Topic: FT Argyle 0 - Liverpool 1 (Lucas 18')

[diegoLFC7]

Jurgen is a great youth developer. This is the first time in a while that we place so much faith on the kids. I remember Wimbledon away in 2015 we played a full senior squad. Going from that to playing so many kids is refreshing.

[JLStretton]

Captain Lucas was awesome.

[NarutoReds]

Damn! I just knew that Harry Wilson on a Liverpool debut, three years after he eclipsed Gareth Bale to become Wales' youngest player...
  

[A Dick]

Not knocking the kid too much but im still waiting for Divock Origi to find that form he was in before his injury last season. He seems to have been watching Daniel Sturridge too much and moving less, just waiting for the ball to be played to feet and then go from there. The difference between them and Firmino is huge in that respect. Origi will be a class act one day no question, it's just frustrating because we've already seen he can be it NOW. Really need him to step up with Mane away. Or just Senegal to get knocked out asap!

[Rush 82]

It's funny because I think the media is full of miserable twats too. The BT lot were going on like Plymouth had gone 180 minutes against us and restricted us to a bare handful of chances, as if they were up against our first team. Yeah they're Jurgen's Reds, but when you think that Ben Woodburn isn't even old enough to have a pint then I think it has to be put into perspective. I mean, that nobhead Jake Humphreys is going on about our form being a concern, blah blah blah.

It was the fucking kids playing you tit end!!

The agenda against Sturridge is laughable as well. Sure he got barely any service, but he was constantly moving and creating space for others. It was also a run out for 65 minutes that will help his game time and fitness, plus he will almost certainly be unleashed against Swansea for some target practice at the weekend. Talk about him being embarrassed by being taken off or being at a crossroads in his career is a complete joke. Jurgen also has a responsibility to develop the young lads too, and rightly said in his post-match interview that we controlled the game in the last 25 minutes. It was the right time to give young lads time on the pitch. If anything, Origi has been so duff recently that Sturridge is likely to start a few games now. So even giving a micro-second of consideration to any notion of Sturridge being unwanted is yet more media bollocks being spouted. Same with saying Karius was unconvincing. Errr, he kept two clean sheets didn't he nobheads? Honestly, there are many people in here who could do a considerably better job at punditry than the dross we have to put up with on the telly.

But anyway, all in all a shite match against a truly negative team, surrounded by meff 'fans' who won't be making the away trip to Stevenage at the weekend or probably be seen again at Home Park this season. Booing YNWA when we were trying to give a bit of respect to the poor lad who passed away and a gesture of support to his family. Resorting to predictable shithouse chants - the 'who are ya' brigade, 'slipped on his fucking arse' and all that shit. Smalltime, bitter behaviour and smalltime tactics from the team, pulling shirts, kicking the ball away at every stoppage so that they can regroup behind the ball. I'm delighted to have pissed on their dreams, ruined their evening, done a professional job with an extremely talented bunch of young lads. Time for us to act like flat-track bullies, put these lower league teams in their place, puff out our chests and make them know who the fuck we are. Or rather, who our kids are.

A final positive note; Nathaniel Clyne has some serious competition. Enjoy the breakthrough of TAA into the first team folks, we're witnessing it as we speak. MOTM by an absolute mile tonight, we have a total gem on our hands there. 18 years old going on 30, I am truly excited thinking about how good he could potentially be as he gets more experienced if his current form is anything to go by. Fuck the negative press because we didn't put 5 past those useless bumpkins tonight, embrace and enjoy watching our incredibly talented kids grow into men.

Up the young reds, YNWA!

Excellent post this. 

[Anfield89]

Not knocking the kid too much but im still waiting for Divock Origi to find that form he was in before his injury last season. He seems to have been watching Daniel Sturridge too much and moving less, just waiting for the ball to be played to feet and then go from there. The difference between them and Firmino is huge in that respect. Origi will be a class act one day no question, it's just frustrating because we've already seen he can be it NOW. Really need him to step up with Mane away. Or just Senegal to get knocked out asap!

Be interesting to know how many chances Ejaria, Stewart and Woodburn created for Origi and Sturridge.

[jillcwhomever]

It's funny because I think the media is full of miserable twats too. The BT lot were going on like Plymouth had gone 180 minutes against us and restricted us to a bare handful of chances, as if they were up against our first team. Yeah they're Jurgen's Reds, but when you think that Ben Woodburn isn't even old enough to have a pint then I think it has to be put into perspective. I mean, that nobhead Jake Humphreys is going on about our form being a concern, blah blah blah.

It was the fucking kids playing you tit end!!

The agenda against Sturridge is laughable as well. Sure he got barely any service, but he was constantly moving and creating space for others. It was also a run out for 65 minutes that will help his game time and fitness, plus he will almost certainly be unleashed against Swansea for some target practice at the weekend. Talk about him being embarrassed by being taken off or being at a crossroads in his career is a complete joke. Jurgen also has a responsibility to develop the young lads too, and rightly said in his post-match interview that we controlled the game in the last 25 minutes. It was the right time to give young lads time on the pitch. If anything, Origi has been so duff recently that Sturridge is likely to start a few games now. So even giving a micro-second of consideration to any notion of Sturridge being unwanted is yet more media bollocks being spouted. Same with saying Karius was unconvincing. Errr, he kept two clean sheets didn't he nobheads? Honestly, there are many people in here who could do a considerably better job at punditry than the dross we have to put up with on the telly.

But anyway, all in all a shite match against a truly negative team, surrounded by meff 'fans' who won't be making the away trip to Stevenage at the weekend or probably be seen again at Home Park this season. Booing YNWA when we were trying to give a bit of respect to the poor lad who passed away and a gesture of support to his family. Resorting to predictable shithouse chants - the 'who are ya' brigade, 'slipped on his fucking arse' and all that shit. Smalltime, bitter behaviour and smalltime tactics from the team, pulling shirts, kicking the ball away at every stoppage so that they can regroup behind the ball. I'm delighted to have pissed on their dreams, ruined their evening, done a professional job with an extremely talented bunch of young lads. Time for us to act like flat-track bullies, put these lower league teams in their place, puff out our chests and make them know who the fuck we are. Or rather, who our kids are.

A final positive note; Nathaniel Clyne has some serious competition. Enjoy the breakthrough of TAA into the first team folks, we're witnessing it as we speak. MOTM by an absolute mile tonight, we have a total gem on our hands there. 18 years old going on 30, I am truly excited thinking about how good he could potentially be as he gets more experienced if his current form is anything to go by. Fuck the negative press because we didn't put 5 past those useless bumpkins tonight, embrace and enjoy watching our incredibly talented kids grow into men.

Up the young reds, YNWA!

Fantastic post. 

Sadly I think some of our fans just want to be miserable. I was reading an article when all of a sudden an extract from a phone-in came on. Someone questioning "whether we'll ever win a final with Jurgen Klopp!" I just sat there speechless. 

[jepovic]

Nothing too embarassing with only 1-0 after 180 minutes vs Plymouth, but it's not like the kids are banging on the door to the first team either. There has been some ridculuous arguments that Klopp should use the kids more in the league, but I think these games have shown that they need some time.

TAA did very well, although Clyne is still better.

Gomez was pretty awful honestly, but over a year of injuries is a pretty solid excuse and he was good before that.

Stewart should move on, for his own sake. He's 23 and still hasn't played a stretch of important games for any club. He should reboot his career at lower level. The DM role must be learned on the field. 

Sturridge worries me. I'm not writing him off, but it's harder and harder to be optimistic.

[Redman78]

Fuck it, here you go (did it myself with a bit of copypasting):

   DOB   Age
Karius   22-Jun-93   23.58
Moreno    5-Jul-92   24.54
Gomez    23-May-97   19.66
Lucas     9-Jan-87   30.03
Stewart   7-Sep-93   23.36
Ejaria   18-Nov-97   19.17
Trent A-A 7-Oct-98   18.28
Origi    18-Apr-95   21.75
Woodburn 15-Oct-99   17.26
Wilson   22-Mar-97   19.83
Ojo      19-Jun-97   19.58
AVERAGE              21.55


That's 21 years, 201 days. It was 21 years 296 days at kickoff in the first match so beats that comfortably but not sure if it sets any sort of record. Take out Lucas and it drops to 20.70 years.

Considering this and the fact that we're through to the next round, people still have the nerve to come on and be negative.  Plenty of positives as far as I'm concerned, that would have been great experience for the kids

[Mr Mingebag Squid]

Nothing too embarassing with only 1-0 after 180 minutes vs Plymouth, but it's not like the kids are banging on the door to the first team either. There has been some ridculuous arguments that Klopp should use the kids more in the league, but I think these games have shown that they need some time.

TAA did very well, although Clyne is still better.

Gomez was pretty awful honestly, but over a year of injuries is a pretty solid excuse and he was good before that.

Stewart should move on, for his own sake. He's 23 and still hasn't played a stretch of important games for any club. He should reboot his career at lower level. The DM role must be learned on the field. 

Sturridge worries me. I'm not writing him off, but it's harder and harder to be optimistic.

Seen a few people say this, yet I thought he did fine, you can tell he's coming back off a long injury layoff but wouldn't say he was awful.

[gatcliffe]

Can we change title to Liverpool U23,s cause that is what it was and they all did ok. The only negative was both Origi and DS, Origi in particular seems to lack that bite in his game at the moment I noticed Jk had a go at him towards end of game think it was to do with him tracking back. DS is typical of a player trying to regain previous levels of form but just can't find it sadly.

[leivapool]

FT Argyle 0 - Liverpool 1 (Lucas 18')

This is all.

Has Lucas ever scored the only goal in a match in England?

Happy days

[Lofty Ambitions]

FT Argyle 0 - Liverpool 1 (Lucas 18')

This is all.

Has Lucas ever scored the only goal in a match in England?

Happy days

Hear hear!

[Schmidt]

Not knocking the kid too much but im still waiting for Divock Origi to find that form he was in before his injury last season. He seems to have been watching Daniel Sturridge too much and moving less, just waiting for the ball to be played to feet and then go from there. The difference between them and Firmino is huge in that respect. Origi will be a class act one day no question, it's just frustrating because we've already seen he can be it NOW. Really need him to step up with Mane away. Or just Senegal to get knocked out asap!

Erm, what? Sturridge moves constantly.

[sms1986]

FT Argyle 0 - Liverpool 1 (Lucas 18')

This is all.

Has Lucas ever scored the only goal in a match in England?

Happy days

I had a look using http://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/1180 and http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=47374 -

1 in 1-0 win against Plymouth
1 in 4-1 win against Steaua
1 in 4-1 win against Benfica
1 in 2-1 win against Crewe
1 in 4-4 draw with Chelsea
1 in 3-0 win against Newcastle
1 in 5-2 win against Havant and Waterlooville

So this is the first time he's scored the only goal for us in a game, usually they have quite a few other goals, and like Milner with his penalties - whenever Lucas scores for us, we don't lose.

[NarutoReds]

PA SPORT, about an hour ago
----------------------------------------
Jurgen Klopp says he expects FA Cup match-winner Lucas Leiva
to stay at Liverpool beyond the January transfer window. Klopp said,
"I was really surprised he didn't score for that long, but he has a great personality, is a good player and a really good guy..."
"Sometimes you have to line up without him, and it's not his hobby to accept this, but he's OK and really important for us."

[Filler.]

Some very good posts on the previous two or 3 pages - the usual level headed, on the nose stuff by the usually level headed on the nose posters.


I was reminded while watching the game last night of the loss we suffered during Rafa's first season against Burnley at Turf Moor 10 or so years back. That was painful. 0-1. I thionk they were in League One at the time. There's no worse a feeling than getting dumped out of the FA Cup at the first time of asking. Not many anyhow. Back then, we were also in the League Cup semi's, and had a Champions League campaign on our minds, which we ended up doing very well in. We played a second string there, with the odd younger player, and there was some critisism levelled at Rafa for the team selection that day. Quite rightly in some regards.

It was Rafa's first season and it was a learning curve. The average age of the team was just over 24. Yesterday it scraped 20.

Jerzy Dudek
4    Hyypia (c)
21    Djimi Traoré    
28    Stephen Warnock    
31    David Raven    
37    Zak Whitbread    
18    Antonio Nunez    
25    Igor Biscan    
32    John Welsh    
34    Darren Potter    
24    Florent Sinama-Pongolle
Subs
40    Paul Harrison    
36    Jon Otsemobor    
41    Mark Smyth    
5    Milan Baros    
33    Neil Mellor    


Yesterday we won. A good foundation is being built. I don't watch the U23's at all, so it's a chance for me to watch some of these young lads for the first time and there's much to be intruiged with. Been quietly impressed with Woodburn - would love to see him up front, but equipped himself pretty well again in different positions last night. Wilson too impressed... his dummy in the 80th minute (or so) was a delight. Positive stuff, and the youngsters will definitly be feeling part of things now.

[Medellin]

Job done,as simple as that.

It was a better game than the first but still very dull.
Would have been good to see the lads be a bit braver on the ball,some neat & tidy football at times..sideways.
Some uninspiring performances out there last night,can expect and accept it tho with the blend of youth & senior players not having much game time together.
TAA stole the show,some sloppy passes early on but grew into the game,put in a solid performance to take Motm.
Phil is Phil..perfect game to build his match fitness.
Lost that bit of affinity with their fans when they resorted to the Gerrard song & did they boo YNWA sang after 25mins?
Sounded like they did,very poor if so on their behalf considering what it was sung for.

[Dougle]

Will get around reading the thread later but I just wanted to say I am delighted that one of my favourite Liverpool players of this era Lucas Leiva captained and finally, finally scored (the match winner as well).
Top top guy, watch out now ... there are more to come .... maybe !

[gatcliffe]

Be interesting to see how many of the youngsters who started will break through and be first team regulars.

[PhilV]

Totally agree, just doesn't look interested in sprinting. Pre injury Sturridge would be in our first eleven but he's  is a shadow of that player, very sad really.

This for me.

Studge still has the quality finishing, what seems to have evaporated this season is his pace, he was never the fastest sprinter but he was lightning at change of pace and that seems to have gone unfortunately.

[harryc]

This for me.

Studge still has the quality finishing, what seems to have evaporated this season is his pace, he was never the fastest sprinter but he was lightning at change of pace and that seems to have gone unfortunately.

More than likely just saving himself for the weekend.

[kavah]

Fuck it, here you go (did it myself with a bit of copypasting):

   DOB   Age
Karius   22-Jun-93   23.58
Moreno    5-Jul-92   24.54
Gomez    23-May-97   19.66
Lucas     9-Jan-87   30.03
Stewart   7-Sep-93   23.36
Ejaria   18-Nov-97   19.17
Trent A-A 7-Oct-98   18.28
Origi    18-Apr-95   21.75
Woodburn 15-Oct-99   17.26
Wilson   22-Mar-97   19.83
Ojo      19-Jun-97   19.58
AVERAGE              21.55


That's 21 years, 201 days. It was 21 years 296 days at kickoff in the first match so beats that comfortably but not sure if it sets any sort of record. Take out Lucas and it drops to 20.70 years.

Gomez is only 19!

He's going to be great isn't he

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

Kind of disappointed not to see players on show put in more of a fight to be honest. Not in terms of effort but just showing what they are about and staking a claim to be included in first team games in the future. Not everyone, Karius, Lucas and Gomez didn't do a lot wrong, but people like Sturridge, Moreno, Origi.

I do think we have lost a bit of confidence and a swagger that we had earlier in the season. Maybe that plays a part but everything felt very slow, as if we were going through the motions.

Happy with the win - felt like our first win in a long time. Need to string some of those together again.

[JackWard33]

We should talk more about Woodburn by the way.... how good was he when he dropped a bit deeper and was in the game more??

Touch, control, passing. His awareness of space and players around him at 17 is ridiculously fucking good. I mean... he's not 20... he's 17... he's about 6 years off his peak.

[Coolie High]

We should talk more about Woodburn by the way.... how good was he when he dropped a bit deeper and was in the game more??

Touch, control, passing. His awareness of space and players around him at 17 is ridiculously fucking good. I mean... he's not 20... he's 17... he's about 6 years off his peak.

Much better there, than as an attacking player where he was ineffective. Couple posters have talked about him may be playing in a Lallana position, to be honest that point resonates moreso now.

[Schmidt]

Much better there, than as an attacking player where he was ineffective. Couple posters have talked about him may be playing in a Lallana position, to be honest that point resonates moreso now.

Most of our attackers were ineffective though, Plymouth had a lot of big players packed around their goal, playing out of their skin and surrounding any attacker who got near the goal. When the likes of Coutinho and Sturridge are struggling to find space to get a shot off you can't really expect Woodburn to look at his best.

[leivapool]

I had a look using http://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/1180 and http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=47374 -

1 in 1-0 win against Plymouth
1 in 4-1 win against Steaua
1 in 4-1 win against Benfica
1 in 2-1 win against Crewe
1 in 4-4 draw with Chelsea
1 in 3-0 win against Newcastle
1 in 5-2 win against Havant and Waterlooville

So this is the first time he's scored the only goal for us in a game, usually they have quite a few other goals, and like Milner with his penalties - whenever Lucas scores for us, we don't lose.

Thanks

[Chris~]

We should talk more about Woodburn by the way.... how good was he when he dropped a bit deeper and was in the game more??

Touch, control, passing. His awareness of space and players around him at 17 is ridiculously fucking good. I mean... he's not 20... he's 17... he's about 6 years off his peak.

He's the best attacking talent to come through the academy since Sterling. Been obvious from early on in his time with the u18s and he's just made ridiculous leaps since then. It's hard not to be excited by a prospect like that who slots in so easily in to multiple positions at that age.

You could see his awareness for the u18s, think it was away to Everton last season where he just kept getting in to loads of space, it's not something you tend to notice in academy games like a fantastic run with the ball, but it was just so easy and obvious with him.

[Souness1]

Much better there, than as an attacking player where he was ineffective. Couple posters have talked about him may be playing in a Lallana position, to be honest that point resonates moreso now.

Definitely. I was always under the impression that he was more a tricky winger but he didn't get anything out of their left back in the first half, partially because of how deep Plymouth defended but still. Second half when he moved more centrally he kept finding space in between their defence and midfield and no one could pick him up. His intelligence of the game is astounding for a 17 year old.

[Dim Glas]

Fuck it, here you go (did it myself with a bit of copypasting):

   DOB   Age
Karius   22-Jun-93   23.58
Moreno    5-Jul-92   24.54
Gomez    23-May-97   19.66
Lucas     9-Jan-87   30.03
Stewart   7-Sep-93   23.36
Ejaria   18-Nov-97   19.17
Trent A-A 7-Oct-98   18.28
Origi    18-Apr-95   21.75
Woodburn 15-Oct-99   17.26
Wilson   22-Mar-97   19.83
Ojo      19-Jun-97   19.58
AVERAGE              21.55


That's 21 years, 201 days. It was 21 years 296 days at kickoff in the first match so beats that comfortably but not sure if it sets any sort of record. Take out Lucas and it drops to 20.70 years.

Impressive way the team closed out that match, with 6 teenagers in it 

[Jookie]

Be interesting to see how many of the youngsters who started will break through and be first team regulars.

Given most of the youngsters are 17-19 it's probably worth waiting till at least the 2020-2021 season before making a true judgement how many have broken through. They'd be 20-22 by then.

In the meantime, let's hope they keep on getting these opportunities to impress in the 1st team. A lot of them didn't impress la great deal last night but I bet they learnt loads and that will help them in the long run as a professional footballer (at Liverpool or elsewhere)

[Elzar]

Wilson was great when he came on, maybe due to the nature of the game opening up. He also gave Woodburn someone to link with more and was in and around the box.

Ojo again gave us an option of someone to get it to out wide, and he got a few decent balls in.

Loving the youngsters playing under Klopp, and it's nice to have confidence in him getting a result with them. Playing these games and getting some spotlight means they will either develop well, or we will be able to get a bit more money if they don't quite get to the standard wanted by the club.

[thelinnen]

Very nice tribute to that Plymouth fans son. Bizarre response.

[newterp]

We should talk more about Woodburn by the way.... how good was he when he dropped a bit deeper and was in the game more??

Touch, control, passing. His awareness of space and players around him at 17 is ridiculously fucking good. I mean... he's not 20... he's 17... he's about 6 years off his peak.

yes - he helped control the midfield - but it also took him out of dangerous attacking positions. But then maybe we thought we could let Origi take care of that.

[classycarra]

Impressive way the team closed out that match, with 6 teenagers in it 

really impressive. and what was great was that it was almost entirely because of the 6 teenagers, not in spite of them

[classycarra]

Seen a few people say this, yet I thought he did fine, you can tell he's coming back off a long injury layoff but wouldn't say he was awful.

I think the reason for so many contrasting views is because his work in possession of the ball was mostly good with a couple of excellent passes (and a couple that were more risky than needed, but came off), whereas his work challenging for headers, winning balls, and snuffing out danger was poor in comparison. TAA saved him a couple of poor moments. He also seemed to end up in the same position as lucas a couple of times, leaving ourselves wide open through the middle.

All of this is perfectly acceptable after a year out, obviously. Very reassuring also to see his fitness maintain towards the end (when he actually played some of his best stuff), showing the improvement one and a half 1st team games can have on match fitness

[Suareznumber7]

Nothing too embarassing with only 1-0 after 180 minutes vs Plymouth, but it's not like the kids are banging on the door to the first team either. There has been some ridculuous arguments that Klopp should use the kids more in the league, but I think these games have shown that they need some time.

All of the kids playing in a team with a few senior players that have never played a full 90 minutes together.  Not sure what you were expecting performance wise,  I thought that many of the kids had good individual performances and I would have no problem with Klopp using them more as squad players.  We saw that Trent AA came in as the only young player, playing with a full team of Senior players, and he didn't look out of place at all.  If we need to bring in the kids 1 at a time in the league I think they'll be fine.  Bring them all in together and there will certainly be struggles. 

[Suareznumber7]

Seen a few people say this, yet I thought he did fine, you can tell he's coming back off a long injury layoff but wouldn't say he was awful.

I thought Gomez looked great at times but he also struggled at times.  He made a couple of basic mistakes but he's been out for a long time so there is certainly no need to panic about it.   

[Purple Red]

Main thing was getting a result with a skeleton squad and we did that. I didn't see the game but by all accounts in wasn't a classic. Delighted for Lucas - can't believe it's nearly seven years since he netted for us. Also good to hear that a lot of the young lads conducted themselves well once again. It's particularly pleasing that Gomez hasn't had any setbacks that I sometimes worry about from players coming back from a lengthy layoff. Disappointing that the seniors were apparently poor - there is some work to be done on getting Origi and Sturridge back to their best. Bring on Wolves.