Topic: Youth and Under 23 Thread

[phil236849]

Good to see Gordon and Danns still in form and playing. No sign of Koumas - part of first team travelling squad maybe? Massive incentive for these guys to out in some quality at training!

[Redley]

Someone get Danns his own thread! Kid looks at it

[phil236849]

Someone get Danns his own thread! Kid looks at it

X2

[tubby]

I don't think Danns broke into a sprint at any point tonight.  Touch looked great, though.  Think he'll have to get used to not having the physical advantage he does at youth level, might be good for a loan next season to get used to playing with men.

[Chris~]

I don't think there should be a rush to loan him out yet. Let him settle a bit more at u21 level and asses shwere he could get minutes in January if needed.

Chelsea out the youth cup tonight to Millwall. Shame our game is the night after the Fa cup as were probably going to have weaker side out if a few are needed with the first team. Definitely have a chance of winning it given who's left.

[Magix]

Love how McConnell and Clark are not just on the periphery of the first team, but also displaying good performances when given the chance.

[Boaty McBoatface]

I don't think Danns broke into a sprint at any point tonight.  Touch looked great, though.  Think he'll have to get used to not having the physical advantage he does at youth level, might be good for a loan next season to get used to playing with men.

The fact that he's had a growth spurt in the last year means he's never relied on his physicality coming up through the age groups. It should stand him in good stead for the future.

[AmanShah21]

Someone get Danns his own thread! Kid looks at it

x3

Only 10 minutes on the pitch but what a ball that was for Cody that eventually led to Harvey's goal. He looks a proper unit too.

[Kalito]

x3

Only 10 minutes on the pitch but what a ball that was for Cody that eventually led to Harvey's goal. He looks a proper unit too.

Watching his games for the U18/U21's, he reminds me of Harry Kane with his playing style ...

[BarryCrocker]

Danns got onto the pitch in the second half, making his first-team debut as a substitute for Diaz in the 89th minute. It was a special moment for the 18-year-old striker and he was congratulated by Klopp after the full-time whistle.

The TV camera caught Klopp embracing the young forward with a grin on his face before Luton manager Edwards appeared. He tapped Klopp on the shoulder and could be seen saying "I played against his dad!" before the Liverpool manager burst out laughing.

Before becoming a coach, Edwards was a well-travelled player for the likes of Wolves and Blackpool and he also won 15 caps for Wales. It was there that he came across Jason Danns, the father of Jayden, who has now come through the Reds’ academy to make his bow.

[reddebs]

He didn't look fazed at all but you can tell he's still getting accustomed to his own body after his growth spurt. 

All wibbly, bendy arms and legs like a puppet 😁

[GreatEx]

Strange, Wikipedia says he's the son of Tranmere assistant manager Neil Danns: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Danns

Anyone know who's right?

[Redley]

Strange, Wikipedia says he's the son of Tranmere assistant manager Neil Danns: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Danns

Anyone know who's right?

Thats Neil Danns, who is Jayden Danns dad.

The article is talking about Lewis Koumas. His dad is Jason Koumas who played for Wales.

And then Bobby Clark is the son of Lee Clark, who played for Newcastle

And if we could stop talking about it, cos its going to make a lot of us feel annoyingly old.

[Chris~]

Thats Neil Danns, who is Jayden Danns dad.

The article is talking about Lewis Koumas. His dad is Jason Koumas who played for Wales.

And then Bobby Clark is the son of Lee Clark, who played for Newcastle

And if we could stop talking about it, cos its going to make a lot of us feel annoyingly old.

It only gets worse with the next intake of u18 players (depending on who gets a scholarship I guess)

[rawcusk8]

Great scenes last night after Harvey scored, a glimpse in to the future.. McConnell, Danns, Clark, Quansah and Harvey all celebrating together, think the oldest is Quansah at 21. Klopp and his staff deserve massive amounts of credit for giving these lads a chance, I know I know injuries have sort of forced our hand but the boys certainly are taking their opportunities to shine.

[GreatEx]

Thats Neil Danns, who is Jayden Danns dad.

The article is talking about Lewis Koumas. His dad is Jason Koumas who played for Wales.

Ah. Of course. But you can see from the post I quoted that someone has got themselves all in a twist. Where did that quote come from, BC?

[Fromola]

Great scenes last night after Harvey scored, a glimpse in to the future.. McConnell, Danns, Clark, Quansah and Harvey all celebrating together, think the oldest is Quansah at 21. Klopp and his staff deserve massive amounts of credit for giving these lads a chance, I know I know injuries have sort of forced our hand but the boys certainly are taking their opportunities to shine.

Got a hell of a talent pool at 17-22 range. Its the way they're developed as well and the confidence that first team places will open up. That isn't there at City or Arsenal to the same degree, although theyll also have a ton of talent.

The fact we have an injury crisis every year helps. Unfortunately that's also hit Gordon, Doak and Bajcetic with long term injuries.

[afc tukrish]

x3

Only 10 minutes on the pitch but what a ball that was for Cody that eventually led to Harvey's goal. He looks a proper unit too.

Perfect timing and weight on the pass, glorious...

[Samie]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/02/23/jamie-carragher-liverpool-academy-alex-inglethorpe/

At Liverpool's academy a ‘car clause’ has been introduced limiting engine sizes to 1.3 litres, a warning of the dangers of too much, too soon.

[@TeleFootball]

[Suareznumber7]

Alex Inglethorpe is doing an incredible job leading the Academy.  The number of players that have come through the past few years has been impressive. 

[lionel_messias]

Reading about Danns apparently he went from 5 foot 7ish to 6 foot over 6 months and he couldn’t play whilst his body adapted to his new frame.

He's like an inflatable robot, that's insane! Wonder how may Weetabix and snickers that took? Not to mention Penguin bars.

[Drinks Sangria]

What type of midfielder is Bobby Clark? I haven’t really watched the youth teams in recent years and I’m struggling to get a handle on what his skillset is.

[Bennett]

What type of midfielder is Bobby Clark? I haven’t really watched the youth teams in recent years and I’m struggling to get a handle on what his skillset is.

A creative 8 from the (albeit limited) bits I've seen of him.

[Draex]

He's like an inflatable robot, that's insane! Wonder how may Weetabix and snickers that took? Not to mention Penguin bars.

5 foot 2 to 6 foot!

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/meet-academy-get-know-goalscoring-and-superstitious-jayden-danns

He details: "In the space of such a short time, I think I went from 5ft 2in to 6ft. I was out for like eight months with Osgood and that was a tough time for me. You're thinking, 'Why's this happening to me?'

Must have caught asthma..

[thaddeus]

5 foot 2 to 6 foot!

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/meet-academy-get-know-goalscoring-and-superstitious-jayden-danns

He details: "In the space of such a short time, I think I went from 5ft 2in to 6ft. I was out for like eight months with Osgood and that was a tough time for me. You're thinking, 'Why's this happening to me?'

Must have caught asthma..

If you're going to be out for eight months then having a growth spurt is one of the better reasons!  I doubt he'd be near our first team if he was 5ft 5ins.  Jay Spearing is one that would have had more of a top flight career if he'd shot up a few inches.

My old man was very good friends with the dad of the current Oxford Utd captain.  I'm a few years older but used to kick about with him from time to time and he was a winger throughout his youth days at Leicester.  He was earmarked to be released by Leicester at 16 but then had a wild growth spurt to 6ft 5ins and was reinvented as a central defender.

[Fordy]

What type of midfielder is Bobby Clark? I haven’t really watched the youth teams in recent years and I’m struggling to get a handle on what his skillset is.

He can play as an a 8 or a 10. He is a pressing monster. Very creative and a tidy player.

[Magix]

He can play as an a 8 or a 10. He is a pressing monster. Very creative and a tidy player.

Not seen a whole lot of him, but he seems like a Curtis Jones regen, with similar skill sets.

[RedSince86]

That article posted above without the paywall with Carra and Inglethorpe.

https://archive.ph/2024.02.23-105138/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/02/23/jamie-carragher-liverpool-academy-alex-inglethorpe/

[[new username under construction]]

Hopefully Inglethorpe gets kept on and the struture and rules remain

[Draex]

If you're going to be out for eight months then having a growth spurt is one of the better reasons!  I doubt he'd be near our first team if he was 5ft 5ins.  Jay Spearing is one that would have had more of a top flight career if he'd shot up a few inches.

My old man was very good friends with the dad of the current Oxford Utd captain.  I'm a few years older but used to kick about with him from time to time and he was a winger throughout his youth days at Leicester.  He was earmarked to be released by Leicester at 16 but then had a wild growth spurt to 6ft 5ins and was reinvented as a central defender.

I was the opposite, grew to 5 foot 7 quickly, then never grew again.. Can't play top tier rugby as a forward after 14/15 unless you're pushing 6 foot!

[wemmick]

I'm well impressed with how the academy coaches have taught the young players to use their bodies to overcome older, stronger players. It was on full display yesterday with Bradley, McConnell, and Clark in particular. Caicedo and Enzo are units. They are strong as hell. The young lads didn't have to many issues overcoming that strength with good use of their bodies to gain leverage and space. Fresh legs helps, but Morton does it well, too. Seems like something that is consistently showing up in the youth players now who are near the first team.   

[afc tukrish]

I'm well impressed with how the academy coaches have taught the young players to use their bodies to overcome older, stronger players. It was on full display yesterday with Bradley, McConnell, and Clark in particular. Caicedo and Enzo are units. They are strong as hell. The young lads didn't have to many issues overcoming that strength with good use of their bodies to gain leverage and space. Fresh legs helps, but Morton does it well, too. Seems like something that is consistently showing up in the youth players now who are near the first team.   

Inglethorpe places all the youth players on stadium stairs, then releases The Nunez...

Holistic training...

[thaddeus]

As we're likely to effectively send out our under 21s tomorrow night here's a blast from the past of when we last had to take such drastic action:

Aston Villa 5 - 0 Liverpool

Aston Villa overwhelmed Liverpool's youngest-ever starting line-up to cruise into the semi-finals of the League Cup.

With the Reds' senior players in action at the Club World Cup in Qatar on Wednesday, under-23s boss Neil Critchley led a side containing five debutants and which had an average age of 19 years, six months and three days.

Hopefully we'll fare a bit better against Southampton.

The team from that game, players in bold are still at LFC:

Kelleher
Hoever - van den Berg - Boyes - Gallacher
Christie-Davies - Chirivella - Kane
Elliott - Longstaff - Hill

Subs: Winterbottom, Clayton, Dixon-Bonner, Bearne, Clarkson, Norris, Stewart

Of those that left this what they're up to now.  They all seem to still be playing professional football at some level:
Ki-Jana Hoever (22): joined Wolves for £9m in 2020 after making four cup appearances.  Currently on loan at Stoke.
Morgan Boyes (22): joined Livingstone in 2022 after making two cup appearances.  Currently on loan at Inverness.
Tony Gallacher (24): joined St. Johnstone in 2022 with his only appearance being the Villa game.
Isaac Christie-Davies (26): joined Barnsley in 2020 after making two cup appearances.  Currently at Eupen in Belgium.
Pedro Chirivella (26): joined Nantes in 2020 after 1 league and 10 cup appearances.  Very much a regular for them since.
Herbie Kane (25): joined Barnsley for £1.25m in 2020 after making two cup appearances.  A near ever present in League One for the past three seasons (including one on loan at Oxford)
Luis Longstaff (22): joined Cove Rangers in 2022 with his only appearance being the Villa game.  Moved to Inverness in 2023.
Ben Winterbottom (22): joined Brentford in 2021 without making an appearances.
Tom Clayton (23): joined Swindon in 2022 after making five cup appearances.
Elijah Dixon-Bonner (23): joined QPR in 2022 after making three cup appearances.
Jack Bearne (22): joined Greenock in 2023 with his only appearance being the Villa game.
Leighton Clarkson (22): joined Aberdeen in 2023 after making three cup appearances.
Layton Stewart (21): joined Preston in 2023 after making one cup appearance.

[phil236849]

I'm well impressed with how the academy coaches have taught the young players to use their bodies to overcome older, stronger players. It was on full display yesterday with Bradley, McConnell, and Clark in particular. Caicedo and Enzo are units. They are strong as hell. The young lads didn't have to many issues overcoming that strength with good use of their bodies to gain leverage and space. Fresh legs helps, but Morton does it well, too. Seems like something that is consistently showing up in the youth players now who are near the first team.   

Yes but let’s keep in mind they didn’t play them fresh

[itihasas]

anyone else we need to keep an eye out for?

[phil236849]

Noises on Twitter yesterday saying we are trying to tie up a deal for figueroa and see him as the next big thing

[Chris~]

Noises on Twitter yesterday saying we are trying to tie up a deal for figueroa and see him as the next big thing

This always feels like it's been pushed by his agents a bit and his reputation is ahead of reality. He's behind Danns, Kone-Doherty, Morrison, Doak and Koumas who are all in the same age group as him.

[phil236849]

This always feels like it's been pushed by his agents a bit and his reputation is ahead of reality. He's behind Danns, Kone-Doherty, Morrison, Doak and Koumas who are all in the same age group as him.

Could be right…he hasn’t seen much game time for us but was away with international footy for quite a while

[disgraced cake]

Figuero does look quite exciting, interesting to see what he can do.

Luke Chambers has been doing well for Wigan, got an assist and clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Bolton last night. I'd expect with him looking the part in League 1 he'll go to the Championship next season if there's a team promising starts for him. If it was true that Alonso/Leverkusen were looking to buy him in the summer then I suppose he must be pretty highly rated. Might even have a Bradley style run into the first team at some stage, you just never know!

[Coolie High]

Think he has more chance of making it as a cb, ideally in a three. He lacks a bit of pace and intensity, Beck has that over him.