Liverpool Youth Teams Thread

[Zoran]

We don't really play with wingers and it's not easy to break in our forward line. Tactically and physically very demanding. Plus, if the boy is impatient, then I'm not surprised if Wolves (with their strong Portuguese link) are taking a punt on him. Might be easier for him there at lower level also with them playing a different system where he might have more positions to get a chance. I like the kid how he plays, but sometimes it's not easy to please every young player at all times.

 

[redfanman]

Interesting to see Camacho's latest comments yesterday, suggesting that his comments have been taken out of context. Might still be in with a chance of seeing him stay.

 

[Joe Gomez x]

Watched a decent amount of his games throughout his Liverpool youth career. Could be a decent backup but will not be good enough in my opinion to break into our first team. Wouldn’t be a loss if he left to be honest.

 

[Mystryman01]

For any young winger the question i think we probably have to look at is whether they are better than Harry Wilson
Because he seems next in line

 

[Speckydodge]

Larouci looks a much better prospect for the lb role then Lewis imo. Neither being good enough for next season.

 

[cynicaloldgit]

Larouci looks a much better prospect for the lb role then Lewis imo. Neither being good enough for next season.

What happened to Juanma? Seems to have disappeared off the radar.

 

[Speckydodge]

What happened to Juanma? Seems to have disappeared off the radar.

He still plays for the u23's, he wont make it here anyway, nowhere near the standard imo I imagine he'll be released in the summer.

 

[Joe Gomez x]

He still plays for the u23's, he wont make it here anyway, nowhere near the standard imo I imagine he'll be released in the summer.

Agreed! He is too slow to be a future Robbo . He is like a Jon Flanagan .2 (the Spanish version). Old fashioned flat back four full back but unfortunately will be most likely be release as you’ve said and head home for Spain. Looked promising when he came over but never progressed

 

[Joe Gomez x]

As an Irish man could anyone tell me how Kelleher,Masterson,McAuley etc.. are doing ? Do they look able to make the jump?

 

[Mystryman01]

As an Irish man could anyone tell me how Kelleher,Masterson,McAuley etc.. are doing ? Do they look able to make the jump?

Kelleher is the current third keeper, travels to every game with the senior team, plays the odd U-23 game as well, in terms of making the jump it all depends if Klopp wants to sign another keeper after Mignolet leaves in the summer
if he doesn't its a straight shootout between him and Garaba (who might have the slight edge because he playing senior football on loan)

Masterson i had high hopes for, but injuries plus the emergence of Hoever seem to have pushed him back, often on the bench for the U23's with Hoever and George Johnson preferred at CB. Likely that Hoever will they push towards the first team

McAuley, again looks unlikely to make it, struggled in U23 football, after finding U18 fairly easy, there hasn't been an out and out striker in U23's this year with the likes of Jones, Woodburn and Camacho being used up front. Likely to be moved on, due to the fact thats there's Brewster needing game time, plus after there dominance at U-18, Duncan and Glatzel will probably move up full time next year.

 

[Joe Gomez x]

Kelleher is the current third keeper, travels to every game with the senior team, plays the odd U-23 game as well, in terms of making the jump it all depends if Klopp wants to sign another keeper after Mignolet leaves in the summer
if he doesn't its a straight shootout between him and Garaba (who might have the slight edge because he playing senior football on loan)

Masterson i had high hopes for, but injuries plus the emergence of Hoever seem to have pushed him back, often on the bench for the U23's with Hoever and George Johnson preferred at CB. Likely that Hoever will they push towards the first team

McAuley, again looks unlikely to make it, struggled in U23 football, after finding U18 fairly easy, there hasn't been an out and out striker in U23's this year with the likes of Jones, Woodburn and Camacho being used up front. Likely to be moved on, due to the fact thats there's Brewster needing game time, plus after there dominance at U-18, Duncan and Glatzel will probably move up full time next year.

Thank you mate

 

[Mascot88]

Interesting snippet from Neil Jones on the Anfield Wrap.

A while ago Liverpool staff visited Athletic Bilbao for some pointers on youth development and spent some time with their coaching team.

Bilbao have a track record of being huge numbers of academy graduates into the side, apparently because they can only play basque players.

One of the things Liverpool came away with was that they don’t take a load of young players and see which rise to the top. They identify the next first teams very young - like 10 years old - and then work extensively with them. This is brutal for the kids that are written off at a young age, but this is about getting 7-8 lads at a time ready for playing in the Athletic Bilbao first team, and everything is boned towards getting these kids honed in the skills and abilities they need.

I suspect this led to the creation of the ‘talent group’ and probably influenced the merging of a Melwood and Kirby.

 

[Joe Gomez x]

Interesting snippet from Neil Jones on the Anfield Wrap.

A while ago Liverpool staff visited Athletic Bilbao for some pointers on youth development and spent some time with their coaching team.

Bilbao have a track record of being huge numbers of academy graduates into the side, apparently because they can only play basque players.

One of the things Liverpool came away with was that they don’t take a load of young players and see which rise to the top. They identify the next first teams very young - like 10 years old - and then work extensively with them. This is brutal for the kids that are written off at a young age, but this is about getting 7-8 lads at a time ready for playing in the Athletic Bilbao first team, and everything is boned towards getting these kids honed in the skills and abilities they need.

I suspect this led to the creation of the ‘talent group’ and probably influenced the merging of a Melwood and Kirby.

It’s a brilliant strategy from Bilbao to produce future talents. I personally feel the problem especially with English clubs is that they bring in hundreds of kids over age groups and just pick out the best ones every year and drop players without proper thought, not giving specific focus and attention to lads who may be decent but lack in certain aspects. Height for example is an example I have seen while working for clubs academies over here in Ireland, for example for centre half’s any child that’s considered to small or weak is gone no consideration given. Instead we should take a leaf from these clubs like Bilbao who only have a limited pool of youngster that can build foundations with these lads , if they are a small centre half focus on pace and strength to add to their game like Puyol or Cannavaro did. Think it is a major issue in academies in the English leagues, academies are treated like manufacturing factories rather than development facilities. It is affecting the homegrown game in the premier league aswell as lads at a young age who are big are chosen over naturally talented smaller lads as the ‘big’ lads are more effective at youth level, then suddenly as everyone evens out strength and power can’t be used to win as much. Just my thoughts but I feel if we can start to get ideas from world renounced academies such as these, the future of the English and Irish national teams will be more likely to progress to the level of the German,Spanish and French teams.

 

[redfanman]

Where do Bilbao usually finish in their domestic competitions?

 

[Limiescouse]

Interesting snippet from Neil Jones on the Anfield Wrap.

A while ago Liverpool staff visited Athletic Bilbao for some pointers on youth development and spent some time with their coaching team.

I dont know when this trip was, but there has already been a shift in philosophy towards this and have recently acted to reduced the number of kids in the system at all age groups

 

[Limiescouse]

Where do Bilbao usually finish in their domestic competitions?

Their performance is very good considering the self-imposed restrictions. They have qualified for the CL a couple of times in the modern era, but over the last decade or so they have only missed out on Europe a couple of times.

 

[Kopstar]

I dont know when this trip was, but there has already been a shift in philosophy towards this and have recently acted to reduced the number of kids in the system at all age groups

Yeah, I think that's what Mascot might have been referencing at the end.

I'm in two minds about it. I think it's too early to be making your mind up about a player at 16 or younger. You've been through it mate, what do you think?

Another aspect is that I think solidarity payments need to be increased and be extended to all transfers, not just international ones. That's linked to the size of academies but probably a discussion for another day.

 

[Limiescouse]

Yeah, I think that's what Mascot might have been referencing at the end.

I'm in two minds about it. I think it's too early to be making your mind up about a player at 16 or younger. You've been through it mate, what do you think?

I get your reservation, but I don’t think this change in philosophy would have meaningfully altered the wrong-headed thinking I was exposed to. What I experienced was primarily a system that prioritized the wrong things, and if that is the case it doesn’t matter how long you keep the kids around or how big the group is.

However, my understanding is that shrinking the group is a secondary response. The primary shift is a more aggressive promotion of the more talented kids up the age groups. It might make each team less competitive in the short term, but the long-term prospects for the individual are improved, supposedly. The knock on effect is fewer games available for the marginal kids in that age group. The decision is therefore to let them move on to somewhere they will be more important and get the attention they need to maximize their own potential.

 

[Redopium]

FA youth cup final city v Liverpool. 19.45


Jaros, N. Williams, Larouci, R. Williams, Boyes, Clarkson, Sharif, Cain, Glatzel, Duncan, Dixon-Bonner
Subs: Kelly, O’Rourke, Savage, Longstaff, Bearne

 

[FGred]

Why is this final played at Manchester City stadium? Why not a neutral venue this is not fair they are the richest club in the world? The FA already sided with them when they refused to change the date of the final as our team was coming back from America and only had 48hours rest and what is worse Shitty refused to change the date?

 

[CymruRed]

1-0 City,Touaizi 47th min just before half time,very scrappy game tbh.

 

[Speckydodge]

Why is it not on LFCtv

 

[Redopium]

Why is it not on LFCtv

It's on bt sport.

 

[CymruRed]

Why is it not on LFCtv

Not sure really,maybe BT have the rights for the FA Cup Final which includes the youth final aswell?? you'd have thought LFCtv would have shown it aswell though.

 

[TippRed]

Bobby Duncan just equalised. Much better second half.

 

[CymruRed]

1-1 after 90mins, Extra-Time now.

 

[20ATHLONE]

Come-on young REDS!!!!

 

[Redopium]

Pens to decide it.

 

[CymruRed]

2-1 man city have missed one

 

[CymruRed]

Sharif scores 3-1 to LFC