Liverpool u18 0 Blackburn u18 1 (Feb 4 2006)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL U18 0 Blackburn U18 1

Report by Dave Usher at the Academy

Scorer(s) - Half Time - 0-1 Venue - The Academy Date - Sat 4 Feb 2006 Star Man - Callum Woods

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liverpool U18’s missed the chance to go top of the table as they were beaten 1-0 at home by league leaders Blackburn Rovers. It was a game of few chances, but the visitors just about shaded it on the balance of play. James Frayne missed a first half penalty for the reds, whilst Rovers winning goal came from the spot eight minutes after’s Frayne’s miss.

John Owens rang the changes from the side which progressed to the FA Youth Cup quarter finals with a 3-0 win at Burnley last week, with only keeper Dave Roberts and defenders Robbie Threlfall and Stephen Darby keeping their place. Owens has a big squad this year, and took the opportunity to rotate his side to give others a chance.

Of course, some of the youth cup squad don’t play in Academy games anyway as they’re regulars in the reserve side, but even discounting the Melwood lads Owens has a squad of 24 to choose from when everyone is fit. The side he picked against Rovers wasn’t the strongest available, but as has been pointed out many times, results aren’t the over-riding factor for the u18 side and it is right that all the lads get a chance to play.

Skipper Callum Woods was back from injury to partner Threlfall in the middle of defence, whilst Jordan Holmes came in at right back. On the flanks were Michael Burns (left) and Paul Barratt (right), whilst Ryan Wignall was handed a rare start in the middle of the park alongside Jimmy Ryan. Frayne and Conal Platt got the nod up front.

The reds began the brighter of the two sides, and should have taken the lead on when Barratt got clear on the right and crossed into the danger area. Frayne and Platt both went for the ball, and the keeper had also tried to cut it out but was stranded in no mans land. It was Platt who reached it first, but he didn’t connect properly with his right foot shot and the ball rolled wide.

Liverpool had an even better chance to go in front on 22 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after a Rovers defender handled Burns left wing cross. Frayne and Platt were arguing about who was going to take it, Frayne won the debate but his kick was well saved by the Rovers keeper.

Eight minutes later Rovers were given a chance from the spot themselves, when Threlfall was penalised for handball. The defender was furious, claiming the ball hit him in the face. I didn’t have a clear enough to view to be sure what happened, but it looked like he had his hands up protecting his face and it’s maybe hit his arm. A harsh penalty perhaps, but then Rovers could say the same about the one earlier.

Rovers made no mistake with their kick, and it would prove to be the only goal of the game. Not much else happened in the first half, as Liverpool defended solidly but struggled to get their passing game going. The midfield was bypassed too often, and Platt and Frayne aren’t at their most effective when the ball is in the air.

I haven’t seen a great deal of Wignall (I saw him play in the u16s last year a couple of times), but he did ok in this game. His passing was crisp, and he put himself about well. He and Ryan just weren’t getting on the ball enough, and too often the defence were hitting long balls. Ryan had possibly the worst game I’ve seen him play. I really like Jimmy, he’s a class act, but the last few times I’ve seen him play he hasn’t been his usual self.

It’s usually Jimmy that makes this team tick, so if he’s not at his best it has an effect on the whole teams play. He is to the u18s what Alonso is to the firs team. Form is temporary though, and class is permanent so I’m sure Jimmy will be back on his game soon enough.

Barratt was the pick of the midfield in the first half. He had the beating of the Rovers left back, but didn’t see enough of the ball to make it count. The Blackburn full back looked very vulnerable every time the ball went near him in the first half, and it was only in the second half that I realised it was Mark King, a former Liverpool academy player. The names on the team sheet completely wrong, and King was listed as being in goal!

I only saw him play once or twice when he was here, but he looked a pretty solid player. He looked to be a real weak link for them in the first half, but he got better as the game wore on and it became clear that he was just returning from in jury as one of the Rovers coaching staff was constantly asking him how he was. “I’m fucked” was usually the reply!

The contest remained fairly even in terms of possession, but it was Liverpool keeper Dave Roberts who had more to do. He made one absolutely stunning save when a right wing cross found the left winger unmarked at the back post, and then made another good save from the centre forward.

Roberts got very lucky shortly afterwards when he dropped a cross from the right wing straight at the feet of King. The former red obviously couldn’t believe his luck, as he wasn’t prepared for the opportunity and prodded the ball wide of the empty net from close range.

Owens made changes, replacing both strikers and sending on Craig Lindfield and Michael Nardiello. It gave the side a bit more impetus, but on the whole it didn’t make a great deal of difference. Barnett came on to replace Burns, in a tactical switch which saw Wignall push forward as a third striker. Again, it made little difference as the reds couldn’t create any kind of opening.

It wasn’t until stoppage time that the Rovers goal came under threat. First, Barratt did extremely well down the left and crossed to the far post to Nardiello. The ball sat up a little for him, but it was on his strong foot and it was a presentable chance. Unfortunately he struck his shot into the ground and it bounced over the bar.

A minute later Ryan made a good run in behind the defence but his shot lacked power and was easily saved by the keeper.

Victory could have seen the reds top the table depending on results elsewhere, but clearly John Owens is looking at the bigger picture. Liverpool’s first choice eleven may have won this game, but with an important youth cup game coming up, and with a big squad of players who all deserve an opportunity to play, league position is not the priority.

Callum Woods was the star man by a long way. He was rock solid in defence, won every header and his distribution from the back was magnificent at times. Woods is the most naturally two footed player I’ve seen, and it was a joy to watch him pinging passes out to the flanks with either foot.

It’s strange to me that he never features in reserve squads, especially as next year the reserves are likely to be without some of their more regular defenders (I can’t see Raven and Whitbread wanting to come back to play in the reserves, whilst James Smith and Danny O’`Donnell are out of contract this summer). I’d like to see how Callum coped with reserve team football, as he’s certainly looked a class act for the u18s this season.


Team: Roberts; Holmes, Woods, Threlfall, Darby; Barratt, Ryan, Wignall, Burns (Barnett); Platt (Nardiello), Frayne (Lindfield):

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