Slim wrote:nottsblue wrote:A question for Doug or Ted who regularly see these players, or anyone else who does. It's in relation to the Sterling thread and injury thread.
Have we got anyone near to Sterling? Or to a forward? Ie, is it worth spending huge sums on a Sterling or a Bony or a Benteke? Because if we have lads who look promising and may even be better in a couple of years, we are surely better to let these come through even if it means a potless year or two?
That's a good question, we hear about these lads being this good and yet they end up being shipped or loaned never to return.
Is there anyone good enough to hit the 1st team running or is there no way to tell at this stage?
The last line is the answer.
I don't see them in the flesh that often, so Doug has a better handle on it from that point of view, I'm just avid at watching every broadcast or video I can find.
All I can vouch for, is the talent we have, at the age they are now. It means nothing in regard to the first team, until they actually do it at that level.
There are a decent number of exceptions of course, but on the whole, the players who have had the most impact at a young age in this country, usually have either build, pace or both. For every Scholes, there are 20 Lennons or Wellbecks.
So let's have a look at Pozo. Great footballer, decent but not electric pace, not especially well built. In all honesty, a waste of time in the games he's played in the first team. But for one, he has only played two games & secondly, it is not his position. He has applied himself to a difficult task.
Doug will tell you; Pozo is really talented, & I mean REALLY talented. But you have seen him twice now. Can you tell me if he is a guaranteed future success or failure at that level ? Can you tell by those two games, if he will be good, average or shite in a couple of months, if he played ten games ? I can't & I KNOW the lad is brilliant.
But he may look exactly the same, if he plays ten games in his favourite position. He may look the same in two years & be out of the club. On the other hand, he may suddenly skin three players, play & 1-2 with Silva & curl the goal of the season into the top corner. He is capable of that. He could score the goal which Barkley scored the other night. He can do that. He can play the kind of football Xavi & Iniesta, & Silva play. Will he ?
Barker has pace & is tricky as fuck & intelligent. I would say, he could come on v Palace & tear them a new arsehole. I would also say, he could come on & just lose the ball & be nothing. Ambrose is small but super talented & fast. Same with him.
All I will say, is that amongst the age groups we have enough players with sufficient talent, to potentially make a whole team & more. But I have no fucking idea whatsoever, which ones will succeed if fast tracked or will do it later or which ones will lose their nerve or be too lightweight.
But we need to remember that Sterling for instance, was very hit & miss when he first came into Liverpool's team. Then was great. Now is unreliable but talented but may suddenly go up another level again..
I would expect Barker to at least be able to replicate that performance level given the same opportunity as Sterling. But like Sterling, he may well just be hit & miss for a year or so before it all clicks. But I want to see him & Ambrose, & plenty of these kids, used as wild cards, to see which ones take to it early.
At least one of them will, if given the opportunity.
Iheanacho by the way, I would expect to be a nailed on first team 4th striker by the end of the season if he starts in Jan. He is different.
