Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 4:36 pm
stmichael wrote:The reality of the situation at the moment is there's no Owen or Gerrard. In years gone by, half the team would have a good chance of making it to the first team, but the way things are now I doubt any will become regulars. I don't reckon Carra would have come through if things were like they are now when he was 18. It's really tough these days.
Look at the calibre of players the young lads are competing with for a first team spot. Someone like Ajdarevic looks promising and could be very good in a few years, but he'd have to get past Alonso, Gerrard, Momo and Mascherano to get in our midfield. Spearing and Threlfall are both really good too, but it's hard enough for them to get a game for the reserves.
It doesn't help that the ressies league is so sh#te and so small either. Something has to be done about that, and if it were up to me I'd enter us into another league so there are more games for the young lads. Rafa was talking about this the other day but realistically, it'll never happen.
I disagree with you mate. Completely disagree with you.
The academy is poorly run and they miss out on to many of the best players. Threlfall and Jay Spearing are nowhere near the required standard. It also doesn't help when you have people in there like Benitez and Houllier who's judge of a player is distinctly average.
However on the other side of the coin, Steven Gerrard's cousin Anthony is not far off Steven as a footballer (a long way as an athlete) and he's now struggling at Wallsall.
Ben Parsanage has played with us a couple of times on a Thursday night as has Joey Barton. Ben plays for the Liverpool youth side and you can see a mile off he's a good player, but the difference is immense. Its not an age thing, its just an ability thing pure and simple. The probelm is the attitude and the overall quality. Its all well and good being able to do a few things well, Traore made a career out of it. But the fact is alot of these aren't good enough to make the grade and the ones that are slip through the net. Alot of managers are completely scared of playing unknown players without reason.
Nugent, Nolan, Barton and McEveley to name a few.