Interview with Liam Moore

[Clive Redman]

In a recent interview with Soar Magazine, Liam Moore talked about establishing himself with his hometown club...

 

"You can’t really put it into words. When I was a kid, I still remember putting the kits on and them being a couple of sizes too big. Playing on a Sunday morning was a big deal, because you were playing for Leicester City. Every year you hoped you were getting closer and last season, I was given a couple of chances and have been able to feature again this year. I’m a local lad, so I know how big a club this is and how lucky I am.

 

"I went to school with hard-core Leicester fans and they still text me after games, but I feel like I’m a fan on the pitch. In some ways, it helps me get a bit more involved in games."

 

To read the full interview visit...

 

http://www.soarmagazine.co.uk/homegrown-hero/

[davieG]

I'm find myself bemused by this paragraph

 

 

The Leicester City Academy was what I needed – and I think that’s the same for a lot of the boys. I believe that there are players in academies at Liverpool or Manchester United, who may not get out of their education what we do here at Leicester. Here, they teach you the men’s game and they teach you how to win. Whilst other academies may prepare a player for international football, club football is about one thing – and that’s the three points on a Saturday. It’s something that Steve Beaglehole and Jon Rudkin instil from a young age here and a factor that I think I’m realising the importance of now.

 

Do players prepared for international football not know how to win games aren't they also trying to get 3 points?

 

Does Moore envisage never playing at that level?

 

Is this why LCFC over the last 10 years or so have played such terrible football?

[Captain...]

I'm find myself bemused by this paragraph

Do players prepared for international football not know how to win games aren't they also trying to get 3 points?

Does Moore envisage never playing at that level?

Is this why LCFC over the last 10 years or so have played such terrible football?

It's an interesting outlook. It's been said a number of times that in the UK we don't develop our youth talent properly, and prioritise winning. Resultswise we have a successful academy, constantly punching above our weight reaching finals and beating bigger club's kids. In terms of players breaking through not so successful, not just here but going on to play at a lower level.

It is tough as attitude and a desire to win are important, and many an average player has succeeded on that desire alone. Whereas talented kids without that desire and winning mentality generally tend to fail.

We would all prefer to see more successful academy graduates, but would we get more by teaching them tiki taka football or teaching them how to play no nonsense effective football?

[davieG]

It's an interesting outlook. It's been said a number of times that in the UK we don't develop our youth talent properly, and prioritise winning. Resultswise we have a successful academy, constantly punching above our weight reaching finals and beating bigger club's kids. In terms of players breaking through not so successful, not just here but going on to play at a lower level.

It is tough as attitude and a desire to win are important, and many an average player has succeeded on that desire alone. Whereas talented kids without that desire and winning mentality generally tend to fail.

We would all prefer to see more successful academy graduates, but would we get more by teaching them tiki taka football or teaching them how to play no nonsense effective football?

Or both, the ability to retain possession should not be excluded from the desire to win matches, games can be and are won by playing quality football. I simple do not see them as being separate.

[GingerrrFox]

You only have to look at Ignasi Miquel to see what teaching young kids the right way to play football produces. Also Michael Keane, they are taught to be comfortable on the ball and as a result look much better in possession than Liam. Don't get me wrong he is a quality defender and looks like he has it all in front of him but he could do with improving the distribution and ball retention side of his game.

[whitlock]

Looks quite tubby in that picture in comparison to now. 

[sylofox]

I'm find myself bemused by this paragraph

 

 

Do players prepared for international football not know how to win games aren't they also trying to get 3 points?

 

Does Moore envisage never playing at that level?

 

Is this why LCFC over the last 10 years or so have played such terrible football?

The bit I don't get is manu n liverpool preparing players for international football.

Most top flight clubs don't want the players on international duty.

 

So hows that work?

[Captain...]

Or both, the ability to retain possession should not be excluded from the desire to win matches, games can be and are won by playing quality football. I simple do not see them as being separate.

 

No but there is one thing practising it on the training ground and another in a match situation where your big centre forward has the beating of the opposition's centre halves in the air, why pass it to his feet when you can hit it in the air and stand a better chance of winning the ball in a dangerous position.

 

Another scenario: You are 1-0 down, you could tap it around at the back and make no real progress as you are facing a well organised opposition who want to hang on to the lead or you could pump it forwards and hope you get lucky.

[coolhandfox]

This is why we have so many English players who are poor on the ball, they should be teaching them about techincal aspects of the game not winning, a quote from Jose Mourinho sums it up nicely:

 

In England you teach your kids how to win, in Spain and Portugal they teach their kids how to play."

 

This is why Moore is a fantastic put you body on the line defender, who has pace and strength, but can't pass the ball for toffee!

 

Teach them to play, not to win!

[davieG]

No but there is one thing practising it on the training ground and another in a match situation where your big centre forward has the beating of the opposition's centre halves in the air, why pass it to his feet when you can hit it in the air and stand a better chance of winning the ball in a dangerous position.

 

Another scenario: You are 1-0 down, you could tap it around at the back and make no real progress as you are facing a well organised opposition who want to hang on to the lead or you could pump it forwards and hope you get lucky.

But you don't have to hoof it to him from the defense and who said quality football was tapping it around and making no progress.

 

Being able to keep possession and completing your passes does not equate to pointless tippy tappy football and certainly doesn't mean you aren't trying to win games. We've been subjected to years of hoof ball in the mistaken belief that it's a surefire way to win games when in truth it's been the opposite. There's nothing wrong with a winning mentality but it's not exclusive to a particular way of playing.

[davieG]

This is why we have so many English players who are poor on the ball, they should be teaching them about techincal aspects of the game not winning, a quote from Jose Mourinho sums it up nicely:

 

In England you teach your kids how to win, in Spain and Portugal they teach their kids how to play."

 

This is why Moore is a fantastic put you body on the line defender, who has pace and strength, but can't pass the ball for toffee!

 

Teach them to play, not to win!

Or better still teach them to play and to win the two aren't mutually exclusive.

[coolhandfox]

Or better still teach them to play and to win the two aren't mutually exclusive.

 

 

Correct, but the better players you produce the more likey you are to win!

[coolhandfox]

You only have to look at Ignasi Miquel to see what teaching young kids the right way to play football produces. Also Michael Keane, they are taught to be comfortable on the ball and as a result look much better in possession than Liam. Don't get me wrong he is a quality defender and looks like he has it all in front of him but he could do with improving the distribution and ball retention side of his game.

 

 

Agreed, but it not just about teaching young kids the right way, it’s also about picking the right kids. Having been around grassroots football for over 10 year, fast, big and strong are still  seem to be higher on most academies checklist then technical ability.  

[Guest shearfox]

Agreed, but it not just about teaching young kids the right way, it’s also about picking the right kids. Having been around grassroots football for over 10 year, fast, big and strong are still higher on most academies checklist then technical ability.

I hope that attitude changes sooner rather than later, technical ability is something that at a young age should be installed into all our kids. playing on smaller pitches will help allow the less physical to show themselves a lot more, the technically gifted will benefit. By the time the technically gifted players become older their physical attributes will catch up. So it is sad to see English football in this state, it shouldn't be all about just getting results at a young age.

[Captain...]

But you don't have to hoof it to him from the defense and who said quality football was tapping it around and making no progress.

 

Being able to keep possession and completing your passes does not equate to pointless tippy tappy football and certainly doesn't mean you aren't trying to win games. We've been subjected to years of hoof ball in the mistaken belief that it's a surefire way to win games when in truth it's been the opposite. There's nothing wrong with a winning mentality but it's not exclusive to a particular way of playing.

 

I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just putting myself in the shoes of the coaches and the players and I can understand how it happens, pace on the wings. height in the box, chip it over the full back, whip a cross in, head it home. Not pretty football, but you stick enough crosses in one will go in. You play patient passing football work an opening and then miss, or as we tend to, lose the ball needlessly, you have to win the ball back and start again you create less chances. You can lump the ball into the box from anywhere on the pitch and you may get a chance.

[davieG]

I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just putting myself in the shoes of the coaches and the players and I can understand how it happens, pace on the wings. height in the box, chip it over the full back, whip a cross in, head it home. Not pretty football, but you stick enough crosses in one will go in. You play patient passing football work an opening and then miss, or as we tend to, lose the ball needlessly, you have to win the ball back and start again you create less chances. You can lump the ball into the box from anywhere on the pitch and you may get a chance.

But evidence suggests and certainly from what I've seen you're more likely to lose control of the ball in your first scenario and based on our shit performance more likely not to score.

[Freeman's Wharfer]

I think criticism of Moore's distribution is unwarranted. I actually think he's quite composed on the ball and you only have to look back to the likes of Kisnorbo, Mills and Brown to realise that. Have we become spoilt with the likes of Michael Keane and Curtis Davies in recent times?!

[MPH]

I'm find myself bemused by this paragraph

Do players prepared for international football not know how to win games aren't they also trying to get 3 points?

Does Moore envisage never playing at that level?

Is this why LCFC over the last 10 years or so have played such terrible football?

yeah I see your point, but I think what he was hinting at was he's been trained to get stuck in and to tackle hard and when tackled hard to just deal with it whilst some players protect themselves too much and are all "ooh look at me I have a bruised toe nail I cant possibly train got to think of my career" and he's basically saying they need to man up.

anyway that's my take on it...

[davieG]

yeah I see your point, but I think what he was hinting at was he's been trained to get stuck in and to tackle hard and when tackled hard to just deal with it whilst some players protect themselves too much and are all "ooh look at me I have a bruised toe nail I cant possibly train got to think of my career" and he's basically saying they need to man up.

anyway that's my take on it...

...and International players don't "get stuck in and to tackle hard and when tackled hard to just deal with it".

 

I just don't see the differentiation other than the skill level.

[MPH]

...and International players don't "get stuck in and to tackle hard and when tackled hard to just deal with it".

I just don't see the differentiation other than the skill level.

quite frankly some of them don't. They are more likely to roll around on the floor at the slightest touch or even dive if someone comes anywhere them.

To say there is no difference between our academy and man Uniteds is like is like saying there is no difference between Lancaster boys school and Eton.

[davieG]

quite frankly some of them don't. They are more likely to roll around on the floor at the slightest touch or even dive if someone comes anywhere them.

To say there is no difference between our academy and man Uniteds is like is like saying there is no difference between Lancaster boys school and Eton.

Who said there is no difference, I'm saying the only significant difference should be the relative skill levels/potential. Attitudes to how you play and desire to win should be the same. Players theatricals do not relate to their ability or desire to win indeed I would suggest the players you describe have a very strong will to win.

 

I simply do not believe that having the desire to get 3 points is missing from the academies of Liverpool, Man u, Barcelona et al or that it is exclusive to clubs like LCFC

 

I get the feeling Im just repeating myself so I'm going to bow out of this debate.

[MPH]

I get the feeling Im just repeating myself so I'm going to bow out of this debate.

yeah I just think you missed the point he was trying to make in the first point

[davieG]

yeah I just think you missed the point he was trying to make in the first point

Hence why I said bemused by it and I still have little idea of what he was trying to say, it just came across as we're in the championship we know our place and should have no aspirations towards playing top class footy.

 

That is my final contribution