Youth Team/Cup

[Allan]

Toni Gomes on for Madger Gomes.

[Allan]

1-2, Valencia back in front courtesy of a thumping finish, but it all stems from sloppy work from Wilson. We've been well on top, so to concede like we did is hugely frustrating.

[Allan]

Ejaria on for Johnstone.

[Allan]

Canos has a goal ruled our for offside, despite appearing to be very much onside. 

 

Headed into stoppage time.

[Allan]

Missed it earlier, but Callum Nicholas came on for Wade Maxwell.

[Allan]

Full time, 1-2. Valencia progress, but the result should have been so much different.

 

We've gifted them both their goals, they should have been reduced to 10 by the letter of the law, and we've had a goal disallowed when it was clearly onside.

 

Created plenty of chances in the second half but lacked the finishing today, (apart from the Canos goal, and his disallowed effort, of course).

 

The lads will be gutted, but they've played well in the 2 games that I've watched, barring the first 20 minutes against Feyenoord.

[Ne Moe Imya]

Happy enough with that, honestly.

 

It's all about performance at youth level and we were much better than Valencia.  That offside decision was so wrong it was almost bizarre - Canos must have been a full yard, maybe two, onside when the ball was played.  Not to mention it was a deflection off their defender that took the ball to him.

 

He looks good, does Canos.  Gone is last season's hesitancy, now he's just class.  Reminds me a bit of Torres when he first came, actually.  Maybe not quite as quick but a similar style of running and control on the ball.

[Allan]

The lack of niggling injuries is helping Canos. Last season he never seemed to be able to get a good run of games, as when he was showing signs of his undoubted potential, he'd pick up a knock and have to start again. He's certainly been the stand out player for the 18s this season, so far.

[Allan]

The 18s lost 6-4 to Bolton earlier today.

 

Offal Report

 

Poor defending was to prove costly as Liverpool U18s lost 6-4 to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday morning.

 

Returning to action after their involvement in the Frenz International Cup in Malaysia, Neil Critchley's charges were below par in freezing conditions.

 

Bolton took an early lead but an own goal and a strike from Sergi Canos saw the Reds go 2-1 up. However, the lead wasn't to last long as the home side stormed ahead to lead 4-2 at the break.

 

Harry Wilson then came off the bench to net a penalty after he was brought down and Pedro Chirivella hit the bar, but Bolton's strikeforce were on form as they went 6-3 up.

 

Liverpool netted a late consolation when Spanish youngster Madger Gomes scored on his league debut following a goalmouth scramble, but it was a bad day at the office for the young Reds, who now face a fourth round tie in the FA Youth Cup with Derby County on Wednesday night.

 

"It was a very disappointing day for us and we gave away very poor goals," a disappointed Critchley told Liverpoolfc.com.

 

"We had a strong team out but defensively we were all over the place. We need to do a lot better."

 

Liverpool U18s team: Jackson, Travis, Hart, Whelan, Lewis, Chirivella, Canos (Wilson 45), Madger Gomes, Marsh, Ejaria, Phillips.

[Allan]

Connor Randall joined Shrewsbury on a one month loan deal and was an unused substitute in their 3-0 home win against Hartlepool.

[Allan]

FA Youth Cup against Derby, this evening. Kick off at 19:00. Coverage on the offal starts at 18:30.

 

Will look from stream links later, and post them in here if any are knocking around.

[Gym Beglin]

We're going to need to see some talent coming through soon. I think Rodgers has given them a free pass this season, but that can't last past this season.

 

Villya Bijev has just turned 22 (same age as Coutinho & Moreno)

Kevin Stewart is 22 in September

Danny Ward is 22 in June (same age as Can)

Yesil is 21 in May

Brad Smith is 21 in April

Jack Dunn is 21 in November

Rafael Paez is 21 in August

Ryan McLaughlin is 21 in September

Marc Pelosi is 21 in June

Jordan Lussey is 21 in November (same age as Markovic, Sterling, Manquillo)

Jordon Williams is 20 in November

Lloyd Jones is 20 in October

Jordan Ibe is 20 in December

Cameron Branngan is 19 in May

 

In terms of 16 and 17 year olds we have Jordan Rossiter, Pedro Chirivella, Seyi Ojo, Harry Wilson, Sergi Canos. All these can breathe a little easier for a year, but even in their cases the clock is ticking in terms of how long we wait until we see if they are actual top quality or just a load of hype.

 

I keep hearing we have a top set-up and great players coming through, but I just don't see it. Great players get on the pitch for the first team, even if it's a couple of minutes here and there. These lot just aren't knocking on the door, even though we've been screaming out for reinforcements in almost every area of the first team on occasion. I mean, where's the youth keeper, striker, defensive mid?

 

Look at Harry Kane. Not world class, but give him credit, he's 21 and he's scored 11 goals in 28 games for Spurs. Go back to 2011 and he was already scoring on loan at Leyton Orient with 5 goals in 18 games.

 

John Stones, Luke Garbutt, Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Saido Berahino, Wilfried Zaha, Tyler Blackett, Paddy McNair, Robbie Brady, Lukaku, Jonjo Shelvey, Caulker, Wickham, Jenkinson, Chambers, Shaw, Ward Prowse, the list goes on of young players upto age 22 who are already fairly experienced be it at PL level of slightly below.

 

Our young players should be nearing a point where they're either good enough or they aren't. We're not looking for them to be world class, we'd settle for some solid players, but I can't even see that with our group at this point.

[tex88]

There was a post on Facebook before going through our team from the 2005/2006 Youth Cup Final, Jack Hobbs and Jay Spearing were the 2 stand out names, we beat City in the final, Sturridge was playing for them.

[Trumo]

There was a post on Facebook before going through our team from the 2005/2006 Youth Cup Final, Jack Hobbs and Jay Spearing were the 2 stand out names, we beat City in the final, Sturridge was playing for them.

 

Scored a belter too:

 

[tex88]

Musnt of known how to dance then

[Allan]

Confirmed #LFC U18s team to face @dcfcofficial: Firth, Whelan, Hart, Phillips, Brewitt, Chirivella, Canos, Ejaria, Sinclair, Wilson, Ojo

 

Here's #LFC U18s' confirmed substitutes for the game against @dcfcofficial: Rutter, Madger Gomes, Lewis, Alexander, Maxwell

[Allan]

Watch here

 

Links

[Allan]

1-0. Sinclair taps home from a yard out after Harry Wilson's audacious free kick from wide on the right comes off the post and rolls across the line, begging to be turned in.

[Allan]

1-1. Clinical finish from the Derby striker to level things up. Sam Hart is a little unlucky that the ball ricocheted off him into the path of the Derby striker, but it was a very good finish across Firth.

[Allan]

Penalty to Derby. The visitors carved us open and should have scored, though Brewitt made an incredible block on the line, but Firth was then adjudged to have brought down the Derby attacker.

 

Firth saves the penalty, and we have a huge let off.

[Allan]

The replay shows that the Derby lad threw himself to the ground to win the penalty.

[Allan]

2-1. Sinclair again, and again from about a yard out after great work from Ojo down the left.

[Allan]

Sam Hart makes an unbelievable block on the line to deny Derby a second equaliser. Brewitt had been caught on the ball and almost took out Firth trying to recover, but thankfully, Sam Hart was aware of the danger and got back to keep the Derby effort out.

[dave u]

Interesting that they're playing the same system as the first team. Is that an indication that Brendan thinks 3-4-2-1 is here to stay?

[Allan]

Interesting that they're playing the same system as the first team. Is that an indication that Brendan thinks 3-4-2-1 is here to stay?

 

Slightly more attacking than the first team, for me. 3-2-4-1 at times.