Topic: So what are these Youth/Reserve Lads like?

[Juan Loco]

I thought it was Ojo, but I'm sure they mentioned a trialist, and they seemed hesitant to give the name of the young black guy despite having a fair bit of the ball, so I assumed he wasn't one of ours?

[Maldini]

I thought it was Ojo, but I'm sure they mentioned a trialist, and they seemed hesitant to give the name of the young black guy despite having a fair bit of the ball, so I assumed he wasn't one of ours?

Steve Hunter tends to just ignore players he doesn't recognise. It was definitely him though, you can hear players calling out "Sheyi" and "Jordan" when they're each on the ball. Plus, his build and hairstyle are pretty distinctive.

[DanA]

Aye.

Love how the comms has obviously got word that it's now Tricket-Smith, not Smith, and feels the need to mention it every 4 seconds.

And again, Jack Dunn: False Nine.

Jack Dunn as a false 9....oozes class I reckon. Correct me if I am wrong but we could in theory have the following team put on the field in the Next Gen Series:

                           Ward
McLaughlin  Wisdom    Sama    Smith           
                             Baio 
                T-Smith          Lussey
              Ibe                     Sterling
                            Dunn

(Blue 2 x overage)

I'd absolutely love to watch that team play in the Next Gen tournament. Reckon it'd be brilliant to watch.

[mart356]

Liverpool FC have announced the first batch of fixtures for the reserves and U18s during the 2012-13 Academy season.
 




Rodolfo Borrell's side will play in a new-look U21 league and face Wolves in their opening game at the Kirkby Academy on Monday, August 20.
 
More fixtures for the remainder of the campaign and dates for Liverpool's involvement in the NextGen Series will be announced at a later date.
 
All home games are to be played at the Kirkby Academy unless otherwise stated.
 
2012-13 Liverpool Reserves fixtures so far:
 
August
 

Mon 20. Wolves (H) 2pm
 
Mon 27. Crystal Palace (A) 7pm
 
September
 
Mon 3. Man City (H) 2pm
 
Fri 14. Chelsea (A) 7pm
 
October
 
Mon 1. Fulham (H) 2pm
 
Mon 8. Middlesbrough (A) 7pm
 
Fri 19. Man City (A) 2pm
 
Fri 26. Crystal Palace (H) 4pm
 
November
 
Mon 5. Wolves (A) 7pm
 
Sun 18. Chelsea (H) 2pm
 
Fri 23. Middlesbrough (H) 2pm
 
December
 
Mon 3. Fulham (A) 2pm
 
2012-13 U18s fixtures so far:
 
August
 
Sat 18. Wolves (A) 11am
 
Sat 25. Crystal Palace (H) 11am
 
September
 
Sat 1. Man City (A) 11am
 
Sat 15. Chelsea (A) 11am
 
Sat 29. Fulham (A) 11am
 
October
 
Sat 6. Middlesbrough (H) 1pm
 
Sat 20. Man City (H) 11am
 
Sat 27. Crystal Palace (A) 11am
 
November
 
Sat 3. Wolves (H) 11am
 
Sat 17. Chelsea (H) 11am
 
Sat 24. Fulham (H) 11am
 
December
 
Sat 1. Middlesbrough (A) 11am

[Juan Loco]

Steve Hunter tends to just ignore players he doesn't recognise. It was definitely him though, you can hear players calling out "Sheyi" and "Jordan" when they're each on the ball. Plus, his build and hairstyle are pretty distinctive.

He looks bigger there than he did in the Milk Cup highlights. Can't tell if the lad is massive or not. Looks it for the England schoolboys and there, but didn't look much bigger than the other lads at the Milk Cup.

Has Josh Laurent been signed permanently or is he on trial for a set amount of time? Played the last two U18s games now, and the trialists last year only played a game each iirc.

Jack Dunn as a false 9....oozes class I reckon. Correct me if I am wrong but we could in theory have the following team put on the field in the Next Gen Series:

                           Ward
McLaughlin  Wisdom    Sama    Smith           
                             Baio 
                T-Smith          Lussey
              Ibe                     Sterling
                            Dunn

(Blue 2 x overage)

I'd absolutely love to watch that team play in the Next Gen tournament. Reckon it'd be brilliant to watch.

Be surprised if they had Sterling in there. Looking at how young Barca's NextGen team was, and how young next years U18s seem to be shaping up, I can imagine them wanting to use players who are a couple of years younger than the competition allows to try and test themselves. If we want to win it we could still use Sterling (and Suso?) - we can still use Sterling in the youth cup - but I can't imagine there's the will to.

Think Danny Ward will be over age as well. He's already 19, ain't he?

[Maldini]

He looks bigger there than he did in the Milk Cup highlights. Can't tell if the lad is massive or not. Looks it for the England schoolboys and there, but didn't look much bigger than the other lads at the Milk Cup.

Has Josh Laurent been signed permanently or is he on trial for a set amount of time? Played the last two U18s games now, and the trialists last year only played a game each iirc.

Be surprised if they had Sterling in there. Looking at how young Barca's NextGen team was, and how young next years U18s seem to be shaping up, I can imagine them wanting to use players who are a couple of years younger than the competition allows to try and test themselves. If we want to win it we could still use Sterling (and Suso?) - we can still use Sterling in the youth cup - but I can't imagine there's the will to.

Think Danny Ward will be over age as well. He's already 19, ain't he?

Haven't heard about Laurent signing, he's played the last three though, Hunter just didn't mention him in the first game

[iamrobk]

He looks bigger there than he did in the Milk Cup highlights. Can't tell if the lad is massive or not. Looks it for the England schoolboys and there, but didn't look much bigger than the other lads at the Milk Cup.

Has Josh Laurent been signed permanently or is he on trial for a set amount of time? Played the last two U18s games now, and the trialists last year only played a game each iirc.

Be surprised if they had Sterling in there. Looking at how young Barca's NextGen team was, and how young next years U18s seem to be shaping up, I can imagine them wanting to use players who are a couple of years younger than the competition allows to try and test themselves. If we want to win it we could still use Sterling (and Suso?) - we can still use Sterling in the youth cup - but I can't imagine there's the will to.

Think Danny Ward will be over age as well. He's already 19, ain't he?

I remember Ojo looked massive when he was with the England U16's.  Seems a bit more 'average' sized now, not that that's a bad thing.

This years NextGen team will definitely be interesting.  I think the team will depend heavily on who is involved with the first team and who goes out on loan.  Even then, I have a feeling the lineup for the 1st match will surprise us a bit.  Could definitely see some younger players being heavily involved, similar to how Barca used the competition.  We seem to be wanting to make the U18's (and our younger teams? I have no idea) younger at every opportunity.  Not really a bad idea in theory, but we'll see how it works out.

[dotheoffski]

Rodolfo Borrell's side will play in a new-look U21 league and face Wolves in their opening game at the Kirkby Academy on Monday, August 20.
 

I thought the new reserve u21 league was not coming in till 2013-14 or am I wrong?  And does it just comprise clubs who are going to have category A academy's.

[Maldini]

I remember Ojo looked massive when he was with the England U16's.  Seems a bit more 'average' sized now, not that that's a bad thing.

This years NextGen team will definitely be interesting.  I think the team will depend heavily on who is involved with the first team and who goes out on loan.  Even then, I have a feeling the lineup for the 1st match will surprise us a bit.  Could definitely see some younger players being heavily involved, similar to how Barca used the competition.  We seem to be wanting to make the U18's (and our younger teams? I have no idea) younger at every opportunity.  Not really a bad idea in theory, but we'll see how it works out.

I think it's just a case of putting players at a level where they're tested. As for Ojo, I suppose he looked bigger with England u16s because he was a 13/14 year old playing with 15-year-olds as opposed to now when he's a 14-year-old playing with 16/17-year-olds

[kelly34]

Anyone know how you can get to watch the reserves games?  Thinking of heading down for the first match of the season. 

[Acaustiq]

The fixtures haven't been announced yet mate, according to the official site anyway.

[kelly34]

The fixtures haven't been announced yet mate, according to the official site anyway.

Listed a few posts up mate.

[Acaustiq]

So they are, lazy bastards, anyway, with the u18's you can usually just turn up, don't know what the situation would be with the reserves.

[Fromola]

I thought the new reserve u21 league was not coming in till 2013-14 or am I wrong?  And does it just comprise clubs who are going to have category A academy's.

Looks like it's been fast tracked for this season. There was an article in the Times about it the other day, but it was behind a paywall so I didn't see the content of it.

It does look from the fixtures that it's just the A academies we'll be playing now in the 18s and 21s.

Interesting the way the fixtures correlate as well. The under 18s and under 21s play the same teams often on the same week as each other, with the under 21s games Monday and Friday and under 18s Saturday.

[Fromola]

I remember Ojo looked massive when he was with the England U16's.  Seems a bit more 'average' sized now, not that that's a bad thing.

This years NextGen team will definitely be interesting.  I think the team will depend heavily on who is involved with the first team and who goes out on loan.  Even then, I have a feeling the lineup for the 1st match will surprise us a bit. Could definitely see some younger players being heavily involved, similar to how Barca used the competition.  We seem to be wanting to make the U18's (and our younger teams? I have no idea) younger at every opportunity.  Not really a bad idea in theory, but we'll see how it works out.

We'll have to be careful in the Next Gen. Barca had a great crop, but they were well beaten at home to Ajax as they were a year or two younger on average.

We'll need Sama or Wisdom at least at centre back, for that bit of experience. Chances are we'll have four 16-year-olds at the back at under-18 level next season. Coming up against a top European side we could get pasted. The problem last year at times was that we had Wisdom moved to full back and Mcgivern playing rather than Robinson or Flanagan.

[dotheoffski]

Looks like it's been fast tracked for this season. There was an article in the Times about it the other day, but it was behind a paywall so I didn't see the content of it.

It does look from the fixtures that it's just the A academies we'll be playing now in the 18s and 21s.

Interesting the way the fixtures correlate as well. The under 18s and under 21s play the same teams often on the same week as each other, with the under 21s games Monday and Friday and under 18s Saturday.

thanks mate, just found a couple of articles on it.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1127666/premier-league-to-overhaul-youth-set-up?cc=5739

Premier League and Championship clubs will meet next week to approve proposals to revamp the current reserve team set-up with two new competitions for Under-21 and U-18 players.

Raheem Stirling Liverpool action v FC Toronto
GettyImagesRaheem Sterling of Liverpool is a player the new system is intended to benefit

If the clubs, 17 from the top flight and six from the Championship, agree to the proposals, the Premier League overhaul of youth team football will be brought forward and will kick in this season - a season earlier than planned.

The competitions will be played in two group stages, with the first ending shortly before Christmas and an elite stage and two qualification group tiers played after it, meaning all players will play competitively throughout the season.

The 23 clubs are those who have applied for Category One status for their youth academies under the Premier League's Elite Player Performance Plan.

QPR, Swansea and Wigan are the three top flight clubs who will not feature in this season's competitions, while Middlesbrough and Wolves are among the Championship sides who will take part.

Changing the reserve team set-up is intended to provide a better competitive environment for younger players in which they will play regular, meaningful games against counterparts of a similar standard.

Writing in the Premier League Yearbook, Terry Westley, the former Birmingham and Derby youth academy director, said: "The Barclays Under-18 and Under-21 Premier Leagues have been designed to offer an alternative. The vision is for the best young players to compete against each other.

"A competitive situation, where fans are coming along to watch the next generation of talented young players, is what we must aspire to."

Another Article here:

http://hereisthecity.com/2012/07/31/youth-development-elite-player-performance-plan/

[p27051]

I thought it was Ojo, but I'm sure they mentioned a trialist, and they seemed hesitant to give the name of the young black guy despite having a fair bit of the ball, so I assumed he wasn't one of ours?

No. 17 was Sheyi Ojo. He just confirmed it to me on twitter.

[Maldini]

Ojo, Rossiter and Brewitt are in the 40-man-training-squad for England u16s. This is more or less a trial for the Victory Shield team.

[phil236849]

Y

Looks like it's been fast tracked for this season. There was an article in the Times about it the other day, but it was behind a paywall so I didn't see the content of it.

It does look from the fixtures that it's just the A academies we'll be playing now in the 18s and 21s.

Interesting the way the fixtures correlate as well. The under 18s and under 21s play the same teams often on the same week as each other, with the under 21s games Monday and Friday and under 18s Saturday.

Yes I mentioned the times link. They decided to fast track it immediately rather than the year later previously mooted. All part of EPP.  Impressive progress, you would expect this should make a difference. 

[Maldini]

Sterling is in the squad for Belarus, just tweeted it. Morgan too.

[bigbear]

Sterling is in the squad for Belarus, just tweeted it. Morgan too.

Robinson ?

[Maldini]

Not sure, just saw their tweets

[Z e u s]

Jack Dunn as a false 9....oozes class I reckon. Correct me if I am wrong but we could in theory have the following team put on the field in the Next Gen Series:

                           Ward
McLaughlin  Wisdom    Sama    Smith           
                             Baio 
                T-Smith          Lussey
              Ibe                     Sterling
                            Dunn

(Blue 2 x overage)

I'd absolutely love to watch that team play in the Next Gen tournament. Reckon it'd be brilliant to watch.

Morgan?

[MBL?]

Looks like a kid off Paul Dalglish's team might be coming for a trial.

[MartinSkrtelsBasement]

Sterling is in the squad for Belarus, just tweeted it. Morgan too.

I thought Morgan was scouse? Never knew Sterling was Belarussian either 

[cptrios]

Sterling is in the squad for Belarus, just tweeted it. Morgan too.

Do you suppose that means they're just traveling or are they actually in the squad? Both of them earned consideration for this type of match during the friendlies - something I'd expected from Sterling but not, to be honest, from Morgan (not yet, at least).

[DanA]

Do you suppose that means they're just traveling or are they actually in the squad? Both of them earned consideration for this type of match during the friendlies - something I'd expected from Sterling but not, to be honest, from Morgan (not yet, at least).

Considering our strikers have not played a lot of football I think Morgan could get a run out for 30 minutes if we have the game under control. More about squad management then what Morgan has done but he looked reasonable in the preseason.

[superjack]

This is the sort of team's I would like to see play for lfc next season.

League cup. Galaci- flanagan Kelly coates robinson- coady texeria shelvey - sterling Morgan suso subs doni carragher Wilson Gerrard Ibe pachecho borini

Fa cup doni - Kelly carragher Wilson Robinson - shelvey coady texeria - sterling pachecho suso subs reina Coates mc Laughlin Gerrard Henderson Suarez borini

Europa league doni - Kelly carragher coates Robinson - shelvey Adam Aquilani- sterling carroll cole subs galaci flanno Wilson texeria suso coady Morgan ajdoran pachecho Ibe McLaughlin smith wisdom

Nex gen/ reserves  ward - McLaughlin wisdom sama smith - coady texeria suso- Ibe Morgan Pelosi subs Belford jones maguire lussey biao petersen Sinclair Dunn ngoo Hodidz nacho ajdoran

U18 mercin- branghan jones heaton maguire- biao lussey rossiter - petersen Sinclair Dunn subs crump Cleary ohanlon Burke smith rossiter marsh Williams ojo Quigley Randall hodidz

I have left some older lads out ie ngoo out of nex gen starting line up and not included Ecclestone roddan mukendi etc as I don't want them blocking the path of more talenteted younger kids. We seem to have got rid of most of the kids that I felt last year were no where near good enough and were preventing more exciting kids from getting game time. I know I am going to be ripped apart but hey. Plus I'm sure I have forgotten 1-2. I think we can all agree we have about 25-30 really talented kids if 5-6 make it to the first team squad and 2-3 make it to the first team then we will all be happy.

[DanA]

This is the sort of team's I would like to see play for lfc next season.

It's hard to make a judgement at this early stage with transfer still to be done but I doubt we'll go quite so young. Older players need to maitain match fitness and will be given preference which will only leave 5-6 places available in match day squads,  maybe 1-2 will get starting positions but not much more IMO. Something like:
                       Gulacsi
Kelly    Carragher  Coates Robinson
                       Spearing
           Henderson        Shelvey
    Downing                      Sterling
                         Carroll*

Subs: Jones, Morgan, Cole, Pacheco, Suso, Flannagan, Sama

* Not entirely sure Carroll will stay, I suspect he'll be replaced.

Think Cup/Europa match day squads in early rounds will look something like this.  It's a shame that Pacheco & Suso aren't in the Gomel squad, I really thought they'd earned a call up in preseason and undoubtably they'll be disappointed. Guess Spearing, Adam, Aquilani, Shelvey & Henderson come first but I am hoping two make way before the window shuts (opening up an opportunity for Suso).

[Coolie High]

Suso has done just about all he can, the last 6 months his form has improved and he has performed well for Spain as well as us and nearly all of his teammates in that Spain squad have made appearances for their clubs. Will probably end up leaving with Pacheco as well making his way, thats all 3 of the players i tipped for first team football gone.

Would need a new youth player to fawn over, probably Dunn lol.

[Coolie High]

Jack Dunn as a false 9....oozes class I reckon. Correct me if I am wrong but we could in theory have the following team put on the field in the Next Gen Series:

                           Ward
McLaughlin  Wisdom    Sama    Smith           
                             Baio 
                T-Smith          Lussey
              Ibe                     Sterling
                            Dunn

(Blue 2 x overage)

I'd absolutely love to watch that team play in the Next Gen tournament. Reckon it'd be brilliant to watch.

Would make more sense to have Morgan up front by himself.

[DanA]

Would make more sense to have Morgan up front by himself.

Thought Morgan would be an overage player and we can only have two overage players on the field. Yep I'd put him up front. Thought I'd use Dunn as an option (as a false 9)

[Coolie High]

Thought Morgan would be an overage player and we can only have two overage players on the field. Yep I'd put him up front. Thought I'd use Dunn as an option (as a false 9)

Oh didn't know that, yeah wouldn't be a bad side that what impressed me in that video posted was Dunns movement, was surprised to see a player who hadn't previously play up front before adapt so well.

[FanaticalRed]

I know people are slightly concerned by Dunn's versatility after it seemed to work against Irwin but the difference is, Dunn excels in almost every role he is asked to play where as Irwin did a solid but unspectacular job when called upon. Despite his injury problems Dunn looks to be developing very nicely. He definitely has a very promising future.

[Trada]

suso30fernandez ‏@suso30fernandez

Playing a friendly game at the academy today with @dani37pacheco bro a little bit of magic? Haha love u xx

[Fromola]

I have left some older lads out ie ngoo out of nex gen starting line up and not included Ecclestone roddan mukendi etc as I don't want them blocking the path of more talenteted younger kids. We seem to have got rid of most of the kids that I felt last year were no where near good enough and were preventing more exciting kids from getting game time. I know I am going to be ripped apart but hey. Plus I'm sure I have forgotten 1-2. I think we can all agree we have about 25-30 really talented kids if 5-6 make it to the first team squad and 2-3 make it to the first team then we will all be happy.

Yeah, i'm with you there. A big thing for me is starting to get good fees for the ones that don't quite make the grade. Releasing Silva on a free suggests we've still got some way to go.

[Phil M]

suso30fernandez ‏@suso30fernandez

Playing a friendly game at the academy today with @dani37pacheco bro a little bit of magic? Haha love u xx

Youngsters nowadays.

[scatman]

I know people are slightly concerned by Dunn's versatility after it seemed to work against Irwin but the difference is, Dunn excels in almost every role he is asked to play where as Irwin did a solid but unspectacular job when called upon. Despite his injury problems Dunn looks to be developing very nicely. He definitely has a very promising future.

Dunn is developing well, would be nice that he's settled down into a position though. Unless he plans on being a John O Shea type.

[dotheoffski]

Dunn is developing well, would be nice that he's settled down into a position though. Unless he plans on being a John O Shea type.

I think it just shows the talent of the guy if he can play numerous positions.  Gerrard has played right back, right/left midfield, centre mid and as a forward for us.  Not many players can do this.

Hmm I was about to go OTT about a youth player again, but this guy has got to have a future.

[Fromola]

I think it just shows the talent of the guy if he can play numerous positions.  Gerrard has played right back, right/left midfield, centre mid and as a forward for us.  Not many players can do this.

Hmm I was about to go OTT about a youth player again, but this guy has got to have a future.

This lad will be really good if he can stay relatively injury free. Seems to be one that's gone under the radar a lot as people talk up others.