Ibe is coming of age thanks to McClaren LIVERPOOL WILL GET BACK A GEM MADE IN DERBY
REMEMBER Jordan Ibe’s debut as a 15-year-old for Wycombe? He scored a blinder against Sheffield Wednesday, then got booked for celebrating with his mum! It was a great moment and even that daft piece of refereeing didn’t distract from the fact that Wycombe had unearthed a pretty special player.
That was 2011 and, after a move to Liverpool and few years learning his trade in their youth ranks, the 18-year-old is now showing what he’s all about on loan at Derby.
Last weekend’s strike against Watford was his fourth in 15 games and he’s very quickly become a mainstay of Steve McClaren’s side.
I’m not surprised. This is a lad they’ve got very high hopes for at Anfield and, to be perfectly honest, I thought he’d probably impressed enough in pre-season to merit a place in Brendan Rodgers’ plans as an impact player.
He’s such an explosive, dynamic player that he could do some real damage from the bench.
Clearly, though, Brendan thought there was still some developing to do and that’s why he’s chosen Derby.
Mistakes
At 18 or 19, it’s vital to have a coach who knows how to develop young players and Steve McClaren is a master at that. He’ll be very patient. He’ll understand that Jordan won’t be brilliant every game. He’ll allow him to make mistakes.
On the pitch, he’s in good hands. Off it? Well that’s all about Jordan and the attitude he shows.
When young players go out on loan, they have to earn the trust and respect of their new team-mates very quickly.
They can’t go in there thinking,‘Well it doesn’t matter what I do here because I’m going back to Liverpool or Chelsea’.
They have to realise that there may never be a place at their parent club. Every minute you get on the pitch is a chance to show somebody you’re worth a contract.
They have to think ‘I am a Yeovil player’,‘I am a Derby player’, or whatever. They have to forget completely about anything they’ve done before and treat that time like it’s their only chance to make it.
Respect
And woe betide anyone who thinks they should be in the team just because they’ve come from a big club.You absolutely cannot survive unless you are respectful of everybody in that changing room.
If you go in there and you’re a bit bigtime or flash, they’ll work you out in seconds flat.You’ll be torn to shreds.
That’s the real grounding for young players. It’s going every day, getting changed and going training with these guys who’ve been in the game for years.
You have to grow up an awful lot because you have to learn to survive in a competitive environment.
The ones who succeed are the ones who do that best. For me, a lot of loan players don’t grasp what it’s all about but from what I’ve heard and from what he’s doing, Jordan isn’t one of them.
He’s scoring goals, he’s playing regularly, he’s getting the mistakes out of his system at a team that’s doing really well.
Liverpool should get back a much-improved player and that will be thanks to Steve McClaren and Derby.