Liverpool FC Forum

[Lando_Griffin]

Well I've done a search on here for "Reserves" and nothing came up (which amazed me!), so I thought I'd better start a thread which will keep us all up to date with the second-string results/performances, etc.

I have just had a look at the League table, and LFC are currently in 8th position.

This sounds really disheartening, although the facts tell a different story.

The table is thus:


http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/match/season/tables/reserves.htm

As you can all see, we have only played 12 matches due to postponements, and should we win our 4 matches in hand, we could be in 2nd/3rd.

This is an amazing feat considering that we are using virtual youth players, whereas teams such as Man U, etc, are playing much more experienced sides.


I believe this is testament to Rafa and his staff (particularly Paco Herrera and Hughie McAuley).
The players they have unearthed, and the results they have achieved underline the swift yet massive changes being undertaken at Melwood aswell as Anfield.

I think the thing we should all remember is the average age for the reserve team this season has been, I believe, 19 or 20.

In my book, that is absolutely tremendous.

[red37]

good thread lando..its about time we kept closer eyes on the reserves seeing as though most of our new recruits are going to feature there for a while. hopefully there are two or three gems waiting to blossom up to the first team. i try to keep tabs on the results but admit there isnt that much info easily available..maybe some of the lads will help make this thread a goldmine in terms of news/etc...

here is an article off the official about idrizaj:

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/cgi/NGoto/125861902?-11194

[Sabre]

This is an amazing feat considering that we are using virtual youth players, whereas teams such as Man U, etc, are playing much more experienced sides.

That's Youth System ala Real Sociedad. Aiestaran and Otxotorena are of that school. There is not reserves league here, the "reserve team" play lower divisions like any one else, with the restriction they cannot play the same division. Thus you can reach even second division with the reserves. Most of them though are in the divisions next to the second one. Although we're specialist in youth work, it's the most commong thing young people playing in those teams in Spain. It's absolutely RARE to see >23 year player playing for a "B" team.

It's good you already spot appreciate that, but I think that we're going to see products of the youth system soon kicking in the first squad

[Lando_Griffin]

Before Rafa joined us our reserves were littered with players who were unable and highly unlikely to get a game for the first team. Players such as Diao, Smicer, Cheyrou, Diomede, Ferri, etc all languished in the reserves, stifling the young talent from the Academy.

Now, though, Rafa is doing everything I could have asked for regarding the reserves, and the improvements are already visable.
Although from the Youth Cup, just take a look at this (sorry it's from the 19th!):

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N151205060119-2049.htm

Team: Roberts, Miki, Darby (captain), Hobbs, Antwi, Ryan (Barnett 52), Anderson, Flynn (Smith 90), Frayne (Lindfield 75), Hammill, Barratt. Subs not used – Mimms, Threlfall.
 
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: David Roberts

The fact is that at least 4 of these players were signed by Rafa, and there would have been more in the team but for injuries.

Essentially, Rafa has taken the club back to the old mentality whereby a new player was signed, then blooded in the reserves. How it is meant to be.

The current reserve squad is generally made up from :

Carson (20),
Martin (20 today),
Roque (17),
Antwi (17),
Barragan (18),
Hobbs (17),
Anderson (17),
Hammill (17),
Idrizaj (18),
Raven(20),
Guthrie (18),
Mannix (20),
Calliste (20),
Peltier (19),
O'Donnell (19),
Willis (19),
Smith (20),
Medjani (20) (or did he go on loan?),
Foy (20) - Loaned to Wrexham till Jan 31st,
and a couple of the Youth Squad I believe
Frayne (18),
Lancaster (18),
Platt (19),
Holmes (18) and
Woods (18).

(Average age - 18.63 years).


Obviously any first teamers coming back from injuries, etc, or Agger and Kromkamp, for eg, who need to get used to the English game will appear for the reserves aswell.
However. With an average age of 18 1/2 in our reserves, and 9 of those players brought in by Rafa and his crew, it seems as though we may have a team of starlets in the next few years.
If I were Sh*tski, or any other team, I would be getting pretty nervous right about now.

[red37]

good to see anderson break his duck. interesting yesterday that mellor and le tallec grabbed winning goals. im not going to start a debate on them both, but it makes you wonder if they both will return to us, and if we keep them.
something about le tallec seems to be worth hanging on to.

[red37]

robbed this from vitalfootball:

Neil Mellor has denied that his loan move to Wigan spells the end of the strikers career at Liverpool.

Mellor enjoyed a winning start with Wigan by having a hand in their first two goals and then scoring the winner in injury time.

Mellor said: 'I spoke to the manager Rafael Benitez before I came here to Wigan and he told me it would be good for me to go out on loan, score some goals and get fit. He told me I was fifth choice striker at Anfield and I would only be playing for the reserves so this is a great opportunity for me at Wigan. I don't see this move as meaning my career at Liverpool is over. I love the club and they have been really good to me. I just want to prove myself, show I can score goals at the top level and stay injury free. It's up to me to show what I can do.'

Mellor recently recovered from operations on both knees, a situation that kept him out of the game for a year.

He said on joining Wigan: 'I have been feeling really good in training and it's the best I've felt for almost two years. Wigan are a good club and I know Stephane Henchoz well so hopefully I can get some games and score a lot of goals. I just love scoring goals and it has been frustrating being out injured for almost a year and I have missed that.'

Yesterday he told the press 'To be on the winning side and score the winning goal was obviously a perfect start for me. After being out for so long, I'm pleased the gaffer took a chance on me and hopefully I can repay him with some goals and some wins. The last year has been very frustrating. With this injury, no-one knows the proper prognosis for it, or if the operation is going to be successful.'

He certainly hasn't given up hope of forcing his way into the Liverpool team over time though as he also said 'if I can score more goals and impress Paul, and the Liverpool gaffer, then who knows what will happen.'
==============================================

[Lando_Griffin]

Here is the latest match report for the reserves.

Not a good one, I'm afraid.

From LFC.tv:

Defensive errors cost Liverpool Reserves dear as they crashed to a 4-1 defeat against Middlesbrough on a freezing cold night in the north east. 
Ramon Calliste scored from the penalty spot for Liverpool but Thomas Craddock hit a hat-trick for the home side. Two defensive errors cost Liverpool dear. Firstly Godwin Antwi scored an own goal to put Boro 1-0 up, then a back pass from Jack Hobbs gifted Middlesbrough striker Craddock a goal to make it 2-1.
 
Middlesbrough keeper David Knight had a fine match and denied Liverpool on the night with several excellent saves.
 
Liverpool played some excellent football in the first half and their passing was sharp and precise. Jack Hobbs was made captain by Paco Herrera and Hughie McAuley.
 
Hobbs, Godwin Antwi, Paul Anderson, Adam Hammill and Miki Roque had been part of the victorious youth team that saw off Burnley 3-0 on Monday night to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup.
 
Antonio Barragan was back at right back with James Smith getting a start at left back.
 
Liverpool were the better team in the first half and created some good chances with Danny Guthrie outstanding in the centre of midfield. Guthrie dictated the play and most of Liverpool's best moments came through the former Manchester United youth team player.
 
Guthrie went close in the opening minute of the game with a curled free-kick that was destined for the top corner but Boro keeper David Knight made a superb save to keep out the effort.
 
At the other end Liverpool keeper David Martin showed his qualities with a fine point blank stop to keep out returning Boro striker Malcolm Christie.Paul Anderson gave a man of the match performance during the youth cup win over Burnley and was lively again against Boro. The 17-year-old went close with a dipping effort just over the bar, then a minute later Ramon Calliste was so unlucky not to score for Liverpool. Calliste had two great chances but on both occasions he was thwarted by two fine saves from Knight.
 
Liverpool continued to probe and look for openings, and Lee Peltier went close after 14 minutes with a curled free-kick that brought another good save from Knight. Peltier then let fly with a fierce drive from 25-yards out that went just wide.
 
After 23 minutes a solo run from Guthrie gave him an opening but unfortunately his effort went the wrong side of the post and wide.
 
Then against the run of play the home side opened the scoring after 34 minutes with a very unfortunate own goal from Godwin Antwi. Middlesbrough's lively left winger Adam Johnson beat Roque down the left and from his cross Antwi, in attempting to clear the ball, could only head past his own keeper Martin for the opening goal.
 
Three minutes later Liverpool were deservedly level from the penalty spot. Anderson was pushed in the box and Ramon Calliste clinically put away the spot kick to make it 1-1.
 
On the stroke of half-time Anderson ran clean through for Liverpool but unfortunately he fired wide of the target. It was a great chance and it was to prove costly in the second half.
 
A minute into the second period Calliste was unlucky not to put the Reds 2-1 up when he produced a great turn in the Boro penalty area and shot just wide.
 
The match was to then turn on two goals in two minutes from Middlesbrough striker Thomas Craddock. Firstly Hobbs back pass went straight to the striker who rounded Martin to make it 2-1. Then a minute later, from out on the left wing Craddock produced a superb chip over Martin and into the net for 3-1.
 
Liverpool continued to press and create chances but just couldn't find another way past the excellent Boro keeper Knight. He denied Anderson after a great run and shot then kept out a close range effort to deny Hobbs, after more superb Anderson trickery down the right wing.
 
If the 3-1 scoreline was harsh then 4-1 was not a fair reflection of the night's proceedings. Craddock got his hat-trick with an excellent finish after a superb run down the left wing from Johnson.
 
After 65 minutes Liverpool then introduced Scotland Under-21 international winger Robbie Foy in place of Adam Hammill. Foy has recently returned to Melwood after a three month loan spell with Wrexham. The Reds also gave a reserve debut to Academy midfielder Ryan Flynn as he replaced Peltier in central midfield.
 
Middlesbrough Reserves: Knight, McMahon, Grounds, Liddle, Bates, Wheater, Fisher, Kennedy, Christie (Hutchinson 45), Craddock, Johnson (Clough 65).
 
Liverpool Reserves: Martin, Barrigan, Smith, Roque, Antwi, Hobbs, Anderson, Peltier (Flynn 67), Calliste (Lindfield 76), Guthrie, Hammill (Foy 65). Subs not used: O'Donnell, Willis.
 
Referee: M Matadar.
 
Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the match: Danny Guthrie. An excellent performance and was at the heart of everything good about Liverpool on the night.
------------------------------------------------------------

Purely on the strength of the reports we've been getting, I'd say we should be looking to bring Anderson into the first team setup.

What harm can it do to give the lad 20 minutes when we're cruising?

[ynwa]

do they play still at wrexham

[red37]

i thought this thread was getting better by the day...im sure it is 

[adamnbarrett]

I always check up on the reserves when I buy the match program. That paul anderson look a very promising player. I must really aim to watch the reserves more when they play at the racecourse and have a first look at the future stars of our football club. Then I will be able to give real opinions on them. All I do at the moment is read about them and see the highlights that appear up on here.

[ynwa]

me and me couple go to watch the youth and a few reserves games love it when we go to the racecourse

[stoney]

We're winning 6-0 in the FA youth cup quarter final right now 

[stmichael]

Liverpool are through to the Semi Finals of the FA Youth Cup after a Craig Lindfield hat trick and goals from Charlie Barnett, Adam Hamill and Michael Nardiello gave them a convincing 6-0 win over Carlisle United at Anfield tonight.
The Academy stars booked a last four place, where they will play Southampton, in a devastating 16 minute first half spell when they scored three goals and could have had many more.

Cheered on by a respectable size following from the Kop, Steve Heighway's young charges put Carlisle to the sword when Craig Lindfield's two goals sandwiched a brilliant 20-yard strike from Charlie Barnett.

The Reds took the lead in the 20th minute when Parsonage released Lindfield inside the box and he finished confidently past Carlisle keeper Bradley into the top corner.

Carlisle were struggling to contain Charlie Barnett's breaks from midfield so they must have been relieved to see him motion to shoot from 20 yards after 30 minutes. That was until the young midfielder unleashed a fierce drive that gave Bradley no chance.

It was 3-0 just six minutes later when Lindfield scored his second goal of the game. And it was Barnett again doing the damage as it was from his cross that Lindfield headed into the Anfield Road net.

The Carlisle side were out early for the second half and after making a double substitution they acquitted themselves pretty well in the early exchanges. But normal service was soon resumed and Adam Hamill forced a good save out of Bradley with a curling shot from 18 yards.

Liverpool went 4-0 up on 53 minutes and it was a special moment for Craig Lindfield as he completed his hat trick at the Kop End. His chance came when Anderson flicked a corner into the six-yard box and Lindfield ran away with the match ball after running in to score from 6 yards.

Lindfield was on the hunt for a 4th goal in the 72nd minute when a clever turn in the box created a shooting chance, but Bradley was able to pluck the ball from the air after diving to his left.

The Reds weren't to denied though and after 75 minutes, Adam Hamill scored a goal that Xabi Alonso or Steven Gerrard would have been proud of. Hamill picking the ball up just inside his own half and unleashing a fantastic shot that dipped under the crossbar and into the net for 5-0.

Craig Lindfield was substituted and went off to a standing ovation and his replacement Michael Nardiello soon had the crowd on their feet again when he made it 6-0 with a fine run and shot.

It's Southampton next then for Liverpool Youth and they will go into that game with plenty of confidence that they can reach the final after a fine win here.

[stmichael]

youth team highlights from last night

http://exodus.interoutemediaservices.com/?id=9a9....Y6E=*12

[Lando_Griffin]

We have GOT to try Anderson in the first team soon!!!!!!!!!

With Sissoko possibly out for the season, Stevie should resume CM fulltime, leaving a massive hole on the right side of midfield.

Although Kromkamp was impressive there against Man City, he won't be able to play every game, and does lack the cutting-edge skills of a natural winger.

Come on Rafa - you know you want to!!!!!