1.) 25 Aug 2016
25 Aug 2016 16:50:31
Not concerned, these things are cyclical and most academies have struggled anyway. It's just the way the game is going I'm afraid.

2.) 25 Aug 2016
25 Aug 2016 17:00:49
Not really its going to get worst with the money in football now.

3.) 25 Aug 2016
25 Aug 2016 17:01:39
Brannagan is the first real beneficiary of the changes Rafa made. It takes years for ground level changes to be seen at the top.

Just wait till the likes of Woodburn, Phillips, Maguire come into the picture.

Players we have taken from other clubs are progressing much better also. See Ojo, Chirivella and Stewart.

It's a gradual process mate. The best thing to do with a young lad is get him in the academy at about 7-10 years old and nature him through for a decade. Then you see the true improvements made. Rafa joined the club nearly 12 years ago so when you factor in that he probably needed at least 3 years to fully implement the changes, we are really looking at 2018 as a realistic year for when we should see some serious talent coming out of the academy.

Also worth pointing out that selling Canos, Ibe, Sinclair, Smith, Rossiter etc for around £25m is a very good return for the what in football terms, a tiny investment that is the academy. That is a marked improvement in its own right from losing the likes of Spearing, Robinson, Coady, Gulacsi and Morgan for less money combined than we got for Ibe alone! So whilst the first team has seen little reward as of yet, it is clear to see that the academy are producing players of more quality.

Patience brother!

4.) 25 Aug 2016
25 Aug 2016 17:42:44
thanks for all the responses, I agree, the game is going that way. Going by twitter some fans would rather have a corrupt chinese org take over because they have billions to spend, than invest in youth and let Klopp and coaches develop.

I think it's because growing up you see world class players coming through, from Liverpool, and we just don't see it these days.