I am going to write about a situation Arsenal were in a few years ago that has a lot of similarities to our current situation. Arsenal fans and pundits put a lot of praise, hope and hype on this situation, only to end up disappointed. A few years back Arsenal had a great array of talented young players who many believed would go on to be top players. Many of them began to break into the team as teenagers, and many believed that once these players had come of age, Arsenal would have a team of great players. They believed it was just a matter of time. Once these players gained experience, fitness, strength and maturity they would be great. This young squad included Cesc Fabrigas, Gael Clichy, Mattius Flamini, Alex Song, Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey, Carlos Vela and Eduardo. For many of these players the predictions of them growing into top, title winning players was correct. Just not for Arsenal. Fabrigas and Song are Barcelona players. Flamini is at Milan, Clichy and Nasri are at Man City, Eduardo and Vela have left but not lived up to hype, and Walcott wants out. Ramsey remains, but unfortunately had his progression dented by a big injury. I believe this is largely because Arsenal failed to convince them that they could win titles at Arsenal. They didnt invest in the experienced players to play with them, and failed to improve in the few years before they broke into the team. This meant they had a mix of talented young players, average players and Van Persie. The youngsters were not inspired by what was going on around them. We currently have Sterling, Suso, Wisdom, Robinson, Shelvey, Yesil, Morgan, Robinson, Coates, Kelly, Henderson and Allen. We need to make sure these players believe the future is bright and that they WILL win titles with Liverpool. We dont want to loose them like Arsenal did. If we dont inspire them, we will be stuck where we are for years.
Good point, I agree that we need to make the most from this group and agree that the right combination of youth and experience is important. I don't want a young striker bought in January but someone 24 - 26 and already with a proven record.
I remember a friend of mine telling me a couple of years ago that Arsenal would win the league. He said this the day before the season started. He said that all these young players were getting better each year and that they were becoming top players. Arsenal beat Everton 4-0 on the opening day. I think they finished third.
I think the only difference I can think of is that our senior members are very committed. The likes of Reina, Agger, Lucas, Skrtel and Suarez have a real passion for this club and the city.
I think an important thing that will inspire young players is making them think this: 'Wow I am receiving a pass from Luis Suarez'. They want team mates who they themselves want to emulate through their own careers. I agree Reina, Agger, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard and Suarez help.
Don't forget about the tags each and every one of them received for a while at Arsenal- The next: VIera, Henry, Bergkamp, Keown, etc. Hopefully we can avoid that aspect as well and so far we have shown that new boys can make the step up.
Arsenal had CL football to offer them & they still didn't stay. However, when it's Madrid & Barca calling who's going to say no thanks? with respect, I don't think the lads you're talking about are in that class anyway, so I shouldn't worry your heads about it tbh.
Shelvey gets 'the next Gerrard'. Some of our players get compared to players else where. Suso - Iniesta, Allen - Xavi.
I don't get this Shelvey - Gerrard thing, I like Shelvey and think he will be a very good player for us but he's not and imo will never be in the same league as Gerrard.
He has a few few similarities, but also some differences. Gerrard looks more versatile. Mainly because he is solid defensively.
Ultimately if a player reaches a certain level he will either want big boy wages, to win trophies, or to play in Spain. Liverpool like Arsenal can offer none of these..
Play in Spain isnt true. The English league is the more popular one. Swansea signed Hernandez, Southampton signed Ramirez. Playing PL has great pulling power by itself. We are still in the early stages with these youngsters. We can get to being trophy winners soon enough.
Losing (and winning for that matter) year after year get boring. You get players who want new challenges, new clubs, fans to win over, new trophies, a career. Every youngster dreams of being a one-club man but very few actually stay at one club. PL has great pulling power, but once you've won it, what's keeping you from leaving? Ronaldo left to go to Madrid - who weren't doing well for the past 5 years. He wanted a new challenge. A certain Owen springs to mind when you look at Raheem. Similar players, similar styles. So we have to insure that they're happy here, and that they don't get bored after a few years.
Malaga to Arsenal is a huge step up in Cazorla's career, akin to leaving Lotus Road for Emirates; I am sure he will be on similar money, £100k a week is very rare in Spain, even at the 'â¬Billionaire's Train Sets' like Malaga. Liverpool do need to take heed of the recent history of Arsenal, but it has little to do with recruitng maintaining your vastly over-rated (wishful thinking perhaps fairer) younger players, the list which appears in this thread is utterly uninspiring & any Club in the Premier League could hold up a comparable group. AFC would appear to be the benchmark of success for your Owners. Profit & Champions League participation. Fans being fleeced, always more where they came from. Winning irrelevant. All served with a ridiculous belief that FFP will make the more ambitious Clubs falter.
I understand why he compares him to Owen. Pace, energy, runs at defenders, light on his feet, attitude.
