I know its easier said than done. It can also be a very delicate issue and wrecked a youngster's confidence and development if not handled properly. However, I just have this lingering doubt - why does it seem like a Liverpool 'trend' to shy away from handing chances to young players? Yes, we've had the likes of Robinson, Flanagan - Kelly and Spearing if you like - althought imo they were no longer 'young' enough to be considered 'young', given the reality with starlets making breakthrough nowadays. But their cases were basically helped by the injuries and/or finances.
When was the last time we had a case where the manager thinks "This lad is good. I'm going to blood him into the squad and groom him into a starting XI" or "This boy's special. I'm giving him a start and he'll prove the worth." There have been quite a lot of opportunities for young players to come in and liven things up both on and off the field in recent seasons.
Is it really because we haven't had any one worthy - not just academy lads but also all the young signings? Or is it thinking such as "There's the likes of Maxi Rodriguez who can't even get a game and have to make do with the bench. It's not right to replace him with a starlet instead/He's definitely a better and safer option to rely on than an untested lad."
Is it a coincidence that we have little or few attacking/exciting players who are given a crack? Its true quite a lot of the players who come through got their break at clubs who are financially weak - eg. Milner (Leeds), Rodwell and Barkley (Everton) etc. But there just seem to be a (overly)cautious attitude towards this issue. With this kind of perception, I won't be surprised if the likes of Suso, Sterling and Morgan etc. end up without a future with us. Not every youngster can be an instant hit/phenomenal...
When was the last time we had a case where the manager thinks "This lad is good. I'm going to blood him into the squad and groom him into a starting XI" or "This boy's special. I'm giving him a start and he'll prove the worth." There have been quite a lot of opportunities for young players to come in and liven things up both on and off the field in recent seasons.
Is it really because we haven't had any one worthy - not just academy lads but also all the young signings? Or is it thinking such as "There's the likes of Maxi Rodriguez who can't even get a game and have to make do with the bench. It's not right to replace him with a starlet instead/He's definitely a better and safer option to rely on than an untested lad."
Is it a coincidence that we have little or few attacking/exciting players who are given a crack? Its true quite a lot of the players who come through got their break at clubs who are financially weak - eg. Milner (Leeds), Rodwell and Barkley (Everton) etc. But there just seem to be a (overly)cautious attitude towards this issue. With this kind of perception, I won't be surprised if the likes of Suso, Sterling and Morgan etc. end up without a future with us. Not every youngster can be an instant hit/phenomenal...
