Team for the reserves tonight

[Jayesh87]

I do have a niggling doubt about Leto. Obviously it's too early to make any real judgment on him, but I get a bad feeling that he could be one of those players that looks great in the reserves because he's technically a level above the rest, but then at the highest level struggles because suddenly his technique isn't superior and he can't beat players with any regularity. In that respect I think his best attributes are deceiving when you see him for the ressies. Up against the best, his crossing, set-pieces and strength look to more than match up. But as for beating people, I get the feeling he's just not quite got the technique to play the kind of game he does at reserve level.

He's only 20 so he may yet become that player, but to do that he needs to play, and my gut feeling is that the most we can hope for with him in the medium term, is a neat player who will put in a nice cross if you give him the ball in space, can keep the ball moving well, and works hard. Not that my gut feeling as an amateur observer who hasn't really seen an awful lot of him is worth that much, but that's my feeling all the same. Hopefully when I see him play a couple more first team games, that feeling will evaporate.

nice sig

[Red_Polo]

nice sig

[mersey86]

Did the game finish 2-1?

[MindGuerrillas]

yes

[AFII]

Harry Kewell made a triumphant return to action as Liverpool Reserves defeated Newcastle United in front of a bumper crowd at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The Australia international, who has been out of action since August, scored a stunning first-half header as he played 45 minutes of Gary Ablett's side's impressive 2-1 win.

Jordy Brouwer was the other Reds marksman as the Reserves produced a solid display to secure the second victory of their Barclays Premier Reserve League North campaign.

Ablett gave a debut to young defender Martin Kelly for the visit of the Magpies and he made a good impression up against former England Under-21 international Shola Ameobi, as the Reds dominated from the start.

The home side's first opportunity of the match came on eight minutes when Nabil El Zhar cut in from the right and fizzed a well-struck effort into the side netting.

It was a sign of things to come as the majority of the first-half saw one-way traffic directed towards the Newcastle goal.

Kewell was next to try his luck as his 25-yard effort was superbly tipped past the post by Fraser Forster in the visitors' goal.

Jay Spearing then found Craig Lindfield with a cleverly disguised pass but his powerful strike from the right-hand side of the penalty area flew just over the crossbar.

On 30 minutes Kewell gave the Warrington crowd a cameo of what Liverpool's senior side have been missing in his absence as he raced on to a superb throw out by David Martin, turned his marker before releasing a through ball to Craig Lindfield - but the young forward was caught offside.

The pressure continued to mount and when Spearing's 20-yard effort was deflected for a corner Liverpool finally made the breakthrough.

Sebastian Leto delivered from the right allowing Kewell to rise majestically and thump an unstoppable header into the top corner.

It was a lead Liverpool more than deserved and they continued to enjoy the majority of the possession until they gifted Newcastle a surprise equaliser on 42 minutes.

Paraguayan defender Ronald Huth slipped at the vital moment allowing Jonathan Godsmark to race through and slide the ball past Martin.

It was a bitter blow for the home side but they responded well and although Kewell was replaced by Jordy Brouwer at half-time, they regained the lead on 53 minutes, courtesy of the Dutchman's second league goal of the season.

Craig Lindfield found space on the right and when his tame cross was fumbled by Forster, Brouwer was on hand to fire the ball into an empty net.

It was an embarrassing moment for the Newcastle keeper but he went some way to redeeming himself two minutes later when he reacted well to brilliantly deny Lindfield after Spearing found the striker in space just inside the penalty area.

In the final 30 minutes the away side enjoyed their best spell of the match but for all their fine approach play they failed to test David Martin in the Reds goal and the hosts held firm to clinch a deserved victory.

Teams: Liverpool Reserves: Martin, Darby, Insua, Kelly, Huth, Spearing, Plessis, Lindfield (Pacheco 82), El Zhar, Kewell (Brouwer 46 (Putterill 89)), Leto

Newcastle United Reserves: Forster, Bertram (Francis 61), Babayaro (Lough 67), Doninger (Danquah 82), Edgar, Morris, Lua Lua, Pattison, Ameobi, Godsmark, Troisi

Referee: Mr I K Scarr

Attendance: 3,171

Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: Jay Spearing. Another accomplished performance from the midfield man. At the heart of all Liverpool's best moves.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drill...71025-2053.htm

[Morph]

Aye, i'd have gone with spearing for mom as well, kewell might have got it if he'd stayed on all game

[AFII]

The strange thing is that Kewell didn't play on the wing.

Could mean that Rafa will play him behind Torres.

----------Alonso---Mascherano-----
-----Gerrard----Kewell-----Babel---
----------------Torres

[Morph]

The strange thing is that Kewell didn't play on the wing.

Could mean that Rafa will play him behind Torres.

----------Alonso---Mascherano-----
-----Gerrard----Kewell-----Babel---
----------------Torres

It's something rafa's toyed with, to be honest he played right across the middle, the reason he probably didn't play left wing is because of leto. I think he'll make the bench on Sun

[rushscored4]

Martin has good hands

That's what KDDDD's new girlfriend said...

[tomasjj]

That's what KDDDD's new girlfriend said...

Yup. Good hands, albeit small.

[Redbug1]

Enjoyed the game last night. Good performances from Spearing, El Zhar, Barry K, and Leto's skills wowed my dads neighbour Dot and a few others. He generally looked pretty confident but can he transfer that to the big boys game?. Plessis just reminds me so much of Traore I'm afraid. David Martin started a little nervously but improved and by the end was catching everything that came across.

Next match at Warrington is v Blackburn on Tue 13th Nov

[Imy]

I do have a niggling doubt about Leto. Obviously it's too early to make any real judgment on him, but I get a bad feeling that he could be one of those players that looks great in the reserves because he's technically a level above the rest, but then at the highest level struggles because suddenly his technique isn't superior and he can't beat players with any regularity. In that respect I think his best attributes are deceiving when you see him for the ressies. Up against the best, his crossing, set-pieces and strength look to more than match up. But as for beating people, I get the feeling he's just not quite got the technique to play the kind of game he does at reserve level.

He's only 20 so he may yet become that player, but to do that he needs to play, and my gut feeling is that the most we can hope for with him in the medium term, is a neat player who will put in a nice cross if you give him the ball in space, can keep the ball moving well, and works hard. Not that my gut feeling as an amateur observer who hasn't really seen an awful lot of him is worth that much, but that's my feeling all the same. Hopefully when I see him play a couple more first team games, that feeling will evaporate.

You are right about Leto, he is much better then anybody I've seen this season in the reserves.

With him i think he needs to improve mentally, my opinion is that he has the required skill level for the first team but when he plays in the first team maybe he has an inferiority complex?

Like many players he needs a run of games, he needs Rafa to show him some love so that he can gain confidence, but this is the same for many of the players in our bloated squad.

[keniget]

It'll be interesting to see who keeps their place when the likes of Duran and Nemeth are fit again.

I was really impressed with the little I saw of Duran last season - looks like a Iniesta / Fabregas sort of player. Very good technical and passing ability. Nemeth can play either as a AM or a striker and is supposedly quite good, so it will also be nice to see him get a chance.

Either way, I think Craig Lindfield should play less - he is like the reserves version of Kuyt in that his main contribution to the team is his work rate. At that level, I think we should be focusing more on the players with real talent as opposed to players who will graft to grind out a result.

[Imy]

It'll be interesting to see who keeps their place when the likes of Duran and Nemeth are fit again.

I was really impressed with the little I saw of Duran last season - looks like a Iniesta / Fabregas sort of player. Very good technical and passing ability. Nemeth can play either as a AM or a striker and is supposedly quite good, so it will also be nice to see him get a chance.

Either way, I think Craig Lindfield should play less - he is like the reserves version of Kuyt in that his main contribution to the team is his work rate. At that level, I think we should be focusing more on the players with real talent as opposed to players who will graft to grind out a result.

I was thinking the same thing about Linfield, loads of hard work but no attacking threat.

Your point about concentrating on skill as opposed to results is another one i was pondering, i can't see many of those lads making it at LFC. For me Insua looks like one that will progress, Leto too but who else?

[keniget]

Well, let's go through them one by one (yes, I'm very bored):

Martin - if he doesn't go out on loan and / or get sold to a lower league club in the near future, I'll be amazed.

Darby aka Generic English Youth Player - He's one of those solid, but average players and I think the days of those type of players given the time to make it in the first team are over. I don't rate him anyways - he lacks any standout qualities.

Kelly - First time I've seen him, plus he's still quite young at 17, so we'll see...

Huth - He was rather poor last season and made a lot of mistakes. We'll see if he can improve this term, but with San Jose, Kelly and Hobbs around, will he get enough games?

Insua - I think he's very good and would like to see him get a few more chances in the first team this season. Hopefully he'll get a run out in the Carling Cup. He's got very good technical ability, can pass well, decent left foot on him (although his crossing has been rather poor of late) and defends well.

El Zhar - Heh, he is THE stereotypical flair player. When he's on his game, he does some great things, but he's far too inconsistant, doesn't seem to enjoy playing on the wing (does his best work in the centre - remind you of anyone in the first team?) and at his age, he should be better. He'd probably be better off in La Liga, that is, if he makes it at all.

Plessis - He's new, so we haven't seen too much of him, but I quite like this guy. He seems to take the game in his stride. So far, his passing has been reasonably good, he's gotten stuck in well, but I'd really like to see him when we're under the cosh a bit to see if he can still maintain his cool, keep winning us the ball and most importantly, keeping it.

Spearing - Good 'lil player in the Gerrard mould, but he's just so small - it's very hard to imagine him playing in the Premiership.

Leto - I don't class him as a reserves player as he's clearly a cut above the rest right now. He's got a nice first touch, likes a dribble but really needs to improve his decision making and crossing. Perhaps lacks the pace to make it in the Premiership? I don't know, but he can definitely make it in one of the top divisions.

Lindfield - Well, we've talked about him.

Brouwer - At times he reminds me of Ibrahimovich, at others he's cumbersome, slow and annoying to watch. To be honest, I'm a bit put off this type of player now as I've had enough of watching them in the first team. I don't think he'll make it anyways.