13 Feb 2013

Destined to fail? £1m star prepares to commit career suicide at LFC

Liverpool are preparing to splash out £1m on young Danish goalkeeper Kevin Ray Mendoza Hansen.

According to reports in Denmark, Liverpool’s head of scouting Dave Fallows has personally recommended the Viborg goalkeeper to Brendan Rodgers, and the 18-year old is now set to undergo a week's trial at Anfield.

If Hansen impresses during the trial, Liverpool have already agreed a £1m compensation package with Viborg to make the deal permanent. When asked about the Liverpool trial, Hansen told his club's official website:

"I look forward to trying to impress. It will be a great experience"

Last year, Swedish Under-21 goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt also came for a trial at Liverpool, but nothing ever came of the club's interest.

To be honest, I don't understand why any young goalkeeper would come to Liverpool. Indeed, I can't think of one young stopper in the last 40 years who has actually started off in the youth set-up, progressed into the first team and become established as the club's number one. Let's look at the facts:

* Peter Gulacsi: Signed for Liverpool in 2008, and hasn't made a single appearance for the club in FIVE YEARS.

* Martin Hansen: Didn't make a single appearances for the Reds in SIX YEARS (!).

* Michael Stensgaard: Signed in 1994. Left 3 years later having made zero appearances.

Etc.

The ironic thing here is that Martin Hansen is now Viborg's first-choice goalkeeper, and Kevin Ray Mendoza Hansen - his understudy - is coming to Liverpool for a trial (!) He must be a fan of sitting on the bench because history proves that the chances of him making the breakthrough into the first-team are slim to none.

Practically all of LFC's successful goalkeepers of the last 40 years share the same characteristics:

* Already established at other clubs before signing for LFC.
* All in the their mid-to-late 20s.

Seriously, coming to Liverpool is career suicide for young goalkeepers. Why do you think Jack Butland chose Stoke City? He wants to play, not waste his career warming the bench.

If Mendoza Hansen has any sense, he'll stay at Viborg, or go to another club where he actually has a fighting chance of playing regularly.



NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)


57 comments:

  1. clemence and grobs were hardly house old names

    ReplyDelete
  2. Clemence is the exception, but I stated 'in the last 40 years' in my post, and he joined in 1967. 

    Grobbelaar was 24 when he joined LFC.

    My main point is that no young goalkeeper has ever come through the youth ranks at LFC and made it as a regular (or even semi-regular) in the first team. It's a dead-end job. The only reason to come to LFC as a young keeper is for the money and/or the training, but how many young keepers have come to the club and then gone on to great things?

    LFC is a career black-hole for young goalkeepers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My post states: 'in the last 40 years' in my post - Clemence joined in 1967. In any event, he's the one exception in LFC's history.

    Grobbelaar was 24 when he joined LFC.

    My main point is that no young goalkeeper has ever come through the youth ranks at LFC and made it as a regular (or even semi-regular) in the first team. It's a dead-end job. The only reason to come to LFC as a young keeper is for the money and/or the training, but having said that, how many young keepers have come to the club and then gone on to great things?

    LFC is a career black-hole for young goalkeepers.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Maybe because we didn't bid for him!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Get real if players are good enough they will get a chance no matter what position they play. Lets face it none of the young keepers have gone on to prove themselves

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice, now your telling young players to stay away from our club? Well I think it be decent to have a young GK on our books and do what Chelsea did and send him out on loan. let him gain experience then bring him back when he ready

    ReplyDelete
  7. I do agree. The only logic I can see is if you sign them and loan them out again, otherwise the chances of them ever making the first team are slim to none

    ReplyDelete
  8. Cavalieri wasn't exactly a young keeper when he came. By my calculations, he was 26 when he came to us, so by no means was he in the youth system and he was older than Grobbelaar. In fact, Reina was younger than both Cavalieri and Grobbelaar when he joined Liverpool as he was 23. David James was 21 when he joined Liverpool. There are plenty of examples of goalkeepers joining Liverpool and it not being career suicide. Brad Friedel is a prime example.

    ReplyDelete
  9. just saying he mite turn out good agree about the black hole though

    ReplyDelete
  10. None of them young keepers have prove to be good enough... And you said all our keepers were already established... Brad jones has played a few games recently which shows Rodgers is prepared to give reserve keepers an opportunity... Reina is hardly the first name on the team sheet at the moment too so perhaps it is a good time to come to Liverpool... We had Carson and Kirkland too but they weren't good enough in the end

    ReplyDelete
  11. hardly an interesting argument...... cant think of a single side that has had a keeper come through the ranks since the premier league started

    ReplyDelete
  12. as opposed to which club that has a first choice keeper that came through the ranks?!?!?!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I do agree, but may it's not because of the club policy, rather I believe it's more related to buying craps.  At least in last 10/12 years we have bought very cheap young GK prospects & expected them to be great.  Money can't guarantee success, but without spending, you have no chance. 

    In today's inflated market I don't think spending 1/2 mn, you get much better product, specially when you have not so smart scouting team.  GK is one area worth spending big.  SAF spent 18mn for De Gea, or Juve spent 30mn+ for young Buffon & we are expecting bits & pieces mercenaries 'll serve us for long time.  Don't know why they allowed Butland to go for 3.5mn (it was worth investing double for for him) & if we want a GK to serve for a decade, we 'll have to spend big.  Ter Stegen, Leno or Courtious can make into LFC 1st team for a decade, but then they 'll cost much more than 1mn.

       

    ReplyDelete
  14. It could be a good time for him to join actually, because there is a lot of doubt about the future of Reina. So you never know?




    Except we do know, and he will probably play 3 games and leave...

    ReplyDelete
  15. It's not just Liverpool. Neither Manu U nor Arsenal have successfully brought through a keeper from the youth ranks. In fact I can't think of the last decent goalkeeper to come through the ranks at a top premier club.

    ReplyDelete
  16. The statistics with the previous young keepers who never made it into the senior team is down to the more or less solid and continuous performances of Dudek and Reina during the previous decade. With Reina's current unstable performances and lack of certainty of him staying, I think a promising young goalkeeper would have a reason to think this is actually a chance to grab his place as regular keeper at LFC.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is ridiclous. A goalkeeper is the most specialised postion in football with one spot up for grabs for each team. Its very very very rare you see a top team give a young goalkeeper a chance to make it or are they good enough....sure you rarely even see a 19/20 year old first choice keeper in the lower divisions. Most learn the trade as a sub for yeas...

    ReplyDelete
  18. You're right about Cavalieri - my mistake. You're still missing the point though: I'm arguing that no goalkeeper has ever come through the youth system at LFC and made it as a regular keeper. With respect, why do you and others keep ignoring the whole point of the article?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Didn't come through city's ranks was signed at 18 i think you said?

    For what its worth James was awful Sander Westerveld?? Awful.. Chris Kirkland (the Darren Anderton of goalkeeping) Carson.......He went on to big things!!!! Dudek.... will always go down in history for that save but no better than average.

    A lot of young keepers just dont make it, but go on to make a living in lower leagues and very very few go on and make it big... Friedel an exception

    ReplyDelete
  20. And that is relevant because...?

    We're talking about LFC here, not other clubs.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jones, Carson and Kirkland were much older than Hansen, plus, they didn't come through the youth system.

    I'm not arguing that young keepers can't make it; I'm saying that keepers who come through LFC's youth system have no chance of ever making it, and history proves that.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Why does this matter?! We're talking about LFC. Why do people always resort 'Ad Populam Diversion' (i.e. reference to totally irrelevant things instead of addressing the point).

    ReplyDelete
  23. I agree, but do we really think LFC are going to replace Reina with an 18-year old? No chance. The club will do what it's always done: buy an established keeper, and the youngster coming through will languish on the bench for years.

    ReplyDelete
  24. What's ridiculous is how often people like you miss the point. Yes, it's rare for top teams to give young keepers a chance. That's the point! That's why I'm saying that Hansen is destined for failure if he comes to Liverpool.

    ReplyDelete
  25. exactly, besides if we gave the young keeper a chance, he would make mistakes and get hounded out of the club in no time. Keepers need to be experienced to be able to play and not make any mistakes.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Signing at 18, is basically the same thing. He was still pretty young.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Well I suppose we need a replacement for Doni,but that said we have a lot of keepers anyway,plus its hardly likely that if Reina goes in the summer Rodgers will play a young keeper as his replacement

    ReplyDelete
  28. I think he's actually agreeing with you Jaimie.

    It's a proven trend at the other major clubs in the prem that they have issues developing goalkeepers into becoming their starters, just like Liverpool.

    So why would this kid want to come here when it's been proven that the major clubs of the prem don't develop their kids well enough to be their own goalkeepers.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Everything you write Jamie is against Liverpool. Always negative.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I know I can't read this site anymore. I'm all for constructive criticism, but he takes it to far. Shame because you know what you're on about at times, just put too much of a negative spin on things.

    ReplyDelete
  31. too many mistakes

    ReplyDelete
  32. This is an incomplete argument. To give a full picture, you have to highlight the general failure to produce goalkeeping academy graduates for the first team.

    Only City (Hart), Arsenal (Szczesny, who they sound intent on replacing) and Reading (Fedirici, though he was 20 when he arrive) have 'keepers they've developed themselves. Only 3 out of 20, which is a poor success rate.

    England has been criticised for its failure to bring through academy players, so let us look abroad.

    In La Liga only Real, Barca and Betis have academy/young 'keepers who have matured into first choice. 3 again. You could make an argument for 4 if you include Andrés from Osasuna who joined when he was 21 and didn't start a game in La Liga until he was about 24. Gorka Iraizoz, the Bilbao 'keeper who originated in their academy, had to leave for more than half a decade and make a career elsewhere, before he could come back as first choice.

    In Italy, only two sides (Roma and Atalanta) have academy/youth team graduates as their starting goalkeeper, so the idea that Liverpool are exceptionally bad isn't really fair. Also bear in mind that having dominant first choice GKs like Clemence, Grobelaar and (for most of his Liverpool career) Reina pretty much excludes backup 'keepers from progressing.

    Bringing through 'keepers is tough. Look at Ron-Robert Zieler. Some say he is one of the top 'keepers in Germany and a good option for Liverpool long term, but he never even got a sniff at Man United, where he was in their youth teams.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Very good points.

    Now to quote the great Charlie Kelly, "Now let's say you and I go toe-to-toe on Bird Law and see who comes out the victor"

    ReplyDelete
  34. It is directly relevant. You can't judge LFC in a vacuum.

    It would be like me saying, 'I don't care how many goals Man Utd score, why don't Liverpool score 10 per game!?'.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Scott Carson was 19 when we bought him, so he wasn't much older. Kirkland was only 20 too.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Also: just because the 'keepers don't make it at the big club, doesn't mean they are destined to failure. They get better facilities and a quality of training that arguably better prepares them for their career (most young 'keepers don't get a game, even at lower levels).

    Again, I refer you to Zieler or even Reina (who was pushed out at Barca). Even our own 'failures' haven't done that badly:

    Carson went on to be an England international after leaving us.

    Kirkland did the same and likely would have had an excellent career were it not for his injury problems.

    Mihaylov went on to play in the Champions League and started for a while for one the best teams in Holland.

    Going to the 90s-
    David James had a long illustrious career with England and with several teams in the Premiership. Although prone to a gaffe, he was one of the Premership's most athletic 'keepers and a supreme shot stopper.

    Even Tony Warner had a decent career as a journeyman and helped out Fulham a few seasons back.

    Then there is Brad Friedel who was a bit older but still seemed prepared for the rigours of English football when he left Liverpool.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Let me tell you a little lesson, buddy. The cream always rises to the top. And I’m about to show you the white, hot cream of an eighth-grade boy.

    Whoever wins will get a delicious dinner on the other's dollar.

    I'll have the milk steak, boiled over hard, and your finest jelly beans...raw.

    ReplyDelete
  38. your stories get worse by the day.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Smooth... Very, Very Smooth... Very Classy... I'm learning a lot from you right now

    ReplyDelete
  40. jack butland did not have a choice with liverpool they were never in for him

    ReplyDelete
  41. damn you know alot about keepers! nice work

    ReplyDelete
  42. Thanks.

    The twist is that I am a goalkeeper!

    ...or am I!?

    ReplyDelete
  43. Dude, why do you keep saying Liverpool missed out on players when there's no proof Liverpool have even made a bid. So in theory every club who didn't bid 'missed out'

    ReplyDelete
  44. Are you not supposed to let him sign for us first, before trying to encourage him with such stats??

    ReplyDelete
  45. Cannot agree with you here. Gaz's comment is spot on.

    And for the record, Carson did have a go for the first team before leaving.

    My problem with your article is this:
    You obviously want a first team world class keeper at all times.
    You also want a decent back up keeper at all times.
    Goalkeepers don't tend to get injured often. The back up keeper wants to play games, hence the first rounds of the FA and so he will be in goal.
    Therefore, the young goalkeepers from the academy might not get a chance at all, unless theyr'e impressing the coaching staff enough to put them well ahead of the back up keeper. Looking back this past 10 years, I don't think I've seen any young goalies who deserved a place ahead of our #2 at any given time.

    ReplyDelete
  46. In fairness, this guy can learn more from sitting on the bench at Liverpool than sitting on the bench at Viborg. Most of these guys come from the experience and hope that they will be the one that does make the step up. But even if he doesn't, he can learn more at a club like Liverpool than by staying in Denmark. It can very well be, your statistics prove that, that he will never make the first team for us but all of the goalkeepers that left us have become a first choice goalkeeper somewhere else. Bouzanis at Oldham, Michailov at Twente, Hansen at Viborg, Martin at MK Dons etc.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Jaimie, what would you do if you were Hansen and Liverpool came knocking?

    You must consider that most players don't have successful careers at the very highest level. The chances of making it are very slim, especially for goal keepers. Therefore, unproven youngsters have to make the most of any opportunity they get. If they go on to have a professional career, as all of the players you mentioned have had, then it's hardly career suicide.

    Any right thinking 18 year would would jump at the chance to move to Liverpool from Denmark? It's a win win for both parties. The club might unearth a star on the cheap and they have extra back up. The player gets a better platform for his career, better coaching and a good chance of moving on to have a decent career in football.

    I also find the tone of your argument negative. There is a strong implication that Liverpool in particular have a problem with young keepers.

    This is an unnecessary contention. The vast majority of top flight clubs have the same experience with young keepers.

    I would suggest that if young Hansen had the success that Gulacsi, Martin Hansen or Carson had, he'd consider it a success.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Yes, anything remotely critical of LFC - even if fair - is negative. Change the record already. The point I've made is totally valid: no young goalkeeper has ever come through the youth system at LFC and made it as a regular in the first team. That is not negativity, it is a fact, and any young keeper considering Anfield should take that into account.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Ward - under 21 keeper is best keeper at the club by a mile

    ReplyDelete
  50. kop patiece wearing thin12:39 pm, February 14, 2013

    On Monday the Crowd were as quiet ae I have ever heard - RODGERS NEEDS TO GET RID OF BORINI DOUBLE QUICK AND SIGN A GREAT STRIKER AND CENTRE BACK

    ReplyDelete
  51. pepe is off and jones is average. there is your starting place right there.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Agreed, this GK is never going to make it at Anfield.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I like your post because the crowd was quiet, fingers crossed its a bit louder on Sunday.

    Borini is only 21, so we have to give him the benefit of the doubt.  Its not as if we have paid £10m for a striker who has banged 200 goals in 300 games and then completely flopped. 

    ReplyDelete
  54. Jamie your article suggests you want a new first team keeper? If no stop waffling and just come out and say it. Second choice keeper is there as a back up - how can clubs sign big name keepers as thier No.2? Simple answer is they cant as they'd want to play.

    ReplyDelete
  55. It's also a waste of money. 1m here, 1m there, it all adds up. We lost out on Dempsey for a couple of million. We lost out on Cristiano Ronaldo for a few million too.

    I don't see why our academy can't develop better goalies. Gulacsi is better than some that have been coming through, but even he has a long way to go. And there is a void right now. Reina apart from one or two games this season has been awful. Jones isn't good enough. There is opportunity for a young keeper. There hasn't always been that in the past, in fact I can't remember the last time that was the case. Westerveld maybe?

    ReplyDelete