Many articles have recently suggested that Liverpool Football Club for the first time in a long time has the strength in depth of squad because of John Henry spending big. Although this is true it is not the whole picture as everybody knows that even with a strong bench you still need good quality young players in turn pushing the seven substitutes on in training, preparing them for match day environments.
Manchester United have proved this recently by having a strong squad of 21 players despite not having their best eleven or sixteen. Since Rafael Benitez revamped the structure including coaches and methods the academy and reserves setups are now starting to bear fruit for the first time in many years. Liverpool now has more internationals running through there young year groups than ever.
Below is a reason why the Liverpool squad will have an extra arm of competitiveness next season and will return to the top four, despite investment from Fenway I believe without the mentioned young stars the club would not be able to do this. These players train with the first team, have great passion and replace the usual cheap foreign free transfers or disappointing foreign graduates.
Martin Kelly – 21
After breaking into the first team last season Martin was mooted for an England call up before suffering a season ending injury at Upton Park. As a fast paced right back or centre back the England U21 star has the strength and height to cope with the English game at 6 ft 3.
Jack Robinson – 17
There is a reason why Jack Robinson became Liverpool’s youngest player ever under Rafael Benitez. He is lightening quick, fiercely competitive and has a relaxed mental attitude under pressure, proven away at the Emirates stadium last year in which he was thrown in against Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott. Instead of being destroyed by the two of the Premier League’s stars he came out of the game with rave reviews including ‘the next Ashley Cole’ etc…
John Flanagan – 18
Also fiercely competitive and a strong tackler, John has a calm mentality and made lots of appearances towards the end of the season, coping in big games as well as getting forward providing assists for goals.
JonJo Shelvey – 19
Signed from Charlton Athletic for a rumoured £1.75m (rising to £4m), Charlton’s youngest ever player has made quite an impression with his passing and vision in the middle. Again being trusted when last seasons injuries struck, gaining three assists.
Raheem Sterling – 16
A player expected to take the league by storm in a few years, Raheem has exceptional skill, pace and finishing ability and can play anywhere across the front and wing areas. Before being signed by Liverpool from QPR Raheem was about to become one of the youngest ever professional footballers at only 15 years old.
Achieving a phenomenal season in the youth team including scoring 5 goals in one FA Youth Cup game, he then jetted of with England at the youth World Cup scoring and played very well.
Jay Spearing – 22
Although Jay cannot be called a young player anymore he has stepped his game up under Hodgson and Dalglish and found an extra gear not many people knew was there and has impressed massively in the season run in, being very competitive in the middle of the field and being rewarded with a new contract.
Even if the club decided to loan one or two of these above mentioned players out to other clubs and gain a loan fee it would be because other players will be there to step up. Consistently pushing the first team squad in the next year or two will include Dani Pacheco, Tony Silva, Adam Morgan, Suso, Alex O’Hanlon and Andre Wisdom.
Mostly ranging from 17-19 years old and widely regarded to have at least the same talent as the players pushing this season. This youth conveyor belt will save the club millions of pounds which the club currently spends on players to plug holes in the squad.
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The future is looking good for the club. I would not put Spearing in though, he is a decent squad player – no more.
what about conner coady?????
You forgot to mention conner coady..
yeh i totally agree them lot will give our “slackers” a run for their money! I think it’s too early for Raheem Sterling, he needs to improve his upper body strength! In the prem i think he will be pushed around when having to have a battle!
wheres conor coady?
Dani Pacheco and Jonjo Shelvey have a lot to show that the world hasnt seen. I see Dani as a younger Suarez. Tony Silva? I always admire his confidence in taking on defenders. These youngsters make me even more obsessed with Lfc!
I really do believe that Coady is not good enough to play for the first team consistantly.
Some of the players in the far east tour would not be there if we had other players available for the trip….(although I really honestly like his attitude etc, I think he will be a ‘Jay Spearing’ type premier league player) he even says himself that he will have to drop down to centre back in future as of his lack of pace, which is also a worry at centre back.
There has been lots of captains in youth teams who the coach’s love but never make the LFC grade.
Realisticly not everyone will make it out the youth squad to a really high level, otherwise I would have included Adorjan-(who I love), Ngoo, Smith etc
Agree totally that Rafa made a wise decision, bringing in the Ex-Barca coaches Rodolfo Borrell and Pep Segura. It will be his legacy and will give us many class players for years to come!!!!