Liverpool FC Forum

[Ben Patrick]

Think he has been on the bench about 6 or 7 times and went on two or three times . Ferguson threw on that Italian because he had no other option .

I bet you if Rafa had no other option he would push Gerrard up top and bring on a midfielder.

[bunglemark2]

What, like Spearing ? He's muck...Plessis isn't a whole lot better...Feck it, I'd give the likes of LDV a shot ahead of either of those...

[Ben Patrick]

What, like Spearing ? He's muck...Plessis isn't a whole lot better...Feck it, I'd give the likes of LDV a shot ahead of either of those...

You mentioned two players that nobody else had and then seemed to get angry with your own suggestion 

[Fauxy]

What, like Spearing ? He's muck...Plessis isn't a whole lot better...Feck it, I'd give the likes of LDV a shot ahead of either of those...

You mentioned two players that nobody else had and then seemed to get angry with your own suggestion 

[LFC ANIME]

LFC youth coach Borrell has revealed how suprised he was by the poor quality of the club's academy when arrived at the club in 2009

I agreed, too many players features at Liverpool's academy/reserves are from Hungary, Iceland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Australia. We want the best of british... hopes the ex barca academy coach produce the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi with us

[bunglemark2]

What, like Spearing ? He's muck...Plessis isn't a whole lot better...Feck it, I'd give the likes of LDV a shot ahead of either of those...

You mentioned two players that nobody else had and then seemed to get angry with your own suggestion 

What exactly is the point of your reply ?
Tell you what - I'll spell mine out for you. Spearing and Plessis were two players who both figured in pre-season, so it's logical to assume either/or might get a game or two during the season. The fact that neither has, means they're not good enough. Ergo, it's a symptom of the Reserves in general. To put it another way, we don't have anyone ready to make the switch from Reserves to 1st Team.
That clear enough ?
And FWIW, talking to a mate in Madrid this morning, apparently Rafa's decision to "throw a 19 year old from Malaga in to save his reputation" made him the laughing stock of the press there this morning. Nothing against Pacheco per se, but it's a symptom of deeper problems..

[Reg]

Borrell unhappy with Liverpool academyPremium Article !To read this article in full you must be registered with the site.  30 April 2010

Liverpool youth coach Rodolfo Borrell has criticised the "unacceptable" standard of the club's academy. Borrell's assessment is that it will take two years before the set-up is close to the right level.

"The reality of what we found here was unacceptable," said Borrell, who joined nearly a year ago having previously worked with Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi in Barcelona's youth system.

"The under-18s had no centre forward, no balance, no tactical level, no understanding of the game.

"We are working hard, but you can't change things overnight.

"I think we have made a lot of progress over eight months, but we need to improve a lot more to get more players into the first team.

"I think if we keep working hard maybe in two years somebody can appear in the first team."

Borrell's brief from Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is to develop more English players.

This week the club signed England youth international Jonjo Shelvey from Charlton, who will go straight into the reserve squad, as they try to seek to redress the balance having previously brought in a number of foreign hopefuls.

"I agree - the best players to defend the Barca shirt are Catalan players, the best players to defend the Liverpool shirt are English players," Borrell told BBC Sport.

[tubby]

Is it likely Rafa will take him with him should he leave?

[Reg]

I imagine all the backroom Spanish would exit Bav to be honest.

[bunglemark2]

Is it likely Rafa will take him with him should he leave?

Reading that, he might even leave of his own accord regardless what Rafa does.

[Reg]

Is it likely Rafa will take him with him should he leave?

Reading that, he might even leave of his own accord regardless what Rafa does.

No.... thats why he was brought it, to sort it out. He appears to be heading in the right direction thank goodness.

[Owzat]

His may be a longer term mission by the nature of the task and you wonder how much longer of Rafa's mission there is left to go....................................

[Raoul]

His may be a longer term mission by the nature of the task and you wonder how much longer of Rafa's mission there is left to go....................................

I don't think he is going anywhere. He has a young family, who are settled in the city, he is a stubborn man, who now has something to prove, and he is paid pretty well.

The owners aren't going to fire him - it'll cost to much, and who is going to come in to replace him knowing the owners could change at any minute and they'll be out on their ear?

He is staying, unless Juve have a ridiculous offer for him, or perhaps if Real Madrid come calling. Can't see either happening.

All this is a good thing, in the context of this thread - Rafa has started something here, and it'd be good to see it given the time to bear fruit.

[bunglemark2]

His may be a longer term mission by the nature of the task and you wonder how much longer of Rafa's mission there is left to go....................................

I don't think he is going anywhere. He has a young family, who are settled in the city, he is a stubborn man, who now has something to prove, and he is paid pretty well.

The owners aren't going to fire him - it'll cost to much, and who is going to come in to replace him knowing the owners could change at any minute and they'll be out on their ear?

He is staying, unless Juve have a ridiculous offer for him, or perhaps if Real Madrid come calling. Can't see either happening.

All this is a good thing, in the context of this thread - Rafa has started something here, and it'd be good to see it given the time to bear fruit.

Mate, the Ressies and the U-18's don't win you the PL....

[Reg]

Rafa Benitez vows Liverpool will continue to buy the best of British young talent
18 May 2010 - 11:07:47

Rafa Benitez vows Liverpool will continue to buy the best of British young talentLiverpool will follow up the signing of Jonjo Shelvey with more homegrown youngsters and will continue to buy the best of British talent, Rafa Benitez has revealed.

Shelvey, 18, arrived from Charlton earlier this month in a £1.7m deal while schoolboy Raheem Stirling was tempted to join the academy from QPR for an initial fee of £600,000, with Benitez insistent that he wants new signings to 'know what it means to play for Liverpool Football Club.'

But the Anfield boss insists that this policy is nothing new, citing the signing of Glen Johnson last summer and the ultimately unsuccessful bid for Gareth Barry as further examples of his chase for the brightest English stars.

He said: 'It is something that we have always tried to do. We tried to sign Gareth Barry, we did the same with Glen Johnson. That was always the idea.  'We have tried to bring in British players with the right mentality and the passion for the club. 'We want them to know what it means to play for Liverpool Football Club.'

Benitez added: 'Shelvey is an addition like that. We are trying to do what is best for the club. We have a long-term plan in place and we try to follow that.'