Benitez’s failed youth: Why United really have the upperhand over Liverpool
It’s about time players like Darby and Spearing got a real chance at Liverpool, because if Rafa had the guts to pick them, he’d be preparing the open top bus route right now.
In 2007-08 Liverpool destroyed the opposition in the reserve league, yet only El Zhar has come through since, while somehow Fergie can pick Macheda at 17 and he scores the 2 crucial goals that win United the league by 4 points.
In fact Man Utd didn’t have to pay for O’Shea (30 appearances), Giggs (28), Fletcher (26), Scholes (21), Evans (17), Neville (16), Brown (8), Macheda (4), Possebon (3), Gibson (3), Welbeck (3), Eckersley (2), Possebon (3), Eckersley (2), Campbell (1) and Martin (1), while for Liverpool only Carragher (38), Gerrard (31), El Zhar (15) and Plessis (1) were brought through from the youth system.
With so many more home-grown players United save a huge amount of their transfer kitty for the big star signings, while Liverpool have to pay silly transfer fees for a mediocre cast of bench-warmers like Dossena (7mil), Lucas (6mil), Benayoun (5mil) and N’Gog (1.5mil), just to make up the numbers on what United get for free.
With new Anfield costing a bundle to design let alone build, Liverpool need all freebie players they can get their hands on. Rafa must’ve learnt from signing Torres and Mascherano, trophies are won by buying truly world class players, not a reserve right-back you could easily have trained up from your kids.
The stats say Liverpool and Man U pay the same on transfer fees most seasons and yet Man U always seem to spend bigger; this is the answer. When Man U spends they spend big and Liverpool can’t match it as they’re buying reserves. This is Rafa’s fault and it’s mainly because of two major weaknesses.
Firstly, he’s too conservative with picking young or English players and secondly he’s too stubborn, because Rick Parry was overseeing the youth team and he didn’t want to go to him or change is mind. Signing Robbie Keane, as bad a decision as it was, didn’t ultimately cost Liverpool; United overpaid on players like Berbatov, it’s just that they made sure to give themselves a second go.
short and sweet, and spot on.
Lauri Dalle valle
Daniel Pachecho
Krizstian Nemeth
Gerardo Bruna
Nicola Saric
I think we are still to see the best of Rafas Youth revolution. Certainly these palyers are better then any youth players Man United have!!!!
hate to burst the bubble, but arsenal won the youth league convincingly and have a much stronger youth system than either of these teams
@pete – each to their own, but daniel is right that the liverpool reserves comprehensively won the 2007-08 championship, NOT the youth league.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Reserve_League_2007-08
interesting nemeth with 9 goals was the league’s top scorer, followed by brouwer with 8. goal scoring talent right on your doorstep! good article daniel.
dude, i know you’re not a real journalist, but can you at least pretend to have some journalistic integrity?
your bias is startling.
@Rickz: Firstly, you don’t know much about Utd’s young talent do you?
Secondly, we’ve been hearing about Liverpools developing youth for several years now but as the article says where or when will any actually make the grade?
Ferguson brought Evans and Rafael through this season and both were short-listed for the young player award. The likes of Fabio, Possebon, Gibson, Welbeck and Macheda were also fully blooded, including most playing in a League Cup Final and an FA Cup semi.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating and the article is spot on.
When it comes to fans boasting about youth strength it’s a case of either put up or shut up. Utd put up, Liverpool don’t.
I saw the Man utd youngster called…Petrucci? He was the best they have and he hasn’t even played yet!