Liverpool Academy player Jack Robinson was a surprise inclusion as a substitute against Hull yesterday. The young left back became the youngest player in the club’s history to make his debut at 16 years and 250 days when he came on for Ryan Babel in the second half, beating previous record holder Max Thompson who made his debut back in 1974 at 17 years and 129 days. Rafa Benitez commented on the youngster after the match:
“We have been lucky because the reserve team have been away and we had problems with injuries, with Fabio and Insua. He was training with us one day, so we felt he could be an option. We knew he was a young player. I am really pleased. He is now clutching his shirt and doesn’t want to give to anyone.”
No doubt Robinson will want to have many more appearances for the first team in the not too distant future.
another publicity stunt by RB
lol :D, publicity stunt my arse. Robinson is one of the most gifted players in the academy, if you actually paid attention (at all) to our youth side you would know..
sir bob paisley, why would you say a stupid thing like that, if you where any liverpool fan you would know that rafa and his team and i say team which he has only had in place for under 1 year are starting to bring in some very bright english talent and young spainish kids and the youth and reserve teams are starting to fire. there are at least 10 kids that with a bit of luck will either bring in in money when there are sold on, or even if 2 or 3 make it, will save the club millions, your a joke of a fan and buy the way if you really think rafa has time to start playing mind games with the academy set up which he spent 3 years trying to improve under the stupid yanks.
wake up and smell the coffee mate if you think the only thing to blame at the club is what rafa has done, you need a doctor mate, this club is on its knees and all you can do is write a two bob bit post, you mug you,,, take your lfc support and leave the club you mug you
All i can say is congrats to the young fella, fantastic to see a young english player get a run, i hope it inspires the other young players at the club.
We need the young ones to break into the team. It might take a few years but definitely a good move. Hope to see more of the youth coming up and performing at higher level.
Congrats to Jack Robinson, personally I was still disappointed not to see more kids in the team. It was Hull, last game of the season, we couldnt get into Champions League, so why not play some kids. I think next year, we have to become like Arsenal and play the Carling Cup with kids, we have them, give them a chance.
lol @ those saying it wasn’t a publicity stunt and that this kid is the star of the youth team – why hasn’t he made an appearance for the reserves yet if he’s so good??
I watch the youngsters fairly regularly and had never noticed this guy being mentioned as a star until now!
Didn’t Rafa give the answer? Mavinga was not around as the Reserves were away. Insua is injured, and so is Aurelio. Even Johnson who can play left back is injured, and so is Kelly, the other right back.
So is this an injury problem forcing Rafa to choose this youngster or a publicity stunt?
Whatever the reason. It was good for the youngster and a positive move in a dreadfully tedious game.It can only improve the younger players morale…
This is to those who think Rafa did this as a publicity stunt…..
If you Idiots are so clued on about LFC you would know that the Reserves flew out to Spain last week after the reserves game to play against a spanish side, so therefore, Rafa could not pick anyone from the reserves.
Blindside, you say you watch the youngsters, well if you did you would know the above.
Those idiots who keep blaming Rafa for the mess up need their heads examined. You guys should STOP listening to idiots like Jamie Tw@tnapp and stan Idiot Moore who keep thinking Rafa has spent Millions.
Last summer, even sunderland spent more money then us. How can Rafa improve the squad with £15m he was given. (he did not spend £40m as the media suggests)
£8m on Johnson (the other £10m was owed by Portsmouth)
£5m for Aqua (the remainder to be given over the next few years.
£1m for our Greek giant
I dont support Rafa with Blind Faith, but what I do know is, no one else can come into LFC with the same budget and conditions and do a better job.
F’kn bang on samuel charles !
Fed up of people blaming Rafa, sure he’s stubborn, sure he’s negative at times, but people should be trying to hang on to this manager, not try and axe him.
The club is on it’s knees, we’ve had nowhere near the money that was promised to Rafa. £20 Million per season PLUS 100% of any player sales.
At Valencia he bought loads of youth, sold on and bought great players.
At Liverpool he has bought a load of youth, (Check all the players he has bought, when people say the amount spent and numbers brought in) Over half have been youth and academy players.
Admittedly we haven’t bought as many world class players as you and I would have liked, but then he’s not had the money to to that.
Going back to what samuel charles said. Just 12 months Rafa has been in complete control of the Academy and reserves. He has bought in some fabulous players, either to sell on for profit, or better still, a few gems for our squad.
Look at United, they have 5 midfielders costing £16 – £18 Million, a luxury of that extent we have managed just twice, £20 Million Aquilani and Torres.
Indeed get a grip, and wake up and smell the coffee.
Finally, If Rafa is so bad, (Believe me, Liverpool will be hard pressed to find any manager out there with a European Pedigree as good as Rafa’s, In my opinion, 2 La liga titles says he can do it here too.) Then why on earth are Juventus, A C Milan, Inter Milan and Real Madrid all after his services…..?
Think about it……
If he seriously had the money, to buy the player he really wanted, without compromising on lesseer targets, would we really been playing so defensively ?
Sparq2112
Thoroughly enjoyed reading that last comment, well said sparq2112, and more to the point, well done jack, homegrown LOCAL genuine tallent, excellent news for reds!
well done to Jack Robinson! will go down in liverpool folklore as the youngest ever player, thats some achievement.
Hopefully it gives him the extra incentive to train really hard over the summer and push for a spot on the bench and give insua a run for his money next season,
and if you guys had been watchin the reserves lately you would have seen Mavinga play centre back so clearly someone rates him as a CB rather than full back.
The future is bright chaps we just need the media to back the f up but they wont because liverpool are the greatest club in the country historically!! thats the only reason we are getting so much media attention