Flanagan

[JohnnyH]

He was born on the 1st January 1993.

 

I'm off to a corner to curl up into a ball and cry........

[ReDeus]

Very promising player. The Arsenal game will be a better test for him. I think he'll do well as long as Kuyt and Carra continue to help him as they did vs City.

[diamondjoe]

Looks like he would tackle a pack of rabid dogs if they had a ball.

[Unrighteous]

Looks like he would tackle a pack of rabid dogs if they had a ball.

 

No! Flanno! I told you to get the ball not the bull!

[RedinSweden]

He was born on the 1st January 1993.

 

I'm off to a corner to curl up into a ball and cry........

 

3 years before my daughter. This pretty much guarantees that I am old, doesn't it?

[Eljeficito]

Can't tell you how impressed i was with him last night. Reminded me of a young Carragher. Will be interesting to see how he fairs with more games under his belt. Had Balotelli in his pocket

[JohnnyH]

3 years before my daughter. This pretty much guarantees that I am old, doesn't it?

 

Yes. Yes it does.

[LFC64]

Face like a bucket of melted lego, and that really was a wonderful debut.

 

Lovely to watch him grow in confidence.

Fabulous smash straight into Barry.

Some very composed defending and clever use of the ball.

 

So pleased for him, because that was potentially a very tricky game to make your debut in. If he builds on that he's got a career at LFC. And that's as good as it gets.

 

Brilliant.

 

everything I would have said... honest!

 

Seriously his positioning was spot on so never had to make up ground and dive in rashly.

And a good scouse kip on him too !

[FidelMurphy]

He's done exceptionally well for an 18 year old making his debut. Arsenal will be a big test for him as it'll be a totally different game. The likelihood is they'll have a lot more of the ball and it'll be a much sterner test of his defensive abilities where we're sitting back a bit more and he'll have to watch clever runners getting in behind him etc. I'd guess he has shown himself that he is more than capable of playing in our first team but if he comes through the game on Sunday he'll show that he's capable of pushing for a first team place and at 18 that'd be fantastic for him and us.

[MLB]

Who plays on the left for Arsenal right now? Arshavin? It will be a real test for him but he will be full of confidence.

[G Richards]

Boy done good! Hard to see how good he is without a run of games, but he did very well last night. Could be understudy to Johnson, with Kelly in the middle.

[Fugitive]

It's great to see these youngster come in and perform so well. Lets hope they can maintain it. Defensively, we look like we could have a few more who can potentially make the step up and then there are the massively talented lads who look very threatening.

 

The future is looking bright at the academy.

[JohnnyH]

Can't tell you how impressed i was with him last night. Reminded me of a young Carragher. Will be interesting to see how he fairs with more games under his belt. Had Balotelli in his pocket

 

From the limited bits I've seen of him I'd say he is very different to Carragher.

 

It'll be interesting to see if he starts against Arsenal. I can't see them not testing him by putting someone pacy and with a trick facing him. It surprised me that City were happy not to test him.

[Carradona]

I'm still waiting for a GIF of his tackle on Barry.

[Mathewbet1]

I love the cheeky young scamp.

[Spy Bee]

I know a player called John Flanagan

Just like watching Rob Jones play again

Hope he gets less injuries than him

My oh, my oh Johnny Flanagan!

[RoboRiise]

He was born on the 1st January 1993.

 

I'm off to a corner to curl up into a ball and cry........

 

 

On the day he was born, my mates and I were pissed as cunts, had indulged in other recreational substances and were staging an impromptu display with illegal Chinese fireworks in the middle of Manchester's Albert Square at midnight, watched by several hundred drunken revellers and a handful of amused, totally unconcerned firemen.

 

40 in just over three weeks and this is one of the first times I've honestly felt it. Still, at least I know what we were celebrating now, I always thought it was just the new year.

[Istvan Kozma]

Ex-Liverpool FC star Rob Jones excited by young right-back John Flanagan

 

JOHN FLANAGAN can go on to have a big future at Liverpool, according to former Reds full-back Rob Jones.

 

The 18-year-old right-back enjoyed a highly-accomplished first-team debut in Monday night’s 3-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield, impressing many with his composure, solidity and confidence.

 

And Jones, who made 243 appearances during eight years at Anfield, says the youngster can be very proud of his first senior outing in a red shirt.

 

 

“Flanagan did superbly,” said Jones. “As a Liverpool fan, you’re watching the game and hoping the young lad doesn’t make a mistake, but he never looked like that was going to happen, he was great.

 

“He looked very comfortable on the ball, always looked to pass it, and did all his defensive duties really well. He certainly never looked overawed by the occasion, and he can be very pleased with his performance.”

 

Flanagan was only drafted into Kenny Dalglish’s plans following an injury crisis, which has deprived the Reds of Glen Johnson, Martin Kelly, Daniel Agger and Sotirios Kyrgiakos from their regular pool of defenders, but Jones believes his emergence, along with that of fellow academy graduates Kelly and Jay Spearing, who also impressed against Roberto Mancini’s side, bodes well for the club’s long-term future.

 

“I’ve been watching Martin Kelly for the past six months, and he has been great,” said Jones, “Now Flanagan has emerged, it looks even better for the club.

 

“You usually get maybe one player every two years or so come through, but these two have come through around the same time, and they look really comfortable.

 

“And of course, these young players - Jay Spearing as well - are lucky enough to have someone like Kenny Dalglish to guide them through. That must give a young player so much confidence, to have Kenny behind them.

 

“I used to have it with Graeme Souness, I’d always think that if he rated me enough to put me in the team then I must be doing something right, and it is the same with Kenny.

 

“You only need to look at the way the senior players have responded since he has come back, he has given the players confidence, and there is a buzz around the club again.”

 

Jones himself was thrust into the most daunting of Reds debuts, as he was commandeered from Crewe Alexandra in October 1991, and found himself marking a young Ryan Giggs at Old Trafford just days later.

 

 

And the former England full-back says having experienced players around him provided vital support during those early days, and believes the likes of Jamie Carragher and Pepe Reina can offer similar assistance to Flanagan.

 

“Having senior players alongside you is priceless when you are making your first appearances,” said Jones, “I had Jan Molby, Ian Rush, Bruce Grobbelaar alongside me on my debut, and it helped me so much. You can’t beat experience.

 

“I noticed as the players left the field last night that Pepe Reina went over and gave Flanagan a pat on the head to say ‘well done’, and I’m sure all the senior players will have been full of praise for him in the dressing room afterwards.

 

“John will know himself that he has had a good, solid game, but still to have the likes of Kenny, Pepe or Jamie Carragher come over and say ‘well played’ will mean an awful lot, and give him a lot of confidence.

 

Jones enjoyed a meteoric rise at Anfield, making his England debut just four months into his Reds career, but he is keen to stress the need for Flanagan and his fellow young talents to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

 

“He’s had a nice, steady debut, and looked very confident,” added Jones, “But that is the easy part. The hard part now is to keep it going, keep working hard and try to keep his place in the team.

 

“He has to get his head down, work hard, and listen to those around him - Carra, Kenny Dalglish and so on. If he can do that, he can have a very good career for Liverpool.”

 

Ex-Liverpool FC star Rob Jones excited by young right-back John Flanagan - News - Liverpool FC - Liverpool Echo

[Megadrive Man]

Another good performance today. Solid defensively and looked calm and composed on the ball.

[king7]

Was really good. Looked like Arsenal set out to test him in the beginning, but couldn't get anything from him. Eventually they opted more often to attack down the right instead. Until the excellent Robinson came on, so they had to go down the middle all the time!

 

Just can't belive how well the youngsters played today!

[Section_31]

Looks like he's been playing for us for years, as you can tell by the lack of activity on this thread! Loved the way he clattered Nasri. I detect the hand of Carragher's influence on these young defenders. Great stuff.

[Tyler Durden]

Didnt even realise until someone said to me today about his second name and the connection with Carragher, no wonder he didnt give him a hard time.

[J-V]

Lee Dixon just gave him loads of praise on MOTD and rightly so.

[Pidge]

Dixon just made some good observations on MOTD2, great positioning.

[MLB]

18 years old, folks. 18.