QUESTIONS were asked at the recent Liverpool FC shareholders meeting about the club's failure to continue a production line which unearthed talents such as Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.

Where are youngsters like that now?

Is this just a blip affecting the youth departments of professional clubs - or is there something more fundamental going on in this 21st century?

Are boys lacking in the basic skills or is general health and fitness a lot to blame?

A recent report states that we, as a nation, are unhealthy and young kids should dramatically change their habits.

A spokesman for the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, who specialises in children with obesity problems, refers to the mnemonic MEND. Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Diet.

He said: "Programmes must be developed which everybody will enjoy, something that will conveniently fit into their lifestyles and doesn't take up too much time."

"There are two distinct categories to be identified, firstly those people who are a little overweight.

"For these people to become healthier they need to get some physical activity into their lives.

"On the other hand there are those who are obese, which means they are 20% overweight and have a medical condition.

"These people need to be more disciplined in their approach to healthy eating and physical activity, but by doing so, recognising that it will be both rewarding and fun at the same time."

But is enough being done for these kids? Should the government be doing more in making the population aware of the magnitude of the problem? How can they encourage us to be more healthy?

There are only a couple of centres in the UK where children can be treated for obesity and, as a parent of an obese kid, there are very few programmes available. Most gyms don't allow them in.

There are suggestions, however, that parents and children should be taking responsibility for their own lives.

Kids are ferried about in cars all the time. They are dropped off yards from the playground and then picked up after school. And how often do you see a dad taking his son to a game with his belly protruding beneath his replica shirt? He then cusses the stars on the field for not putting in the effort!

What has changed, undoubtedly, is the environment we live in today. High dense, cheap food, 24 hours a day and the environment is taking energy expenditure out of our lives. Washing machines, computers, any number of labour saving devices. Fundamental changes in the way we live.

Maybe we haven't noticed that the problem has crept up on us and are only now realising the implications.

Unless we are going to turn the tide of technology, which is not going to happen, then we must take on more responsibility ourselves in the guise of exercise.

But all this talk about people's health does not go down well with others. They find it incredible that so much opinion is forthcoming, when it doesn't bother the individual himself.

They question the validity of the recommendations and suggest that by eliminating certain things, they are at risk of something else. How often do people who stop smoking put on weight?

It's clearly a tricky issue, but if the kids are generally fit and active then it will certainly benefit society and maybe go a little way towards discovering the new talent necessary for our game to move forward.