KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Kenny speaks about fielding youngsters

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7619823/


"We will try to get as much as we possibly can from every game that we are in. If we have to play the kids, then we will play the kids, it's not a problem."

"We have to maintain their progress and for some of the younger boys in our squad - Flanagan, Robinson, Shelvey - if we were in a better position with injuries they could have gone out on loan playing somewhere,"

"But at the same time if they are going to play they have to educate themselves for this football club not another one."

"There comes a time when you have to take the nappies off them and see if they have got it," he added.

"If we have to do that we will do it but at all times the most important thing for us is to maintain the thought that we are protecting them for our and their benefit.

"People can shout and bawl about young kids doing well and of course they are doing well.

"But they have done well because they have come here and been looked after in the management and guidance they have had.

"Just trust us to guide them through if they are going to get to the next step and if they are good enough to get there."


Hopefully we'll see a few of them getting a game or two by the end of the season - those mentioned above, and some of the other obvious candidates.

Why was Kenny happy to play the youngsters like Flanagan and Robinson last season but not let any of them have a look in this year?

Shelvery started away at Villa in a 2-0 victory, played really well but hasn't been seen since except for the Oldham cup game... Why???

Refresh your memory about our fullbacks situation at the end of last season, man.

As for Shelvey, I'd certainly like to see more of him. I've heard Adam could be out for the season (unconfirmed, don't get too excited!), which if true, should open the door for more opportunities.

last year we had to! we didn't have a left back. we loaned out konchesky, aurelio was injured, johnson was in and out through injury and i think kelly picked up an injury too.

shelvey was recalled from blackpool when gerrard was out injured, spearing had a suspension and injury. we were short at the time

does it really make any difference anyway. i'm sure if kenny had fielded a few younger players in some of losses and draws this seaosn he'd have been bashed for it anyway

I know we had injuries last season, but surely if you come in, play well then your place should be guaranteed!!!

Fergie has got it spot on with his youngsters, they get loaned to another Premiership club for a season for experience then come back ready for the first team. Cleverley and Welbeck are the obvious examples!!!

kelly performs well imo and has been given lots of chances this year and is taking them well. enrique has been ever present at left back, despite a couple of errors in recent weeks and maybe guilty of trying to play his way out of trouble too much on occasions, has been our best signing and probably one of the best left backs in the league.

would it make sense to drop him, johnson or kelly to intergrate flanagan back into the side?

i don't think so. but over the course of the season our full backs could easily pick up injuries/suspensions simultaneously.

it would be nice to see them play week in / week out for a newly promoted side, but if there isn't any interest or guarantee of them getting first team football is it possible?

much rather see them play for our club and take their chance when the opportunity next comes along

Exactly.


They both came in and did well, yeah. Flanagan played the opening game of the season, and as far as I remember, didn't have the best game. Johnson and Kelly are ahead of him in the pecking order - dunno how anybody can dispute that or say it's wrong. As for Robinson, he was out injured for a good while. We didn't pay £7m or so for Enrique to put him on the bench in place of a 17 year old. I'd like to think Enrique has been worthy of his place as first choice left back, no?

Point taken about the fullbacks but why can't Shelvey get a game when our midfield has been very poor all season.....

Personally, I would have played Shelvey a lot more than he has been played. Think he deserves more of a chance, especially after the form he showed earlier in the season at Blackpool. It bugs me when managers kill good momentum by dropping players at the wrong time. Kenny's done it with Carroll a few times - pretty much every time he's built up momentum! He's also done it a couple of times with Downing. Rafa used to do it all the time with pretty much every player who had a good game! Drives me mad.

Rafa used to do it with Benayoun all the time, which ultimately led to him leaving the club...

Your right about Downing and Carroll tho, even Maxi to some extent, he plays well and contributes then we don't see him for like a month...

It really gets to me how certain players are guaranteed to be in the squad and pretty much start after contributing very little in previous games, Adam and Henderson being the prime examples! Then again, I suppose we have to play them to justify the spending....