Youth / Reserve Team Thread... 2010 - 2013
- Thread starter Vlads Quiff
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Side question. It looks like the youth plans we put in place 4 or 5 years ago seem to be paying off. But are we continuing in the same vain? Are we still picking up young players, that are as good as the likes of Sterling and Suso were a few years ago?
Doc, has McLaughlin actually played for Norn Iron yet, or is there still a chance for us to steal him?
Fairly sure he hasn't played yet. Apparently he has tweeted about the Republic during the summer. But I imagine it's a very long shot.
Yes - that question interests me as well. I may be wrong, but I have the impression that we are not focusing as hard at scouring the globe for the future stars. Changes in the youth set up, club structure.
He hasn't.
It's a bit of a difficult question to answer. There have been a lot of changes (not least Comolli being sacked and Segura leaving) and things do seem to have slowed down in terms of recruitment the last 6 months, but I find it hard to believe we've abandoned that approach. I dunno, maybe we were just waiting for new scouting networks to be put in place or something... I think the main thing is that the main guy Frank McParland is still in place and that we hung on to Borrell and brought in Inglethorpe.
Plus it's only a year since we brought in Ojo and Ibe, talents right up there with Sterling at the same age.
Still a big chance for stealing. Norn Iron called him up to join the squad for the trip to Portugal (I think) to get used to the squad and train etc., but he was carrying an injury and withdrew. I suspect that he is holding out for an approach from the RoI, sadly.
FRANK McPARLAND: What does it take to be a Liverpool player? Personality... we had one German lad who said: 'I've had a look at my wage slip and I want to opt out of this tax thing!'
By The Footballers' Column
PUBLISHED:12:00, 9 January 2013| UPDATED:12:47, 9 January 2013
The Footballers' Football Columns, MailOnline's new exclusive series, are about the beautiful game, written by people who play it, coach it and run it. Frank McParland is Liverpool’s Director of Academy and Player Development. He is based at their academy in Kirkby, outside Liverpool, and has been with the club for nearly 20 years. McParland liaises with technical director Rodolfo Borrell and reserves coach Alex Inglethorpe as they target new recruits and assess which players are ready to move up through the ranks in the hope of impressing manager Brendan Rodgers...
People often ask what makes a Liverpool player? Talent and ability is the obvious first point of attraction but we want a winning mentality, a strong character. Someone who puts their personality on a game.
Andre Wisdom has personality, Raheem Sterling has it - you know he is on the pitch. We heard about him when he was 14 and on the bench at QPR and even saw him on Soccer AM doing the Skills School, where he was brilliant.
We watched him in the England U15s set up, put the intelligence together and knew he was for us.
We study players from the age of five.
At that age you are looking for someone who stands out in terms of co-ordination, maybe he is very quick or very athletic. We invite mini clubs to come in so it also creates a feelgood factor with strong community spirit. The local clubs feel an affiliation with us.
Scroll down for video
Andre, meet Mr Wisdom: Jamie Carragher (right) is Andre Wisdom's mentor at Liverpool
Youth club: Liverpool's Conor Coady (left) and Raheem Sterling walk across the pitch before their 2-1 FA Cup third round win at Mansfield on Sunday
VIDEO: Pounds Sterling... Raheem on Soccer AM's Skill Skool
Five-year-olds often all chase the ball together so we break that up and give them little training exercises. Even at five we are looking to see if they can play with right and left feet.
Some may just be good at every sport they try. Raheem, for example, is also great at table tennis and that can give you an indication.
We'll keep inviting different groups in of five, six, seven and eight-year-olds, inviting some back, and we go through thousands of players. Everton and Manchester United do the same.
If you don't do it then when it comes to the time you can sign a player, at nine, you won't know who the best ones are and they could sign for other clubs.
Academy director: McParland runs Liverpool's youth set up at Kirby
More from The Footballers' Column...
I always make sure I call him 'the boss'. It sets an example for the lads to follow and it’s something I’ve always done with Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish.
To be manager of Liverpool Football Club is a massive role with huge responsibility and that should be reflected with respect. He is the boss and that's how players and staff should address him.
The manager gives fantastic support to the young players, that’s evident with who has figured in the first team this season. We've had six academy players involved this season not including Raheem as he was involved last year.
If I want a player the manager and I go over it. He asks how he will fit in, watches a DVD of the player and then if we pursue it will spend an hour with the parents and with the boy.
Young players at Liverpool are treated as one of our family, one of our own.We are their surrogate family if you like and it’s important we educate them, not just in football but in life.
Gone are the days when apprentices were cleaning boots or toilets and baths but there was an important side to those chores.
We make sure our lads visit Alder Hey Children’s Hospital not just at Christmas but monthly. We want them to empathise with the young children there and realise just how lucky they are to have the life they have.
While we there, one of the organisers said that Conor Coady, one of our England U19 internationals, was one of the nicest people they have ever had visit the hospital because of how he helped out, got involved. That gives us a sense of pride that we are doing the right things.
Four managers, four bosses: McParland has worked under Kenny Dalglish (clockwise from above, left), Rafa Benitex, Roy Evans - consoling Jason McAteer after the 1996 FA Cup final - and Gerard Houllier
We send the lads to the Liverpool Homeless shelters also to help out, not in their tracksuits; in their civvies. We don’t want anyone thinking they are anything other than normal teenagers.
Some of the things we do, your average fan would laugh at. We have to teach the foreign lads how to shop, how to iron a shirt, work a washing machine. We even give them a small car maintenance course so they can change a tyre or spark plug.
We had one funny moment when one of the German lads came in and queried his wage slip. He said: 'Excuse me but I want to opt out of this tax thing. I have looked at may wage slip and they are taking too much money off me!'
We had to point out that was a way of life here, sadly.
Net gains: McParland and his team start looking for talent when boys are at the age of five
LIVERPOOL U19 4-1 INTER MILAN U19
Reds storm into NextGen knockout stages
Liverpool (Coady 30min Pen, 77 Pen, Yesil 35', 65'), Internazionale 1 (Benassi 61')
Liverpool reached the last 16 of the NextGen Series with a well deserved 4-1 victory against holders Internazionale last night.
The Reds knew they needed three points to qualify for the last 16 of the tournament and they started very confidently.
Captain Conor Coady led his team from midfield and dictated play from the outset. Coady opened the scoring from the penalty spot on thirty minutes shortly before Samed Yesil slotted past Dawid Smug to take the home side into the break 2-0 up.
Inter came out fighting in the second half with Marco Benassi finding the net on sixty-one minutes but Liverpool responded almost immediately with German U21 International Samed Yesil grabbing his second goal on the night with a fine finish.
Ryan McLaughlin won his second penalty of the game ten minutes from time which Coady converted to end the game at 4-1 and send his side through to the last 16.
The result means all but one team have officially qualified for the last 16 - Chelsea will qualify should they avoid a 12-goal defeat away to Ajax later this month. Should that happen, Marseille will qualify.
Generally, we're helping them grow up, train them for life. We don’t just want good footballers we want good, rounded men.
As footballers’ careers improve they have to do less and less in life but if they don’t progress they need to know how to cope in the big wide world.
We are aware of people’s perceptions and the trappings for young players with money.
We always tell them to make sure their first car is a small one and we bring the police in to talk to them about safe driving.
Sadly, we’ve heard of it so many times of kids in cars speeding and getting involved in accidents.
It happens so we have to make sure our lads get the right message.
Phil Roscoe and Clive Cook do an unbelievable job looking after this aspect of their education.
Before last night's NextGen Series game against Inter Milan - which we won 4-1, the lads put in a marvellous performance to go through to the knockout stages - we had a friendly match on Saturday morning at Kirkby between our Under 18s and reserves.
Marc Pelosi, a German-born American left-sided midfield player who has been with us for about a year, and our Hungarian striker Krisztian Adorjan both did well.
Rodolfo Borrell, who is very hands on, myself and Alex Inglethorpe had a discussion and both will play at St Helens on Tuesday.
Making his Marc: Liverpool's Marc Pelosi competes with Magnus Blakstad of Rosenborg during the NextGen Series match at Langtree Park, St Helens in November
Latin flair: Joao Texeira in action for Portugal's U18s
The NextGen Series has been fantastic for us. The lads experience what it is like to go to the next level.
You are travelling across Europe like the first team do. Spending time at airports, on planes, in hotels, coping with the downtime, playing top European teams such as Sporting Lisbon.
It’s a brilliant learning curve. Even in the games you have different referees and formations to adjust to. For the likes of myself it allowed us to scout one or two players too.
One that was outstanding last year was Joao Texeira at Sporting.
We knew when we saw him he was one for us and when we got the chance to sign him the manager backed me and we spent a considerable sum on him.
The trouble was when we got to the medical his back was in a seriously bad way. We questioned going ahead with it but he was worth the risk.
He was put in a back brace for six months and after some fantastic work by the physios he is starting to play again. He is going to be a top, top player.
The scale of this club was brought home to the players when we went to Singapore prior to Christmas. The support Liverpool has in the Far East is amazing.
HAPPY CHILDREN CHARITY
Frank McParland supports the Happy Children Charitable Foundation.
For more information, click here: www.happychildrencharitablefoundation.org
We took our U19s yet there were thousands at the airport to greet us. They even had banners with Adam Morgan's name on them.
We played in a tournament and it was beamed on TV to 50 countries. You could see it was difficult for some of the lads to comprehend but it's all part of the education. Welcome to being a player at Liverpool Football Club.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2259129/THE-FOOTBALLERS-FOOTBALL-COLUMN--FRANK-McPARLAND-What-does-Liverpool-player-Personality--We-German-lad-said-Ive-look-wage-slip-I-want-opt-tax-thing.html#ixzz2HVUHr3R3
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
By The Footballers' Column
PUBLISHED:12:00, 9 January 2013| UPDATED:12:47, 9 January 2013
The Footballers' Football Columns, MailOnline's new exclusive series, are about the beautiful game, written by people who play it, coach it and run it. Frank McParland is Liverpool’s Director of Academy and Player Development. He is based at their academy in Kirkby, outside Liverpool, and has been with the club for nearly 20 years. McParland liaises with technical director Rodolfo Borrell and reserves coach Alex Inglethorpe as they target new recruits and assess which players are ready to move up through the ranks in the hope of impressing manager Brendan Rodgers...
People often ask what makes a Liverpool player? Talent and ability is the obvious first point of attraction but we want a winning mentality, a strong character. Someone who puts their personality on a game.
Andre Wisdom has personality, Raheem Sterling has it - you know he is on the pitch. We heard about him when he was 14 and on the bench at QPR and even saw him on Soccer AM doing the Skills School, where he was brilliant.
We watched him in the England U15s set up, put the intelligence together and knew he was for us.
We study players from the age of five.
At that age you are looking for someone who stands out in terms of co-ordination, maybe he is very quick or very athletic. We invite mini clubs to come in so it also creates a feelgood factor with strong community spirit. The local clubs feel an affiliation with us.
Scroll down for video
Andre, meet Mr Wisdom: Jamie Carragher (right) is Andre Wisdom's mentor at Liverpool
Youth club: Liverpool's Conor Coady (left) and Raheem Sterling walk across the pitch before their 2-1 FA Cup third round win at Mansfield on Sunday
VIDEO: Pounds Sterling... Raheem on Soccer AM's Skill Skool
Five-year-olds often all chase the ball together so we break that up and give them little training exercises. Even at five we are looking to see if they can play with right and left feet.
Some may just be good at every sport they try. Raheem, for example, is also great at table tennis and that can give you an indication.
We'll keep inviting different groups in of five, six, seven and eight-year-olds, inviting some back, and we go through thousands of players. Everton and Manchester United do the same.
If you don't do it then when it comes to the time you can sign a player, at nine, you won't know who the best ones are and they could sign for other clubs.
Academy director: McParland runs Liverpool's youth set up at Kirby
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I always make sure I call him 'the boss'. It sets an example for the lads to follow and it’s something I’ve always done with Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish.
To be manager of Liverpool Football Club is a massive role with huge responsibility and that should be reflected with respect. He is the boss and that's how players and staff should address him.
The manager gives fantastic support to the young players, that’s evident with who has figured in the first team this season. We've had six academy players involved this season not including Raheem as he was involved last year.
If I want a player the manager and I go over it. He asks how he will fit in, watches a DVD of the player and then if we pursue it will spend an hour with the parents and with the boy.
Young players at Liverpool are treated as one of our family, one of our own.We are their surrogate family if you like and it’s important we educate them, not just in football but in life.
Gone are the days when apprentices were cleaning boots or toilets and baths but there was an important side to those chores.
We make sure our lads visit Alder Hey Children’s Hospital not just at Christmas but monthly. We want them to empathise with the young children there and realise just how lucky they are to have the life they have.
While we there, one of the organisers said that Conor Coady, one of our England U19 internationals, was one of the nicest people they have ever had visit the hospital because of how he helped out, got involved. That gives us a sense of pride that we are doing the right things.
Four managers, four bosses: McParland has worked under Kenny Dalglish (clockwise from above, left), Rafa Benitex, Roy Evans - consoling Jason McAteer after the 1996 FA Cup final - and Gerard Houllier
We send the lads to the Liverpool Homeless shelters also to help out, not in their tracksuits; in their civvies. We don’t want anyone thinking they are anything other than normal teenagers.
Some of the things we do, your average fan would laugh at. We have to teach the foreign lads how to shop, how to iron a shirt, work a washing machine. We even give them a small car maintenance course so they can change a tyre or spark plug.
We had one funny moment when one of the German lads came in and queried his wage slip. He said: 'Excuse me but I want to opt out of this tax thing. I have looked at may wage slip and they are taking too much money off me!'
We had to point out that was a way of life here, sadly.
Net gains: McParland and his team start looking for talent when boys are at the age of five
LIVERPOOL U19 4-1 INTER MILAN U19
Reds storm into NextGen knockout stages
Liverpool (Coady 30min Pen, 77 Pen, Yesil 35', 65'), Internazionale 1 (Benassi 61')
Liverpool reached the last 16 of the NextGen Series with a well deserved 4-1 victory against holders Internazionale last night.
The Reds knew they needed three points to qualify for the last 16 of the tournament and they started very confidently.
Captain Conor Coady led his team from midfield and dictated play from the outset. Coady opened the scoring from the penalty spot on thirty minutes shortly before Samed Yesil slotted past Dawid Smug to take the home side into the break 2-0 up.
Inter came out fighting in the second half with Marco Benassi finding the net on sixty-one minutes but Liverpool responded almost immediately with German U21 International Samed Yesil grabbing his second goal on the night with a fine finish.
Ryan McLaughlin won his second penalty of the game ten minutes from time which Coady converted to end the game at 4-1 and send his side through to the last 16.
The result means all but one team have officially qualified for the last 16 - Chelsea will qualify should they avoid a 12-goal defeat away to Ajax later this month. Should that happen, Marseille will qualify.
Generally, we're helping them grow up, train them for life. We don’t just want good footballers we want good, rounded men.
As footballers’ careers improve they have to do less and less in life but if they don’t progress they need to know how to cope in the big wide world.
We are aware of people’s perceptions and the trappings for young players with money.
We always tell them to make sure their first car is a small one and we bring the police in to talk to them about safe driving.
Sadly, we’ve heard of it so many times of kids in cars speeding and getting involved in accidents.
It happens so we have to make sure our lads get the right message.
Phil Roscoe and Clive Cook do an unbelievable job looking after this aspect of their education.
Before last night's NextGen Series game against Inter Milan - which we won 4-1, the lads put in a marvellous performance to go through to the knockout stages - we had a friendly match on Saturday morning at Kirkby between our Under 18s and reserves.
Marc Pelosi, a German-born American left-sided midfield player who has been with us for about a year, and our Hungarian striker Krisztian Adorjan both did well.
Rodolfo Borrell, who is very hands on, myself and Alex Inglethorpe had a discussion and both will play at St Helens on Tuesday.
Making his Marc: Liverpool's Marc Pelosi competes with Magnus Blakstad of Rosenborg during the NextGen Series match at Langtree Park, St Helens in November
Latin flair: Joao Texeira in action for Portugal's U18s
The NextGen Series has been fantastic for us. The lads experience what it is like to go to the next level.
You are travelling across Europe like the first team do. Spending time at airports, on planes, in hotels, coping with the downtime, playing top European teams such as Sporting Lisbon.
It’s a brilliant learning curve. Even in the games you have different referees and formations to adjust to. For the likes of myself it allowed us to scout one or two players too.
One that was outstanding last year was Joao Texeira at Sporting.
We knew when we saw him he was one for us and when we got the chance to sign him the manager backed me and we spent a considerable sum on him.
The trouble was when we got to the medical his back was in a seriously bad way. We questioned going ahead with it but he was worth the risk.
He was put in a back brace for six months and after some fantastic work by the physios he is starting to play again. He is going to be a top, top player.
The scale of this club was brought home to the players when we went to Singapore prior to Christmas. The support Liverpool has in the Far East is amazing.
HAPPY CHILDREN CHARITY
Frank McParland supports the Happy Children Charitable Foundation.
For more information, click here: www.happychildrencharitablefoundation.org
We took our U19s yet there were thousands at the airport to greet us. They even had banners with Adam Morgan's name on them.
We played in a tournament and it was beamed on TV to 50 countries. You could see it was difficult for some of the lads to comprehend but it's all part of the education. Welcome to being a player at Liverpool Football Club.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2259129/THE-FOOTBALLERS-FOOTBALL-COLUMN--FRANK-McPARLAND-What-does-Liverpool-player-Personality--We-German-lad-said-Ive-look-wage-slip-I-want-opt-tax-thing.html#ixzz2HVUHr3R3
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
We should go back to Sporting Lisbon where Teixeria came from and look at their other kids as well. They have a really good production line there.
for those in the know, is Ibe as good as Sterling at the same age?
Yeah, I imagine it's difficult to predict. Sounds like we should be ok, but these bursts in talent from youth teams don't tend to last long for any team, hopefully we can sustain it for another few years.
Hmmm hard to say. I've never seen him single-handedly destroy a team the way Sterling sometimes did, tying defences in knots. But I actually think in terms of his ability to both tease defences and link up with the movement of others, Ibe is better. In terms of outright trickery Ibe is behind Sterling, but I think Ibe already looks like he might have a bit more guile to go with the trickery.
Well it looks as though the current u16s are also a talented bunch, going by their results, and I know of at least 5 players in that group who are highly rated, so we've got around 4 years of quality in the pipeline already.
But the main thing to remember is that FSG's entire strategy in terms of first team recruitment is based on players 23 and under, so it stands to reason that they'll want to continue investment in the youth teams. I don't really think there's much cause for concern.
But the main thing to remember is that FSG's entire strategy in terms of first team recruitment is based on players 23 and under, so it stands to reason that they'll want to continue investment in the youth teams. I don't really think there's much cause for concern.
Yeah I think Ibe is less tricky than Sterling, but in terms of overall technique (close control, first touch etc) I think he's slightly better.
But IMO by far his biggest advantage over Sterling is his strength, something I think Sterling will continue to struggle with for the next couple of years.
Personally I think he's at least as good, with the kind of strength and physique to make him cope rather better with defenders. Sterling himself is as tough as nails, which used to surprise some opponents, but, as Peter notes, that's not the same thing as being able to use one's strength to go past defenders, and Ibe there has the advantage.
thanks. a bit harsh me things. sterling seems surprisginly strong, wiry like strengh, admittedly it is not his main point, but he is a tough fella.
Yeah, but as Macca says, that doesn't help him much when trying to beat defenders on the run, when he's too easily knocked off the ball. I've seen people doubt just how quick Sterling is, but IMO that's not his problem in going past players: he's def quicker than Suarez, for example, but has nothing like his ability to shrug off challenges. Hopefully he'll get much better at that as he naturally fills out over the next few years.
Good points. I agree.
Our U-21 team plays Southampton in a few minutes' time. Stream here:
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/163316/2/watch-liverpool-vs-southampton,-u21.html
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/163316/2/watch-liverpool-vs-southampton,-u21.html
1-0 up with 20 minutes to go. Own goal after great work by Pacheco and a nice one-two in their box with Pelosi. It's all us in the second half.
Lost two guys already in this game; Flanagan went off with a twisted knee, and now Brad Smith stretchered off with what looks like a bad knee injury as well. Unfortunate for Smith as he's been having a solid game.
Teixera excellent with his control and vision though he's gone off the boil in the second half, while Pacheco continues to impress at this level. Sama, Pelosi and Adorjan have all done well though Adorjan, like Teixera, has been quieter in the second half. Ngoo has been wasteful with the chances he's got (two one-on-ones).
Ibe came in to replace Smith (went to the right; I think Pelosi dropped to LB to take Smith's place) and immediately set off on a mazy run across goal ala Sterling in the Reserves games so often, finishing with a blocked shot. He's definitely added more spark to the attack since coming on, linking well with McLaughlin.
Lost two guys already in this game; Flanagan went off with a twisted knee, and now Brad Smith stretchered off with what looks like a bad knee injury as well. Unfortunate for Smith as he's been having a solid game.
Teixera excellent with his control and vision though he's gone off the boil in the second half, while Pacheco continues to impress at this level. Sama, Pelosi and Adorjan have all done well though Adorjan, like Teixera, has been quieter in the second half. Ngoo has been wasteful with the chances he's got (two one-on-ones).
Ibe came in to replace Smith (went to the right; I think Pelosi dropped to LB to take Smith's place) and immediately set off on a mazy run across goal ala Sterling in the Reserves games so often, finishing with a blocked shot. He's definitely added more spark to the attack since coming on, linking well with McLaughlin.
So many of that starting XI really need some time out on loan: they're getting on in years and not particularly close to the first team, and they're not going to get any closer playing yet more reserve football. Sama, Wilson, Flanagan, Coady, Adorjan, Pacheco, and Ngoo all go in that category.
In some cases their natural replacements in the team might even be improvements anyway, the likes of Ibe, McLaughlin, Yesil, Sokilik.
In some cases their natural replacements in the team might even be improvements anyway, the likes of Ibe, McLaughlin, Yesil, Sokilik.
I agree with that.
The reserve team has to be all about youth (ie very young) that are not ready for the first team, but will improve playing against men.
The older lads not good enough yet to be in the first team have to go out on loan, learn about the pressures of first team football, and either make or break their careers for LFC.
Even if they don't quite make it for Liverpool their exposure in league football should increase their value. Few million or more every year from sales of youngsters that didn't make it, rather than fucking them off on a free transfer should pay for the youth system on its own.
The reserve team has to be all about youth (ie very young) that are not ready for the first team, but will improve playing against men.
The older lads not good enough yet to be in the first team have to go out on loan, learn about the pressures of first team football, and either make or break their careers for LFC.
Even if they don't quite make it for Liverpool their exposure in league football should increase their value. Few million or more every year from sales of youngsters that didn't make it, rather than fucking them off on a free transfer should pay for the youth system on its own.
I think we started with
Gulacsi
Flanagan
Wilson
Sama
Smith
Coady
Teixeira
Pelosi
Adorjan
Pacheco
Ngoo
I think we should be going with something more like
Gulacsi
McLaughlin
Sama
Sokilik
Smith
Baio
Pelosi
Lussey
Teixeira
Ibe
Yesil
Gulacsi
Flanagan
Wilson
Sama
Smith
Coady
Teixeira
Pelosi
Adorjan
Pacheco
Ngoo
I think we should be going with something more like
Gulacsi
McLaughlin
Sama
Sokilik
Smith
Baio
Pelosi
Lussey
Teixeira
Ibe
Yesil
Bit of an update for you on this question: apparently we are among a few clubs interested in signing Joe Gomez from Charlton, a highly gifted 15 year old centre half who plays for the England youth teams. Meant to be a real prodigy, a bit of a young Rio Ferdinand. Don't think the signing is imminent or anything, but good to know we're still looking to pick up these players.
Bang on the money.
Didn't we have a bit of an agreement in place with Charlton?
Not heard of that mate. I know from Twitter, though, that Gomez is friendly with Tom Brewitt, who partners him in defence for the England u16s, so hopefully that could help us out a bit.
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