Liverpool U18 0 Everton U18 1 (Oct 1 2005)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL U18 0 Everton U18 1

Report by Peter Schulz at the Academy

Scorer(s) - Half Time - 0-1 Venue - The Academy Date - Sat 1 Oct 2005 Star Man - Jimmy Ryan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liverpool U18’s good run of form ended on Saturday as the reds youngsters slipped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Everton. Coach John Owens will be disappointed with the result having fielded a strong line up including utility man Lee Peltier and winger Adam Hammill who were both in the reserves squad earlier in the week.

The academy was cold and windy like always and the reds started the first half with the wind firmly in their faces. Despite this they made a positive start playing some neat football on the ground to negate the influence of the weather conditions. The game was full of tempo.

Liverpool’s first chance came on 18 minutes to forward Craig Lindfield who headed over following a cross from the right. The forward rose above everyone at the back post, but couldn’t direct it goalwards. In the very next attack Everton carved out their first chance after some neat attacking football. It was an easy save for Lancaster in the Liverpool goal in the end though.

4 minutes later the reds found themselves a goal down. An Everton corner was swung in from their left to the back post and as it was headed back across goal it came off a defender into the path of Victor Anichebe who was left with an easy tap in from a yard out. The wind was now definitely a major factor in the way the game was going and Everton seemed able to force the reds into hurried clearances and longer balls up front.

Obviously, the wind made Liverpool’s build up play a lot more difficult, but they didn’t help themselves and Everton looked odds on to get a second goal when right back Francis Smith gifted them the ball on just outside the box. The ball was crossed in, but was somehow headed wide.

More sloppy play by Liverpool meant that Everton were very much dominating proceedings and more chances came Everton’s way. A corner was floated to the edge of the box from where a volley was unleashed. Lancaster spilled it and there was complete panic in the Liverpool defence until they somehow managed to clear the danger. Another piece of poor defending meant Peltier had to save a goal bound shot off the line and the quality of football was very poor from a reds perspective.

On 40 minutes central midfielder Ryan Flynn was sent down the left wing and just as he was about the cross the ball, the Everton defender launched a badly timed two-footed challenge. He got nowhere near the ball and went straight through Flynn who, naturally, went down in pain. Amazingly, the referee – who was acting a complete tit with the players – waved play on. It was as bad a challenge as you’re ever going to see and the TLW contingent were fully expecting a card to be shown when instead play continued. Unsurprisingly, Ryan Flynn had to be driven off on the golf buggy unable to walk.

Apparently, Everton are a lot like Ajax in the way that they have a system that runs right the way down from the first team to the youth teams. Where Ajax are famous for their attacking and creative play, Everton seem to groom their players and fans into fucking yard dogs from a very early age. Well, Everton must be a big club if they get compared to the likes of Ajax. One Everton fan even shouted ‘great tackle lad’ to the Everton defender who had just ended Flynn’s involvement in the game. I bet he didn’t say that about Plesan’s “challenge” on Arteta the other night though. At this stage, the Everton players seemed to be flying into dangerous tackles every time Liverpool got the ball on the floor.

Charlie Barnett, two goal hero from the last U18 game at the academy, came on in place of Flynn and he slotted into the right of midfield while Paul Barratt was moved to the centre. His performance improved after the move.

Every time Liverpool got it on the ground they seemed able to play attractive football, it just happened too rarely in the first half.

With the wind in their backs after the break, Liverpool looked much improved and the first 10-15 minutes saw a series of chances, a couple of them too good to miss. Both Hammill and Barratt had low shots saved and striker Michael Nardiello somehow put the ball over from a few yards out after being picked out by Barnett's delicious ball across the box. It was the move of the match, as Ryan sprayed the ball across the park to Barnett, who's instant low delivery couldn't have been placed any more accurately. It deserved a goal, but unfortunately Nardiello couldn't keep it down as the keeper dived at his feet.

Nardiello missed another great chance almost immediately after when Hammill tricked his way down the left and put a brilliant cross in for him. All it needed was the slightest of glances but in the end he never touched it and it curled round the back post and out for a goal kick. Nardiello should have done better.

Everton then sent a man through on goal, but Lancaster came out to block well with his legs. After little more than an hour Owens made his second change, replacing the below par Craig Lindfield with Conal Platt.

Chances fell to both sides now. Nardiello was again the culprit as Adam Hammill brilliantly danced his way past a number of defenders and cut the ball back to him, but Nardiello’s shot on the volley from about 10 yards was superbly saved by the Everton goalkeeper. The striker couldn't be faulted this time however, he made very good contact on his shot, but it was a fantastic save by the blues keeper.

Nardiello had another shooting chance a bit later, but his low shot from distance was easily saved. Conal Platt then fired over as the reds' became increasingly desperate. Liverpool pressed hard to find the equaliser they undoubtedly deserved, but it didn’t come despite some tense moments for the Everton defence.

Central midfielder Jimmy Ryan, who had enjoyed a superb game in the middle of the park, had the last chance of the game but his half volley from the right edge of the box was again kept out by the Everton keeper. A couple of minutes earlier Ryan Wignall had come on for his first appearance of the season. He replaced Paul Barratt, but I don’t think he even got to touch the ball.

Overall it was a disappointing result, but a decent performance by the U18’s. The defence didn’t look as good as it has done this season and the goals weren’t coming but plenty of chances were created. This time though, none were put away.

The Star man could be no other than little Jimmy Ryan who seemed to be here, there and everywhere all the time getting stuck in and supplying good passes to his team mates. He looks a very fine player at this level and again I was really impressed with his performance. He’s not very tall, and that might count against him later on, but for now he’s got plenty of time to develop. It will certainly be interesting to follow him over the course of this season.

Charlie Barnett and Adam Hammill were dangerous again and it’s nice to see that not all Liverpool sides lack width.

It is a worry, however, that since I’ve come to England I’ve watched different Liverpool sides in 5 games and in 4 of them we have failed to score. Will the jinx continue when the first team takes on Chelsea on Sunday?

Next up for the U18’s are West Bromwich Albion away next Saturday. John Owens will be looking to reshuffle his pack in search for a win.


Team: Lancaster; Smith, Peltier, Woods, Darby; Barratt, Ryan, Flynn (Barnett), Hammill; Lindfield (Platt), Nardiello: