Full-time, and a 1-0 victory. Some nice touches, too, but plenty for the coaches to work on, too. When you consider that these most of these boys are around 18/19 year sold, not bad at all. Suso and Silva are quite good, as is Morgan. Wisdom was solid at the back. I also thought Irwin and Robert did well in central midfield but rather disappointed at Mendy, though, to be fair he is a far better player than when he first came. Sama, who came for an injured Wisdom, looks to be a bit of a hoof merchant to me but it could also be that he was trying to adjust to the pace of the game. Good vibe to the team, though.
Now, now ... that's no way to be treating a former Anfield great. Hope he scores in a Chelsea win tonight, though.
lfc.tv is doing their little interview series with 2nd team. Here it is with our on-loan 17 yr old... http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/i-want-shooting-tips-from-fowler good to see so many of our youngsters included in the reserves game yesterday.
I know we have all heared of Morgan and Sterling, but what about the other 2? Has anyone seen them in action? http://www.nesn.com/2011/04/liverpools-raheem-sterling-adam-morgan-brad-smith-matty-regan-called-up-by-england.html?
Yes, Regan is a centre-half and Smith (Australian born) plays left-back. Smith is a bit raw but improving while Regan has already played for the reserves, and played well.
Isn't Smith a midfielder? I know he's been used as a full back in some games but his natural position has been CM.
In the matches I've watched, he's played at left-back. They do shuffle them around, so he could have been deputising for Robinson.
U-18 playing the skanks at the Academy. Sterling, Morgan and Silva start. The skanks have rested some of their youngsters in readiness for the Cup match against Chelsea. Brad Smith playing at left-back.
40th minute. Great goal by Silva after a fine cross by Adorjan. He turned his marker twice and placed a la Kuijt and scored. Adorjan has played well but has so has the whole team actually. If there is an y criticism it's that we ought to be taking more advantage of Sterling's being triple and double teamed.
44th minute. Silva drives from our own half, rides about three challenges and smacks it into the net. 2-0. Well, what a goal!
Half-time and the youngsters look in very good nick. Looking at this crop, I have to take my hat off to Benitez's decision completely to restructure the Academy, MacParland for presiding over a very good [coaching] team and Dalglish for some astute recruitments. If the coaches do their job well, and it's so far looking good, we're well-served for the future. Oh, an exchange between Borrelo and Craig Roddan after the latter had told teh ref to "eff off". "Raddo, DON'T talk like this!".
N'goo on for Silva for the second half. Sterling has been deployed to cut in more centrally and has started causing the centre-halves some awkward moments.
53 minutes, Liverpool stroke the ball for about 15 passes, Sterling slides it into an over-lapping Smith who bursts into the box but his left foot strike is just smothered by the keeper. Pass and move at its best.
57 minutes, from the back, three passes, a heel-flick and into the box. Saved by the goal-keeper. Outstanding play. Borrel urging the players to break forward.
62 minutes. Short corner brings a foul on the edge of the box and we are looking lethal. Morgan's strike is saved for a corner. We lose possession and are carved open but the boys recover and we launch an attack! United pegged in their half. This is excellent [and comfortable] football.
67 minutes. We concede a free-kick from which United out in a dangerous cross but we snuff out the danger. The centre-halves have got better with each passing minute.
69th minute. We get a corner, ping-pong, it's brilliantly crossed by Sterling and Morgan volleys in his 13th consecutive goal! Sweet. And he hasn't even been on the money at all this game.
73 minutes. "Pass and move-- good", yells a scouse-accented voice. We have displayed some very good football, this afternoon. I'm mightily impressed. A few tired legs, and Man U bring on a 3rd sub.
75 minutes So saying, Sterling crosses top Hatch, whose shot is blocked falls to Adorjan who swivels and scores with his left. 4-0 My goodness, the support play has been Liverpool of old.
76 minutes Sterling and N'goo pass the ball around in the box (th eonly two Liverpool players there), yet mange to tie the defenders in knots. N'goo scores! 5-0. Eh?
79 minute-- we lose possession and Man U break into the box, and they look nailed on to score. No doing. Hatch tackles and we concede a corner. Liverpool sub-- Adorjan is taken off. We break forward, again and just about get crowded out of space. Amazing.