[KingEros]

Originally Posted by Xgenre

Times have changed. A youth policy is no longer about developing kids from 9 only anymore.

Says who?? Then, why does LFC Academy still exist??
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/academy/

Under the guidance of Academy Director and Liverpool legend Steve Heighway, the Academy is a world-class facility designed to give every young boy on the club's books the best possible chance of following in the footsteps of some of the club's greatest players.
Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Jamie Carragher all came through the youth ranks of Liverpool FC to prove that locally produced players can develop into world class stars having been groomed by the Reds from an early age. Hopefully there will be many more on the way over the coming years.

Originally Posted by Xgenre

With a geographical restriction to protect smaller clubs in place, clubs can only source for young talent (under 16) within a geographical boundary. You can't just take anyone in anymore.

Not true ... the geographical restrictions only apply to UK. Very reason why the bigger clubs with endless resources now start to invite young boys from across Europe & beyond to join their Academy.
In other words, if I were the dad of Hariss Harun (our next potential of a Fandi, if you dunno) ... I'd be asking McMahon or Whelan to take a good look at him for recommendations to a place at the Academy. I'm sure that'd be a better thing than have him fast-tracked into the Young Lions squad at a tender age of 16.
For the record, besides the skills to captain & win MVP for the last 2 Lion City Cups, this boy is 1.78m & 74kg at 16 ... well-built enough to make good on the European stage, IMHO.

Originally Posted by Xgenre

If you wish to poach any youngster under 16, must wait till they turn 16 before u can buy them over. (That's why Theo Walcott can only join Arsenal at 16.) With such new restrictions in place, it will be harder to develop a 1st 11 player.

Wrong ... thought you should have picked up the facts from what I said previously: http://forum.sammyboy.com/showpost.p...&postcount=886

1) Only at 16, are the boys considered of legal age to sign professional terms ... first options still go to their own Academy, whoever is left unsigned then gets thrown out into the open market.
2) Once on professional terms, any other club can come enquire about a transfer after getting the clearance from the "owner" club ... "poaching" is when Southampton didn't agree to let Walcott talk to Arsenal.
3) For the record, Walcott went on professional terms with Southampton, probably 300-500 pounds per week ... Arsenal came in & bought him off Southampton at what price??
4) Arsenal also did such a transaction with Barcelona for Fabregas ... why does a big & rich club like Barca need to sell (like Southampton), you ask?? Well, nobody can guarantee whether a 16/17-year-old exceling in a regional age-group competition can last the pace & make good against the rougher & tougher men in the big leagues.
5) However, for every Fabregas & Walcott, how many more have fallen by the wayside in Arsenal's books?? Well, that's what Rafa has recently criticised ... but where did I read this, huh??

With the restrictions you mentioned, it is still very much just routine to produce First-XI players, provided your Academy is doing the right thing ... this is simply becoz the coaching methodology & content is all the same throughout one club. What is really left to Heaven's Will is producing another Maradona, Platini, Zidane or even Dalglish!!!

Originally Posted by Xgenre

Clubs like Liverpool & Arsenal are buying good players (between 16 and 20) and letting them further develop in their respective Academies.

Again, you got things wrong ...
Once on professional terms, they got nothing to do with the Academy ... when still under the charge of the Academy, these boys also study there.
If & when players are signed at those tender age, they get thrown into the deep end direct, either amongst the First Team or the Reserves Team - no more nurturing in the Academy.

Originally Posted by Xgenre

I think we have an Arabian teenage striker. We bought and then sold a Spanish teenage winger last season.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/idrizaj/
Idrizaj does sound Arabic ... but he's actually a blond Austrian & has nothing to do with the LFC Academy

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/youth/awang/
Awang definitely sound Arabic ... but he's true blue Liverpudlian, learning te ropes at the LFC Academy

As for the sale last season, you sure you're NOT thinking of Hosemi or Medjani??

Originally Posted by Xgenre

Read through the Liverpool website please... that's my point.

Think you need to do more than that, no??