Ben Doak watch

[RedStar]

Dare I say reminds me a little of Sterling when I was watching him as a 16/17 year old kid in our u21s just before being called to the senior squad.

A fearless kid who integrated with the first team and didn't look out of place.

I agree, I think you can usually tell pretty quickly when a player is too good for the reserves, it's too easy for them. But often that doesn't mean they are ready for the first team, the step up shocks them because its not easy anymore and they go from being easily the best player on the pitch to struggling to keep up.

Doak looks like he's mentally ready, he's still pretty willowy at 17 but he's tough. He believes in himself and he wants to prove it.

 

[StevieM]

He’s no Raheem.

 

[Modo]

He’s no Raheem.

I know it's a joke but Sterling was scoring goals for fun in the youth and reserve teams. I'm pretty sure Doak isn't getting the same numbers.

 

[binomial]

I know it's a joke but Sterling was scoring goals for fun in the youth and reserve teams. I'm pretty sure Doak isn't getting the same numbers.

It's for the academy coaching team and Klopp to ponder at the end of the day but I'm sure they'll be in no rush to make any decisions.

Hard to judge with Doak as he's only been part of the reserve team for 6 months...and we can't really go by what his numbers at Celtic whatever they were because lets face it...it's Scottish football.

That said ideally every few years you want to identify whoever is the best prospect at academy level and work with them and build them up....we've not really had that since Trent.

Would Sterling have made the cut with us if he was a 16/17 year old now?

 

[refugee]

Would Sterling have made the cut with us if he was a 16/17 year old now?

Pretty sure he would as he rarely gives the ball away and could dribble at speed. Klopp might have tried him in the middle a little earlier as powder puff shot power probably would have limited how many goals he could get from wide areas.

 

[Modo]

It's for the academy coaching team and Klopp to ponder at the end of the day but I'm sure they'll be in no rush to make any decisions.

Hard to judge with Doak as he's only been part of the reserve team for 6 months...and we can't really go by what his numbers at Celtic whatever they were because lets face it...it's Scottish football.

That said ideally every few years you want to identify whoever is the best prospect at academy level and work with them and build them up....we've not really had that since Trent.

Would Sterling have made the cut with us if he was a 16/17 year old now?

Like @refugee said. I have no doubt that he'd be picked by Klopp. Let's be honest, Sterling is the biggest talent we've sort of ( stole him from QPR) produced since Gerrard. Yes, he's better than Trent. Not by alot though.

 

[Hyena]

I have no doubt that if Sterling played under Klopp he'd have stayed and become a Liverpool legend

 

[StevieM]

I know it's a joke but Sterling was scoring goals for fun in the youth and reserve teams. I'm pretty sure Doak isn't getting the same numbers.

It doesn’t really matter who was scoring for fun in youth & reserve leagues - there’s plenty who have been prolific and didn’t make it.

 

[binomial]

Like @refugee said. I have no doubt that he'd be picked by Klopp. Let's be honest, Sterling is the biggest talent we've sort of ( stole him from QPR) produced since Gerrard. Yes, he's better than Trent. Not by alot though.

Oh yeah easily Sterling was head and shoulders, that said growing up I've only ever known us to produce 6 (scouse) talents we've actually developed since they were 10....11 maybe even younger.

Macca
Owen
Fowler
Carra
Gerrard
Trent

 

[binomial]

I have no doubt that if Sterling played under Klopp he'd have stayed and become a Liverpool legend

Who knows, always harder when by heart they're a London boy (or not scouse).

We're seeing that come to fruition with Trent but I can't help but think a big factor is him being bred a Liverpool lad.

 

[Modo]

It doesn’t really matter who was scoring for fun in youth & reserve leagues - there’s plenty who have been prolific and didn’t make it.

Yes, the likes of Adam Morgan, Sinclair and Nemeth scored a lot of goals too but Sterling was 15-17 years old playing with kids 2-5 years older than him and still did it.

Don't forget, he was 17 years old, not only when he had his debut in the first team, but his first full season 12-13.

I hate his fucking guts, but boy was he talented.

 

[Buddha]

I’m a bit miffed wee Ben Doak didn’t get on for the last 10 minutes last night.

Chasing the game against rapidly tiring / cramping opponents and with nothing to lose - a free hit against a top side for the lad.

At least we gave Keita and Ox some minutes

 

[binomial]

Yeah I too wouldv'e liked to seen Klopp given him a run out but for some unbeknownst reason Keita and Ox were given the privilege to get the nod over him despite being of no real use to us for the past 3 years.

Oh well it is what it is, perhaps he saw the performances of the other teenagers on the pitch and that influenced his decision because all 3 of them were pretty poor.

 

[StevieM]

Clearly it was Trent’s fault.