Ressies tonight v's Birmingham City

[Benitez]

From the offish, they have no subs listed yet

 

Liverpool team:-

 

David Martin

Antonio Barragan

Miki Roque

Godwin Antwi

Daniel O'Donnell

Jack Hobbs

Paul Anderson

Lee Peltier

Ramon Calliste

Danny Guthrie

Robbie Foy.

[Spike]

Surprised that the trialist from Rushden isn't listed if he's at the club, or is there some kind or registration required?

[Benitez]

Surprised that the trialist from Rushden isn't listed if he's at the club, or is there some kind or registration required?

 

 

he's a sub.

[Bjarkinn]

0-0 at half time, we've had most of the chances

[Sion]

This Tomlin fella is supposed to be ace from what I've heard.

[Benitez]

aren't they all

 

Anyway, it's finished 1-0 to mini Reds it seems.

 

Scrap that, not Calliste, Paul Anderson with the goal

Edited April 3, 2006 by Benitez

[Gunga Din]

are we palying Brums reserve team or senior team?

[Ombudsam]

If it was the seniors i think we would have scored a few more

[Big G Superhero]

Did Tomlin play?

[Benitez]

Did Tomlin play?

 

 

 

Yep, he replaced Calliste during the 2nd half. And according to Liverpool way he impressed.

[Big G Superhero]

Yep, he replaced Calliste during the 2nd half. And according to Liverpool way he impressed.

 

Eh? where? Cannae find eet?

Edited April 3, 2006 by Big G Superhero

[Redwire]

Eh? where? Cannae find eet?

 

http://forum.liverpoolway.co.uk/showthread.php?t=31171

[Big G Superhero]

ta

[Guest AdamS]

Tonight saw a game at The Racecourse where the visiting team Birmingham failed to have a single shot on target. It still took Liverpool until the dying moments to take a victory. This game exposed the short comings of what on the whole is a very impressive reserve team. The two areas that were patently clear for all to see tonight was the lack of a proper finisher and the lack of creativity from central midfield. With Lee Peltier and Hobbs in midfield mainly concentrating on defensive duties, it puts a lot of pressure on Guthrie to provide the spark and if he is marked out of the game or just not on top form we really lack fluency.

 

On the bench for The Reds tonight was 17 year old Lee Tomlin who is on a trial for Rushden and Diamonds. Also coming back from injury Adam Hammill was back among the substitutes.

 

The first chance of the game fell to Birmingham. It was the only chance they were able to muster all night and even that one was more down to a Liverpool defensive error. With ten minutes gone the industrious Foy was clearing up at the back but tried to do a little too much. The ball fell the path of McPike but he could only blast over from 18 yards.

 

After a scrappy start Liverpool started to dominate possession and control the game. The first shot on goal in the match was from Calliste. He turned twenty five yards out and let fly. It was a powerful dipping effort and the impressive Legzdins in goal for Birmingham could only tip over.

 

On twenty minutes as the ball left the field of play one fan saw his chance and took it. Jumping up from his front row seat he headed the ball back over the advertising hoardings and on to the pitch. Unfortunately for him his shades followed the ball onto the field. Roque, tonight occupying the left back position tried his best to pass them back, but play restarted and he had to rush off.

 

When the sun had gone down on that brief interlude Liverpool captain Jack Hobbs was again asserting himself in midfield. This time he won the ball with a brilliant tackle, he jumped to his feet and slid Anderson in on goal. The youngster was heading away from goal but his first touch set the ball up nicely to be hit right footed on the half volley. He hit it well b and got plenty of power but the shot went just wide.

 

Liverpool's best chances of the half came just before half time. On 43 minutes Roque was the man to win the tackle this time. He opted for a short pass to Foy who looked up and slipped a pass through the defence to Anderson. The defender managed to get a touch meaning Anderson had to cut back, before steadying himself and this time shooting left footed. Again there was good contact, again he failed to hit the target.

 

A minute later and Anderson was again the protagonist. He chased down a long Martin kick. When all seemed lost he managed to beat City left back Blake to the ball. He cut back inside and as he ran on goal he slipped the ball back to Calliste. He shot first time but a diving block from Painter saw the ball ricochet away for a corner.

 

Liverpool started the second half as they had finshed the first. Again Blake was beaten, this time by Guthrie. He played a hard and low cross inside the six yard box which Painter again did well to intercept. His sliced clearance looping over the crossbar.

 

Foy had again been looking dangerous tonight and on 54 minutes he produced a lovely piece of skill to beat two men. He then slipped it into Foy. He made a cross field ball to Anderson who beat his man by taking the ball over his head. Again he hit the ball on the volley, again he made good contact, again he failed to hit the target as the ball flew over the bar.

 

Tomlin came on for Calliste with twenty five minutes to go. There was plenty of running in him and he was certainly doing his best to make a good impression. Ten minutes after coming on he had a chance. Barragan took a huge throw in from the right wing and Tomlin was first too it. He rose and nodded it down well toward the bottom corner. Legzdins was again good enough diving to his left to turn the ball behind for a corner.

 

With just over quarter of an hour to go Hammill came on. He was lively from the minute he got on and nearly scored in the 85th minute. He curled a shot from twenty five yards but again Legzdins was in place to turn the ball behind. Liverpool had an impressive corner count but were still yet to register a digit where it counts.

 

Just when it seemed all was lost Tomlin chased down a long and hopeful through ball. He did enough to make the keeper rush his clearance and miskick from just outside the box. Tomlin chased it down, turned and fed Hammill. Hammill took a touch, set himself and shot low to the keeper's right hand side. The keeper again making a good save tipped the ball onto the post. It bounced across the line and Anderson's eyes lit up as he knew he wasn't going to miss from two yards out.

 

There was a sigh of relief from Liverpool fans and players. To have gone away from this game with anything other than a win would have been a huge disappointment.

 

MOM. Not an easy choice as there were no real stand out performances. Hobbs was again very strong and a calming influence in midfield, but I'll go for Peltier as he is trying to adapt his game to get forward more drive the team on. He grew in stature as the game progressed today.

 

Martin, Barragan, Roque (83, Smith), Antwi, O'Donnell, Hobbs, Anderson, Peltier, Calliste (65, Tomlin), Guthrie (74, Hammill), Foy.

[Guest Sabre]

Thanks for the report Adam

[jimmylibel]

Adam, how is Barragan progressing? Don't hear as much about him these days, I know he was out injured for a while but the hype around him seems to have died down.

[Spike]

Thanks for the report again Dent

 

Who do you think is ready to take the step up if anyone?

[Guest AdamS]

Adam, how is Barragan progressing? Don't hear as much about him these days, I know he was out injured for a while but the hype around him seems to have died down.

I don't think he's greatly challenged at this level, but it's helping him aclimatise and get used to the way of life etc without pressure of first team football. He isn't standing out head an shoulders above everyone but rarely makes any mistakes. He didn't get forward as much as usual tonight but he was very solid. His throw for Tomlin's header was massive.

 

Thanks for the report again Dent

 

Who do you think is ready to take the step up if anyone?

I was talking to Dave Usher about this tonight. If you ask who is ready now I don't think anyone is. I think if we were desperate there are players that could do a job, but a lot of these players are very young.

 

The main challenge they have is that as our first team gets better then it gets harder and harder to break through. Take Guthrie for example, he generally plays in the centre of midfield. He's a good player, very creative and very two footed. How is he really going to force his way into the team though?

 

I really like the look of Roque. He is a very good footballer, but I have no idea what position he'll end up in. He's played everywhere in midfield and in defence. I think he may end up challenging Barragan at right back. Hobbs has a huge presence for a lad of his age. He's adapted well to the midfield role so it will be interesting to see him in his preferred position more often next season. He's only just 17 though so it's hard to say when he'll be ready, but with him I think it is more when than if.

[jimmylibel]

I don't think he's greatly challenged at this level, but it's helping him aclimatise and get used to the way of life etc without pressure of first team football. He isn't standing out head an shoulders above everyone but rarely makes any mistakes. He didn't get forward as much as usual tonight but he was very solid. His throw for Tomlin's header was massive.

 

Thanks for that - just interesting cos earlier in the season he seemed to be the perpetual man of the match and now he seems to bearly feature in the match reports - was beginning to worry he might have been going backwards in his development.

[Guest AdamS]

Thanks for that - just interesting cos earlier in the season he seemed to be the perpetual man of the match and now he seems to bearly feature in the match reports - was beginning to worry he might have been going backwards in his development.

We also discussed tonight that since we have signed Martin we can only recall him having to make one save. He's conceded a couple that were unstoppable, but I could play in goal for the ressies at the moment and keep clean sheets. I suppose that's a reflection of how tight we keep things at the back.

[kenny7]

I don't think he's greatly challenged at this level, but it's helping him aclimatise and get used to the way of life etc without pressure of first team football. He isn't standing out head an shoulders above everyone but rarely makes any mistakes. He didn't get forward as much as usual tonight but he was very solid. His throw for Tomlin's header was massive.

I was talking to Dave Usher about this tonight. If you ask who is ready now I don't think anyone is. I think if we were desperate there are players that could do a job, but a lot of these players are very young.

 

The main challenge they have is that as our first team gets better then it gets harder and harder to break through. Take Guthrie for example, he generally plays in the centre of midfield. He's a good player, very creative and very two footed. How is he really going to force his way into the team though?

 

I really like the look of Roque. He is a very good footballer, but I have no idea what position he'll end up in. He's played everywhere in midfield and in defence. I think he may end up challenging Barragan at right back. Hobbs has a huge presence for a lad of his age. He's adapted well to the midfield role so it will be interesting to see him in his preferred position more often next season. He's only just 17 though so it's hard to say when he'll be ready, but with him I think it is more when than if.

 

Sorry to add to the questions Adam, but as you clearly see a lot of the reserves, can you see Anderson and Hammil really pushing for a first team place, or are they destined to be a bit like partridge, good in the ressies but not likely to make the next step up. I get the feeling Foy is in this category, I maybe wrong though.

[jimmylibel]

We also discussed tonight that since we have signed Martin we can only recall him having to make one save. He's conceded a couple that were unstoppable, but I could play in goal for the ressies at the moment and keep clean sheets. I suppose that's a reflection of how tight we keep things at the back.

 

We'd want to with a bloody team of centre halves playing

[Guest AdamS]

Sorry to add to the questions Adam, but as you clearly see a lot of the reserves, can you see Anderson and Hammil really pushing for a first team place, or are they destined to be a bit like partridge, good in the ressies but not likely to make the next step up. I get the feeling Foy is in this category, I maybe wrong though.

Foy's off at the end of the season. He's really improved since he's been on loan though. Hopefully he'll find a club. As for Hammill and Anderson I think both are probably a way off yet, but I'd expect both to play for the first team at some stage. It's really hard to tell how successful they'll be from there.

 

Hammill's got the lot, he really has. I just hope he continues his rapid progress. If he reeally kicks on he could be pushing for a place by the end of next season.

[Ombudsam]

Take Guthrie for example, he generally plays in the centre of midfield. He's a good player, very creative and very two footed. How is he really going to force his way into the team though?

 

This is what i don't get about footballers. You train with the people blocking your path to the team every day... You play practice matches against them everyday... You have to challenge them for tackles everyday...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just f*cking break their leg!!!

[jimmylibel]

This is what i don't get about footballers. You train with the people blocking your path to the team every day... You play practice matches against them everyday... You have to challenge them for tackles everyday...

Just f*cking break their leg!!!

 

The Lucas Neill approach to ensuring your place in the starting line up!