Date: 3rd October 2013 at 12:16pm
Written by:

The Premier League is getting tougher and tougher for local young players to break into. With all the money in the game today and the need for instant success, top clubs are opting to bring in foreign, ready made players instead of give the youth players a chance. This is a problem that Steven Gerrard sees but the Liverpool captain is happy with the way Brendan Rodgers is trying to give youth a chance in the first team.

“Managers are only ever eight to 10 games away from the sack so to take risks on unknown young players is difficult,” Gerrard said.

“Brendan Rodgers has been fantastic at this club because he’s been bold and brave and he’s given the young players a chance.

“But there’s no two ways about it, it’s a lot more difficult to break through nowadays because of the standard of players and because there is a lot more foreigners about.

“What I tell young players when they come down to Melwood is that the hard work is only just starting for them.

”A lot of players fall away when they come to Melwood because they think the job is done. They become big time. They become footballers for the wrong reasons.

”For me, my professional days started and the hard work began when I was invited to train full-time with the first team.

”That’s when you have to move people out of your position and show the manager you are better than what’s in front of you.”

In recent times we have seen Sterling, Suso, Kelly, Wisdom and Ibe be given a chance in the Liverpool first team. They have all done reasonably well but it is still difficult to say if any of them will be able to make the next step and become first team regulars.

Last season Sterling was a regular fixture in the side until he burnt out and this season he has not gotten much of a look in yet.
Suso for me is the brightest prospect out of the lot and he has been sent out on loan for the season to Spain and hopefully regular first team football will bode well for him and when he returns he will be a better player.
Martin Kelly has been dubbed as the future of Liverpool’s defence. Having started out as a centre back he has made all his Liverpool first team appearances at right back. Injuries have plagued his career thus far and hopefully he can get over being on the injury table and start playing more games and fulfilling his potential.
Wisdom, just like Kelly is also a centre back but playing at right back right now. He was said to be going out on loan this season in a bid for regular first team football but that loan never came through as Glen Johnson picked up an injury.

The future seems in good hands for Liverpool now and it is clear to see why Gerrard gives praise to Rodgers for having faith in the youth. Hopefully more quality players can make the breakthrough and we unearth the next Gerrard or Carragher.

 

Comments are closed.