Is there really such a thing as too young?

'Sup Footie nuts?

So my beloved Liverpool are in a dark spot at the moment. Their league form is absolutely awful. They haven't kept a clean sheet since the Derby day win against Everton, and since who knows when before that. They have lost too many league games and are now realistically fighting for 8th place. They are already in Europe thanks to the Carling Cup win over Cardiff City. So it doesn't matter where they end up at the end of the season, Europa league football is guaranteed.

The thing that is confusing me at the moment is, why are Liverpool not using their youth team players more often in the league? There is nothing more to play for really. The likes of the highly rated and promising youngsters Raheem Sterling, Connor Coady, Suso Ferrnadez are all waiting in the wings and are chomping at the bit to get some first team football. When Kenny Dalglish was asked about this, his response was "They are still young. No need to rush them." Hold on there Kenny, what does age have to do with it? This got me thinking about others out there. So I did SOME research and looked at other stars out there and what age they started.

Diego the legend

I'd thought we start off with a man who can't really be compared in the same bracket as the above mentioned players... Diego Maradona. This slightly built Argentinian started at the age of 15 years old when he played his first professional game for Argentinos Juniors. He made over a 150 appearances before his move to Boca Juniors. By that time, he was still a 20 year old, but he had over 100 goals to his name.

An 18 year old Teddy raring to go

The next person I thought of, was a man whose career lasted 25 years in professional football. Teddy Sheringham. He never really set the world alight with his performances. His claim to fame? He was part of the Treble winning team at Man United (But then again, so was Henning Berg) and he was a regular for England. How old was he when he made his first senior start and at the same time got a regular run for Millwall? 18 (The same age as Sterling)

17 year old Michael

Michael Owen. The Boy wonder. The (now) professional bench warmer at Manchester United started his professional playing career at the age of 17 years old for Liverpool. Internationally he scored a wonder goal against Argentina. And is STILL the only England player to score in FOUR major competitions. At club level, after he left Liverpool he went to Real Madrid, scored 13 goals, mostly from the bench, came to Newcastle and the rest as we know was/is history. 

Benni

More locally, the now unofficial KFC ambassador started off his career over seas with Ajax Amsterdam at the age of 19. We all know what happened to 'KFC' Benni after that. But still, it just goes to show, that even in South Africa, age shouldn't play a huge factor (if any at all)

16 Year old Shrek

We all remember Wayne Rooney bursting onto the scene for Everton. A 16 pimpled faced kid scoring an absolute screamer against Arsenal at Goodison. Look at him, sound guidance from SAF and at still only 27 years old, this man is an England legend. 

These are just some examples of players who started young, but went on to succeed in some of the toughest leagues in the world. But there are some noticeable flops too. The biggest one and still very overrated is: 

Looks as confused at his call up like most people were

Much to blame for his "hype" should fall solely on England's then coach, Sven Goran Eriksson, head. At 17 years old this "boy" had no right to be in the England set up. Plucked from Southampton by Arsene Wenger, Eriksson made the strangest decision to take him with to the World Cup. Most people thought "Wow! A wonder kid!" But no, he hasn't reached anywhere near that. Still an average player (Barring a hat trick) he hasn't really set the scene alight. His form for Arsenal has been getting better, but I honestly still think that "The-Ox" deserves more of a run.

Kenny, your argument is invalid...