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

[Mouseboy11]

I thought banton looked quality when he came on, that curling shot was great!

[Mr Dilkington]

Another thing, Sama is looking very impressive... i don't think he'll make it here, for a few reasons, but what a difference in him from when he arrived to now.

Market stall version of Andre Wisdom. Looks boss on the ball, when he arrived it was akin to bambi on ice.

[zip]

8 of those lads were English. 6 Scouse.

Sounds good to me 

[mtred1984]

What was the final score, and who scored?

[stescouse100]

Looking forward all day to getting in and watching the young lads in action, it was most definitely worth the wait!

Felt sorry for the Southend boys towards the end, Liverpool were rampant. The plaudits will all go to Raheem Sterling and rightly so, even at under 18's level its somewhat seldom you see one player dominate a game like that. Constant threat throughout, thought we'd seen the last of his goals when Rodolfo switched him over to the right after Banton came on. Wasn't to be the case... either flank the boy is dangerous. Quick mention for the two fullbacks as well, thought they both played very well tonight.

Superb, well done to all the young guns.     

[Juan Loco]

What was the final score, and who scored?

9-0.

Sterling.

[JoeTwerp]

He played the same position v Palace though and ran the show. He likes to drift in from there onto his left and leave that flank for Flanno so I think he can play there.

Of course he can play in the hole but then so can Adorjan and I don't see him having the same impact wide.

wouldn't mind seeing this vs. the Mancs (or Newcastle)

                                  Belford
  Flanno          Wisdom            Sama     Robinson
                        Coady             Suso
 Silva                         Adjoran                   Sterling
                                 Ngoo

Stephens, McGiveron, Roddan, Morgan, Gauti/Banton

[macca007]

Stirling will get all the plaudits but I thought Coady was class again. Played the game at his own pace right throughout.

coady is a class little player. one of the ones I have high hopes for from this age group, along with sterling, suso, wisdom, bhopal, flanagan and robinson. reckon the ones I've mentioned are in with a real shout at carving out a career here

[bigbear]

wouldn't mind seeing this vs. the Mancs (or Newcastle)

                                  Belford
  Flanno          Wisdom            Sama     Robinson
                        Coady             Suso
 Silva                         Adjoran                   Sterling
                                 Ngoo

Stephens, McGiveron, Roddan, Morgan, Gauti/Banton

I wouldn't leave Roddan out. I think he does the most graft in the team more than Coady for me and there is enough flare in there.

[Cpt_Reina]

wouldn't mind seeing this vs. the Mancs (or Newcastle)

                                  Belford
  Flanno          Wisdom            Sama     Robinson
                        Coady             Suso
 Silva                         Adjoran                   Sterling
                                 Ngoo

Stephens, McGiveron, Roddan, Morgan, Gauti/Banton

That team is scarily good.

[Mr Dilkington]

wouldn't mind seeing this vs. the Mancs (or Newcastle)

                                  Belford
  Flanno          Wisdom            Sama     Robinson
                        Coady             Suso
 Silva                         Adjoran                   Sterling
                                 Ngoo

Stephens, McGiveron, Roddan, Morgan, Gauti/Banton

Agree with that mate. Roddan has been playing very well, but Suso + Coady is awesome.

[JoeTwerp]

I wouldn't leave Roddan out. I think he does the most graft in the team more than Coady for me and there is enough flare in there.

lot of misplaced passes today; normally he is a solid player though, and unsung compared to Coady, very much in the Michael Roberts mold.

[Breitner]

coady is a class little player. one of the ones I have high hopes for from this age group, along with sterling, suso, wisdom, bhopal, flanagan and robinson. reckon the ones I've mentioned are in with a real shout at carving out a career here

Seems to have his head screwed on as well which is often what sets these lads apart. Some of them just stand out as future leaders and he's one.

[bigbear]

lot of misplaced passes today

Yep but for me in a tighter game which the Mancs would be, we need his work rate and tackling.

He has done well recently but today was so open and so easy he was almost redundant albeit he got a great foot in to set up the fourth goal.

[JoeTwerp]

Suso in the middle would keep the defense on look out at all times, at any point in the match they would be a split second away from a 40 yard ball over the top with perfect accuracy onto the pace of Sterling or Silva, this will open up space for Adjoran to operate in the hole.  Pick your poison.

[Juan Loco]

Fucking boss, isn't it?

As good as the flair players in the side are there's a nice scouse spine to the side. So promising this lot.

It's lovely. Don't wanna write off the other three either (especially Morgan, who's only 16 himself) but the two fullbacks and Coady look like proper, proper players.

Could have been 9 English lads if Wisdom was fit. Yup. Wisdom and N'goo to return. Scary.

[tjtaylor182]

What an exciting time in our history. Coming into a new era with a great youth team to back it up. Hopefully these lads can push on and get first team football this year. Coady has to have a chance with Spearing and Shelvey out? Hopefully we do Sparta Prague to 2 or 3 so some of them can get some time in the reurn leg.

[JoeTwerp]

If we want Suso to be tough enough to go up against fullbacks in the Premier/Europa League, I would hope he would be able to handle CMs in the youth cup.

[Visigoth33]

wouldn't mind seeing this vs. the Mancs (or Newcastle)

                                  Belford
  Flanno          Wisdom            Sama     Robinson
                        Coady             Suso
 Silva                         Adjoran                   Sterling
                                 Ngoo

Stephens, McGiveron, Roddan, Morgan, Gauti/Banton

The strength in depth of our youth team is amazing.No Ngoo,Wisdom or Emilsson today.

[Juan Loco]

If we want Suso to be tough enough to go up against fullbacks in the Premier/Europa League, I would hope he would be able to handle CMs in the youth cup.

He manages it at ressies level.

[bigbear]

It's lovely. Don't wanna write off the other three either (especially Morgan, who's only 16 himself) but the two fullbacks and Coady look like proper, proper players.

Could have been 9 English lads if Wisdom was fit. Yup. Wisdom and N'goo to return. Scary.

Flanno needs to reign himself in some times because he is such a good athlete he just goes and goes sometimes without thinking perhaps what he is leaving behind him.

Robinson for me is more complete albeit still has to get that same level of athleticism. His passing has come on and he looks like Aurelio now with a tackle like Joey Jones !

[smurfinaus]

Out of interest who provided the assists tonight?.

[Juan Loco]

Flanno needs to reign himself in some times because he is such a good athlete he just goes and goes sometimes without thinking perhaps what he is leaving behind him.

Robinson for me is more complete albeit still has to get that same level of athleticism. His passing has come on and he looks like Aurelio now with a tackle like Joey Jones !

Flanagan is like playing with a whirlwind at right back. Except he's a good footballer too. Crossing is a bit suspect but he can pass and move all day long.

[bigbear]

Out of interest who provided the assists tonight?.

Quicker to ask who didn't.

[Juan Loco]

Out of interest who provided the assists tonight?.

Sterling doesn't do assists.

[Welshred]

Flanno needs to reign himself in some times because he is such a good athlete he just goes and goes sometimes without thinking perhaps what he is leaving behind him.

The thing I liked about that tonight though was that Suso recognised when Flanno would be leaving space for Southend to exploit and would drop back a little bit to make sure they couldn't, letting Flanno get forward as much as he wanted.

[Mr Dilkington]

Robinson's recovery pace is superb. Flanno is so determined, and he's a good player aswell.

Both look comfy at reserve level, both 17. It's frightening.

[Cpt_Reina]

It's lovely. Don't wanna write off the other three either (especially Morgan, who's only 16 himself) but the two fullbacks and Coady look like proper, proper players.

Could have been 9 English lads if Wisdom was fit. Yup. Wisdom and N'goo to return. Scary.

There's also the new lad from coventry to add to the English contingent. From the sounds of it he'll fit right in.

[bigbear]

Flanagan is like playing with a whirlwind at right back. Except he's a good footballer too. Crossing is a bit suspect but he can pass and move all day long.

Don't get me wrong, I love the pair of them. I've been saying for a long time we had a pair of local boys coming through as full backs and I think there is a good chance.

[gazzalfc]

Raheem Sterling trending worldwide on Twitter.

[Juan Loco]

Don't get me wrong, I love the pair of them. I've been saying for a long time we had a pair of local boys coming through as full backs and I think there is a good chance.

Robinson looks more nailed on. You can't help but love Flanagan though. He's nuts. You see him all over the park. You wonder why we're suddenly out numbering teams in the box and then you realise it's because Flanno's taken it on himself to play on the shoulder of the last defender. I'm sure it'll drive Borrell mad at times, but it's brilliant to watch.

[rocco]

Would I wrong in saying it will be at least 2 seasons before sterling gets a chance with the 1st team

[shook]

Robinson looks more nailed on. You can't help but love Flanagan though. He's nuts. You see him all over the park. You wonder why we're suddenly out numbering teams in the box and then you realise it's because Flanno's taken it on himself to play on the shoulder of the last defender. I'm sure it'll drive Borrell mad at times, but it's brilliant to watch.

Are you sure Borrell hasn't instructed him to play on the shoulder of the last defender?  Aren't Barcelona full backs well up the field?

[Mr Dilkington]

Would I wrong in saying it will be at least 2 seasons before sterling gets a chance with the 1st team

Yes

[Cpt_Reina]

Are you sure Borrell hasn't instructed him to play on the shoulder of the last defender?  Aren't Barcelona full backs well up the field?

He also has two 'sitting' CMs there to cover him.

[bigbear]

Robinson looks more nailed on. You can't help but love Flanagan though. He's nuts. You see him all over the park. You wonder why we're suddenly out numbering teams in the box and then you realise it's because Flanno's taken it on himself to play on the shoulder of the last defender. I'm sure it'll drive Borrell mad at times, but it's brilliant to watch.

If you go and watch the ressies you can hear John MacMahon screaming at him "Flanno shape, shape" as he disappears on the overlap.

He is infectious though, loves a tackle and can play.

[Juan Loco]

Are you sure Borrell hasn't instructed him to play on the shoulder of the last defender?  Aren't Barcelona full backs well up the field?

Not as a number 9 though, haha!

To be fair, I don't think the Barca comparison is fair (although it's inevitable given the coaching staff). You'd never see a Barca wide man as wide as Sterling stays as early on in the move.

It's not a pleasent comparison but the style of play probably has as much in common with mid 90s United as current day Barcelona.

[rocco]

Yes

watched him regular this season and still feel it will be at least 2 seasons with him also progressing and improving

[Mr Dilkington]

watched him regular this season and still feel it will be at least 2 seasons with him also progressing and improving

I think he'll come off the bench for the first team sometime during 2011.

[El_Pistolero]

Would I wrong in saying it will be at least 2 seasons before sterling gets a chance with the 1st team

We have to remember that the lad's still in school too. We don't want to rush him into first team football. Saying that, if he's good enough...