Slightly ironic that in the week that two youngsters of the Rafa Benitez generation sign on for another three years - Paul Anderson and Emiliano Insua - another of the Gerard Houllier era departs.
Anthony Le Tallec brought to an end five seasons on the books but by no means physically at Anfield by joining French outfit Le Mans on a four year deal after he made 22 Ligue 1 appearances in the club's most successful campaign to date last season.
When Le Tallec joined the Reds in 2003 along with cousin Florent Sinama Pongolle, the duo were hailed as the world's brightest young talents having helped France to win the U17 World Cup in 2001.
At the time there was much excitement amongst the Anfield faithful of the prospect of seeing the duo in red shirts and yet it was hardly acknowledged at the time that no players who ever emerged as stars from the U17 World Cup ever amounted to much at senior level.
Both featured sparingly in Gerard Houllier's final season in charge but showed plenty of promise. When Benitez tookover Le Tallec's attitude in pre season and his expectation that he be a first team regular did him few favours as he was shipped out on loan to St Etienne.
He returned mid season and played a starring role in the Champions League quarter final win over Juventus as we went on to win the European Cup that year.
But the following season he endured a miserable loan spell at Sunderland who were relegated. He returned to France at Sochaux and then last season he starred for Le Mans as they finished a best ever ninth place, making 22 appearances and scoring five times.
His departure along with that of Florent Sinama Pongolle last summer to Recreativo de Huelva in Spain (Flo Po is incidentally subject of interest from Atletico Madrid) would underline that neither were good enough at the very highest level expected at this club.
Of course there is a debate over selling Pongolle and bringing in Andriy Voronin as happened last summer but there can be no question that Le Tallec, while very talented, just wasn't good enough at this level when given a chance, one or two performances aside.
And so to the latest crop of bright young things at Anfield and the three year deals signed by Anderson and Insua would seem to underline that Rafa sees a future for both at the club.
Insua has made five senior appearances, all coming at the back end of the last two seasons. The departure of John Arne Riise opened the door for the Argentinean U20 star but the expected arrival of Andrea Dossena from Udinese may have closed it again but not indefinitely.
Anderson's departure to Nottingham Forest on a season long loan will offer him valuable first team experience at Championship level having already impressed at Swansea last season.
I would have high hoeps for both players. Insua has already proven himself competent at first team level while Anderson has been hugely promising in his loan spell at Swansea.
One would hope that neither end up leaving Anfield having missed out on a chance of fufilling their dream as sadly has been the case for Pongolle and now Le Tallec.
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2 comments:
"it was hardly acknowledged at the time that no players who ever emerged as stars from the U17 World Cup ever amounted to much at senior level"
Well apart from Figo in 89, Totti, Ronaldinho in 97, Sonny Anderson in 87, nigh on the whole Spain 08 squad Xavi, Casillas, Fabregas, Torres, Sergio Garcia, David Silva, Pepe Reina, Iniesta and countless others
The Sonny Anderson who was part of the Brazil 87 team that went out in the first round without scoring a goal?
As far as I'm aware only Fabregas of those you mentioned has won an award for performance in the U17 World Cup tournaments.
I think your missing my point. Plenty of players who have gone on to be stars have played at that level without making an impact.
My point concerned players who made a name for themselves at the tournament but failed to do much beyond that.
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