[RESERVE] paco parle des jeunes

Paco plots a bright future
Oct 11 2005
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

IF THE brains behind Liverpool's coaching team are found in the manager's office, Paco Herrera was once described in Spain as 'the eyes of Rafa Benitez'.


Herrera is one of Benitez's most trusted lieutenants, but his low public profile belies his importance to a future Anfield resurgence.

Initially employed for his scouting expertise, the former Merida, Albacete and Numancia manager has seen his portfolio expand since the start of this season.

Benitez was unimpressed with the performance of his reserves last season and appointed Herrera as co-manager of the second string, alongside Hugh McAuley.

In doing so, he also gave Herrera a mandate to sign his own youth players and effectively create a second under-18 squad at Melwood, independent from the one performing in the Academy League.

Six teenagers have arrived this season, and more are likely to follow as part of a policy Herrera describes as a 'necessary risk' to ensure Liverpool aren't found wanting when it comes to attracting the best youngsters from around the world.

A cynic may suggest these steps reflect on an ongoing suspicion the Academy isn't producing enough quality considering an estimated £25m has been invested in Kirkby since 1999.

The diplomatic view emphasised by Herrera, however, is his work is assisting rather than undermining the existing youth recruitment structure.

"On my business card it says 'scouting and coaching', but at the moment I manage the reserves with Hugh McAuley and share the role of chief scout with Frank McParland. It's a 50-50 split," explains Herrera, who first met Benitez 20 years ago.

"Half of last season Rafa employed me as a first team coach, but for the second half of the season he wanted me in the scouting department.

"Now he wants me involved in the reserves. I look at players from countries around the world, and want to expand the department so we have a database of youngsters, particularly in England.

"We're putting an emphasis on recruiting the most talented youngsters in this country. We're doing well already, I feel.

"In terms of this youth policy, you can see evidence of what we're trying to do by the age of our reserve team.

"It must be the youngest Liverpool has had for many years, and probably the youngest in the league.

"We are trying to complement the work of the Academy. They concentrate on the ages below 16, whereas we are looking at those aged 16, 17 and 18.

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"The Academy concentrates on the area around Liverpool while we are trying to find talented youngsters from the rest of the United Kingdom. I can understand there may be some confusion, but we fully respect the system which is in place.

"The most important thing for us is to find a solution to work within the existing system the best way we can.

"It's a difficult task to get the best players, particularly in England. We did very well to sign Jack Hobbs from Lincoln City.

"We've also had a lot of players on trial and we'd like to get three or four teenagers a year. The key is to get them very early because once other clubs like Chelsea get involved and start throwing their money around it makes it financially difficult for us.

"To say what we're doing is a 'necessary risk' is a good description. It can be a risk to sign a lot of youngsters, but as things stand I think we are doing well. The youngsters we've brought in have a good chance of getting into the first team. That's my number one objective."

As well as the highly-rated Hobbs, Antonio Barragan, Miki Roque, Godwin Antwi, Ramon Calliste and Austrian winger Besian Idrizaj joined Liverpool over the summer following Herrera and McParland's recommendation to Benitez.

The reserve results so far suggest a radical improvement on last year's poor campaign, and five of the six new recruits will also be eligible for the FA Youth Cup, as the Reds try to win the competition for the first time since 1996.

"We have a good scouting system in place in England, where we have 10 scouts strategically placed to find youngsters," says Herrera..

"Our aim is to employ even more. We have people in Spain, Portugal, Italy and France, for example. There is a certain expertise in spotting a young player.

"We quantify the individual attributes of every player. We require players of good character and heart as much as ability.

"If a player is spotted, they'll be watched three times by a different scout, who will then give us his report. If all the reports are positive, Frank or I will go along to watch him next.

"The final decision on whether to proceed is obviously down to Rafa and Rick Parry, who must take into consideration other factors, including how much the player will cost.

"This is the process which has brought the six players we've signed so far."

paco parle de 6 joueurs:


JACK HOBBS, English, aged 17, signed from Lincoln City. Centre-back

"Jack is a centre-half, but we want him to spend a full season playing as a central, holding midfielder," explains Herrera.

"In a year he will be a fantastic centre-half and we are preparing him for the future by playing him in a role which will test his speed, ball control and coordination much more at this stage of his development."


RAMON CALLISTE, Welsh, aged 19, signed from Manchester United. Striker.
"He is a very quick player and someone we believe has a chance of going all the way," says Herrera.

"The area he needs to work on most is his decision making on the field. We spend ten minutes at the end of each training session working on each players' individual attributes which most need improvement."



ANTONIO BARRAGAN, Spanish, aged 18, signed from Seville. Defender/midfielder.
"Antonio can play right midfield or right back. We are playing him in midfield at the moment because we are forward planning given the needs of the first team," said Herrera.

"Antonio has already had a chance in the first team because he was used as a substitute in our Champions League qualifier."



GODWIN ANTWI, Ghanaian, aged 17, signed from Real Zaragoza. Defender.
"Godwin is way ahead of the rest physically. He even beats some of the first team players in this area," says Herrera.

"He needs to work on the tactical and technical side of his game. We feel he has already made good progress."



Says Herrera: "He is a very intelligent player, but we need to do a lot more work with him.

"He has come to us from a league which is less competitive than England.

"He is going through the process of adapting to a quicker game, but has all the qualities you need as a forward."


MIKI ROQUE, Spanish, aged 17, signed from Llieda. Defender.

"Miki has progressed very quickly. He is very quick and good in the air and I think his qualities will be well suited to the English game," says Herrera enthusiastically.

"He is a responsible lad but needs more maturity as a player."

I look at this Autumn and I try to understand how the guys running the academy must feel about it. I would imagine that unless it has been very well explained beforehand that they must feel undermined by it.

I can understand the logic of raffa because it is true no one is coming through from the academy and the reserves had a very poor season last year. I personnaly think this is due to the youngsetrs not being given a chance under Houillier. Promising kids went elsewhere as they knew they would have a better chance of coming through.

Sad really when you look at the players we have produced Gerrard.Owen.Carragher.Mcmanaman even these lads are all local though and it is true we don't seem able to attract the best youngsters from elsewhere?