Mancs v LFC under 21s (Mon 26th)
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Thanks for the updates Mac. Excellent work as usual. Wasn't Randall supposed to be on loan to Shrewsbury for a month?
I missed the game, but at the start of the highlights, they showed the starting lineup as:
McLaughlin -- Randall -- Williams -- Maguire
but from your post, it seems we played with a back three (as did the U18s in their last couple of games I think?). So who ended up playing where?
Randall -- Williams -- Chirivella, with McLaughlin and Maguire as wing backs?
Yes, you're quite right. [For those who don't follow the ressies, academy graduate Connor Randall, a local lad, is a versatile player with plenty of pace who can play RB, wing back or right midfield, but is usually used as a wing back.] He went there, did the interviews etc, and has just come back, but as far as I know he didn't play. I'm afraid I don't know what happened, I'll try to find out.
We played 3 at the back with McLaughlin and Ojo as wing backs. None of the 3 CB's (Randall, Williams, Maguire) looked comfortable with the set up. It's admirable that we get all our teams to play the same formation/style as the first team but on the rare occasion there just isn't the personnel to fulfill a decent 3-5-2 system I think it would be okay to revert to 4-4-2 etc.
I thought in the first half we looked the more cohesive team and our players looked more comfortable in possession than the United guys. Brannagan ran the show for us, Ojo looked lively, Sinclair was always on the move trying to link with Ojo and Ibe. Ibe looked very composed but frustrated. I think he struggled to re-adapt to a lower level of football than he quickly became used to at Derby. Derby have several very clever, experienced players like Hendrick, Russell, Bryson etc and maybe Ibe got used to playing a more composed and sophisticated style.
The 2nd half was abysmal, United were every bit as average as they were in the first half but we lacked any sort of leadership, plan, passion etc. It was very disapointing.
I was also disappointed with McLaughlin, I've seen him several times before and been very excited about his potential but his usual enthusiasm has gone and he seems to have lost a bit of pace. I wonder whether, due to his injuries, he's playing within himself to protect himself from another injury.
It was my first proper look at Canos and Chrivella and can't say I was impressed with either of 'em.
There was a huge gulf in experience last night as the United team had nearly 600 first team appearances between them whereas our team had about 60 of which the vast majority were by Ibe.
Overall, despite the awful 2nd half, if I had to choose which team last night had the better potential for the future it would be LFC.
I thought in the first half we looked the more cohesive team and our players looked more comfortable in possession than the United guys. Brannagan ran the show for us, Ojo looked lively, Sinclair was always on the move trying to link with Ojo and Ibe. Ibe looked very composed but frustrated. I think he struggled to re-adapt to a lower level of football than he quickly became used to at Derby. Derby have several very clever, experienced players like Hendrick, Russell, Bryson etc and maybe Ibe got used to playing a more composed and sophisticated style.
The 2nd half was abysmal, United were every bit as average as they were in the first half but we lacked any sort of leadership, plan, passion etc. It was very disapointing.
I was also disappointed with McLaughlin, I've seen him several times before and been very excited about his potential but his usual enthusiasm has gone and he seems to have lost a bit of pace. I wonder whether, due to his injuries, he's playing within himself to protect himself from another injury.
It was my first proper look at Canos and Chrivella and can't say I was impressed with either of 'em.
There was a huge gulf in experience last night as the United team had nearly 600 first team appearances between them whereas our team had about 60 of which the vast majority were by Ibe.
Overall, despite the awful 2nd half, if I had to choose which team last night had the better potential for the future it would be LFC.
I think they mentioned last night that he's still on loan at Shrewsbury but as it's a youth loan we are entitled to call him back for matches such as last night.
Cheers for that update again, Mac. I thought Randall was very good in the few games I saw him in last season, and he also did well in the time he had in the post-season friendly against Shamrock Rovers. I remember saying last season that his progress is going to put a bit of pressure on McLaughlin, who will feel the squeeze of not getting the break into the senior squad, and then facing increased competition for a place in the Reserves.
I wonder why there's been no / little interest this season to take McLaughlin on loan; there seems little reason to keep him in the U21 squad this season, given that we had gone out to get Manquillo for the senior squad, promoted Randall, and brought in Stewart for the reserves.
I wonder why there's been no / little interest this season to take McLaughlin on loan; there seems little reason to keep him in the U21 squad this season, given that we had gone out to get Manquillo for the senior squad, promoted Randall, and brought in Stewart for the reserves.
Missed it last night so thanks again for the updates Macca.
What's the latest thinking on Sinclair? Having burst on the scene at a young age a couple of years back with huge potential, the fear has always been that his precocious physical strength might eventually prove difficult once others caught up.
Is he looking like he's improved enough technically over the last couple of years to still hold promise that he'll be a future Liverpool forward?
It'd be great if he could emerge as a viable 3rd/4th choice striker for us in the next couple of years...
What's the latest thinking on Sinclair? Having burst on the scene at a young age a couple of years back with huge potential, the fear has always been that his precocious physical strength might eventually prove difficult once others caught up.
Is he looking like he's improved enough technically over the last couple of years to still hold promise that he'll be a future Liverpool forward?
It'd be great if he could emerge as a viable 3rd/4th choice striker for us in the next couple of years...
I think he's looking good. When Ibe arrived he was used in a less flashy supporting role, creating space for Ibe to run into, so he tended to be eclipsed by Ibe in the plaudits. Since Ibe's been away and Sinclair's regained the confidence he lost after injury, he's been progressing quite well, and Rodgers seems to like him. He's smart as well as pacy, and hopefully he'll figure in a few match day squads.
Yup, I liked his movement and he has the physical attributes. He didn't get much support last night because Ojo was non-existent in the 2nd half and Ibe struggled to adjust from Championship football back to U-21 fare.
Michael Beale, U21 coach, on the game. This was reported in the Echo:
The part on the games coming around once every two months is an indication of the sad state of the U21 football calendar (although I think he exaggerates a bit). The U18 calendar seems a lot more regular, but once the players outgrow that age group, it seems that the only meaningful minutes they'll get are when they go on loan, or during the frantic fixture congestion that follows after a huge lull in the calendar. It's ridiculous.
Full interview here.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/liverpool-u21-coach-michael-beale-8524810
Liverpool U21 coach Michael Beale: We're not downhearted after losing to Manchester United - and Jordon Ibe has returned a better player
Jan 27, 2015 12:21
By Andy Kelly
The 20-year-old has benefitted from his time at Derby County
Liverpool FC under 21s manager Michael Beale was far from down-hearted despite his team’s 2-1 defeat to rivals Manchester United in the Premier League north match at Leigh Sports Village on Monday night.
Beale believes the key factors in a game which lacked real quality was experience - United fielded four over-age players - and a lack of legs in his team, which had not played competitively since taking on Norwich on December 17.
Among the United team were ex-Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes, who was making his debut, and Brazilian midfielder Anderson, who moved to Old Trafford for a fee of around £20million back in 2007.
Beale is less worried about results and more concerned with developing his players in the hope some can make their way to the first team at Anfield.
He said: “We’ve played one game in two months, you just haven’t got anything in your legs. We fell behind to a set piece and if you look at the size of (United striker) Nick Powell to our defenders, we were a very small team. At half-time we were happy thinking we’d grow into the game but the early goal (Paddy McNair in first minute of the second half) kills it.
“It took the wind out of our sails. Young players become desperate and do things maybe you don’t want them to do and then in front of a crowd, it’s maybe hard to get that message on, to calm down.
“That was a sizeable crowd and it was nice, they had some really established players on the pitch. We had four or five players who play for our youth team and they had their four over-age players which you’re allowed. So the difference in the two teams in terms of age was massive, age, experience, fitness. We lacked it in our legs second half.
“There’s a lots of things around the result but in terms of development I thought young Chirivella (midfielder Pedro) did very well on his first start for us this season, I thought Canos although he missed a chance I thought recovered well.”
Beale feels the time away from Liverpool has been a big help to Jordon Ibe, who played in a deeper central role to try to exert more influence on the game second half.
“Ibe showed that there’s bags of ability there - I’m not sure there’s a player on the pitch with more ability than him. So it’s just about ‘can we get him in the right areas’, he’s obviously shown he’s grown in the time he’s been away.
“We never really had a natural defender on the pitch, Jordan Williams is still very much seen as a midfielder who can play at the back, he’s not played a game since October 31, so although he’s been around the first team he’s not played much and so it was probably expected that second half we might keel off against an older, stronger team considering the minutes that we’ve played but I was pleased.
“As I said to the players, we’re a group of individuals who come together and play and it’s about you making the next step in your development towards our first team or out on loan. We’re keen on getting the players’ debuts this year, we’re not so keen on keeping everyone back to win a game like tonight because it comes round once every two months, it’s not a regular game.
“We realise everyone would like us to win tonight because it’s Man United against Liverpool but I think the people watching on TV at home, when they look at the age of our team and the age of their’s, will come away thinking we had a lot of exciting players on the pitch.”
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/liverpool-u21-coach-michael-beale-8524810
Liverpool U21 coach Michael Beale: We're not downhearted after losing to Manchester United - and Jordon Ibe has returned a better player
Jan 27, 2015 12:21
By Andy Kelly
The 20-year-old has benefitted from his time at Derby County
Liverpool FC under 21s manager Michael Beale was far from down-hearted despite his team’s 2-1 defeat to rivals Manchester United in the Premier League north match at Leigh Sports Village on Monday night.
Beale believes the key factors in a game which lacked real quality was experience - United fielded four over-age players - and a lack of legs in his team, which had not played competitively since taking on Norwich on December 17.
Among the United team were ex-Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes, who was making his debut, and Brazilian midfielder Anderson, who moved to Old Trafford for a fee of around £20million back in 2007.
Beale is less worried about results and more concerned with developing his players in the hope some can make their way to the first team at Anfield.
He said: “We’ve played one game in two months, you just haven’t got anything in your legs. We fell behind to a set piece and if you look at the size of (United striker) Nick Powell to our defenders, we were a very small team. At half-time we were happy thinking we’d grow into the game but the early goal (Paddy McNair in first minute of the second half) kills it.
“It took the wind out of our sails. Young players become desperate and do things maybe you don’t want them to do and then in front of a crowd, it’s maybe hard to get that message on, to calm down.
“That was a sizeable crowd and it was nice, they had some really established players on the pitch. We had four or five players who play for our youth team and they had their four over-age players which you’re allowed. So the difference in the two teams in terms of age was massive, age, experience, fitness. We lacked it in our legs second half.
“There’s a lots of things around the result but in terms of development I thought young Chirivella (midfielder Pedro) did very well on his first start for us this season, I thought Canos although he missed a chance I thought recovered well.”
Beale feels the time away from Liverpool has been a big help to Jordon Ibe, who played in a deeper central role to try to exert more influence on the game second half.
“Ibe showed that there’s bags of ability there - I’m not sure there’s a player on the pitch with more ability than him. So it’s just about ‘can we get him in the right areas’, he’s obviously shown he’s grown in the time he’s been away.
“We never really had a natural defender on the pitch, Jordan Williams is still very much seen as a midfielder who can play at the back, he’s not played a game since October 31, so although he’s been around the first team he’s not played much and so it was probably expected that second half we might keel off against an older, stronger team considering the minutes that we’ve played but I was pleased.
“As I said to the players, we’re a group of individuals who come together and play and it’s about you making the next step in your development towards our first team or out on loan. We’re keen on getting the players’ debuts this year, we’re not so keen on keeping everyone back to win a game like tonight because it comes round once every two months, it’s not a regular game.
“We realise everyone would like us to win tonight because it’s Man United against Liverpool but I think the people watching on TV at home, when they look at the age of our team and the age of their’s, will come away thinking we had a lot of exciting players on the pitch.”
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