24 Jun 2019 18:02:39
I've just read an article about one of our old academy graduates Toni Silva. Saying that he's really struggling and wanting to quit football and that he's been really badly advised by agents just chasing money and advising him on moves that never worked out.

It says that he was thought of as a better prospect than Sterling and the coach at the time advising Sterling to "do it like Toni does".

Eds or anyone else that knew about his situation. What went wrong for him. Did his head get too big for his boots, was his attitude a problem, or his lifestyle? It was quite a heartbreaking read, really.

I remember his name from the academy, but knew very little about him.

{Ed001's Note - as I remember it he has a good point about the agent being a dick and advising him badly, but he also did get a bit too big for his boots (partly because of the agents). It was Sterling who said recently in an interview that he was told to "do it like Toni does" by the way.

His attitude and the agents combined to put him in a place he should not be. He was a huge prospect but he could still have made it if he had knuckled down and got on with it.}


1.) 24 Jun 2019
24 Jun 2019 19:19:20
That's a real shame. I always wondered why he left. I watch a lot of u18s and 23s on lfc TV have done for years. And remember telling my mates, we have 2 players sterling and lad Silva who are brilliant for age. Silva was brilliant dribbler and could change a game in seconds. Although I always maintain sterling was the better prospect.


2.) 24 Jun 2019
24 Jun 2019 19:36:33
Suso looked the best prospect during that time. If it doesn't work out at one club hard work and determination will get you back on track I believe. The thing is there is to much money in the game so young players have there heads turned far to often nowadays.


3.) 25 Jun 2019
24 Jun 2019 23:18:29
Suso was unreal at 16 in the u18s. Had really high hopes for him. When Chirivela first arrived I had high hopes too. Can see him being a reasonable player still too but probably will leave us.


4.) 25 Jun 2019
25 Jun 2019 02:13:31
Didn't Suso debut as a sub v United? Think he came on earlyish due to an injury and looked the part straight away.


5.) 25 Jun 2019
25 Jun 2019 09:40:55
I guess you are talking about the game where Shelvey was red carded. That day we were a far better team even with 10 players, and Suso had a great game.


6.) 25 Jun 2019
25 Jun 2019 14:40:56
Thanks for the reply Ed001. I went out not long after I posted it and completely forgot about it until now.

{Ed001's Note - no worries EP, just glad you got it.}