Kenny praises Rafa for his revamp of the youth set-up

Kenny saying what most of us barring a couple one in particular where saying about Rafas revamp of our youth set up.

Kenny Dalglish today paid tribute to Rafael Benitez for his part in reviving Liverpool's youth academy.

Conor Coady and Suso, two mainstays of the current under-17 squad, were familiarised with Melwood, the club's training ground, this week as part of plans to blood more youngsters from the previously ailing centre of excellence in Kirkby into the senior ranks in the long-term
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Kirkby underwent a significant transformation in the summer of 2009 when Benitez, then manager of the Reds, enlisted the services of Rodolfo Borrell and Pep Segura - key figures in Barcelona's La Masia academy set-up.

In addition to recruiting his compatriots, the Spaniard also brought one-time chief scout Frank McParland back to his former club to oversee the progression of Liverpool's rising stars.

And Dalglish has hailed Benitez, who left the club acrimoniously last summer, for his efforts in restoring the Anfield production line following more than a decade of decline.

He said: "I wouldn't go and say there are any kids who played in the Youth Cup against Crystal Palace are going to be first team [yet] but the progress at the Academy in the last year and a half has been absolutely fantastic.

"That's great credit to Rafa who brought in Pep Segura, Rodolfo Borrell and Frank McParland. He reorganised the whole Academy and you can see the benefit in the kids now. It's fantastic to see.

"The reserve team's average age has been drastically reduced. Whether we get them through or not, we'd never put that pressure on them, but we're clearly encouraged by the work that's being done there and it's a work in progress."

Was just about to post this. Just read that interview on the offal and took note of that particular bit.

Good to see Kenny giving Rafa some credit for the academy setup. And he's right, Rafa made superb appointments in Segura and Borrell, who I'm sure have done a huge amount of work with the Academy and I'm looking forward to seeing the fruits of their labour in the first team sometime soon. 

Would love to see all the people who bitched about Rafa being useless with youth come in here now.

Kenny more than most knows exactly how Rafa changed things, as Kenny was brought back by Rafa as Academy Ambassador.

Shown his class in acknowledging Rafa's influence instead of blaming him for having a poor squad.

There is one person in particular YNWA that has slated Rafa for this, I thought he was talking sh*t then and this just confirms it, is he going to rubbish what Kenny is saying now.

Nice one Kenny. Hopefully this will be Rafa's lasting legacy. Mind you only some Red's fans will acknowledge it. Thank's Rafa

 Fair play to Kenny telling it like he sees it, you can't ask any more than that. It's hard to imagine any changes Rafa made to the youth team set up actually making it less productive than it had been, but nevertheless it's encouraging that kenny thinks there's been an improvement.

Spot on Mr K Dalglish  We'll reap the benefits in the long term.

Fair play to Kenny telling it like he sees it, you can't ask any more than that. It's hard to imagine any changes Rafa made to the youth team set up actually making it less productive than it had been, but nevertheless it's encouraging that kenny thinks there's been an improvement.

You could make a spoonful of sugar taste like a raw lemon, couldn't you?

He says and does no wrong !

Would like to add my to pennies worth and that is Rafa's work will not have gone unnoticed amongst nesv owners.

Kenny dalglish say's it how it is and what a fantastic gesture to rafa for revamping the academy.

One thing also I would like to add is that we would have seen plenty of youth in the line up if rafa was still in charge.

You could make a spoonful of sugar taste like a raw lemon, couldn't you?

Not sure I get what you mean mate to be honest.

Got to admit it's getting better. Getting better all the time. . . Couldn't get much worse. A clue to the tune of The Beatles Mick

Got to admit it's getting better. Getting better all the time. . . Couldn't get much worse. A clue to the tune of The Beatles Mick

Ah right, yes I understand now. We did go through a few seasons there though under Houllier and Benitez where we trawled the planet for the latest wunderkids, moving heaven and earth to prise them out of the grasp of their respective academies, got ourselves all worked up about them being the next superstars, only to discover they had been quietly shifted out to Dukla Prague in the close season after never having made an appearance in four years. Meanwhile, all the best kids who were under our noses went to one of the Manchester clubs, Everton or Arsenal.

If these recent changes mean such trends are going to be bucked, I'm all for them. If it was Rafa who put the changes in place, fair play to him.

Well it was Rafa and hopefully it means a return to the days of a youth system that actually has an end product. Early days yet, but there are some good prospects. We can only remain positive that the likes of Suso and Coady, along with Dani and Kelly in the more immediate future, can have an impact

I agree. I think Kenny is already showing that he is going to promote from within. It's important that the young players know that if they work hard and develop there is a future for them at LFC.

Ah right, yes I understand now. We did go through a few seasons there though under Houllier and Benitez where we trawled the planet for the latest wunderkids, moving heaven and earth to prise them out of the grasp of their respective academies, got ourselves all worked up about them being the next superstars, only to discover they had been quietly shifted out to Dukla Prague in the close season after never having made an appearance in four years. Meanwhile, all the best kids who were under our noses went to one of the Manchester clubs, Everton or Arsenal.

If these recent changes mean such trends are going to be bucked, I'm all for them. If it was Rafa who put the changes in place, fair play to him.

Hell Mick,surely if Kenny Dalglish says thanks to RAFA for reviving the youth policy and putting the systems in place then you have to believe him.Kenny has got nothing to gain but honesty for giving RAFA the credit and that is a rare thing these days to see a manager sing the praises of a previous manager,cheers.

Here here.

People were blinded by wanting instant success, didn't see the bigger picture.

Nice on Kenny for giving Rafa the praise he deserves

One of Rafas achievements and the real legacy he has left.

Big gesture of Kenny to acknowledge it.


http://thekop.liverpoolfc.tv/_Beyond-Istanbul-Rafas-legacy/blog/3260116/173471.html

From The Club Site Today.

Ask a Kopite to name Rafael Benitez's crowning achievement at Liverpool Football Club and more often than not the reply will be delivered along with a quizzical and sarcastic expression that Scousers could trademark.

Our fifth European Cup, they'll tell you; As if you needed to ask, they might add.

Certain events or figures in history become so mythical in our perception that they can be referred to in just a single word: Watergate, Woodstock, Elvis.

On May 25 2005, Benitez masterminded a sporting comeback that saw the word Istanbul added to this list - if only in the minds of football fans.

What occurred in the Ataturk would arguably have been the high point of any Liverpool manager's reign, a remarkable achievement which re-established the club as a European power and a global brand.

But there is a case to suggest that one aspect of the Benitez legacy could yet prove just as significant in the club's future. Namely the revolution he instigated and oversaw at The Academy in the summer of 2009.

Of course it is still too early to judge, but anyone who has witnessed the work being done by Pep Segura, Rodolfo Burrell and Frank McParland (all three appointed by Benitez) over in Kirkby cannot fail to have been impressed.

Watching the U18s dispatch a talented Crystal Palace side (who themselves dismantled Arsenal's class of 2011) in the Youth Cup two weeks ago was a joy for advocates of pass and move football.

Refer to the CVs of Segura and Borrell and the jigsaw pieces start to fit together. The pair, during their time at Barcelona, helped nurture technically gifted players like Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Bojan Krkic, Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi - all of whom revel in playing the kind of dynamic football which, albeit in a raw, unrefined form, is now being executed at The Academy.

The likes of Suso, Raheem Sterling and Conor Coady have so far hogged the headlines, but earlier this season a total of 25 Academy hopefuls received international youth call-ups. Two years ago you could have counted the number of LFC youngsters asked to represent their country on one hand. With fingers to spare.

Credit too has to go to the likes of McParland for moderating expectations and for ensuring media coverage is both cautious and fairly apportioned.

Too often in the past we've allowed ourselves to get too excited too soon. Two examples that come to mind are Lauri Dalla Valle and Astrit Ajdarevic, both of whom left the club after failing to live up to their early hype.

These days nobody is allowed to get carried away. Even if there is a decent case for doing so.

One thing is for sure, though: if some of the players now shining at youth level go on to become the next Steven Gerrards and Jamie Carraghers, it'll not only be those still employed by the club who take the credit.

Nice one Kenny, it lets others (ie stubborn journalists) know Rafa did many great things to this club

Hell Mick,surely if Kenny Dalglish says thanks to RAFA for reviving the youth policy and putting the systems in place then you have to believe him.Kenny has got nothing to gain but honesty for giving RAFA the credit and that is a rare thing these days to see a manager sing the praises of a previous manager,cheers.

Absolutely I believe him mate. Kenny wouldn't say thanks to Rafa unless he thought it was warranted, no doubt about it. Obviously Kenny knows more about the youngsters which we have than i ever would, so if he thinks one or two are going to make it into being a player I can only hope he's right. If it's down to Rafa, then once again I say fair play to him. I can't be any clearer than that mate really.

Kenny is spot on as usual.

Kenny spot on, Rafa did bring through good youngsters in his tenure like Kelly, Pacheco, Suso among others. now let's see Kenny blood them into the first team