Whether Liverpool fans want to accept it or not, club captain Steven Gerrard is in the twilight of his career, and he'll be hanging up his boots sooner rather than later. It's great to see the likes of Suso, Andre Wisdom and Raheem Sterling coming through, but will any of them ultimately have a Gerrard-like impact on the Reds? Who knows, but according to Anfield legend Robbie Fowler, there's one youngster coming through the ranks who has the potential to develop into the club's new talisman.
Liverpool's U19 team hammered reigning champions Inter Milan 4-1 last night in the NextGen series, and one player in particular caught Fowler's eye. He enthused:
"A young lad is just about to come on for a few mins for Liverpool in [the] Nextgen - Jordan Rossiter. Big shout, but potentially a young Stevie G. He's a very good player"
Talk about raising expectations (!)
The 15-year old is LFC's U16 captain, and he also wears the captain's armband for the England U16 side, which is pretty impressive.
Rossiter does not even have a bio page on the official LFC website at this stage, but I'm sure that will change very soon.
On the subject of Gerrard's retirement - In a recent interview with LFC Magazine, Gerrard hinted at a possible retirement date. He said:
"To have played at Liverpool for what will hopefully be 14 or 15 years by the time I finish and not win it [the league title] would be an awful shame"
Gerrard made his debut for Liverpool in November 1998, which - by his reckoning - would make his final season either 2012-13, or 2013-14 (injuries permitting).
That would give Gerrard a retirement age of 33 or 34, which seems quite young, but perhaps it's a subconscious admission that he doesn't have confidence in his fitness holding out any longer than that?
Jaimie Kanwar
Liverpool's U19 team hammered reigning champions Inter Milan 4-1 last night in the NextGen series, and one player in particular caught Fowler's eye. He enthused:
"A young lad is just about to come on for a few mins for Liverpool in [the] Nextgen - Jordan Rossiter. Big shout, but potentially a young Stevie G. He's a very good player"
Talk about raising expectations (!)
The 15-year old is LFC's U16 captain, and he also wears the captain's armband for the England U16 side, which is pretty impressive.
Rossiter does not even have a bio page on the official LFC website at this stage, but I'm sure that will change very soon.
On the subject of Gerrard's retirement - In a recent interview with LFC Magazine, Gerrard hinted at a possible retirement date. He said:
"To have played at Liverpool for what will hopefully be 14 or 15 years by the time I finish and not win it [the league title] would be an awful shame"
Gerrard made his debut for Liverpool in November 1998, which - by his reckoning - would make his final season either 2012-13, or 2013-14 (injuries permitting).
That would give Gerrard a retirement age of 33 or 34, which seems quite young, but perhaps it's a subconscious admission that he doesn't have confidence in his fitness holding out any longer than that?
Jaimie Kanwar
Looks like a good young talent, lets let him grow though before he gets to much media hype. I think the nature of Gerrards role means 33/34 is about the right age to retire, or at least move abroad. Due to his box to box style for most of his playing time, I think it takes its toll more.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, reports are saying we have agreed a fee for Ince. I`m pretty excited about that, I don`t care we let him go, I`m just glad we got him back. We have some very exciting young players, and possibly the front three of the future England team.
no pressure there then
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Exciting for the future of Liverpool. We are rebuilding and the fruits of the labor will manifest in the years ahead.
ReplyDeleteConor Coady has been likened to Gerrard, too, in the past. At 19 he should be in first team recognition a few years ahead of young Rossiter, whom I honestly have never heard off before now.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree very good player !.
ReplyDeleteI don`t like it when ex-players hype up such young lads. I think it puts to much on their shoulders, and gives them media hype they really don`t need at such a young age. So many never make it. I would like to see Coady get some game time, although maybe next season. A few run outs in the Capital One cup next year would be great, and some sub roles in the league.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind giving him some sub appearences this season. Probably not against the strongest opposition, but why not play him for half an hour against e.g. Norwich.
ReplyDeleteGreat result against Inter Milan for U19's. Ince signing is good news !. However, do we need to add some experience into the squad to compliment this developing group of players. Wesley Sneijder would be interesting - assuming he can be driven down on wages.
ReplyDeleteTwo words: Adam Pepper
ReplyDeleteI would let it be depended on the score at the time. If we are winning by 2 goals, then I can`t see the harm.
ReplyDeleteOf course.
ReplyDeleteErm, well, yeah, didn't quite make it, here or with Aberystwyth. Let's concentrate on those players who are a lot closer to first-team recognition.
ReplyDeleteCurrently at the mighty Stalybridge Celtic F.C
ReplyDeleteSometimes I really hate the whole comparison thing. "oh he is the next blah blah".
ReplyDeleteLets hold judgement for a while as he is only 15. Imagine the pressure of people turning around to you at 15 saying, "You're the next Gerrard, who just happens to be one of Liverpools greatest ever players, no pressure!!".
I like that we are building for the future, but i want proven quality now as well
ReplyDeleteThought he was without a club. Well, some make it, some don't. We should reserve our praise and judgment until they are near the first-team. I said that before, didn't I.
ReplyDeletea lot stronger than in a long time lol we were stronger at the beggining of last season and the season before,it amazes me how easy a lot of fans are pleased, with second rate signings ,who many of the players you name suarez apart,would get in any of the sides competing for champions league,i will tell you none,and as for assaidi dont you get it even rodgers knows hes messed up hes not got a chance
ReplyDeleteFantasy League Code: 711779-568090
ReplyDeleteGerrard should first be talking about retiring from England before he talks about retiring from LFC.
ReplyDeleteIt isn`t about being easily pleased, it is about what we have. I still think they are better options than we had last season. How exactly do you expect to fill a squad full of the best players in the world? We aren`t in the CL, we don`t pay 200k a week, so how do you expect this to happen? Sure it would be nice to live in a dream world, but I am being honest about where we are. What we have is a set of young players who can grow. I think you are to quick to judge on Assaidi. Short term thinking, like judging a player after 3 months, because he has been injured, and also not had many games when still young isn`t going to help solve the problem we have.
ReplyDeleteIf we were so strong last season, and one before, how come we did so bad?
what compared to this season were we are flying and am not saying the best players in the world or 20k a week i,am saying the players the other clubs are going for not just some young players who rodgers has bossed before,players of a slightly better calibre than average,lets face it under rodgers the players we have been searously linked with they have signed because no one else wanted them apart from the 2 who spurs wanted and surprise they both ended up there
ReplyDeleteNo we arent flying, but things look like they are improving. If you want top four players, which is what you originally said, then yes they do need to be world class, or on 200k a week. Times have changed Jason, and the top four can now be made up of Man Utd, City (massive wages), Chelsea (massive wages) and one more, prob Arsenal or Spurs.
ReplyDeleteSigning betters who are just a bit better than average still wont get you into top four IMO. You either need to go all out and sign costly world class talents, or try this method of signing up younger players (what you call average). I can see why it frustrates, as it isn`t a quick fix, and I get that`s all fans what these days. It is no good saying well everyone else we went for no one wanted, other than the two who went to spurs. Firstly how do you know knowone wanted them??? Secondly the statement in itself shows we went for players who clearly other teams wanted. To write off a few, to prove your point, seems somewhat misguided. It would be like saying Rafa`s transfer were all bad if we forget Torres, Masch, Alsono, Reina etc. It maybe true, but proves nothing.
no m8 heres a ? for you 15 million on a midfielder not needed 24million on two average strikers fair play we need them,but thats 39 million,thats not including assaidi who he does not pick and the 10 million we have given madrid,so we could have bought nearly any striker we wanted payed his wages and had plenty left over its amusing how you credit rodgers has a saviour this his the man who went to the press and slated kennys signings,but plays them more than his own. you could not make it up
ReplyDeleteI don`t credit Rodgers as that at all, you have just decided that must be what I think. Until you say who you would have signed, I fail to see any credit to your point. It is easy for everyone to say, nah they aint good enough, but unless you have a better idea, it is just being negative. It isn`t true we could have signed any player, that just isn`t the case. Also paying one random player massive wages would unsettle the team. I do think that our transfers need to be better, but until some of these are given time, I`m not going to judge, just like everyone did with Lucas.
ReplyDeletei did not judge lucas for starters,and massive wages i take it gerrard must have took a pay cut lol,and without trying to remember which players have moved in that time its a bit hard but we could have made a dam site better signing from swansea never mind the rest of europe,rhodes from huddersfield at 8 million will be a better player than borrini ever will be ,the list his endless
ReplyDeletegerrards wages are higher than most, but still nothing like the 200k plus City are paying some players
ReplyDeleteOne word: Yesil. Might not be "the next owen" but that boy knows how to find the back of the net! Two great goals in that game (3 in his last two games back from injury); first team might take something away from watching that game footage!
ReplyDeleteHe looks amazing. I'm going to put my neck on the line here lads:
ReplyDeleteI think he could be the new John Welsh.
borinni is imo a complete waste of time,sturridge may come good and allens just not good enough for lfc
ReplyDeletewas this the fowler comment off twitter??
ReplyDeleteYes.
ReplyDeleteWe did not produce any exciting young players since SG and JC. Why are they always not given a chance in the first team? Must we always do a 'Tom Ince'? Glad at least BR is giving the kids a run in the first team, but still, he could do much more. We have very exciting young players in the core now, simply too many to talk about. Just hate to see another 'Tom Ince'. Not forgetting we are no longer the force we once were. It is not easy to attract big names by reputation, neither is FSG going to pay over the world wages to players. So we need to groom good young players of our own. When can I see another Fowler or Owen promoted from the youth squad? Curiously, how much better is Borini to Adam Morgan? Is it a must that we spend 10 plus mil pounds for an unproven player? Maybe I don't understand that much about professional football...
ReplyDelete