Vauxhall Motors 1 Liverpool Res 2 (friendly) Jul 30 2004

[dave u]

Vauxhall Motors 1 LIVERPOOL RES 2

Report by Dave Usher at Rivacre Park

Scorer(s) - Mark Smyth, Anthony Le Tallec Half Time - 1-0 Venue - Rivacre Park Date - Fri 30 Jul 2004 Star Man - Darren Potter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Smyth and Anthony Le Tallec were both on the scoresheet as the reds' reserves overcame non-league Vauxhall Motors in a hard fought game at Rivacre Park.

Hughie McAuley was without the injured Neil Mellor and Richie Partridge, whilst Gregory Vignal and Carl Medjani were unavailable due to being on trial at Rangers and Lorient respectively. Both are hoping to impress enough to earn season long loan deals.

Another player hoping to get away on loan, Anthony Le Tallec, was included however, although there was no sign of El Hadji Diouf, who had been expected to play.

Left back Chris Butler was back from a long term knee injury however, and Smyth was a surprise starter after originally having been released by the club at the end of last season.

Smyth still had 12 months left on his contract, and refused the option of having it paid up by the club as he wanted to stay and prove himself.

Vauxhall's squad included several players who were at one time on Liverpool's books, including new signing John Durnin, who is now on the reds' Academy coaching staff as well as turning out for Vauxhall.

Liverpool started better, and for the opening half an hour or so they knocked the ball about crisply with the outstanding Darren Potter highly influential.

Le Tallec played up front, but was repeatedly caught offside and his frustration was evident for all to see. He pouted, he threw his arms up in the air, he berated his team-mates and he cursed repeatedly. He even had the gall to have a go at Potter, despite the Ireland u21 midfielder being the best player on the pitch by a street.

Le Tallec clearly felt he was above this type of game, which he probably is to be fair. However, it was he who requested to be left behind from the North American tour, so he only has himself to blame.

It was the young Frenchman who had the game's first serious effort on goal when he saw a diving header brilliantly saved by the Vauxhall keeper after a left wing cross from Butler.

The keeper also did well to deny Potter from long range, but was helpless to prevent Smyth opening the scoring on 35 minutes.

Welsh surged through the middle and split the defence to find Robbie Foy. The young Scottish winger unselfishly squared the ball, presenting the unmarked Smyth with a tap in which he gleefully accepted.

The goal had been coming, only minutes earlier a cynical foul prevented Otsemobor from having a clear run at goal. The full back collected the ball inside his own half and just took off through the centre. He looked like he was going to go all the way before he was crudely stopped in his tracks by the centre half. A classic non league defender's tackle you might say!

This was to prove to be the reds best spell of the game. Seconds after taking the lead they should have been two up. Le Tallec for once sprung the offside trap, and went round the keeper before unselfishly squaring the ball to Smyth.

The striker delayed however as he looked to get the ball onto his left foot, and when he got his shot away the keeper had recovered his ground and made a smart save.

At the other end, Vauxhall struggled to get any change out of a Liverpool defence which was impeccably marshalled by David Raven. The England u19 skipper doesn't do anything especially eye catching, and rarely ever has to go to ground to win the ball.

He just reads the game extremely well and tidies thing up with the minimum of fuss. He even managed to get forward three or four times from open play, and looks to be playing with great confidence.

If Carl Medjani seals his loan move to Lorient, then that could open up the door for Raven to claim a regular starting place for the reserves this season.

Chris Butler too will be hoping that Gregory Vignal's proposed move to Ibrox goes through, as that would give him a much greater chance of staking a claim for the left back spot in Hughie McAuley's team.

Butler had an excellent game considering the length of his absence. He's very good going forward and regularly delivers a good ball from out wide.

He's tall and leggy, and is very comfortable running with the ball. One trademark Butler surge almost enabled Le Tallec to double the reds' lead before half time, but the French youngster just couldn't quite stretch far enough to get a significant touch on the cross.

Butler had done superbly to get a ball into the box, after his run looked to have been halted by three defenders. He somehow managed to wriggle free though and get to the byline, and the cross was a good one.

Rather than applaud the full back's efforts however, ALT chose to fling his arms up in disgust and scream his frustration at the ball not being played through earlier. He may have had a point, but his attitude is not going to make him many friends in the dressing room. Not that I expect he cares.

Anthony's antics in the first half were fascinating, and I found it hard to keep my eyes off him. Every offside decision against him was greeted with a pout, a jutting bottom lip and an expletive, either at a linesman, himself or a team-mate. You could say his behaviour was 'typically French'. But that would be unfair on the handful of French players who don't carry on like this. Pongolle, Traore and Medjani spring to mind, and er.... well that's about it.

ALT actually spent about ten minutes complaining to the referee to change the ball. The ref paid no attention, so he then turned to the Liverpool bench to get them to try and do something about it. His pleas fell on deaf ears though.

But for all his histrionics and fits of ego, the lad can play and personally I think it would be a very bad move to allow him to go out on loan. He's good enough to do a job for the first team, and let's be honest we aren't exactly well off in the attacking midfield department.

On 64 minutes he got himself on the scoresheet with a simple tap in. Otsemobor played the ball into the box, and Smyth spun free of his marker and went around the keeper. He should have scored, but from a narrow angle he prodded the ball against the post. Luckily ALT was on hand to stroke home the rebound.

After his double strike against Wrexham that's three in two games now for the French u21 star. It's interesting that Rafael Benitez seems to look on Le Tallec as a striker rather than a midfielder. He's played up front in both games so far, and Benitez said he was prepared to allow him to go out on loan because he 'has four top strikers already'.

If ALT is competing for a place up front he has no chance. Midfield is a different story however, and I can't help feeling that Baros, Cisse, Owen and of course his pal Flo would all benefit from Anthony's vision and passing ability.

After the second goal the reds slacked off somewhat. James Smith replaced Butler, and Vauxhall came right into it. Not because of the substitution I must stress, Smith was solid enough when he came on. It just seemed like Liverpool eased off a bit.

One of the Vauxhall substitutes crashed a stunning half volley from 35 yards against the underside of the bar, and on 69 minutes he got clear of the reds' defence and finished well past a helpless Luzi to reduce the deficit to one again.

Immediately Liverpool tried to hit back, and Welsh stung the keeper's palms with a shot from the edge of the box, and the ever alert Le Tallec just failed to seize on the rebound.

Overall it was a good workout for the reds second string. Potter was exceptional, especially in the first half, and he could be pushing for a first team squad place this season if he keeps up this kind of form.

John Welsh on the other hand, looks to be a bit downhearted. He was bitterly disappointed to be overlooked in favour of Salif Diao for the tour to America, and if he is to spend another season in the reserves this season I honestly think it could kill his career.

John Welsh needs first team football. Reserve games are no longer beneficial to him, and he has stood still for the past two years through no real fault of his own.

Against Vauxhall John was the least effective I've ever seen him. He wasn't bad, but it wasn't the John Welsh I've been watching for the last three or four years. He has to get out on loan this season or he may never fulfill the immense potential he has.

The same goes for Otsemobor, and to a lesser extent Mellor when he regains fitness. They're proven performers at reserve level, and it's no longer a challenge for them. I mean for God's sake, Mellor scored ten goals in just four reserve games for the reds last season (he also had another four disallowed!).

So if these lads are not going to play in the first team, then they need to follow the route taken by Danny Murphy and more recently Stephen Warnock.

Let them go out and gain experience in division one or perhaps even another Premiership club, and see how they do. Warnock spent a season at Coventry and was the club's player of the season. He's now come back and been told by Benitez that he is a part of his plans. There's no reason why Welsh, Semmy & co can't do the same.



Team: Patrice Luzi; Jon Otsemobor, David Raven, Danny O'Donnell, Chris Butler (James Smith); Danny Guthrie, John Welsh, Darren Potter, Robbie Foy; Anthony Le Tallec, Mark Smyth:


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Agree or Disagree? Email me at dave@liverpoolway.co.uk