Glory Hornet Boyz
25 Jan 2005, 11:19 AM
I think its fair to say that over the last few decades Liverpools academy, thanks to the brilliance of Steve Heighway, has produced its far share of top quality homegrown talent with the likes of McManaman, Fowler, Owen, Carragher and Gerrard coming through the ranks. However, since the emergence of Stevie G, there has been a real lack of quality youngsters making the breakthrough into the first team squad, let alone the starting 11.
The two main schools of thought being that the academy isn’t attracting or producing the same quality of player or that under Houlier the kids were basically ignored and not given a chance to show they could play in the first team. Having read the thread “Assessing our current situation,” is clear that we can’t compete monetarily with the likes of Manure or Chelski.
The question then becomes can the current crop of kids in the system be expected to future Liverpool stars, or is the quality just not there? A few of them have started to be used in the squad, what with the endless stream of injuries, the Carling Cup run and the FA Cup disaster.
Being in Canada and having only been able to listen to their performances in the Carling Cup run and read about Reserve team performances, I was hoping some of the people of the boards would be able to provide all of us with a bit more insight into the potential of some these players and whether they are Liverpool Material or will simply be good Coca-Cola League players.
I’ve basically made a list of the current crop of homegrown kids (though 24 year-olds I know aren’t exactly kids anymore) and the left overs of Houllier’s failed French experiment, and given a brief summary of what I think or know about them. Please let me know of any other players I may have missed. I look forward to your input.
Homegrown Kids
RICHIE PARTRIDGE – Age 24 - injury prone, but in his brief substitute appearances in the Carling Cup has shown glimpses of the type of wide man Liverpool desperately need.
STEPHEN WARNOCK – Age 23 – ignored by Houllier, shown to be a hardworking and passionate player, seems more suited to LM than LB, buts it not hard to look good when being compared to Harry Kewel. A decent squad player at the very least.
DAVID RAVEN – Age 19 – been impressive in Carling Cup starts and look composed in his Prem debut against the Saints, he looks promising.
JOHN WELSH – Age 21 – one of youngsters we’ve been hearing about for years, often compared to Stevie G, but as CM has a lot of players ahead of him in the pecking order, so we don’t really know what he’s capable of.
NEIL MELLOR – Age 22 – the reserve team scoring machine and the hero of the win over Arsenal. Seems to always find a way to score, but seems to lack the pure skill to be a full time premiership player, but hasn’t had a long string of games to prove himself.
DARREN POTTER – Age 20 – looks to be a creative midfielder with good vision, but hasn’t had much of an chance to prove himself.
JON OTSEMOBOR – Age 21 – started a few games last year, but was dropped after one bad game and shipped out on loan to Bolton. Raffa was ready to let him go to Crewe on a permanent deal, so he obviously doesn’t see him in his plans for the future.
ZAK WHITBREAD – Age 20 – Looks composed in the Carling Cup games, but looked weak next to the poor performing Sami in the FA Cup.
MARK SMYTH – Age 20 – brief Carling Cup appearances, was going to be released by Houlier.
ROBBIE FOY – Age 19 – was on the bench for a Carling Cup game, and can play LW or RW.
DAVID MANNIX – Age 19 – yet to be given a squad number, but is supposed to be the best player in youth set-up.
Houllier’s French Kids
ANTHONY LE TALLEC – Age 20 – looked good at times last year, but didn’t get off to a good start with Rafa by stating if he was going to start he wanted go out on loan. One half of the so called “French Gems” hasn’t fared to well in France this year either.
ALOU DIARRA – Age 23 – has been loaned out ever since he signed with up, never given a chance, but was called up to the French squad earlier this year.
CARL MEDJANI – Age 19 – was hailed on his signing, but hasn’t made an impact and on loan in France’s second division.
PATRICE LUZI – Age 24 – on borrowed time, a 4th string keeper at best.
The two main schools of thought being that the academy isn’t attracting or producing the same quality of player or that under Houlier the kids were basically ignored and not given a chance to show they could play in the first team. Having read the thread “Assessing our current situation,” is clear that we can’t compete monetarily with the likes of Manure or Chelski.
The question then becomes can the current crop of kids in the system be expected to future Liverpool stars, or is the quality just not there? A few of them have started to be used in the squad, what with the endless stream of injuries, the Carling Cup run and the FA Cup disaster.
Being in Canada and having only been able to listen to their performances in the Carling Cup run and read about Reserve team performances, I was hoping some of the people of the boards would be able to provide all of us with a bit more insight into the potential of some these players and whether they are Liverpool Material or will simply be good Coca-Cola League players.
I’ve basically made a list of the current crop of homegrown kids (though 24 year-olds I know aren’t exactly kids anymore) and the left overs of Houllier’s failed French experiment, and given a brief summary of what I think or know about them. Please let me know of any other players I may have missed. I look forward to your input.
Homegrown Kids
RICHIE PARTRIDGE – Age 24 - injury prone, but in his brief substitute appearances in the Carling Cup has shown glimpses of the type of wide man Liverpool desperately need.
STEPHEN WARNOCK – Age 23 – ignored by Houllier, shown to be a hardworking and passionate player, seems more suited to LM than LB, buts it not hard to look good when being compared to Harry Kewel. A decent squad player at the very least.
DAVID RAVEN – Age 19 – been impressive in Carling Cup starts and look composed in his Prem debut against the Saints, he looks promising.
JOHN WELSH – Age 21 – one of youngsters we’ve been hearing about for years, often compared to Stevie G, but as CM has a lot of players ahead of him in the pecking order, so we don’t really know what he’s capable of.
NEIL MELLOR – Age 22 – the reserve team scoring machine and the hero of the win over Arsenal. Seems to always find a way to score, but seems to lack the pure skill to be a full time premiership player, but hasn’t had a long string of games to prove himself.
DARREN POTTER – Age 20 – looks to be a creative midfielder with good vision, but hasn’t had much of an chance to prove himself.
JON OTSEMOBOR – Age 21 – started a few games last year, but was dropped after one bad game and shipped out on loan to Bolton. Raffa was ready to let him go to Crewe on a permanent deal, so he obviously doesn’t see him in his plans for the future.
ZAK WHITBREAD – Age 20 – Looks composed in the Carling Cup games, but looked weak next to the poor performing Sami in the FA Cup.
MARK SMYTH – Age 20 – brief Carling Cup appearances, was going to be released by Houlier.
ROBBIE FOY – Age 19 – was on the bench for a Carling Cup game, and can play LW or RW.
DAVID MANNIX – Age 19 – yet to be given a squad number, but is supposed to be the best player in youth set-up.
Houllier’s French Kids
ANTHONY LE TALLEC – Age 20 – looked good at times last year, but didn’t get off to a good start with Rafa by stating if he was going to start he wanted go out on loan. One half of the so called “French Gems” hasn’t fared to well in France this year either.
ALOU DIARRA – Age 23 – has been loaned out ever since he signed with up, never given a chance, but was called up to the French squad earlier this year.
CARL MEDJANI – Age 19 – was hailed on his signing, but hasn’t made an impact and on loan in France’s second division.
PATRICE LUZI – Age 24 – on borrowed time, a 4th string keeper at best.