3 Nov 2012

LFC scouts monitoring 'off the scale' England wonderkid. Pointless...?

Liverpool continue to scout the most promising young talent in Europe, and the latest player to make it onto the Reds transfer wishlist is Charlton Athletic youngster Joe Gomez, who is also wanted by Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City.

According to one source, the 15-year old central defender - whose ability has been described as 'off the scale' - is being monitored by the Premier League's top clubs.

Liverpool scouts ran the rule over the Gomez during the England U16 game against Wales earlier this week, and by all accounts, he put in a great performance.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has already been to watch Gomez in action, so it seems that Liverpool will have some stiff competition if they decide to go in for the youngster.

It's good to see that the Reds are still focused on finding the best young defenders out there, but the harsh reality is that the chances of Gomez - or indeed any young central defender - making it at Anfield are incredibly slim, and history categorically proves that.

In the last 30 years, Jamie Carragher is the only young central defender to come through the youth ranks and make it as a first-team regular, and even he started off in a different position.

The club tends to buy established, experienced defenders who can go straight into the team, and young centre-halves tend to either disappear into obscurity, or be converted into full-backs. For recent examples of this, take the following:

* Danny Wilson: Perpetually out on loan
* Sebastian Coates: Bit-part player
* Martin Kelly: converted to right back
* Andre Wisdom: Converted to right back

I can't see this pattern changing over the next few years, so in my view, Gomez is better off staying at Charlton as he'll have far more chance of making it in the first team there.

Jaimie Kanwar


35 comments:

  1. you really are a twaaaaaat kanwar

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  2. you are getting banned what is the point in that no argument just plain abuse

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  3. if you are going to say anything then atleast create a meaningful case with facts to back your point

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  4. Marvellous article - how do you do it ??????????????

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  5. in the last thirty years we have had 10 players at most who have come throught the ranks and made it as first team players in all positions so what is the point on anyone coming to lfc in your train of thought jaimie

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  6. Guess Kelly and/or Wisdom will be reverted back to the centre of defence as soon as they have enough experience and they become better than the established central pairing (or they suffer injuries/bans). I am also convinced that Coates will get more playing time in the future. Wilson hasn't exactly convinced, not even on loan at Blackpool where he didn't start regularly.

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  7. Are liverpool completly braindead ??

    We need a proven goal scorer not more promising deadwood that turn out to be more wasted time and mony

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  8. Everton took a point. Arsenal and Tottenham zero. If we keep Newcastle at zero tomorrow, we're close!
    I'm glad we're out of Carling cup-we can focus on top 4-5, and it is achievable!

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  9. ive got to admire your optimism personally ive written this season off

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  10. I don't recall a season in which we were not able to beat Newcastle, and if we do...

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  11. This player is intented for 5-10 years down the road, as opposed to addressing the immediate issue that you have pointed out. We still need to scout for the future for players like this, and typically teenagers come in on the cheap (ie/ Shelvey for 1M).

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  12. and i dont recall a season when we have been so bad even under souness 2 wins out of 9 league games out of carling cup and if we dont then we can look forward to a season of mediocraty

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  13. Well last season we struggled to beat them, although I share your (cautious) optimism - if LFC can pull 3 points at home tomorrow, that's only 4 points off 4th spot, not to mention the confidence that would bring. If not, then it's the same old story...

    Cmon LFC - YNWA!

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  14. A true fan will NEVER write off his team. it is not about opticisim

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  15. bullshit i true fan knows when is side is crap you can wear all the rose tinted glasses you want but that will not change the situation we as a club are at a major crossroads and imo fsg and rodgers will lead us down the wrong turn

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  16. At crossroads, heading the right way. If we buy a high quality striker.

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  17. No need for that condescending tone. Just stop answering.

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  18. Jason, I can see your frustration. We are struggling and we have been since Rafa's final season. You also do not have one second for Rodgers. The only way we will know if he is the right man to rebuild and get us back to where we once used to be is to give him a chance. Yes our results have been rubbish but give the man a chance to prove himself. There is no way he will get things right in one season.

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  19. i think Coates will be an exceptional central defender eventually

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  20. I agree with jason, i think Rodgers is becoming a bit of a joke, i really cant think of anyone he will be able to attract to the club, the start of his reign has been awful to put it politely, FSG had an opportunity to make a real statement in appointing the last manager and appointed a relatively unknown rather then someone who has a history of success, rodgers will be a failure unfortunately.

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  21. i think FSG havent really got the hang of football yet and get what needs to be done and how expensive its going to be to get the club truly moving forward and i worry about the day the realisation hits them in the face and they realise buying kids aint gonna bring success anytime soon and the fans really get fed up of them, as for Rodgers well... he is never gonna take us anywere and will be wondering were his dossoer let him down, guys a chancer and nothing more

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  22. Seriously Jobsy, how can you say Rodgers will be a failure when he hasn't even had half a season yet? What has become of some fans?

    Do you actually realise the task Rodgers has been left to deal with? No manager since Kenny's first spell has won us the league mate. What exactly were you expecting from Rodgers in this short time of his tenure?

    I am assuming 'the last manager' you are referring to is Rafa? Dream on mate, Rafa and FSG will be ice cold water into boiling oil. Not going to happen so move on and what exactly will Rafa be able to achieve with budget constraints when all he did most of the time was moan about not having money to spend? FSG + Rafa = Major Fail.

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  23. personally think kelly will grow into a great centre back.

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  24. You can argue exactly the same for United - Pallister,Bruce, Berg, Ferdinand, Vidic, Smalling, Jones, May, Staam, Silvestre - only Wes Brown and Jonny Evans could be described as coming through the system and they are hardly world class!

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  25. pjjcroker@icloud.com2:00 am, November 04, 2012

    Jamie, I can see your point although Coates is only a bit part player due to the fact that he has two superior and more experienced centre halves already ahead of him in the squad. He is a very promising player! I'd say it is better for players such as Kelly and Wisdom to move out to right back, in order to 'learn their trade' as such. I'd presume right back is assumed to be a 'less' risky position in terms of the cost of mistakes. I'd also go as far as saying that the two aforementioned players have been moved to right back out of necessity i.e Johnson being slightly injury prone and the lack of quality left backs at the club.

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  26. pjjcroker@icloud.com2:07 am, November 04, 2012

    Just to add to my point, I think the progress that Steven Caulker has made at Tottenham is evidence that a young CB can play in the Premier League, especially if they are 'off the scale' as stated.

    Finally, the club has to take money into account...as much as it would be desirable for the club to allow the lad to play regular games and gain experience, it just isn't possible any more. Take Sterling (different position I know) for example, Liverpool paid a reasonably small fee to QPR for his services and we probably now demand more than £15 million for him!

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  27. don't know why you bother , the wanker is a closet manure fan , and he takes GREAT delight in slaggin off LFC at any opportunity !!!!!!!!

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  28. those comparing the souness era to what rodgers is doing is frankly ridiculous. chalk and cheese. souness ripped a team apart, regardless of any advancing years with certain players. he then proceeded to bring in total sh*t. the play was awful. rodgers has taken over and done what i have wanted for a long time, bringing in the players we have been nurturing. why have academies if you don't use the products? borini aside (everyone progresses at different rates, lucas?) he has added well. lay off him, but that is a trait in 'modern, we want everything yesterday' fans. if we don't see positive progression year after year, then it may be time to re-assess. i think we will, but i am a rare breed nowadays....i have patience.

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  29. i wasnt on about rafa, and after his final season in charge and what he did to alonso i wouldnt really want him back! I just think Rodgers will fail i think he is a chancer and just has the gift of the gab (i hope i am actually wrong). FSG had a chance to make a real statement of intent in appointing a proven world class manager and as i said they chose in my opinion got it sorely wrong in Rodgers appointment as we all know Americans are gullible at the best of times let alone Americans who dont really know the sport, but lets give him a season or three and see were we are then, my guess is pretty much were we are now.

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  30. Agger was all of 21 when he signed, maybe even 20 and Skrtel wasn't older than 23 either so there goes your "we only buy experienced CB's" argument. Furthermore Carragher played at right back and left back for years before moving into the centre and that's pretty much standard operating procedure for a lot of clubs. I'm pretty sure Puyol and Sergio Ramos started at right back at Barcelona and Sevilla as well. Wisdom and Kelly were both central defenders in the reserves and now they're playing full back yet they still came through the ranks.

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