07 Nov 2015 00:32:31
Hey ed001

It seems that our academy has had quite a load of young talent recently. Just watched footage of Ryan Kent with his goal yesterday and his nutmeg, and then some academy footage on youtube. Really talented guy. On top of him, we've had Flanagan, Ojo, Brannagan, Ibe, Teixeira, Rossiter, Sinclair, and more I've forgotten about or just don't know. Sure, some of these players were brought from other clubs, but they still continued academy development at Liverpool nonetheless. Maybe not every single one of these players will become a star, but the potential is there.

Do you think the quality of our youth production line is quite above par at the moment, or is this normal for a lot of clubs? And who do you rate as the biggest prospect out of all those names mentioned?

{Ed001's Note - it is one of the best in Europe at the moment, which is something Rafa can take a lot of credit for, as he brought in the guys who revamped it initially. Without doubt, the overall level is the highest I have ever seen at Liverpool. The problem is the difficulty for any one player to stand out, as they are all at a much higher level than in the past. In the past we had one player head and shoulders above the rest, who would then get nurtured with great care because they stood out. Now the club struggles to cope with all the good players coming through.}

1.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 04:14:45
I agree, lots of players that have potential for regular first team in the future, particularly Rossiter, Chirivella, Ojo, Brannagan, Canos, Gomez, Illori, Teixera among others.

Hopefully Klopp is going to be a particularly positive influence in helping bringing them through in a measured way. Agree with Ed 2 we probably need a better and more structured way to approach development loans.

2.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 06:51:23
I reckon the likes of Southampton and West Ham get more credit for their youth partly because they are much more reliant on them, i. e. they don't have the same budget to spend money on players, and instead cherry pick from their talented academy. Perhaps also because quite a few of their graduates have gone on to star in teams elsewhere, e. g. Bale, Walcott, Lampard, J. Cole, plus many many more.

I agree, that's the thing these days Ed. We recruit so many external players that once we step back and look at our squad, we find it hard to find room for any academy graduates whom let alone are difficult to find a standout amongst.

3.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 07:06:24
Hello Ed
I would like to ask about Axel Ingelthorpe. He has been two years in Liverpool as Academy Director, so it is enough time to judge. I really liked Borell, we see fruits of his work today in many players mentioned above. Do you think Axel improved something in our academy, can we expect similar quality players in the future? Thaks for your reply.

{Ed001's Note - Alex has been there two years, you are right, but you are wrong in that it is not enough time to judge. It takes about ten years for the full effect of a change in an academy to really show itself. So far he seems to be doing well, but it will be a while before we know how well and if things are improving, which they seem to be, or not.}

4.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 07:25:40
Thanks Ed, I understand your point. So we will wait and see. But I am also satisied that you see his current work as good job done. I think academy is one of the most important factor of successfull club and I would not like to lose it in Liverpool. The other problem is the loan system of our youngsters but I believe we will improve in this area as well. YNWA.

{Ed001's Note - that is the big weakness, our loans. We have made a complete mess of those so far.}

5.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 10:31:50
This is where we need to give the youngsters a chance.

Some won't step up to the level of playing for Liverpool but others will.

Gomez didn't brilliant for me worth off a chance a long with teixera.

if we don't give these kids a decent run in the starting 11 then we will never know if they can make it.

6.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 12:51:46
We all want to see youngsters break through but it's really tough for the richer teams. You look at a player and think 'in three years time this player may be good enough for the first team, do I bring in a fully matured player now to do the job or put this youth player in and hope he makes it? '

Clubs need success now so they'll always bring in ready to play talent. Texeira seems pretty good but whose place is he going to take to get game time? Coutinho's? There's no way we drop a proven talent for a youngster.

Gerrard and Sterling got into the team because they were better than who we had or who we could get, even as untested youngsters. Carragher was good enough to be a first team player playing regularly in different positions (fullback) and proved he was good enough to take over from Henchoz when the time came.

I very much doubt that Texeira will make it at Liverpool, he's good but he's not an improvement on anything we already have.

7.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 16:26:14
I think Tex is absolutely an upgrade on what we already have.

He has composure, he's a passer like Alonso and Molby. He has a certain amount of "grace" when he's playing and looks like he has all the time in the world.

Which of our midfielders has that? Lallana? Milner? Hendo? Lucas? Can?
I'm not counting Couts or Firmino because they are more forwards than midfield passers.

Tex is a link up player. He is a fraction away from starting regularly IMO.

8.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 16:45:03
Muscatred

It is hard for players to break through at bigger clubs because it's easier to go out and buy.

Sterling brought us speed but I still believe a few years back that if we had bought konoplyenka in the January then sterling wouldve seen his game time drop.

Teixeira may not be better than what we have but he's a young lad who with game time will improve and may be better than what we have.

I know it's hard but if you don't try them how will you ever know.

9.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 17:22:06
Hey Lavers. I agree in principal but it's easy for us to say give him a game, it's not our neck on the line if it doesn't work. If Coutinho leaves tex may get a chance but otherwise I see no route to the first team.

10.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 17:59:15
It's especially hard when you have such a bloated squad.

We've seen it year after year buying players for the sake of it and bloaking the route to the first team for young players.

I know a lot of the young players won't make it but for some like teixeira give him games in the cup he didn't disgrace himself last time out.

11.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 18:14:12
I think we're all forgetting there's a certain amount of rotation required in cup games. Teixera will hopefully get his chance in those, as will others. Overall I like the way Klopp seems to be doing it, namely rotating a small number of the team at a time, so we give 1st team players a rest every now and again but the overall team stays strong and youngsters get to play in s nearly full strength side with plenty of experience around them.

12.) 07 Nov 2015
07 Nov 2015 22:52:10
Teixeira is an upgrade on Joe Allen.