The Taurean
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A nice little interview from Scott wootton. Part of the interview talks about his take on youth scenario at Liverpool during Rafa and comparisons thereof with United's youth set-up.
Get to know... Scott Wootton
Get to know... Scott Wootton
The article was posted awhile back. apologies if posted already.Prior to his short-term loan to Tranmere, 19-year-old defender Scott Wootton sat down with us to discuss his fine start to the season, playing alongside seasoned internationals and his own controversial switch from Liverpool to United…
How did you come to leave Liverpool and join United?
I was an Under-16 at Liverpool and I felt the path through to the first team or even to the Reserves was blocked by the number of players that were being brought in from abroad, who weren’t necessarily better than the English players already there. Those players were being brought in by Rafa Benitez and they were being played ahead of the English players coming through. They offered me a scholarship but I turned it down. Luckily for me, United were interested. They took me on a week’s trial and once I knew they were interested I didn’t want to look anywhere else. I’ve never looked back since.
Is it true that Liverpool fielded you as a 14-year-old in an under-18s tournament?
Yeah. When I was playing for the Under-15s, I went to a tournament in America with the under-18s who had won the FA Youth Cup twice in a row. Steve Heighway took me along. I was only 14 and he told me that the club had only done that with two players before, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard, so I felt very privileged.
How different are the youth set-ups at United and Liverpool?
In terms of the football that both clubs try to play, it’s similar. The youth set-ups are quite different, though. Here you have the Under-9s to Under-14s training in the evening; the youth team, the Reserves and the first team all train together. At Liverpool there were two completely separate buildings. When I was there Melwood was just for the first team and Reserves, while the Academy was just for the Under-18s.
When you go full time in the Liverpool Academy you don’t get to see the first team or Reserves, which is different to how it is here. I think it’s much better here that you’re surrounded by players who you aspire to be like. You see them around the building, watch them training and it motivates you. Plus you feel more of a part of the club here. You’re around the players, the coaching staff, the ground staff, everyone.
How do you think you’ve developed since coming to United?
I think I’ve developed well since I came here as an Under-16. I’ve got bigger and stronger, although I still need to work on that. I’m quicker, but that’s still a weak point and I need to work on that too. I think my heading over the last 12 months has really improved, and my reading of the game, and my technique has obviously improved. Most general things have developed as a result of full-time training.
Does training with the senior players help?
Definitely, and we train with them more than you’d probably think. The day after a game the first-team squad members who didn’t play train with the Reserves, because the Reserves isn’t a massive group. It also happens during international weeks, when you’ve got the older players and those who aren’t picked for their countries – the likes of Paul Scholes, Giggsy, Gaz Nev. We train with them and that’s great for us because you can see the things they do and pit yourself against them. You might try to mark them, or they’re marking you, and you can see how you get on. It’s really good.
Who have you come up against recently?
During the September international break we had Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. Plus Dimitar Berbatov has retired now, so has Wes Brown, so you’re playing against them. Even in little possession games you can find yourself up against Rio, or Scholes – he is unreal in training, he and Giggs are unbelievable. So if you’re tackling them and doing well against them, then it’s a great boost.
How did you find the experience of playing alongside Rio and Wes in the Reserves?
It was brilliant. Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] said to me before the Oldham game: “Just enjoy playing with the England captain.” At the time you’re just so focused on playing well that you can only appreciate it when you look back. Throughout the game he was always talking, and when he tells you “well done” for something you’ve done right, it doesn’t half boost your confidence. The same applies with Wes. Wes is really an international defender; he’s chosen to retire. So when he’s talking before the game and telling you what to do during it, it’s a great lift. The same applies to when he tells you what to do next time, if you’ve made a mistake. They’ve been there and done it, so they know exactly what they’re talking about.
You’re usually very vocal on the pitch; were you giving orders back to them?
Yeah! That’s another thing Ole said to me before the game. Obviously they’d be talking to me and trying to help me through, but he said: “You talk to them too. Don’t you think you can’t give them advice because it’s Rio or Wes. They know they’ll be getting the right information.” You just tell them the right thing – whether there’s a man coming or something like that. Ole told me not to be scared, and I don’t think I was.
Specifically, what would you say you’ve picked up from the two of them?
Deciding when to go tight to a player and when to drop off, when the ball’s being transferred between the midfield. And if there’s a runner in behind, when to track the run. Both Wes and Rio were telling me to take the first man, so as the ball was being transferred and the player was coming across, for me to go tight and then they’d cover behind. You don’t get that information as much when you’re lower down the age groups. They’re very clear and that helps the team.
You’ve had a great start to the season; what’s next for you?
I’d like to keep on playing. I played a lot of games last season and I want to play every single game in the first half of this season. I just want to kick on, do some more training with the first team and hopefully catch the manager’s eye – either there or by playing well in the Reserves. It’d be great if there was an opportunity in the Carling Cup. You never know. But at the minute I’ve just got to concentrate and keep trying to impress.