[size=20pt]One to watch: John Flanagan[/size]
25th Jul 2010 - Latest News
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LFC To Go
We've asked five experts to pick a player to watch for 2010-11, with their selections featuring on .tv throughout the summer. Today, the Times' s Tony Barrett chooses a tenacious full-back with a high level of consistency.
Player Profile: Flanagan showed such promise in Rodolfo Borrell's under-18 side last season that he has now made the step up to reserve team level and featured in the Lancashire Senior Cup triumph over Oldham on Saturday.
The 17-year-old made his second-string debut at Hull City back in March and has since produced the type of performances that have had many earmarking him as a star of the future.
Tony Barrett says: There is a fine tradition of tough tackling Scouse full backs at Anfield with Gerry Byrne, Tommy Smith and Jamie Carragher being perhaps the best examples. But since Carragher converted to a regular role in central defence Liverpool have lacked a locally produced player on the defensive flanks who would think nothing of running through a brick wall - and anyone foolish enough to get in his way - for the good of the team.
This is just one reason why hopes are high that teenage right back Jonathan Flanagan will be the next youngster to emerge from the club's Academy to make a big impression at reserve team level and then, if progress continues to be made, on the first team itself.
Flanagan doesn't just like a tackle, he absolutely loves making them. Regular watchers of Liverpool's U18 team will know exactly what he is about and they will appreciate his fully committed, never say die attitude. Having been one of Liverpool's most impressive performers at that level during last season, Flanagan found himself promoted into John McMahon's squad and the leap in standards did not phase him, he just got on with the job in hand with the minimum of fuss, defending with a characteristic zeal but never missing the chance to get forward and get crosses into the box whenever the opportunity presented itself.
One moment in particular involving Flanagan sticks out in my mind. It came during a fiercely competitive U18s derby game against Everton at Finch Farm which Liverpool ended up winning 4-3 after finding themselves a couple of goals down. Flanagan was on the receiving end of a stray elbow from an Everton player which the referee missed and he was clearly upset at the challenge. It would have been easy for him to react the wrong way and perhaps get himself into a bit of trouble but he calmly got on with the game, letting his football do the talking instead of being drawn into doing something foolish.
That showed his growing maturity but it didn't suggest he was losing his competitive edge because when the chance came to let his aggressor know that he wouldn't be bullied Flanagan took it, producing a tackle of such ferocity that his opponent ended up not knowing which part of his body required treatment the most. Best of all, though, was the fact that Flanagan had taken the ball, it was the cleanest of tackles but also one of immense power that was totally in keeping with the tradition that he is looking to follow.
There is still a long way to go before Flanagan can repeat the journey into Liverpool's first team that was made by the likes of Carragher, Byrne and Smith but the raw materials are in place and so, equally importantly, is the desire.
