Liverpool's Raheem Sterling is building up a very positive reputation in the club's youth set-up, with Ian Rush recently describing him as 'very similar to Michael Owen'. Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp is also a big fan of youngster, and hopes that he'll get a chance in the first team sooner rather than later.
Redknapp was at White Hart Lane last night to watch Liverpool in the NextGen competition, and prior to the game, he spoke to LFC TV about Sterling's potential:
"I've heard a lot about him, and the development he's had has been staggering.
"It's good to see young players coming through, and hopefully he won't be too far away from getting into the Liverpool first team".
As I've argued recently, young attacking players arguably don't get enough chances in the first team, but it wasn't always that way. In the 1990s, young attacking players regularly made it into the team at very young age, including the likes of Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Michael Own, and Redknapp himself:
"I was lucky I got into the Liverpool team at 17, and it feels like yesterday. It was the greatest time of my life.
"With lots of players being brought in for big money, a lot of these young guys perhaps don't get an opportunity soon enough".
I totally agree with that; young defenders and defensive midfielders get lots of chances in the first team (Flanagan, Kelly, Robinson etc), and it would be great to see the likes of Sterling, Adam Morgan, Suso et al being given a chance every now and again, even if it's only on the bench.
The Wolves game the other night is a prime example: surely it would've been possible to have one of the club's young attacking prospects on the bench in place of, say, Fabio Aurelio?
Jaimie Kanwar
Redknapp was at White Hart Lane last night to watch Liverpool in the NextGen competition, and prior to the game, he spoke to LFC TV about Sterling's potential:
"I've heard a lot about him, and the development he's had has been staggering.
"It's good to see young players coming through, and hopefully he won't be too far away from getting into the Liverpool first team".
As I've argued recently, young attacking players arguably don't get enough chances in the first team, but it wasn't always that way. In the 1990s, young attacking players regularly made it into the team at very young age, including the likes of Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Michael Own, and Redknapp himself:
"I was lucky I got into the Liverpool team at 17, and it feels like yesterday. It was the greatest time of my life.
"With lots of players being brought in for big money, a lot of these young guys perhaps don't get an opportunity soon enough".
I totally agree with that; young defenders and defensive midfielders get lots of chances in the first team (Flanagan, Kelly, Robinson etc), and it would be great to see the likes of Sterling, Adam Morgan, Suso et al being given a chance every now and again, even if it's only on the bench.
The Wolves game the other night is a prime example: surely it would've been possible to have one of the club's young attacking prospects on the bench in place of, say, Fabio Aurelio?
Jaimie Kanwar
Some people have been saying this for years now. It doesn't seem to make any difference and most of the youngsters remain distant from the first team action.
ReplyDeleteHe will be a great player. No doubt!
ReplyDeleteYou can see from the video that he needs to build on his strength a bit more yet!I am sure Dalglish will give him chance at right time!
If Raheem is to truly fulfill his potential he needs to be playing first team football within the next year. Messi, Owen, Gerrard, Rooney, Fabregas, Aguero we're all playing regular first team football at his age.
ReplyDeleteas i said before the bandwagon started, we have great kids who will make the grade, stirling and silva, suso and the new lad is another at least two of these will be top stars, others have a good chance too.
ReplyDeleteMessi, a truly unique talent didn't make his debut for Barcelona until he 17 1/12. Sterling just turned 17 in December. Lets get real here.
ReplyDeleteSterling will be a great player for someone else...He will be sold on a year or so without getting a kick at the top level
ReplyDeleteflanagan was given a chance because we didnt have a fit left back so glen johnson had to play there, jack robinson was given a chance due to injuries also. Martin kelly and jay spearing are a few years older than the kids you mentioned if they werent making the grade now they never would have.
ReplyDeleteJonjo shelvey was given many chances, albeit as a sub, and he is no way a defensive player - he can graft but his strength lies in his attacking. Which leaves Dani Pacheco - clearly the management didnt think he could make it so loaned him out to Rayo where he hasnt pulled up any trees. The rest of that reserve team just wasnt good enough.
Sterling, suso etc are a part of the next team after kelly, spearing, pacheco and most are only 17/18 - to say they havent been given a chance is ridiculous. Sterling looks the main one, but you can see he still is too young, same for Suso and Toni Silva. Regarding, Adam Morgan, well he's even younger and is still not a reserve regular, frequently turning out for the under 18's so he's further behind than sterling et al.
Jaimie, i'm getting bored of your claims liverpool dont promote attacking players so i'll ask you this - who in recent years (attacking player) has been with liverpool not been given a chance and gone on to be a class player anywhere else? Perhaps the problem was not promoting attacking players, perhaps they just werent good enough.
he doesnt look strong enough physically - too easily shoved off the ball
ReplyDeleteI'm not interested in whether you're 'bored' of my claims - if that's the case, don't read this site.
ReplyDeleteho in recent years (attacking player) has been with liverpool not been given a chance and gone on to be a class player anywhere else?
In what universe is this relevant to anything? There's no correlation between the two things. If the dozens of attacking young players over the last 10 years are not good enough then that highlights and even bigger problem, i.e. the club's utter failure to develop and improve young attacking players.
These kids can only develop and improve if they are given chances to play in the first team; that has not happened, so when they leave, they are behind in their development.
well guys is simple....messrs owen, fowler, redknapp...and further afield world greats like Maradona, Best....and many more. When given the chance and they take it as they are class eventually the knees go or the mental edge as they been kick so much. Is better to let them develope better.
ReplyDeleteBarca held Messi back til he was 20...he only got played when about 19 but was ready before that...now look at him.
Play it cool ladies.....we have a fooking great load of weeings and we will benefit in bout 3 years.
PATIENCE YOUNG PADWANS
I'm sorry Jaimie but this guy's dead right. You only have to look at Raheem to know he's nowhere near being physically strong enough to cope with being thrown into the first team yet. Albeit, he looks an exceptional talent.
ReplyDeleteYou mention why aren't they on the bench at wolves? Easy to say after we just walked that game, but before going into it our premier league form was poor (1 win from 6 I think), and 95% of managers would've approached that game cautiously (which I don't even believe we really did), with experience getting the nod over untried youth.
You do seem awfully good at picking out flaws in hindsight. How do you know we're not planning on trying a few more kids over the second half of the season anyway?!
Jamie I agree with you. 90% of your posts are on target and many people can't handle the truth. YNWA
ReplyDeleteThe earlier you push a young player into the premier league the quicker they burn out. Yes we must give young players a chance but we cannot rinse them out the way we did with Owen, Gerrard, Fowler, Redknapp, Rob Jones etc as it leads to constant injuries and eventual burn out. There are fully developed men who are talented enough but not yet fully developed to cope with the rigours, powerplay and pace of the premier league. I'll be happy to see us handle Sterling the way Fergie handled Giggs,...with kid gloves. There is no rush we have world class talent like Downing to make the transition of Sterling into the 1st team easier.
ReplyDeleteMessi doesn't have to play against rugby teams every week in La liga as Torress will testify when he said the premier league is slowly grinding him down......AFTER 2 SEASONS. Yeah Like JamesJudge said if we genuinely rate our youngsters lets give them time to develop physically before we throw them in at the deep end.
Haha oh sorry jaimie did i hurt your feelings?? if you cant take cant take criticism of your writing or accept that someone might disagree with you then just disable the comments section...no need to get so hostile.
ReplyDeleteYou said young attacking players dont get a chance - i responded by stating the young attacking players that you mentioned are still very young - all of those that you mentioned were only promoted to the reserve team 6 months ago. With regards to the past i stated that perhaps the attacking players were not good enough to make the grade and asked a simple question of whether any of those players had gone on to prove the liverpool management, who decided they werent good enough, wrong. Sounds relevant to me, i'd say there is a direct correlation between footballing ability and first team chances.
Finally, you touch on the academy being poor. (An altogether different issue), but as i'm sure you are aware great strides have been made ti improve all aspects of the academy and that improvement is showing. I think we should all be patient, and if the guys are good enough they'll get their chance - and then jaimie will give us a world exclusive about what a "LFC LEGEND" has to say or perhaps an in-depth piece on how liverpool's transfer policy because a youngster is starting agead of £20m Stewart Downing #boring
Raheem Sterling will be sold before he can even make the liverpool team. Why? cos hes BLACK. Liverpool are a racist team, hardly any black players in the team. Whats the difference between us and Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and even newcastle? black players. We wont win anythin for the next 4 years if Downing/Henderson/Carroll are players for the future.
ReplyDeleteFuck back to the utd forums you IDIOT!
ReplyDelete'Liverpool are a racist team'. That is libel and I am amazed that Jaimie has allowed it. It is also incorrect grammar, but that probably sums up your ignorance.
ReplyDeleteIf you bothered to watch the LFCtv channel or browsed the web page you would find that Liverpool Football Club has done/is doing more than any other Premier League Club in furthering opportunities for ethnic and disadvantaged minorities.
The problem with people like you is that you believe all the anti- LFC publicity in the media. SKY NEWS was at it again this morning, linking the riots in Egypt with Hillsborough. Absolutely disgraceful.
It's frustrating, because we really could do with someone like this to come through from the reserves, but I have to, reluctantly agree with those saying that he should have to wait a little longer. It's no point him coming up against Stoke City, Shawcross taking him out and his career is wrecked before it even started.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we could start getting him out on loan soon, though? Although i wonder whether the championship or league one would be any better for him? There's the Europa League next year most likely. youngsters can play in those games.
It's even more frustrating because the one thing i think we definitely lack, apart from a lot of flair and creativity, is someone who will run with the ball. All the top teams have a players who will pick the ball up and run with it, apart from us. Valencia, Nani, Rooney, Mata, Malouda, Walcott, Gervinho, Arteta, Nasri, Silva, Bale, Modric. Adam and Gerrard are the closest we have, Henderson plays mainly 5 yard passes, Downing seems to never try this or is easily tackled, Bellamy went on one on Tuesday and, lo and behold, we get a goal.
Absolutely correct. Steven Gerrard was 181/2 when he made his debut as a late substitute. He then spent the next few years in and out of the team as a result of back problems associated with 'growing' pains.
ReplyDeletePlease be patient.
What happened when the 'greatest manager of his generation' played his youngsters against Crystal Palace? Oops!
What happened to the concept of the new owners being in it 'for the long haul'?
It has been deleted.
ReplyDeleteWrong! Steven Gerrard was 181/2 when he made his debut as a late, very late, substitute. He was much more physically developed (6ft) than Raheem Sterling. The thought of Sterling coming up against the likes of Cabaye and Cattermole too soon scares me. I've seen what thuggish defenders have done against him in the reserves and at U 18 level. He has grown about 2 inches since he joined Liverpool and another year of development could make all the difference. Be patient!
ReplyDeletewhy has my reply not been posted? that's a bit sad...anyway to add to what Stevo said, another reason the youngsters were not on the bench against wolves was because they had a big game coming up in the NextGen against Spurs.
ReplyDeleteKenny has him training with the first team, i think well see him soon
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth for.
ReplyDeleteI think he should have got a nod in the 1st team last season in the Europa when it was rumoured he will, we dnt have propper attacking wingers Raheem could have got some experience.
ReplyDeleteIm suprised we havn't used him this season either, Fergie n Wenger give their youngsters vital opportunities in the cups we should be doing the same with tallented youth we have like Raheem.
Just look at Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain bought from Southampton and straight into the Arsenal first team.I think Raheem could really do a job for us on the left n right wings instead of playing Kuyt there who doesn't have the pace.
Rahem sterling needs to bulk up a bit. look at alex oxlade hes a tank strong as a bull. rahem will be in 1st team next season.
ReplyDeleteWhat's sad is people who can't post without resorting to insults and derogatory comments. If you want your posts to stay live, please stick to the comment policy.
ReplyDeleteAnother sly dig at The manager? You are The Real deal - Kanwar!!
ReplyDeleteseriously jaimie?? So saying your constsnt repetition pf the same "issues" is boring is an insult haha you probably wont post this either but i dont care as long as you read it. Mate, i wasnt having a go you just flew off the handle, if you've got other stuff on, which would probably explain the lazy journalism lately, then perhaps you should try delegating some work to others instead of crying like a spoilt baby when someone criticises you - "if you dont like the site dont cone here" and "i'll wrote what i want" haha my favourites - you need to grow up pal.....honestly though, i think it's time for a rethink with regards to the way your arguments are presented...you've got a good following on here now, how about a new web design and stuff get some advertisers in - if your making money who knows perhaps you might put more effort into your writing
ReplyDeleteAllenvanwyk... You have a crystal ball mate or are you just frustrated?
ReplyDeletebecause when jaimie doesnt have a response or is proven wrong he gets himself out of it by deleting your comments so he looks like the clever one.
ReplyDeleteim sorry but jaimie ur articles are getting worse and more boring as we go on some rubbish storys about what past liverpool players have said or about a 17 year old not getting a chance u need to step up
ReplyDeletewhats sad is u constantly deleting peoples comments regardless if they have beached the rules
ReplyDeleteSterling is on the small side but he need not bulk up too much as otherwise it might affect his mobility, which is one of his assets. I tend to agree with Jaimie on this one, on the whole. Our academy hasn't produced a single attacking player since Owen. Pacheco was touted as the next big thing (from an LFC perspective), poached from Barcelona's famed academy, did extremely well in our reserves, but never really given an opportunity in the first team and now on loan.
ReplyDeleteI fully subscribe to the view that youth team players with supposedly exceptional talent need to be given a chance in the first team, even if its 10/15 mins here or there as a sub in games that are sewn up. It can accelerate the process from mere talent to a proper footballer. Take Fabregas (who I accept was freakishly good at youth level and the extreme end of the following example), he was thrown in at the age of 17 in central midfield. When he scored and performed the way he did against Juventus (I think) in the CL, his confidence shot up immeasurably. His raw talent matured more in that 90 minutes than in any reserve game(s) he played in. It's called development and occasionally players with exceptional talent can jump a few school years ahead if the talent justifies it.
Spot on, great post.
ReplyDeleteIts embarrasing for you - Jamie - that you renover non offensive posts with No malice just because it isnt in correlation with your viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteJust answer one question? When did you Fall out of love with Liverpool of has The love just never been there?
Unbelievable. Show me the evidence that posts are removed because people don't agree with me. The very idea is totally idiotic. maybe you've failed to notice but there are over 150,000 comments on this site, the majority of which disagree with my views. Why are they still live? Simple: the people who posted those comments disagreed in the right manner, i.e. without resorting to insults and/or sniping derogatory comments.
ReplyDeleteThe comment policy is quite clear:
* Include personal insults in your post = deletion
* Trolling and sniping = deletion
I don't care how many valid points you make - if your post *also* contains insults it will be deleted.
If people cannot debate without playground tactics they're not welcome on this site. If you or anyone else doesn't like that, there are plenty of other LFC sites when you hurls insults to your heart's content.
The idea that posts are deleted for conflicting views is just moronic, and completely untrue.
If you post anything else like that it will be deleted. Why? Because it's sniping, i.e. pointless and designed to cause trouble.
It's obvious the kid has talent in bagfulls but you ask why he is not getting a game? It is obvious in this video, he is too lightweight and can't finish.
ReplyDeleteThis lad has a MAJOR FLAW! His head is 'glued' to the ground and hardly looks up to check on the whereabouts of his team mates.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both points of view. There seems to be a problem with us getting those youngsters over the finishing line in terms of reaching the first-team. however it could be down to gross bad luck and the lads just haven't had enough natural ability. I'm hopeful some of the young lads we have now are gearing up for the big step in the not too distant future.
ReplyDeleteto be fair to jk and his defensive young player augument. Stevie G made his debut at right back
ReplyDeleteIf Kenny gave all the promising youngsters more game time and we ended up getting slaughtered and they were injured, how would that reflect with the media & fans?
ReplyDeleteSure, we have a lot of promising talent coming up but at the end of the day, they have to be ready and Kenny and his team will know this. If anyone on here thinks they know better, write a letter to the club and get a job there as head of youth development. Simples.
It's not a guessing game. Top flight managers KNOW when a young player is good enough. The players show it during training and in the reserves or out on loan. If they can't cut it then, there is no way they're ready for actual game time.
ReplyDeleteLook at the players you mention who got a go when they were young. It's obvious from the first time they stepped on the pitch that they had the talent, the physical requirements, the skills and the right mindset. They hit the ground running. It wasn't a case of just "giving them a go". It wasn't a risky decision. The manager saw that they were good enough and they got their chance. No guessing, no gut instinct. The manager had the skills and the knowledge to make a proper and careful judgement. That's what makes a good top flight manager and it's probably why Ian Rush isn't yet having that kind of managerial success.
I just don't think it's a "attack vs defend" conspiracy. It's just that Liverpool have happened to breed better defenders than attackers. Perhaps it a coaching thing. Perhaps it's the way the academy has been set up. Maybe it's easier to be a good defender, I don't really know. But I do think it's as simple as this: the attacking players who have come in HAVE been given a chance to impress, but they have failed. They haven't been good enough and no amount of sitting on the bench would have changed that.
As a Spurs fan I saw him for the first time the other night in the next gen and he clearly looks a special talent.
ReplyDeleteIf he devolps physically and polishes his final ball he could be a top player in the years to come
Unleash him against Spurs. Give him the Downing slot.
ReplyDeleteJamie K. It is not as easy to get a game as you make out. Look at the subs bench and note the internationals who warm the bench. I am sure the training staff know what they are doing. Yes perhaps 20 minutes in a game like the Wolves game. It is a tough physical game and very very few 17year olds are playing in the PL. I am sure the LFC staff know better than us, there are a lot of things to be considered before throwing a player into the mix. I trust you have experienced playing at a top level at a young age. Or even actually playing football.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry are we trying to put Sterling in the same league as Maradonna and Messi i think some people really need to find some footage of those two guys and watch what they were like at that age. Now i'm not saying that he won't be a star but please your talking about two of the greatest footballers in their era.
ReplyDeleteJaimie how many times have you watched the u19/reserves? Sterling is AT LEAST a year away from being physically ready for the PL, 3 players we should be promoting earlier are Stephen Sama Andre Wisdom and Conor Coady these 3 will be very good players, Adjoran will come through with Sterling
ReplyDeleteoh and Liverpol are back in the Nextgen too !!
ReplyDeleteYou always don't post comments that are factual and prove you wrong.Has happened to me on many occasions. Raxstar, I think we should stay away from here like he suggested and let him post article and comments all by himself with none to disagree with him.
ReplyDelete