As a follow-on to the recent blog looking at Liverpool's failure to bring through talent, we take a look at the FA Youth Winning Squad of 2006/07 we ask where are they now?
Goalkeepers
Martin Hansen - played in the first leg of the final - now 21 and still at the club went on loan in Aug 2011 to Bradford for a month but extension couldn't be agreed so returned to us – been at the club since he was 16 and is beginning to show signs of wanting to return home to Denmark through lack of opportunities or further progress.
David Roberts - played in the 2nd leg of the final - released by LFC - last heard playing for Aberystwyth Town in 2008 - no longer playing.
Josh Mimms - sub keeper for the 2nd leg of the final - released by LFC, went to York, now at non-league Retford Utd
Defenders
Stephen Darby - played both legs, still a LFC player but continually sent on loan previously Swindon, Notts County and now Rochdale
Michael Burns - played both legs released by LFC, went to Bolton when Sammy Lee took over as manager there, then Carlisle, Stafford Rangers and Newport but now released and not with a club.
Jay Spearing - played both legs, captain of the youth team and finally a fully fledged member of our first team at 23
Robbie Threlfall - played both legs another released player that whilst at LFC went on loan to Hereford, Stockport and Northampton before settling at Bradford after being released by us in 2010.
Steve Irwin – sub both legs eventually released and given a trial by Aberdeen, joined Dutch club Telstar last summer but has now left that club due to homesickness.
Midfielders
Charlie Barnett-played both legs left to join Tranmere in 2008 and now playing for Accrington Stanley.
Jimmy Ryan-played both legs famous for his long shots on both our winning Youth Cup teams left us to make a career for himself at Shrewsbury first, but made a name for himself at Accrington Stanley becoming the first Stanley player to make the PFA League Two team of the year in 2010/11. His impressive performances have now earned him a two year contract at League One side Scunthorpe last summer.
Ryan Flynn-played both legs scored the winner in the 2005/2006 FA Youth Cup final win vs Man City – a young Scottish winger he started his career at Falkirk came to us and then returned to Falkirk on loan and after a successful spell at his first club where he became the first player to score for Falkirk in European football he earned himself a transfer to Sheffield Utd on a 3 year contract in 2011.
Raymond Putterill-played both legs had major injury issues during his time at LFC meaning he was eventually released to play for Halewood Town; he then went to Accrington Stanley where again injury concerns caused him to be released at present he is a free agent without a club.
Sean Highdale – sub for both legs , spent many seasons toiling at LFC but has now finally been released in 2011 to Conference North sideVauxhall Motors.
Ben Parsonage – sub for both legs, released and now playing in New Zealand for semi-professional side Hibiscus Coast AFC
Strikers
Nathan Eccleston – sub for first leg of final, still a LFC player but constantly sent on loan to various clubs (Huddersfield, Charlton and Rochdale respectively so far) not made the expected progress into the first team squad as yet.
Lee Woodward – played in the first leg, sub in the second leg – released by us in 2007 no longer playing professional football.
Craig Lindfield – played in both legs as our main striker, scored in the first leg of the first leg, released by us in 2009, he has acquitted himself well at Macclesfield and then at Accrington Stanley where he still currently plays.
Craig Lindfield now at Accrington Stanley (Image from ExpressandStar)
Astrit Ajdarevic – played in the 2nd leg, released by us in 2009 , went on loan to Leicester, then returned to his native Sweden to play for Orebro SK, now at IFK Norrkoping and also playing for the under 21s for Sweden.Summary
Of the 18 players we had in our squad for the 2006/2007 FA Youth Cup final squad the breakdown 5 seasons later is as follows :-
4 players still at club
Martin Hansen, Stephen Darby, Jay Spearing, Nathan Eccleston
9 Players plying their trade elsewhere
Josh Mimms, Rob Threlfall, Charlie Barnett, Jimmy Ryan, Ryan Flynn, Sean Highdale, Ben Parsonage, Craig Lindfield, Astrit Ajdarevic
5 Players no longer playing
David Roberts, Michael Burns, Steve Irwin, Raymond Putterill, Lee Woodward
So with 22 per cent of the 18 players still at the club it would be good to know that 2 of the 4 players left could make it as regular players for the first team squad but I personally don’t believe our club has given the youth players a chance to stake a claim – they may just think the players are not quite good enough but my theory is you will never know until you have tried them.
Raymond Putterill-played both legs had major injury issues during his time at LFC meaning he was eventually released to play for Halewood Town; he then went to Accrington Stanley where again injury concerns caused him to be released at present he is a free agent without a club.
Sean Highdale – sub for both legs , spent many seasons toiling at LFC but has now finally been released in 2011 to Conference North sideVauxhall Motors.
Ben Parsonage – sub for both legs, released and now playing in New Zealand for semi-professional side Hibiscus Coast AFC
Strikers
Nathan Eccleston – sub for first leg of final, still a LFC player but constantly sent on loan to various clubs (Huddersfield, Charlton and Rochdale respectively so far) not made the expected progress into the first team squad as yet.
Lee Woodward – played in the first leg, sub in the second leg – released by us in 2007 no longer playing professional football.
Craig Lindfield – played in both legs as our main striker, scored in the first leg of the first leg, released by us in 2009, he has acquitted himself well at Macclesfield and then at Accrington Stanley where he still currently plays.
Astrit Ajdarevic – played in the 2nd leg, released by us in 2009 , went on loan to Leicester, then returned to his native Sweden to play for Orebro SK, now at IFK Norrkoping and also playing for the under 21s for Sweden.
Summary
Of the 18 players we had in our squad for the 2006/2007 FA Youth Cup final squad the breakdown 5 seasons later is as follows :-
4 players still at club
Martin Hansen, Stephen Darby, Jay Spearing, Nathan Eccleston
9 Players plying their trade elsewhere
Josh Mimms, Rob Threlfall, Charlie Barnett, Jimmy Ryan, Ryan Flynn, Sean Highdale, Ben Parsonage, Craig Lindfield, Astrit Ajdarevic
5 Players no longer playing
David Roberts, Michael Burns, Steve Irwin, Raymond Putterill, Lee Woodward
So with 22 per cent of the 18 players still at the club it would be good to know that 2 of the 4 players left could make it as regular players for the first team squad but I personally don’t believe our club has given the youth players a chance to stake a claim – they may just think the players are not quite good enough but my theory is you will never know until you have tried them.
The point is well made regarding whether young players are being given the opportunities in the first team. A supplementary question is why are Darby and Eccleston still at the club?
ReplyDeleteHansen’s day of reckoning is coming soon with the rumoured departure of Doni by the end of January or in the close season. Darby’s career at Liverpool is as good as over with at least three players ahead of him for the right back position and this for someone who Jamie Carragher once described as a future Liverpool captain has seemingly failed to train on in racing parlance.
Hammill, Ince and Guthrie (especially the latter), are showing that we do produce players .capable of playing at the top two levels.
To add some flesh on the bones, Liverpool’s youth team have extremely successful in the last five or so years with winning two FA Youth Cups and losing another in 2009. In addition, the club has brought in a succession of teenager progenies and during that period only Lucas has made it through from those bought in and in hindsight he conversely may not have been ready may hindered his progress. As you say, only Spearing and Kelly making it through from players who have gone right through the ranks.
I have no problem with players coming through the ranks and playing for someone else, just as long as we produce players capable of doing a job for the first team. Man City are different case in point because they can afford to let a player of the calibre of Daniel Sturridge to leave because they have the financial clout to buy. Arsenal let go Premiership quality players, but real quality players are able to get through like Wiltshire and Gibbs get through and others such as Ramsey, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain who were bought in make in through as teenagers because they have shown the quality and Wenger is not backward in coming forward where his youngsters are concerned thus he can often determined who will make the grade. Late developers can also blossom later and maybe missed, but on the whole we need to be up with the best at getting the best out our youngsters.