KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Honest question

I don't exactly hang around the training grounds of football academies, so I'd like to know, in your opinion, can an above average player at youth level become a quality/completely reliable player at top premiership level on training alone?

To clarify: players with ridiculous talent (eg KD, SG) will become world class as long as they apply themselves and receive good training and guidance (cf Ravel Morrison). But what about those young players in talent's second tier (eg those we are linked with and are supposedly over-paying for now)? I don't expect them to become as good as Gerrard, because some things can't be taught, but could they become LFC first team quality based on training (and, again, self-application) alone? A team is rarely made up entirely of world class stars - Shankly's "8 who can carry it". So surely these dissenting voices should wait a bit to see whether these young players in whom we show an interest have the right mentality to reach their potential within our youth system (which currently has upwards of 15 players capped at England youth level alone, and therefore should be deserving of some faith)? Obviously things outside the control of anyone can make a good player good enough only for the Championship (physicality and injuries primary among them), but again, one cannot say that about a guy when he's yet to be severely injured or yet to miss his growth spurt.

"Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand" [Rush - "Witch Hunt", 1979]. How about we show a bit of patience instead?

Thundyr,

I dunno how anyone predicts greatness from an age range. Late bloomers happen all the time. Look at Drogba, didnt play big time til his early 20s. We have "can't miss" people like Walcott who seems to have hit the ceiling early. Or even our Lucas, who if the fans controlled the transfer market would have been dumped ages ago.

I would think some highly talented players can come through training alone and be stars. Look at Kelly. But for every one of him, you gamble on many more who don't make it. Pacheco was all that in Spain and is now lost in the shuffle sadly. Perhaps he will find him upward curve in a few years, but do people have such patience before they go on to the "Next" big thing?

I would say there is no reliable answer to your query to be honest. I recently read a Sunderland fan say that you havent seen Hendo at his best because his style didnt mesh with neanderthal ball. He supposedly needed a pass and move system to flourish. Perhaps a new change in scenery, tactics, unleashes something Kenny sees is dormant? So we can call him 2nd tier now behind the Neymars or Gansos of the world but who knows 2-3 years down the line?

In the crap shoot that is the youth transfer market, all you can hope for is they can spot it, lord knows if anything or everything pans. Mostly somewhere in between :p

And heck yes, Patience is in such short supply these days in the "GIVE ME NOW OR I CRY" fan world.

its almost a matter of being in the right place at the right time! apart from the inborn talent its a mixture of the right training, the right manager, the right club, in general the right people around the players,closely followed by the players right attitude, maturity to recognise his own potential and the people guidance around him.Fans on the other hand can be too impatient and unrealistic so thank goodness for the likes of kenny who is willing it seems to nurture and give youth a chance to blossom and impress.

I saw a programme on Youth football and evelopment on sky a few years ago and they did an interview with the head of Ajax's excellent yotuh academy and if I recall he said something like 80% of football talent is coached and remiander is the player.
Can't remember the exact % but it was something ridicuolously high like that, but take in mind he talking about players from age 9-10 being coached for next 10 years by a club.

guardiola has said lfc has a good academy better than most, and the future will be good for us because of it.

i think young players can improve dramaticly,but growth also has a big say in it,especially in this country.my lad has grown up with a couple of kids,1 of which is very good but very small and was released by plymouth argyle a year a so or go after being told he was to small.his other m8 is at torquay utd and last year signed his first pro contract,he wasnt as good as the lad who plymouth let go but he's bigger.but i hear that he improved massively at torquay.he's called Saul Halpin and this year is make or break for him,he has spent alot of time on the bench last season and needs to break into the first team on a regular basis,on top of that he is being watched by QPR.he'll be 20 this year so keep yer eye out for him:)

saul! that name rings a bell ?

Thats Quasimodo

I would say that first they must have natural ability, after that it is a matter of personal determination and coaching. There is also an element of luck here as well in terms of injuries and managers, some managers should never be let near a young player! Regarding Height I think it is overrated e.g. Zola, Best, Stracken, Kean, (Roy), etc. (some of whom were told...by so called managers, to give up the game as they were too small!!!

Aa I wish I could be a pro footballer when I'm older ; /
My dream is to play for the reds