Thank you for reminding me that “it’s not Playstation”. It isn’t entirely clear which reality I currently inhabit, but confirmation that "it’s not Playstation means I can at least eliminate that possibility.
Iraola hasn’t reached the same conclusion as Slot because he kept Koumas around and actually appears interested in developing Nyoni.
Liverpool have received approximately £230’000,000 in fees for academy graduates since 2020 so they are doing fine.They also appear to have pivoted to bringing in elite talents from overseas at around the U19 age group. Which indicates that there is at least a strategy in place.
Koumas was slated to leave on loan, but for the changes in transfer decision wrt the RW and Hugo’s injury.
Nyoni’s development is simply a continuation from last season.
My point on the academy remains. Madrid earned about half of the amount you quoted from sales from their academy just this season alone…
The reality about academies is that you will sell some players, and that on its own is a measure of success.
Some will fit squarely, some will not. Some will emerge at the "wrong’ time, some will at a time of need in the position.
I often use the example of Dani Carvajal and Hakimi. The former went from an academy breakthrough, to not playing a single game for the first team, then sold to Leverkusen where he became 2nd best RB in the league behind Lahm.
Then a buy-back to Madrid where today he’s seen as best RB in their history…
The latter emerged at a time the former was imperious, went on loan also to the Bundesliga, returned but was sold, and then became the best RB in the world…
Quite some talk about academy and comparisons with Barca (La Masia) and Real. But that seems like comparing apples and oranges. You sign young local lads from within a specific boundary/area (thats why its local). I would call that “catchment area”. I am not from Europe or UK. But its fairly well known that our catchment area is not that vast. So its either pick for free the best from a small lot that you have or go shopping.
English players have always been expensive since 2011-2012, beginning with Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson (35m and 20m were huge for young players in 2011). Henderson would have been 60-80m these days.
In comparison, we bought Coutinho for just 8.5 million.
In the same situation I’d bet money that Slot bins him. The difference between the two managers is that even though Lewis is limited technically Iraola understands that his strengths can be utilised in specific circumstances. Slot wasn’t interested unless players met his technical threshold
Same with Nyoni who Slot appeared to resent playing.
Liverpool are not Madrid. The are a bigger club. Liverpool do not reside in Spain. The laws, and rules that inform recruitment the different. As is the general demography and diversity of the pool of available talent. I don’t understand why you think this is an appropriate comparison.
According to Kieran Mcguire’s Transfer Price Index model the Andy Carrol fee makes the top 10 most expensive Liverpool transfers (when adjusted for inflation) list. Apparently works out as approximately £100m in today’s money.
Well, during his time here nobody expected TAA to leave, and most also expected Robbo to play at his prime level for a few more years than he actually did.
I think he will end up a better RB than post-injury Bradley. He is already better than Pong.
It became quite fashionable on Twitter to denigrate him for having the temerity to not be Trent just about the time he broke through.
I don’t know if you remember Jurgen talking about social media and it’s impact on young players? Well I’m pretty sure it was because of the way that horrible corner of the internet had treated Neco after a League Cup game.
Thank God I have never been on Twitter. My only online connection with Liverpool fans is here, and I’ve never seen anyone criticise Williams. He was a good lad who did his best and was unlucky enough to be behind a prodigious talent. He knew that, we knew that, and so there were no hard feelings either side.
I think Inter were mad about that for quite some time.
Sturridge was a very good deal as well, even with his injuries he delivered quite prolifically on the pitch for us!
Wrt Koumas, that’s just speculation on your part as there’s no way of knowing what he would’ve done in a situation where we were short on strikers as a result of a long term injury…
On Nyoni, you really haven’t said anything. The data clearly proves that Slot was using him in a progressive manner as his appearances increased.
On the academy, I specifically made the point about different rules in Spain and England. But I also highlighted the specific issue of technical development of players…