Last week Rafa Benitez was savaged by the press for playing the kids. We were told that the Liverpool kids didn't deserve to be on the same pich as he Arsenal boys. Maybe so but we can't blame Benitez for this imbalance. Just look at the price tags. Baptista (hardly a kid) ?13m, Walcott ?5 (rising to ?12m), Denilson ?3.5m. Look at the 10 years Wenger's had compared to Benitez' 2 to work on a youth team. Before Benitez arrived Liverpool's young imports were sub-standard. OK, Houllier bought Le Tallec and Sinama Pongolle but left them to mature and develope in France with Le Havre. This was because of his lack of belief in Liverpool's youth system coupled to the fact that he was a driving force behind the French youth system that produced the likes of Anelka, Henry, Gallas, Zidane etc... The logic was sound from a technical point of view but it meant them being sheltered from the rough and tumble that is The Premiership, even at reserve level. The new look Liverpool 1st team is taking time to fit together, why do we expect a bunch of kids to be quicker at gelling. Give these talened boys time together to develope their skills and the fruit will be as sweet as a Dalglish pass.
Spot on - I agree with everything you say. Some of Rafa's youngsters will come through...just not for another 3 years I reckon. People have been roundly slating Palletta, for example, but he's only 20, and will take time to adjust. He's also not the quickest so playing him next to Hyppia is a mistake, in my view. He still showed some very skillful touches when I've seen him though. The likes of Anderson, Hobbs and Hammill also look good prospects...and Rafa will keep looking for young talent. Just keep the faith!
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Just look at the price tags. Baptista (hardly a kid) £13m, Walcott £5 (rising to £12m), Denilson £3.5m.</div>Difference being Wenger's players can play football and have a first touch. bar Gerrard there is not a single Liverpool player with those attributes.
