RAFA Benitez has launched a “Kop Idol†style search for new talent for Liverpool’s first team. The Reds boss has called up half a dozen of Liverpool’s most promising youngsters to train with the first team squad – and challenged them to prove they are good enough to stay there. Benitez is keen to see how much progress has been made by some of the Reds reserves during the last 12 months and is pitching them in with the senior stars in the early stages of Liverpool’s pre-season training. Spanish trio Dani Pacheco, Mikel San Jose and Danny Ayala, Hungarians Krisztian Nemeth and Peter Gulacsi and locally produced central defender Martin Kelly are all being given a chance to stake their claim to stay with the big boys. All six are rubbing shoulders with first team regulars including Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Martin Skrtel as the Liverpool manager puts his players through their paces. With fellow reserve regulars Jay Spearing and Stephen Darby already established in the first team set up, Benitez is keen to give some of the younger members of his squad the chance to shine ahead of the coming campaign. He said: “We have already had conversations with the likes of Pacheco, Ayala and San Jose and we have told them that it depends on them. “They are now training with the first team squad and this is their chance to show what they can do ahead of the new season.†from Tony Barrett Liverpool Echo
This is cool. Id love to see some of the young lads get a good run like Insua did last season. It would save the club a fortune if it worked out. I think Nemeth and Pacheco would be great. Although Pacheco may still be a little small
theres nothing unusual here this happens every pre season and it happened last season as well pacheco had a great pre season last season
Good idea by Rafa..start to blood them in early and lets hope for the best with one or two of them.There confidence will be sky high training with the senior team and they can learn from the best players in the world.
Super super idea. Nothing to lose from it (as long as there are enough pre-season games to get the first teamers match fit) and increases the chances of one of these lads breaking through. Really looking forward to the friendlies now.
Pacheco was very impressive last pre-season. Hopefully he can do the same again, and kick on from there
Amoo was the player who impressed me the most from last years Youth Cup run. Bit disappointed he wasn't included. Is he younger than the others?? On a sidenote, Ayala hasn't impressed me at all in the very few(maybe 3) times I've seen him.
was ayala not released? i dont think he was but i cant think of the central defender who was released?
Yeah listening to his uncle on this is anfield last night kind of indicating that he's getting a bit disheartened at the club, he's 21 so maybe its not going to work out for him at Liverpool but he should definitely get the pre season with the 1st team.
Mikel Roque? I think thats the one you're thinkng off. Also Jack Hobbs was sold. Amoo is only a youth cup player, the rest are reserve players or have been on loan playing 1st team. I will go out on a limb here and state 'Martin Kelly will make it at this club'
What about el zhar? anyone think he could actually have a future at liverpool? Just saying this cause I read on .tv that he's "eager to prove his worth". I know thats what everone says but this lad did get a few premier league appearances last season and sisn't look too out of place. I know these appearances were against much lower opposition but he did show some strenght and didn't get pushed off the ball too easily. Offers something different coming off the bench. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N164962090707-1152.htm
He needs to improve his shooting imo he had a few chances last season & failed to put any away which suprized me because he scored a cracker against Cardiff on his debut i think.
Nabil El Zhar has signed a contract extention today to keep him at the club until 2012, every season has seen him used more and more and who knows how much time he'll get in the title winning season but he might get a premiership medal for himself if he plays enough this season!!! http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N165002090711-1049.htm