Dalglish Decisions Display Belief in Emerging Talent
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2011-04-19 14:12:27 |
Twenty minutes into Sunday’s game against Arsenal at the Emirates, Kenny Dalglish was left with a problem - Brazilian left-back Fabio Aurelio had pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury and needed to be substituted. Liverpool’s manager had two options: either bring on his experienced centre-half Sotirios Kyrgiakos and switch one of Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel or the Greek international to an unaccustomed left-back berth, or take a risk and put his trust in 17-year old Jack Robinson.
Dalglish chose the latter, opting for the second time in a week to give youth a chance. Robinson joined the field to feature alongside his 18-year old counterpart at right-back John Flanagan, fashioning what must be one of the youngest full-back pairing in Premier League history. For both young men, it was only their second Premier League appearance –in an away fixture against title-chasing Arsenal, who included as part of their attacking unit the pace and guile of the likes of Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas.
The choice made by Dalglish proved to be an uncompromised success, with the composed performances of both young full-backs a testament to the continued progress being made at Liverpool’s Academy under the stewardship of Frank McParland, Pep Segura and Rodolfo Borrell. Having spent two years at the Academy at the bequest of Rafael Benitez, Dalglish knows first-hand the talents that Liverpool’s youth system has to offer. And by using the likes of Robinson, Flanagan, Martin Kelly and Jay Spearing in the first team, he is sending out the right message to Liverpool’s talented crop of youngsters –if you are good enough and an opportunity arises, then you will be given a chance.
It is refreshing to hear the words of Damien Comolli, the club’s Director of Football, "If there is a very good 18 or 19-year-old full-back we need to make sure that in two or three years they are in the first team and [do] not sign another player in front of him from outside. That's the strong message I give to the staff at the academy and also to the scouts. I say don't push players in a position where we already have a talented player. If we did then we may as well shut down the academy." With such a talented crop of youngsters, this makes sense. It would be counter-productive to spend huge sums of money on a player in a position in which a youth-teamer would be able to make the step up to first-team duties. It is about giving the youngsters the chance to prove themselves, as Dalglish has done recently.
Critics of Benitez's tenure at Anfield regularly overlook the Spaniard’s impact upon the youth team structure. By bringing in Segura and Borrell, key figures of the renowned Barcelona system based at La Macia, he demonstrated his long-term vision for the future of Liverpool Football Club. From age six onwards, all players are now coached in the same way, encouraged to pass, move and press like Liverpool teams of old. The progression of Kelly and Spearing into the first team setup earlier in the campaign, and the introduction of Flanagan and Robinson more recently, are a clear indication that the vision of the youth coaches is starting to have an effect.
The guidance of Dalglish on the performances of Liverpool’s young full-backs at the Emirates is to be admired. Just as Robinson was set to replace Aurelio, television cameras caught Dalglish and his young charge sharing a laugh on the touchline. It is such little things which reduce the pressure on a young player’s shoulders, and Robinson looked unflappable from the outset. As first team coach Steve Clarke remarked, it was “a very nerve-racking moment for a young player and Kenny was trying to take the edge out of the situation. It was the same with John [Flanagan]. When you've got someone as experienced as Kenny who says the right words at the right time, it can only help.”
Walcott, who lined up against Robinson on Arsenal’s right-wing, got little change for his exertions all afternoon, with his much-vaunted speed even being matched in a straight sprint for a through-ball by the young left-back at one stage. Robinson’s positioning was excellent and his tackling robust and well-timed. In the end, it was no surprise when the England wide-man was replaced by Andrei Arshavin with Arsenal searching for a goal in the game’s latter stages.
On the opposite flank, Flanagan showed a similar level of poise and concentration in his defensive duties. He remained unruffled throughout, despite the consistent probing pressure of Arsenal’s attacks, and distributed the ball simply and effectively when given the opportunity. Just as in his debut in last Monday night’s 3-0 victory over Manchester City, Flanagan looked far from intimidated, fitting in seamlessly to Liverpool’s defence.
The incident, on the hour-mark, in which Flanagan’s clash of heads with Jamie Carragher forced Liverpool’s captain off the field, may have shattered the confidence of a lesser individual. However, the right-back continued to go about his responsibilities with the same level of confidence after the clash, and, again, credit for this must be given to Dalglish, who called Flanagan over and offered words of reassurance to the briefly unsettled youngster.Liverpool defended manfully as a team for the duration, and both full-backs were a key part of their superb defensive effort. The 1-1 draw, which was of course earned in remarkable circumstances, was no less than they deserved for their exertions throughout the match.
Kelly, Spearing, Flanagan and Robinson’s assured performances since their inclusion offer promise that, at long last, Liverpool will soon have a couple of Academy graduates, or even more, as mainstays in the first team squad for years to come - the first since Steven Gerrard over ten years ago. The quality of the current crop of youthteam players, combined with the faith of the club’s management in their ability to do a job in the Premier League, suggest that the future is bright for the talented youngsters if they continue to progress.
Ultimately, Benitez's crowning achievement during his time at Anfield was the unforgettable Champions League victory in Istanbul in 2005. However, in years to come the club's supporters might look back on his decision to transform the Academy as an even greater contribution to Liverpool Football Club. Particularly given the faith Dalglish has shown in providing the platform for the club’s promising youngsters to demonstrate their worth – it is to their credit that so far each has grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
By David Cosgrove
[Image courtesy of liverpoolfc.tv]