I think currently the best youth system in England is at Liverpool - we rebuilt it a few years ago and with the likes of Suso, Sterling, Kelly and Wisdom recently breaking through as well as Pelosi, Adorjan, Morgan, Yesil, N'Goo and Silva in the background we are looking very very strong. Everybody raves about Tom Ince and he came through our academy too.

Top of our U21s league as well.

But you only have to look at the NextGen competition to see how far behind European clubs are compared to their European counterparts.

I give you Liverpool and raise you Southampton.

I know too many people that have played for Saints

They have the odd player but Liverpool are the only team currently bringing through several players at once. For Saints there is a good player every few years.

Walcott, Bale, Ox, Lallana, and now Luke Shaw.

I don't think Liverpool's is that great, they're probably just more similar to Arsenal in that their first team isn't great so they're having to throw average youngsters into the first team early, which then knocks their confidence and gives them a losing mentality.

Utd may not produce the best players, but they're eased into the first team with no pressure, pick up the winning mentality and are taught to play the game, not the occasion.

Ion

I know you hate all things Liverpool but calling Sterling average is just ridiculous. One of the best teenagers in Europe. Suso and Wisdom have also excelled in our first team.

I do think it's a combination of poor first team performances though but these players have come in and hardly put a foot wrong.

What do you consider success though? The likes of Bendtner, Djourou, Senderos, have established themselves as international players. Szczesny, Gibbs, Wilshere have established themselves as first choice players, the likes of Barazite, Traore, Sunuhave established themselves at other top flight clubs etc.

It is all about expectation I guess. And if you think we will develop world class player after world class player then you are going to be disappointed.

Wisdom is nowt special he can't even take throw ins . Suso is a fair way off but will end up being a good player I think. Sterling is the only real youth to have made a proper impact.

Was going to say, surely the dearth of youngsters coming through at Liverpool has more to do with a lack of quality in the first team? Don't get me wrong, the likes of Suso and Sterling look like good prospects, but would the same calibre of player have broken through 5 or 6 years ago? For me we have a similar issue with Wilshere, a few years ago he'd still be being introduced and learning his trade with experienced world class players, but now it's like he's supposed to be the saviour of the club, and is under huge pressure.

No club has a really 'great' system anymore it seems as players don't get given the chances over the long term. Liverpool are currently receiving alot of praise for playing all their youngsters, but this is just the same as Arsenal a few years ago.

Best I can remember is West Ham, who produced a great bunch of players, then sold them all!

Wisdom is no better than Kerrea Gilbert was from what I have seen.

I don't hate things all Liverpool at all

I'm not saying they're all average, but if you get to the standard you want to be I can see at least half of those players being shipped out to lower Premiership teams rather than continuing playing for you in the CL, etc.

I dunno, I just need more convincing, no doubt it's much much improved over recent years, but I think to call it the best academy based on one generation of players is very premature.

Man U have a good youth system. Just look at how well Pogba is doing for Juve

Sterling is the only real youth to have made a proper impact.
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As somebody who watches Liverpool week in week out I can happily say that Suso has also made a huge impact whenever he plays so much so that many Liverpool fans would rather him in the first team than Gerrard at the moment.

Thats just cause all Gerrard does these days is shoot from 50 yards out fred!

Suso is stretching youth product a bit isnt it?

DJ

Why?

Thats just cause all Gerrard does these days is shoot from 50 yards out fred
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That's just all he does at all.

He also gives the ball away a lot and sulks...

Robles is going to be the next big thing at Liverpool

Sahin has been a bit of a disappointment hasn't he?

Barca's youth academy is terrible.

Liverpool signed Sterling from QPR and played him 18 months later, in my view that's hardly a "product of the youth system" ?

did you see barca claim the other day jordi alba was a youth product dot? They have no shame.

Next they'll be calling Cesc and Pique 'home grown' players

Fred, wasnt he about 18 when signed and didnt he go straight into your reserves?