sign them for 5 years, and have seen which ones will be the best of the batch.

[Kenneth]

It depends what happens over the next 18 months or so I guess. If we're in the top 4 or 5 we can probably keep most of them. If not, probably not.

[Tee]

It depends what happens over the next 18 months or so I guess. If we're in the top 4 or 5 we can probably keep most of them. If not, probably not.

I don't actually think that is the case, quite the opposite infact. If we are doing well it wil lbe harder for them to breakthrough because we will be signing established world class players hopefully. However, if we are mid table fodder, which seems realistic, these youngsters will get a greater opportunity to make it or at least get half a chance.

[Kenneth]

See what you're saying, but I think most young players these days would prefer the extra cash and prestige that comes with being at a successful club, and the smaller chance of breaking through and becoming a superstar out ways the idea of getting more games at a lesser club. And I'm not sure we'll be filling the squad full of world class players in the next couple of years, however successful we are.

[Tee]

See what you're saying, but I think most young players these days would prefer the extra cash and prestige that comes with being at a successful club, and the smaller chance of breaking through and becoming a superstar out ways the idea of getting more games at a lesser club. And I'm not sure we'll be filling the squad full of world class players in the next couple of years, however successful we are.

Err, we are a million miles from being considered a 'lesser' club mate. Don't underestimate the prestige associated with playing for Liverpool FC. It is every young players dream to play for an institution like ours and unless we get relegated we are still going to be a big draw for any players.

[Pablo]

In our U21 game on now:

Milan Kaka Baros @milankakabaros
Oh what a goal by Samed Yesil!

Shame Mos isn't about to post the clip.

[Shaggy]

Currently 3-1 up, we're the only unbeaten U21 team in the country.

[Tee]

Not the same thread without Mos.

[Shaggy]

4-1 Flanagan

[Tee]

Who has scored (apart from Yesil) our goals?