KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Editor: Words cannot explain how proud I am of those kids

I was left feeling very proud after watching the kids progress in the FA Cup last night, a competition which I still value. Obviously it's no longer a priority, but it still means something to me. I cannot bear the snobbery that is directed in its direction from the elite clubs who think the game is only about them.

If you follow my content at KopTalk.TV, on the KopTalk Podcast and even the KopTalk Members' website, you will know that I wasn't too pleased when the boss said he would not attend the match and that no senior players would be involved in the Cup. I understood his reasons, of course. We had planned for a break and those plans can't just be chopped and changed. However, both the footballing authorities and the club knew that a replay could be forced. The bit I disagreed with was excluding those senior players that don't get many games. Players like VVD, Mane, Salah, Alisson etc could all do with a rest but not those players coming back from injuries or who make the odd appearance here and there. I also thought it would have inspired the boys more had they had the 'real' boss in the dugout; inspiration they evidently didn't need!

Continues ...

http://www.koptalk.com/duncan-oldham/words-cannot-explain-how-proud-i-am-of-those-kids/

Great piece Dunk!
Did not see anything last night as I was working but your words reminded me of when I first went to a proper ground to see a football match.

It was 1972 or thereabouts and Oxford schoolboys played Liverpool schoolboys in the semi final of the FA schools trophy. Oxford won and went on to play Manchester boys in the final. Adults 25p kids 10p each I think it was. We had 12k for the semi and over 14k for the final. More than Oxford United were getting at the time. It got me hooked and I hope that there were many last night going for the first time that will get that same feeling.

The size of the crowd to support the team shows how much our fans care about the FA Cup and are knowledgeable and respectful of how important it is to keep this wave of success going. Everyone wants a part of it. In contrast 4 weeks ago Man United could not sellout a local derby in a Carabao Cup semi final. We were playing Shrewsbury with our kids!

Klopp has taken a stand against the FA. Somebody needed to do it or this will happen again. It could not have been an easy decision to make but was one he had clearly made before a ball was kicked in that first game. But he gave those lads a chance to play at home in front of a big crowd and show what they can do. I think a few of them like Jones, Williams, Elliott will be in the squad at Chelsea in March.

I am so proud of our club, our fans, our players, our manager and everyone involved for making this happen. We have dreams for this season and it is easy to get carried away but what I want to see now is for us to get to the final and see Henderson let Curtis Jones go up and lift the trophy. I don't think there would be a dry eye in the house.

I'm genuinely excited by our youngsters. Klopp kept saying it's about training and not transfers. Yes we've splashed out some record fees but our under 19s play the same way as the seniors.

Williams, elliot and Jones the obvious ones. But Clarkson and Chirivella look promising too.

I'd love to see one or two get some games towards the end of the season. Even against Chelsea in the next round some of them deserve to keep their spot.

Barca have always had youth players coming through and we seem to have talent right the way through our squad now. Put Hoever next to Van Dijk for the last 30mins of a game.

Play Williams and give TAA a rest against a lower league side.

Put Clarkson in-between milner and hendo for the final 20mins to see it out.

Yes I'm very proud of those young players too. However we did have two or three senior players in the first game and they almost got us knocked out of the competition. Last night's young replacements were way better than them. It was a good decision by Klopp to trust the kids and it paid off. What a brilliant bunch of young players, I hope they all go on to become legends wherever they end up.
Oh and well done Neil Chritchly too, he had them all fired up and fully focused, excellent.

Curtis Jones is a star in the making. Big brass balls on that one.

It was even a touch of Brazilian Balls from time to time!