Raheem Sterling Scores 5...Future re Youth Develop

[Macmoish]

Raheem Sterling

LIVERPOOL OFFICIAL SITE

Rampant Reds rout Southend

Raheem Sterling scored five times as Liverpool U18s stormed into the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup with a 9-0 win over Southend United at Anfield.

Three strikes in six first-half minutes put the Reds into an unassailable lead, with Sterling bagging a brace and Conor Coady firing home from the penalty spot all before the midway point of the opening period.

Sterling completed his hat-trick on 35 minutes and Stephen Sama and Adam Morgan headers made it six for Liverpool before half-time.

The winger added his fourth and the Reds' seventh on 56 minutes with another jinking run and finish.

Sterling bagged a fifth with a cool finish on 85 minutes and Toni Silva wrapped up the scoring as Rodolfo Borrell's side booked their place in the last eight in emphatic fashion.

The U18s had comprehensively dispatched Notts County and Crystal Palace en route to the fifth round - two results that contributed to the seven-match unbeaten run they took into their showdown with Southend.

Borrell's men kicked-off aiming to set up a mouth-watering last eight clash with either Manchester United or Newcastle as they continued their bid to reach a fourth Youth Cup final in just six years.

The Spanish tactician named the same starting XI that had taken to the field against Palace in early January, while Southend included two players with first-team experience in their team in the shape of Alex Woodyard and Julian Okai.

The hosts nearly made a dream start when Jack Robinson almost somewhat inadvertently steered Suso's corner onto the base of the post inside the opening 60 seconds.

Sterling went closest next, cutting in from the left and curling an effort over the bar on 15 minutes.

But the Shrimpers were in no mood to lie down in the opening exchanges and they almost broke the deadlock themselves moments later. Woodyard's cross was misjudged by Duane Ofori-Acheampong, but the ball dropped invitingly for James Stevens.

The Southend skipper scuffed his attempt goalwards, but the ball was creeping into the bottom corner until Sama cleared off the line.

It was a real let off for Liverpool - but the visitors were soon made to pay for their profligacy.



It was Sterling who put the Reds into an 18th minute lead. Tyrell Belford's long goalkick was allowed to bounce through and find the winger's run, and he made no mistake with a composed finish beyond Daniel Bentley.

If there was a slight suggestion of fortune in Liverpool's opener, then Sterling's second on 21 minutes was all down to sheer talent.

Collecting the ball on the left wing, the diminutive No.7 surged into the area, dancing beyond three Southend defenders, before dispatching an effort into the Kop end goal.

Three minutes later and Borrell's side added a third. Morgan was brought down inside the area by Dominic Iorfa, allowing Coady the chance to crash a penalty into the roof of the net.

Liverpool were totally dominant - and Sterling duly completed his hat-trick on 34 minutes.

Craig Roddan's challenge on Stevens 25 yards from goal allowed the ball to break for Sterling inside the Southend box. The end result was never in doubt as he finished with aplomb.

The Reds were showing no signs of letting up and Sama headed home Krisztian Adorjan's corner to make it 5-0 eight minutes before the break.

There was still time for another before the break and Morgan nodded home Adorjan's free-kick to extend the Reds' advantage even further in stoppage time.

The hosts' onslaught continued after half-time and after Sterling's swerving effort had narrowly evaded the post, substitute Toni Silva saw an effort deflected onto the crossbar by Bentley.

But Sterling was not to be denied his fourth and on 56 minutes, he again burst beyond three Southend defenders before slipping a low shot out of Bentley's reach and into the top corner. It was simply sublime stuff from the former QPR teenager.



Substitutes Joshua Sumner and Jason Banton combined well on 67 minutes, resulting in the former rolling a strike against the post, while Ofori-Acheampong looped over on a rare sortie forward from the guests.

With five minutes left on the clock, Sterling guided a low shot across Bentley and into the bottom corner to claim his fifth of the night before Silva wrapped up the scoring on 90 minutes.

It proved to be the final act on a night that will live long in the memory for Liverpool fans, and Borrell's troops can now look forward to an Anfield quarter-final date with either Manchester United or Newcastle.

On this form, neither of those two sides will be looking forward to the clash with the Reds.

Liverpool U18s: Belford, Flanagan, Robinson, Sama, McGiveron, Coady, Sterling, Roddan, Morgan (Sumner 46), Adorjan (Silva 46), Suso (Banton 64). Subs: Stephens, Regan.

Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Raheem Sterling

www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/rampant-reds-rout-southend

[Macmoish]

www.101greatgoals.com/raheem-sterling-scores-5-goals-as-liverpool-beat-southend-9-0-in-fa-youth-cup/83779/

[harlowranger]

Great stuff , well done Raheem , shame he's not a Ranger, like Kyle Walker he's going to go far !

[Bushman]

Quality

[Macmoish]

And sort of ties in....

Guardian/Owen Gibson

Football League warns that up to 40 clubs could scrap youth schemes
• Impact of Premier League plan for academies is feared
• 'Don't sacrifice kids,' says Football League chairman

The Football League has warned that 30 to 40 clubs could abandon their youth development schemes, and some could go out of business, due to the knock-on effects of a new Premier League plan to overhaul the academy system in an attempt to bring through more homegrown English players.

It also warned that the welfare of young players aged between 14 and 16 was at risk from plans to scrap the existing limits on Premier League clubs recruiting from within 90 minutes' travelling time and open residential facilities that could attract them from around the country.

The Football League chairman, Greg Clarke, said he welcomed many elements of a new draft blueprint from the Premier League that is billed as a great leap forward in terms of vastly increasing the amount of time coaches are able to spend with young players and catching up with the systems in Germany, Spain, France and Holland.

But appearing before a parliamentary select committee on football governance on Tuesday he will say that existing proposals to overhaul the compensation system for young players moving between Football League and Premier League clubs to bring it in line with Fifa's international tariff would be hugely damaging.

The impact of the rule changes and the new compensation system would force clubs to close their academies and centres of excellence.

There are also concerns that under the existing proposals most Football League clubs will fall into category three and would be barred from working with players until they reached the age of 12, whereas category one and two academies will be able to sign them from nine.

Clarke said the new "category one" academies, broadly modelled on residential centres in other countries that will cost an estimated £2.5m a year to run, could have a detrimental impact on the lives of those players who do not make the grade.

"Let's try and develop the hell out of our kids," he said. "But let's remember they are kids and they're going to have a life beyond football and let's not sacrifice them on the altar of football efficiency."

Ged Roddy, the Premier League director of youth, who has forged closer links with the FA to delineate responsibility and dovetail with its new national game strategy, said that the quid pro quo of clubs committing to residential centres would be a commitment to their education and off-field development.

He also said he expected clubs to develop closer links with local education authorities to examine ways of altering the school day, or extending coaching into the summer, to increase the amount of training time towards the 10,000 hours seen as optimal.

Under the existing structure, clubs with academies are able to reach only 3,760 hours of "contact time" by the time players are 21 – in European countries it is often around three times as much. The plan also recommends that clubs invest more in high-quality, age-specific coaches.

Following further negotiations with the Football League, the Premier League hopes to place the plan before all 92 clubs at the AGMs of the two leagues this summer with the aim of introducing the blueprint for the 2012-13 season.

The Football League argues that its clubs provide a crucial bridge into first-team football for many players not given an opportunity between 18 and 21 in the Premier League, pointing out that 13 members of the last England squad were developed in whole or in part at its clubs.

Clarke insisted he was less concerned about the effect of Football League clubs having to compete with Premier League clubs for players, because that was largely the case already, but feared the consequences of taking them out of their local area.

"If you have given up your whole life to move 200 miles away and you haven't got any mates or extended family, that's an issue that needs addressing. Because being dumped back on your council estate at 16 or 17, knowing nobody and having no career – that's a terrible thing to happen."

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/14/football-league-scrap-youth-schemes

[haqpr1963]

OMG.

The kid is pure class, if only we could have held onto him.....

[Macmoish]

After he was sold, there were comments that QPR must take steps to avoid this happening again - and it sounded like contracts rather than "develop an academy." So the question is could we have done anything to prevent this from happening.

Not that we wouldn't have eventually to sell: But you see Southampton with ten million pounds for a youth player. And QPR got a piddling half million with maybe future extra money.

[Macmoish]

(Liverpool Post does make the ultimate price a bit bigger!)

IVERPOOL POST

Liverpool FC Youth 9 Southend United 0: Raheem Sterling hits five as Reds cruise in the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals (VIDEO)

by Chris Wright, Liverpool Echo
Feb 15 2011
1ShareAdd a commentRecommend RAHEEM STERLING put on a five-star show as Liverpool Youth crushed Southend United 9-0 at Anfield last night.

The fleet-footed left winger grabbed five stunning goals as the Reds youngsters cruised into the last eight of the FA Youth Cup and another Anfield date with either Manchester United or Newcastle United.

Kenny Dalglish had said only last week that he would have no hesitation about using some of the club’s brightest stars in the first team this season if needed.

The likes of Sterling, Suso and captain Conor Coady were all handed squad numbers recently as reward for their progress.

And with the Liverpool manager watching on from the Main Stand, the Reds’ young charges showed that his faith in their abilities certainly doesn’t look misplaced.

It was a star-studded performance throughout with further goals from Coady via the penalty spot, Stephen Sama, Adam Morgan and substitute Toni Silva completing a marvellous victory for Rodolfo Borrell’s side.

But it was the dazzling efforts of the Jamaican-born Sterling, wearing the famous number seven jersey, that caught the eye of all those at Anfield.

Bought from Queens Park Rangers for a fee that could rise as high as £5million if he goes all the way, Sterling was mesmerising at times

Add a commentRecommend Sterling’s five goals as he cut in from the flanks before delivering superb finishes past Southend keeper Daniel Bentley were reminiscent of Liverpool’s former Jamaican-born wing wizard John Barnes.

England youth international Sterling only just turned 16 in December, but he looks to have a bright future.

The Youth Cup has been the platform for many of the stars of the past, with Michael Owen bursting onto the scene during Liverpool’s successful run to glory in 1996. Sterling has similar qualities to the young Owen, with pace, quick feet and cool finishing.

And he had been a danger in the early stages before he gave Liverpool the lead on 18 minutes.

Following a scramble in the Liverpool area when Stephen Sama cleared off the line, almost immediately the winger broke through on to a long ball out of the defence and coolly finished into the bottom corner form just inside the area.

Then within two minutes the youngster scored a superb individual effort to double the lead. He drifted in from the left-wing on a mazy run past several defenders before curling home past Bentley.

Liverpool continued to pour forward and virtually secured their passage to the quarter-finals when captain Conor Coady made it 3-0 form the penalty spot.

Morgan was brought down and the England youth international skipper crashed his spot-kick high into the roof of the Kop goal.

Sterling then completed his hat-trick 10 minutes before the break after Craig Roddan had won the ball, he sidestepped a defender before curling home.

Two minutes later Sama made it 5-0 when heading home Krisztian Adorjan’s corner.

Liverpool-born striker Morgan then headed home a sixth in injury time from another Adorjan delivery from a free-kick to end an astonishing first-half attacking display.


Seven minutes into the second half substitute Silva was denied by a superb save by Southend keeper after being sent through by Sterling.

Three minutes later, though, Sterling scored another superb effort for his fourth and Liverpool’s seventh.

He again cut in from the wing, gliding past defenders before firing into the bottom corner.

On 68 minutes substitute Josh Sumner saw his shot come back off the post following good work by Silva.

But with five minutes remaining Sterling scored his fifth, this time coming in from the right wing and firing in another low effort.

In the final minute Silva completed the rout with the ninth.

On this form Liverpool will be a match for anyone and they have a big chance of reaching a fourth Youth Cup final in the past six years.

LIVERPOOL YOUTH: Belford, Flanagan, Robinson, Sama, McGiveron, Coady, Sterling, Roddan, Morgan (Sumner 45), Adorjan (Silva 45), Suso (Banton 64). Subs: Stephens, Regan.

www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2011/02/15/liverpool-fc-youth-9-southend-united-0-raheem-sterling-hits-five-as-liverpool-cruise-in-the-fa-youth-cup-quarter-finals-video-100252-28171385/#ixzz1E109r4wf

[Macmoish]

Flashback

Rangers learn lessons of Sterling saga
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times
Wednesday, October 13, 2010

YOUTH team boss Steve Gallen says QPR were determined to avoid a repeat of the Raheem Sterling saga after agreeing terms with two more teenage prospects.

YOUTH team boss Steve Gallen says QPR were determined to avoid a repeat of the Raheem Sterling saga after agreeing terms with two more teenage prospects.

Rangers eventually lost 15-year-old Sterling to Liverpool last year after the youngster had forced his way into the Rs reserve side and the England under-18 team, attracting a swathe of interest from bigger clubs.

But the Rs moved quickly to tie Bruno Andrade – one of the stars of their Football League Youth Alliance Cup-winning side from last season – to a two and a half year professional contract on his 17th birthday.

Tottenham and West Ham were both keen to sign the talented forward from Colindale, who played for Mill Hill Rangers in the Harrow Youth League.

However, Andrade, who celebrated his birthday by scoring a hat-trick in the under-18s’ 6-2 victory over Aldershot Town, opted to stay at Loftus Road.

And Rangers also agreed a pro deal with another striker, Burundi-born Mo Sharif, who was recommended to them in the summer and has netted six goals in seven games for the under-18s.

“I want to keep our best players here – losing players is not success to me, even if the financial settlement is a good one, as it was in Raheem’s case,” said Gallen, the club’s youth development manager.

“Getting £500,000 and possibly up to £1m for a 15-year-old is a great deal. But I don’t want that to happen again.
“We’re now making a statement, saying to other clubs ‘these are our players and, if you want them, bring your chequebook’.

“I told the manager about what happened before, so he’s fully aware of it, and he and [assistant manager] Mick Jones have been a big help to me and the youth department.

“We’re looking everywhere – but so are Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Fulham, Watford and Brentford. There’s a saturation of clubs in this area and you have to be quick.

“What matters to me is seeing Antonio German and Josh Parker in the first-team squad. If we can get Bruno and a few more out there playing League football, either for QPR or on loan, that’s more important.”

Meanwhile, the club’s junior ranks have been enhanced during the past week by the arrival of 14-year-old duo Shaun Fernandes and Hussain Vahandaty, the winners of the Mumbai Soccer Challenge.

Fernandes and Vahandaty emerged from a five-a-side tournament involving 2,000 children in Mumbai and were then named the two best players among the final cut of 24 at a coaching camp earlier this year.

The boys have been staying with host families in Kenton and will train each day alongside Rangers’ youth teams at Harlington during the next month.

“It’s a fantastic experience for them, to leave school in India and be involved in this environment on a daily basis, talking to not only the under-18s but the first team as well,” added Gallen.

“They’re two nice lads and good football players. They’ve been to a couple of matches at Loftus Road and I think they were watching the crowd as much as the game, it was such a new experience.”

The scheme was set up by QPR directors Amit Bhatia and Ishan Saksena, who both attended the Mumbai tournament along with prominent Indian politicians and national team captain Bhaichung Bhutia.

www.kilburntimes.co.uk/qpr/rangers_learn_lessons_of_sterling_saga_1_679448