Quantcast
View from the Kop

Will we regret this young Finn’s departure?

|

“I would say he is the most natural finisher in the history of our academy,” that was the message from Liverpool Academy scout Ian Barrigan after we signed Lauri Dalla Valle back in 2008. The Finn had been chased by a host of top European clubs and had previously had a trial with Inter Milan before signing with the Reds. He was also described in a Finnish sports magazine Urheilulehti as being one of “the most talented Finnish players of all time.”

It has now has been announced however that the 18 year old will be involved as part of the deal for Fulham’s Paul Konchesky. Many Reds fans will be asking why we are offloading such a promising young talent in a deal for a solid if unspectacular full back. It is certainly a legitimate question to ask, especially considering the great deal of promise Dalla Valle has shown. After being spotted at his hometown club Joensuun JIPPO by scouts from Inter Milan, he moved to Italy for four months to train with Internazionale’s academy. Although his father was Italian, at the age of 14 he became homesick very quickly and he returned to Finland to play for JIPPO once again.

His performances back at home continued to impress visiting scouts though, and he had many offers from major European clubs including AC Milan, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Ajax. In the Autumn of 2006 he had a trial at Liverpool and impressed the scouts, which included one Malcolm Elias, so much so during a training match against Blackburn Rovers that they offered him a contract. Dalla Valle accepted the Reds over Chelsea who in October 2007 offered the player a three and half year contract, a million pound signing on fee bonus and double any wages Liverpool were prepared to pay.

The commitment to the Reds was clear, and during his first full season at the club during the 2008/09 season he scored scoring 20 goals in 28 games for the Under 18s. His most high profile appearances during the season came in the FA Youth Cup final run where he scored 8 times, including 4 in a two legged tie against Birmingham. During the match he was watched by Steve Claridge who compared him to Fernando Torres, although many at the academy believe the Finn had more in common with Wayne Rooney. He has been praised for his speed, work rate and good finishing ability. As well as being able to lead the line and be that predator in the box, he is also very hard working and can drop off the front into midfield when closing down opponents or when holding the ball up.

Although he was promoted to Melwood last season, injuries hampered his progression and he returned to play for the Liverpool Under 18s, scoring a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Leicester City in the FA Youth Cup. He did however return to reserve team action before the end of the season and he was given the number 38 shirt by Roy Hodgson for the start of this season. He appeared in pre-season friendlies against Grasshoppers and Kaiserslautern before making his first team debut in the away leg of the Europa League tie against FK Rabotnicki. It is not as though then that Roy doesn’t rate Dalla Valle as a player, in fact he stated he could become a first team player for Fulham:

“I didn’t have a strong opinion on him one way or another but Malcolm Elias (from Fulham’s academy) did. The lad’s got the quality to go into a first-team contingent.”

The real question though is whether he will become a top class performer and Roy clearly believes this is uncertain. Malcolm Elias who as a Liverpool academy scout praised Dalla Valle as a “special talent” now wants to bring him to Fulham. He was a player that Elias tried to convince Roy to sign while at the Cottagers but his boss was not convinced. Dalla Valle is now nearly 19, the same age as Dani Pacheco. While Pacheco has been entrusted with the number 12 shirt and given more first team appearances, Dalla Valle was looking at another season in the reserves. Sure, the young Finn has talent but it wasn’t certainly enough to convince either Rafa Benitez or Roy of his merits of a first team place. Despite being similar ages, Pacheco and even Nathan Eccleston (Dalla Valle’s partner up front in the 2009 FA Youth Cup final) have made more progress in first team appearances. Some of this maybe down to injuries, but it maybe down also to the belief that he will not make it to the first team.

The transfer reminds me of another last January when German Christopher Buchtmann was allowed to leave for Fulham to rejoin Malcolm Elias. There were many perplexed Reds fans over the sale as they believed the player had a bright future. Buchtmann signed a 18 month contract at Craven Cottage, but he was gone within 6 months and departed to Bundesliga side Cologne this summer. Dalla Valle may well make it as a good Premier League player but for Roy, a man with 35 years in the game, he has determined that Dalla Valle is worth selling.

Follow us on twitter @live4Liverpool

Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at editor@live4liverpool.com

Share this article

15 comments

  • Bill says:

    What do you expect? Hodgsons a old style mid table manager who hasn’t got a clue he’s not looked at the academy players he’s just doing what the yanks are telling him. cut the wages, offload players and give them the cash.

  • LFCDIEHARD says:

    pfff he’s the boss but right now that was a baaaaaaaad one!!! offloading talents and keeping NGog…

  • RedMist!!! says:

    In my honest opinion (from Liverpool and have seen Lauri Dalla Valle on numerous occasions! he’s not good enough for Liverpool! His hold up play and general team play is lacking. He is a goal scorer though. buit I feel he’s more Niel Mellor than Robbie Fowler!

  • Tony Monero says:

    Uncle Roy is gonna take us down. He really pissed me off when he let Aquilani out on loan, took Juve’s unwanted player, bought Konchesky when we already have Insua. I really hope the new owner get rid of him ASAP when they take over

  • mick the red says:

    Dont agree one bit,watched him and hes not gud enough for me plus dont see that kenny dalglish wud let a class youngster slip the net,Hodgson isnt a magician,no money having to sell to correct benitez downward spiraling team.Torres,gerrard,cole,at liverpool thanks to roy,speaks to the press with dignity for our club not making us look a laughing stock,makes subs when he wants not just 65mins,bringing the youth in like kelly,spearing,suso,shelvey,only real fans would support him hes our manager,show your true colours or go support someone else thats my take on it.Heres to a successful season. Only my opinion mind.

  • King Kong says:

    Agree with RedMist, he’s more a Neil Mellow who scores alot in reserves but never really make it to the first 11. If Roy, 35 years of experience, says he’s not good enough, me will certainly agree with him. He’s a boss aint he? A good sum up of the player in the article (pros and cons).

  • mick the red says:

    To reply to tony monero i personally would have konchesky anyday over young insua,he needs improvement in his game,his postional play is questionable and konchesky is in his prime and has been a very good servant wherever he has been.

  • Ste says:

    Lets hope we dont regret it I am beginning to wonder if we will ever bring players through from the academy and think maybe its a waste of money as the players never get a chance. What are the odds when Sterling is 18 he will be sold to someone offering half million pounds.

  • Lee says:

    Getting rid of Dalla Valle is a complete and utter joke but then again we did make Roy Hodgson our manager so we only have ourselves to blame.

    I find it ironic that the youngster is actually better than the player we are signing.

    Konchesky isn’t fit enough to grace our club.

  • mick the red says:

    Yawn Yawn Yawn…………………

  • YNWA in LU7 says:

    Bill – Do you ever watch the ressie games on the EST? Roy’s been there, he’s given opportunities to Amoo, Pacheco, Irwin, Ince and Ecclestone to name a few.

    Quite frankly, if he was good enough, he would have been given the opportunity like the other lads.

    The same was said about Hammil and Anderson and they’ve proved Championship at best.

  • mick the red says:

    Funny some people think we are the liverpool of old,times have changed like our owners.we are going through a period of rebuilding to try and get us back near the top.the man has come in to help not to destroy us,it wont happen overnight and certainly wont happen without the support of the best fans in the world,get behind the man ffs……………………

  • Red Barron says:

    I’m with you Mick, totally. I am getting very p’ed off with so-called fans who think Fulham last season is the sum total of Roy Hodgson’s expertise. The guy has managed successfully at every level in the game, including Inter Milan and internationally so where the blinkered ones get the idea he is just a ‘mid-table manager’ I have no idea.

    If we had got rid of a silverware-a-season manager I could maybe get their point but we haven’t one a thing for 4 years. Nobody has forgotten our terrific CL victory and our FA Cup victory but they are history now and last season proved Rafa was never going to crack the EPL, good as he is at European level. Hodgson is our manager, if you’re a Red you’ll get behind him and stop your incessant whinging. If you can’t do that, there’s another stadium a stone’s throw away, they’d love you to support them as your the same intellect level and we wouldn’t miss you!

    Your choice!
    Red

  • Eric says:

    roy has already pissed me off a few times by selling nemeth and loaning out aquilani. and now, dalla valle, one of our brightest prospects is allowed to leave, it just doesn’t make sense. this guy’s better than ngog and so is nemeth. keeping the likes of lucas and ngog and selling promising youngsters like nemeth and dalla valle, what is he thinking??

  • TheKop says:

    I am gutted to see he was part of the deal

Comments are closed.