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Yan Dhanda

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Windom Earle

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Judging from England's twitter it sounds like he is currently having a great game for England U17s against Iceland (looks like a goal and an assist).

So, any followers of the youth on here have an opinion on Yan? Given that there is a paucity of British Asians in the British game; does Yan look like he has the potential to ever play in the upper echelons or are we looking at a Michael Chopra type level? How does he compare to the rest of his age group?

By the way, I do realise that young Yan is only 15 or so and this is purely going to be opinions on a very fledgling career.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but I believe @Modo and @doctor_mac follow the Liverpool youth quite a bit.
 
Judging from England's twitter it sounds like he is currently having a great game for England U17s against Iceland (looks like a goal and an assist).

So, any followers of the youth on here have an opinion on Yan? Given that there is a paucity of British Asians in the British game; does Yan look like he has the potential to ever play in the upper echelons or are we looking at a Michael Chopra type level? How does he compare to the rest of his age group?

By the way, I do realise that young Yan is only 15 or so and this is purely going to be opinions on a very fledgling career.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but I believe @Modo and @doctor_mac follow the Liverpool youth quite a bit.


Sorry I've barely seen the kid, he's about 15-16 years old right?

Haven't seen him play for the U18s yet and I barely watch them any more.
I only follow the reserves.
 
Sorry I've barely seen the kid, he's about 15-16 years old right?

Haven't seen him play for the U18s yet and I barely watch them any more.
I only follow the reserves.


No problem Modo - I haven't seen him at all!

But yes, I think he signed in 2013 and was 14 at the time. From a bit of googling it looks like he is Birmingham born and came to us from West Brom.
 
No problem Modo - I haven't seen him at all!

But yes, I think he signed in 2013 and was 14 at the time. From a bit of googling it looks like he is Birmingham born and came to us from West Brom.
I've seen some highlights though.
He's a Cm/Am quick feet, passing, vision, movement. Looks very promising.
Will be interesting to see how he does with the u18s
 
From the snippets I've seen it looks like he strikes the ball very well indeed. Reminds me a bit of Beckham in that respect. Clearly has talent.
 
Shared a couple of clips of him playing for England U-17s here last week (try the search) - he seems to have great pace, a solid strike and an eye for a pass. But only 15, so who knows what happens between now and 5 years later?

Somehow I have the impression he's being fast-tracked into the U-18s this season, like Rossiter was before him.
 
Shared a couple of clips of him playing for England U-17s here last week (try the search) - he seems to have great pace, a solid strike and an eye for a pass. But only 15, so who knows what happens between now and 5 years later?

Somehow I have the impression he's being fast-tracked into the U-18s this season, like Rossiter was before him.

Oh I think he'll definitely be with the u18s this season. He's already playing for them.

It'll be a pretty different side this year. Virtually all the big players from last season are moving to the u21s.
 
Lots of our fans in India are very excited that the club have a British-born Indian player at the club and are desperate to know more about you. Can you tell us a bit about your early life - where were you born? Where did you grow up?

I was born in Birmingham and then I was at Walsall, Villa, Birmingham and West Brom when I was seven. When I was nine, I decided to sign for West Brom and then joined Liverpool at U14.

At what age were you spotted playing? Can you remember the first time you started playing football?

I was at a team called Tipton Town, where I live. The scouts from the local clubs saw me playing there and asked me to go for trials. I enjoyed it most at West Brom so I went there when I was nine.

Who did you support as a kid? Did you have a favourite team?

I didn't support anybody because my dad never supported anybody.

Is it true that you won the U11 category in Chelsea's 'Search for an Asian Star' competition?

Yes, that's true. I was surprised to win because I was at West Brom at the time. I won a trial at Chelsea but I was away with West Brom so I didn't go.

How did you come to enter the tournament?

I think it was just on their website and my dad asked Chelsea if I could go. I went with another boy from West Brom. They did different awards for fitness, Team of the Tournament and then Player of the Tournament, and whoever won the Player of the Tournament got a trial at Chelsea.

So you won the Player of the Tournament in the U11 age group?

Yes. I won the fitness award, Player of the Tournament and my team won as well.

You made a decision to join Liverpool when you were 14. How excited were you to be joining a club that's known all over the world?

I was so excited and the fact that Brendan Rodgers was manager made me even more excited. It made me want to join Liverpool more than ever because of the way he has faith in young players.

What did your family say about the move to Merseyside? How involved were they in the decision for you to move to Liverpool?

My dad was interested in Brendan Rodgers and the players he brings through. My dad really liked the coaches at Liverpool because they all worked together. My mum was more interested in whether I was going to be happy at school and with my house parents, and if I would like it at Liverpool.

Has your family moved up with you or do you live with a family here?

I live with house parents in Liverpool and I go home Saturdays after the game. If I don't have a game on a Saturday, I'll go home Friday and come back Sunday morning if we have a game.

How do you find living with house parents in a different city, away from your family?

It's fine. It was hard in pre-season. I got a little bit homesick but now I'm in a routine. I go to school, go to training, come home, eat, and then just sleep. The week just flies by.
4261__9658__dhanda517a.jpeg

Are your house parents nice?

Yes - really nice. They're just like my nan and granddad!

You've been at Liverpool for a few months now; how are you enjoying life at the Academy?

It's really good. I've just got used to everything. I've made loads of friends. I'm learning a lot from the coaches and what the coaches expect from me.

How do you think your game has developed in the short time you've been at Liverpool?

I'm learning lots of different things. I had a bit of a break between leaving West Brom and joining Liverpool and when I got to Liverpool my fitness wasn't as good as it should have been. The sports science team at Liverpool have been working with me and now I've got my fitness back up and I'm learning different roles; like playing on the left, playing on the right, playing as a No.9.

Can you explain a typical day in your life as an Academy player? If today was a Friday, for example, what would you be doing? Do you go into the Academy as well as come to school, or how does it work?

On a Friday and Wednesday I go to school, and then at 12.20pm after lunch I go to the Academy for day release. But on a Monday we go to school as normal, 9am till 3.10pm, and then on a Monday I have a gym session. And then Tuesday and Thursday, I go to school till 3.10pm, and then train from 5pm to 7pm or 7.30pm. And then I go back to my house parents.

So for our fans who don't know much about you as a footballer, tell us what sort of player you are?

I'm a creative midfielder but I play on the wing at Liverpool, coming in off the left, or coming in off the right. Liverpool have played me as a nine as well, dropping down. And I like to score goals, and assist.

Who is your football idol? Who did you grow up liking as a footballer?

I grew up liking David Silva but since I've moved to Liverpool, my favourite footballer has been Philippe Coutinho because he plays in a similar position and I try to play the same way as him.

Any other Liverpool players in the first team you admire?

I really admire Steven Gerrard for all he's done in the game and coming through the ranks. He started where I am now. Jamie Carragher has gone now but he did it the same way. I really respect that.

Have you met any of the first team or the manager yet?
Not yet. The only player I've spoken to is Raheem Sterling on Twitter. He was just giving me advice.

When you see players like Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe, and the players who have been given a chance in the first team, does it remind you that you are at a club that will give young players a chance if they are good enough?

Yes and that's what makes me want to keep doing well because I know Brendan Rodgers gives youngsters a chance.

What are your short-term and long-term ambitions at Liverpool Football Club?

Short-term is to keep getting fitter, work on both feet, keep developing as a player, keep listening to the coaches and learning from them. My long-term ambition would be to get into the first team before I am 20. That is the dream but I am a million miles away from that now so I just have to keep my head down and work as hard as I possibly can every day.
 
Me neither, sorry
Judging from England's twitter it sounds like he is currently having a great game for England U17s against Iceland (looks like a goal and an assist).

So, any followers of the youth on here have an opinion on Yan? Given that there is a paucity of British Asians in the British game; does Yan look like he has the potential to ever play in the upper echelons or are we looking at a Michael Chopra type level? How does he compare to the rest of his age group?

By the way, I do realise that young Yan is only 15 or so and this is purely going to be opinions on a very fledgling career.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but I believe @Modo and @doctor_mac follow the Liverpool youth quite a bit.


Soz Wisdom. Haven't seen anything of this lad yet.
 
Anyone know why the Under 16s aren't playing in the Northern Ireland Milk Cup this year?

I watched the under 14s play yesterday. They beat Sheffield United 3-1, after going behind to a great free kick. Unfortunately I didn't have a programme, so I didn't have a clue who any of the players were. No. 14 changed the game from the bench, being a tidy dribbler and scoring a great goal after beating 2 men.
 
Anyone know why the Under 16s aren't playing in the Northern Ireland Milk Cup this year?

I watched the under 14s play yesterday. They beat Sheffield United 3-1, after going behind to a great free kick. Unfortunately I didn't have a programme, so I didn't have a clue who any of the players were. No. 14 changed the game from the bench, being a tidy dribbler and scoring a great goal after beating 2 men.


There are two youth teams playing a tournament in Holland this summer, I think it's u17/18s and u20s, so I imagine the club prefer that to the Milk Cup. I know both teams won their opening games against Club Brugge.

I saw the squad for the milk cup but didn't recognise a single name.
 
There are two youth teams playing a tournament in Holland this summer, I think it's u17/18s and u20s, so I imagine the club prefer that to the Milk Cup. I know both teams won their opening games against Club Brugge.

I saw the squad for the milk cup but didn't recognise a single name.

For anyone interested in the NI Milk Cup - our kids are playing in the Junior Section (U-14s). They lost 2-0 to Rangers in their second game after beating Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 in their first game. They play Co. Amagh next. More details here:-- http://www.dalefarmmilkcup.co.uk/
(don't ask me about the tournament format - I've no idea at all).

The Liverpool team :-- http:// www.dalefarmmilkcup.co.uk/teams/liverpool-fc.html
Never seen or heard of any of them.

Players Name
Benjamin Williams
Anthony Plant
Suleman Naeem
Andrew Jackson
Liam Coyle
Liam Collings
Rhian Brewster
Benjamin Woodburn
Okera Simmonds
Glen Mcauley
Adam Lewis
Ethan Dwyer
Daniel Atherton
Reese McGinley
Jordan Hunter
Fergus Grogan
Thomas Scully
Kieran Holsgrove
 
You made a decision to join Liverpool when you were 14. How excited were you to be joining a club that's known all over the world?

I was so excited and the fact that Brendan Rodgers was manager made me even more excited. It made me want to join Liverpool more than ever because of the way he has faith in young players.

What did your family say about the move to Merseyside? How involved were they in the decision for you to move to Liverpool?

My dad was interested in Brendan Rodgers and the players he brings through. My dad really liked the coaches at Liverpool because they all worked together. My mum was more interested in whether I was going to be happy at school and with my house parents, and if I would like it at Liverpool.

When you see players like Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe, and the players who have been given a chance in the first team, does it remind you that you are at a club that will give young players a chance if they are good enough?

Yes and that's what makes me want to keep doing well because I know Brendan Rodgers gives youngsters a chance.

It's great to see that LFC are now getting this reputation amongst youngsters and their parents. It should help secure more of the top talent, Origi being a good example perhaps.
 
It's always surprised me that more Asian players haven't made it. I know there are other sports more likely, traditionally, to engage their families, but when you think of places like Birmingham where there's a huge Asian community, you do wonder why clubs like Birmingham, West Brom and Aston Villa don't have lots of Asian youngsters in their academies. LFC has always had a massive Asian following, so at least we're well placed if more prospects like Dhanda emerge.
 
No (well, about 10%), but if Dhanda does well they'll be very drawn to the place, and in any case I think I'm right in saying we've got one of the biggest Asian fan bases in Europe, so there's already an elective affinity.
 
I wonder if Rodgers would give him a sub appearance in a League Cup game for a bit of PR..
 
Excited about this kid. Doesn't really look to have the pace to be a forward. But yeah he hits it pure.
 
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