Reserves vs. Arsenal (Tuesday 20/03/12 14:00)

[Mooki3]

Hello, all!! Got my eMail through this morning saying I could now post on the forums... Awesome!

 

Anyway, I'm Mooki3 and I'm obsessed by LFC, specifically by the Reserve, Academy and Youth set-up. I've joined this forum as alot of Dave Usher's work has quenched my nerdy obsession throughout the years.

 

I've written this in my blog about tomorrows game, how do you lot reckon it will go??

 

Opposition Preview: Reserves vs. Arsenal (Reserve Premier League)

 

The Reserves latest test brings us face-to-face with a team widely regarded as being the best, in terms of productivity at the highest level in the country, Arsenal.

 

Encounters between the two sides at all levels tend to be enthralling affairs, with both teams often favouring reckless attacking over keeping the game tight. This is down to the two sides being so closely matched on pretty much all fronts (given, their firsts are a tad ahead of ours in the league at this moment) and none more than throughout the Reserve sides. Indeed the last encounter between the two evenly matched sides saw a headed winner from the one time ‘England’s next [insert current darling of the tabloids here]’ Luke Freeman in extra-time to steal all three points for the Gunners.

 

Not many of the players who graduated from the 2009 U18s FA Youth Cup final sides are still hanging around at either of the clubs at this level, but for Liverpool; Andre Wisdom, Michael Roberts and Nathan Ecclestone will still be smarting from the 6-2 aggregate defeat. The major difference between the two sides over those two legs was Jack Wiltshere whose intelligence with the ball and astuteness between the lines catapulted him into my conscious as probably the best player I have had the pleasure to watch at that level.

 

Clearly, Jack Wiltshere is cast from a one off mould but there is still some vast potential in this Arsenal Reserve side. One that has caught my eye is nineteen-year-old Chucks Aneke, who since his returning from loan at Stevenage earlier this month has netted 2 goals in as many games. The young attack minded midfielder is a bundle of energy and provides the team with a driving force from the middle of the park; Arsène Wenger has compared the England youth international to Manchester Citeh star Yaya Toure;

 

“Chuks is a bit like Yaya Toure – he has body power and good technique. We had Yaya here [on trial] and for me Chuks is a bit similar because he can play behind the striker or in a deeper role as well.”

 

Aneke is said to have a ‘telepathic relationship’ with striker Benik Afobe, teammate at both club and international level. While Afobe has been sidelined with for much of the season with a groin injury, he returned just as he left, in goal scoring form (against Norwich in a 5-0 victory) and is another that Liverpool will have to be wary of.

 

However, Arsenal have had a drastic change in policy regarding their Reserve side this season; using it to give fringe first-team players a run about. In 2012 alone: Ju Young Park, Marouane Chamakh, Johan Djourou, Andrey Arshavin, Yossi Benayoun, Sebastien Squillaci, Lukasz Fabianski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all found themselves doing time at Underhill.

 

With Liverpool’s policy of treating the Reserves at an ‘Elite Development Squad’, one-up from the U18s; using a vast majority of U19 players with one-or-two U21s, it could end up literally being a case of boys against men tomorrow.

 

Whatever policy Arsenal are following, it’s working for them; their form (last 5 games) coming into this game is formidable, having not lost a game nor indeed conceded a goal since the 24th January (when ex-red Alex Kacaniklic’s strike gave Fulham a 1-0 win), scoring an average of 3 per game in that time.

 

Liverpool’s form (last 5 games) by contrast is a bit sketchier at this level, having not won a game since the 4-0 hammering of Norwich (Flannagan, Eccleston, Sterling & Shelvey with the goals) on 7th February. We have also conceded an average of 2.4 goals a game in that period, scoring just 0.8, none of those coming in the last 3.

 

For these reasons, I think we could see some of the younger members of Liverpool’s first-team squad (a couple from: Jack Robinson, Jon Flanagan, Jonjo Shelvey and maybe Sebastián Coates) make the trip from Melwood to Kirkby for this one.

 

Whatever happens, this will be another big test and another ride on the 'learning curve roller-coaster' for our young squad; one that I am very much looking forward to.

 

The lads need all the support we can give them, so if you are around the Liverpool area at 2pm tomorrow, get yourself down to the Kirkby Academy (L33 7ED). It’s free entry, so you will get your money’s worth.

 

Don’t forget to come back and visit The Elite Development Blog after the game for the best independent reviews and player-by-player analysis.

[Moorsey]

Now is a good time to remember Mooki1 & Mooki2 - FORUM LEGENDS.

 

Only messing mate, good write up.

[Mooki3]

Haha, cheers pal- I'll whack a quick review and player by player analysis in here once I've written them up after the game tomorrow.

[Jairzinho]

Hope Shelvey plays. He really needs some football.

[Liquid football]

Is there any talk of Shelvey going somewhere else on loan?

 

edit. welcome!

[thomas23]

Good write up.

 

I wonder what the odds will be for an arsenal win, if they are playing a strong a squad as they have in the past.

 

Would be the first time I've ever bet against any Liverpool side.

[Mooki3]

Good write up.

 

I wonder what the odds will be for an arsenal win, if they are playing a strong a squad as they have in the past.

 

Would be the first time I've ever bet against any Liverpool side.

 

Thanks pal!!

 

You wouldn't get great odds mate, Arsenal probably go into this favorites even with both sides playing their U20s, never-mind with Diaby (who is playing apparently) & co.

 

We should have Joao Carlos making his first appearance in a red shirt though, will be great to see how he gets on.

 

Also: RE Shelvey going out on loan; there was a bit of talk about Leeds, but for whatever reason, it doesn't seem to have come off.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

1-0 up already. Sterling.

[J-V]

£2 million for a reserve keeper, cheers Woy.

[alexw61]

anyone got a line up?

[Trumo]

anyone got a line up?

 

Here you go.

 

[Guest Pistonbroke]

anyone got a line up?

 

Not sure of the full line up as i found a stream a few seconds after KO. Can PM you the link for the stream if you want.

[J-V]

Good save from Jones

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Good save from Jones

 

Sort of hit him in the midriff, but he did well to get out quick and spread himself.

[alexw61]

thanks for the offer. stuck at work, just keeping an eye on the thread not sure i can get away with watching it..

[moof]

anyone got a line up?

 

Jones

Mendy

McLaughlin

Sama

Wisdom

Coady

Roberts

Suso

Sterling

Adorjan

Ecclestone

[Jhinge Machha]

suso should have been sent off there

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Suso a bit lucky to get away with a yellow there, studs showing and caught Meade.

[Sangria]

Yeah it could easily have been a red and no need.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

H/T 1-0 to us, bit of a scrappy game so far but more than holding our own.

[Frankenhooker]

Sterling has to be knocking on the first teams door, I'd hope to see him in a squad before the end of the season. We're playing pretty well against a strong Arsenal side.

[J-V]

1-1

[Guest Pistonbroke]

1-1....been coming at the start of the second half.

[J-V]

Arse are well in control

[Guest Pistonbroke]

We've been the better side the last 10 minutes imo.