From the Liverpool site -- There was some good performances from Liverpool players. Mellor was excellent, Le Tallec did well with some great passing at times and at the back Carl Medjani and Zak Whitbread were superb. It seems the bleached one gets mentioned in just about every Liverpool reserve match report. Given the confusing state of the US backline: - Advancing ages of Pope, Sanneh and Berhalter - Out of position guys like Convey and Hedjuk The only 1 who seems a shoo-in at this stage is Bocanegra - maybe Gibbs if he gets some more exposure. Can Zak be far behind ? He'll be 23 by Germany - with a few more years of experience. Maybe he makes the Liverpool squad or plays for a lesser team, but his record to this point is encouraging.
Any word from Liverpool or one of their fan sites as to what they plan to do with Zak next year? Personally, unless he's going to be playing first team ball for them, which I doubt, I'd like to see him get loaned to a team where he can get regular first team action.
Pope is just in his prime- 30 is not old for a central defender,especially one as fast as Eddie. He is a rock and will be for some time to come.Center backs usually last the longest of field players, because they run less and need smarts more.Eddie and Berhalter will still be well in the mix for 2006.Sanneh less clear.
actually, this is a pretty accurate assessment. i think that eddie will probably be effective on the international stage until at least 33.
Dont forget Franky Simek from Arsenal is in the exact same boat as Whitbread right now and actually it seems like Simek is more likely to acutally get some first team action from what I have read..... God I love having two young center backs playing for two of the best teams in Europe and the EPL....although its reserves they are both still very young....