9 months ago
118 Chris Sutton has admitted to being really impressed by some of the old school tactics on show at Liverpool’s academy right now.
The Reds won the League Cup this weekend but an article in The Telegraph with Jamie Carragher caught the eye beforehand.
That article proved timely as well, as a number of Liverpool youngsters ensured the Reds got over the line to win the trophy. Those youngsters are put through their paces in the academy, with old school methods like no phones or flash cars being part of the daily routine.
And speaking about the standards set by the academy staff and Alex Inglethorpe, Chris Sutton admitted he was happy to see it.
Chris Sutton impressed by stories about Liverpool’s academy
Speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off Podcast today, Sutton admitted he was delighted to see a return of some of the methods he had to go through as a young player.
“I like it. I tell you what I used to like about apprenticeship days. It was being in and around the first-team. So we all used to have get in at 8am, I had three players to look after, putting the kit out. We used to have to scrub the floors, pick the dirty kit up, sweep the dressing rooms. But I used to like going into the dressing room and the first-team players would chat and take the micky. But that’s where I wanted to get to and become. It was all about earning the right. We used to train with them, used to do pre-season together, youth team, reserves and first-team and the coach would always make a point of saying make sure you finish ahead of the first-team in the running, that’s so important, so you’ve earned right. So being in and around, where I wanted to get to, listening to first-team players, it was gold,” Sutton said.
“Something at Premier League clubs now what has happened is that they’re all sort of separate aren’t they, the youth team and first-team training grounds. I don’t think that’s necessarily a good thing. The stuff about the cars is fascinating and the cap on money, I think it’s really important. Football is a working class game essentially. You can have too much too soon, you always need that sort of carrot and drive to get on. The stuff with phones, phones are a nightmare across society. I think it’s a good thing. Concentrate on what matters, focus on training, 100%. I think it’s brilliant if that’s what Liverpool are doing and other clubs should take note and copy.”
Liverpool setting the standard
There is absolutely nothing wrong with what Liverpool are doing as a club with their academy players and the results are clear as day.
The likes of Conor Bradley and James McConnell are being developed in an environment that is getting them ready for the proper working world of football, without overstepping the mark.
This is clearly something Jurgen Klopp has his fingerprints all over and the trickle down effect to the academy staff is obvious.
Liverpool are now reaping the rewards of this set up it seems and for the next few years, they look well set in terms of the players coming into the first-team.
As Sutton says, other clubs may well be looking on now and taking note.
The post 'I think it's brilliant': Chris Sutton seriously impressed at what he's now heard about Liverpool's youngsters appeared first on TBR Football.
