Words of Brandon O’Shea and Aj Smith:
After 21 years of no League Championship for the club, Liverpool
may be seeing the end of the storm that recently, looks like it
will never end. But it may not be because of the club’s new
ownership (NESV), or our change of manager (Kenny Danglish
succeeding Roy Hodgson), and may not even be ended with our star
players and captain fantastic. So how will we end this wait while
non of these factors (not saying they don’t take a big part) may be
the answer? YOUTH PLAYERS. Looking at the match yesterday vs
Manchester United, most fans are very impressed with
Martin Kelly‘s performance. The Center
Back pushed out right had great game being called in last minute
due to Glen Johnson’s wife going in to labour (the baby has still
not been born at the moment). Kelly has played for the U-21 England
team and even managed to score on his debut! Who else has also done
this? Danny Wilson, the 18 year old
Scottish lad scored on his debut for the Mens Senior team and he is
also a Center Back.He has also won the Ranger’s Young Player of the
year voted by the fans in the Scottish League just before we bought
him. Conor Coady who has represented
England youth teams at various levels and captained his country to
their first ever European U17 Championship in the summer of 2010.
Jack Robinson is only 16, and
currently has the record for youngest player to have a 1st team
debut for LFC. He is a left back and he may not be as technically
skilled as his team mates, he has years to catch up and improve
which he will at the academy.
John Flanagan will definitely be in
the top tier of defenders with time. A very smart, and mature
player who may with a loan or two become a starter for the 1st
team. Dani Ayala is though in my
opinion, for youth one of our biggest names. He is an amazing
defender and unfortunately was injured while on loan at Hull, then
sent back to Melwood hurt. If he was fully fit, i could see him
filling Carra’s boots in the last few games or on the bench as an
option. We have great coverage for defense in the next few year and
all of them are already very experienced and confident defenders.
Aj Smith: “Andre
Wisdom– Wisdom is a powerhouse of a boy; only 17
years old but already has the physique of a man, has been played in
variety of positions during his 2 years with the u18 and reserve
teams including right back and right midfield but his natural
position looks to be at centre back, he is a natural leader as well
always giving encouragement to his team-mates even when he isn,t
skippering the side. Loves the ball at his feet and his gut
busting runs from defence will make him a fan
favourite.” “Robinson as you know has
already made his first team debut and will be our regular left back
for years to come, Flanagan the right
sided fullback progress is being held back by Stephen
Darby who himself is a decent full back
but not good enough for LFC and will probably be sold in the summer
allowing Flanagan to claim the reserve team right back spot has his
own, Flanagan is an old school fullback tough as teak and loves to
raid down the right flank and they’re both local lads to boot.”
Midfielders we have many options as well. Very exciting options.
Raheem Sterling is first and the winger is anamzing talent.
Aj Smith: “Raheem
Sterling– An extraordinary talent, still only 15
years old we bought Sterling from QPR for £250,000 and he fulfils
his massive potential it will be the bargain of the
century. Sterling is SO quick it takes your breath away I
would go as far as to say that even at 15 he is quicker that Aaron
Lennon or Theo Walcott; he is that quick. Loves running at
defenders and has an array of skills that would sit most
Premier League defenders on their arse. A good finisher
as well and he is not afraid to “get stuck in”
either despite his small frame.” Jay
Spearing is a local boy, who is a decent player.
Hard to go either way with this boy, if he was to step up his game
he would have the shoes of Steven Gerrard to fill. But he neither
stands out, nor under performs while he is on the field. He more or
less (not to criticize Lucas) is playing like Lucas in his 2nd year
at LFC. Makes mistakes but has good moments. He does his job, not
perfectly, but not awfully. Jonjo
Shelvey, for me, I think Jonjo will become the
future captain of LFC. A very modest and quiet midfielder,
(previously playing for Charlton Athletic and Captaining England
youth teams as well), but the maturity of a 3o year-old player.
With each minute he adds more knowledge and can only get better.
Watch him, and you will not see box-box runs or skills to beat
players constantly, but you will see awareness and understanding of
the game like no kid his age usually does.
Aj Smith:
“Tommy Ince– Unlike his old man he is
a winger or can play behind the front man he has plenty of pace and
skill and is a really good finisher to boot. Probably next in line
to make the step up to the first team squad. A real good old
fashioned winger in some ways; although left footed he likes to
play from the right which enables him to cut in on his
favoured left foot and unleash one of his thunderbolt
shots. A pretty useful free kick taker as well.”
“Krisztian Adorjan is a quality little
player he plays just behind the front man or central midfield and
orchestrates most of the attacks with his quick movement and clever
through balls a mini Jari Litmanan looks the most promising of the
many Hungarian youngsters we have purchased . Not the biggest
or quickest he more than makes up for that with his football
intelligence and nous; one of the those players that hardly gets
mentioned when talking about the future generation coming through
but has a bigger chance as anyone.” “Michael
Roberts and Craig
Rodden must have been plucked from the same tree;
both energetic, technically sound central midfielders with a
passing range to rival anyone. Roberts is already a reserve team
player and will no doubt will be followed by Rodden into the team
at some point.” Our Strikers have lacked youth development since
Owen was with us and scoring at will, but now we have
David Ngog, the french man has been
constantly on the bench and becoming a more house-hold name with
Torres lacking in interest and form from his injury. He can score
and is modest, but not always reliable. He isnt the “go to” man for
points, it just has to happen during normal play for this kid. But
he has scored vs Manchester united last season, and he works hard.
Aj Smith:
“Michael Ngoo has blossomed over the
last 12 months into a very very good striker he is something like 6
ft 5 and has pace to burn and is very similar to Peter
Crouch in that he has fantastic feet “for a big man” banging in
goals for the England u17 and both the LFC u18 and reserve team he
was a shrewd buy from Southend Utd and could save us millions in
the future.” “Suso
Fernandez-Still only 16 but possesses an
innate footballing brain that is beyond his young years; a left
footed central midfielder from the Xavi Iniesta mould, a
beautiful player to watch with the ball at his feet
amazing vision and technique for a young man and a decent turn of
pace when needed. Already a fixture in John Mcmahons Reserve
team. A true world star in the making IMHO looks to have
everything in his game to make it at LFC, maybe a year or two
away from the first team squad but i have no doubt he will be a top
top player for us.” Lastly, Dani
Pacheco: once and still considered our best young
player. Disappeared for over a month and didn’t play any matches
for LFC after he was late for a Reserve match and was being
punished over the next few weeks. He was rumored to want to leave,
but who wouldn’t consider that if you never were played?!
This spaniard really needs time to play and show the world
what he has to offer, but he doesnt have size on his side. He could
“pull a Lucas” and work out all off season to gain weight and
muscle, as he is a star for the Spanish U-21 team, he could be for
us. Please Follow us both on Twitter Brandon O’Shea
@LePassionateRed Aj Smith
@_Aj_Smith Also follow
@Julian_Lee76 and @iTY9
both big reds who helped.