LFC Academy 07/08

[Guest]

Where's the guy from Real, the one they were fuming about (and who is considered one of the best prospects in world football) when he signed for us ? I don't remember his name.

[homer1]

Where's the guy from Real, the one they were fuming about (and who is considered one of the best prospects in world football) when he signed for us ? I don't remember his name.

Bruna

Hasn't played that much - couple of games for the youths and couple of substitute appearances for the reserves

[SCarter]

I went along to the youth cup game last night at we was great to see some of these young prospects up close. The difference in quality between the two teams was apparent from the off but Wycombe put on a good battle for the first hour or so.

David Amoo got the first goal from a Ecclestone through ball and tucked it away past the keeper, Amoo has absolutely frightening pace and a number of times he was given the defender 10 yards and still easily getting to the ball first. The second came in the second half when a horrendous mix up between defender and goalie allowed Pourie a tap in. The three was a pearler from Nathan Ecclestone on the corner of the penalty area he beat two men and whipped a curling left foot shot straight into the top corner, Mackay Steven then got the fourth after latching onto a clearance and tucked it away calmly. Ecclestone got his 2nd and the reds fifth with a good solo effort which ended with a nice finish.

Bouzanis: Looked comfortable and never really troubled, big strong athletic looking lad with some good distribution.

Irwin: Solid at right back, was up against a fast tricky winger but kept him quite all game.

Kelly: Looked so assured on the ball, strong lad who looks like he could be playing reserves regulaly soon.

Kennedy: Not much in the way of footballing ability, had a decent game and for me is similar to a Sol Campbell.

O'Connor: Got up and down the left side all night and coped with the long diagonal ball well. Linked well with Mackay Steven.

Highdale: Was a little disappointed with Sean, have heard good things about him maybe it was just a night off as his touch and passing seemed a little poor.

Adjarevic: Took quite a lot of stick from the home supporters but looks as though physically he is ready for the step up. Played some nice passes and seems to have great awareness.

Amoo: Has great pace and a touch to go with it, looks to be a great worker and got the important first goal. Switched with Ecclestone to move up front late on.

Mackay Steven: Best player on the park last night, looks a class dribbler of the ball and his set piece and crossing ability is right on the money every time. Nice finish for the goal and has one or two tricks up his sleeve, very good little player.

Pourie: Again little disappointed with Marvin after seeing his performances on the academy show. Got a goal which he was due for putting in alot of work, but his touch was off a little and does not look to have to much pace.

Ecclestone: Two quality goals from a player who ability wise was head and shoulders above anybody on the park barring Mackay Steven. As a swagger about him on the pitch and is willing to try different things. Has all the attributes to make it pace, touch, vision and ability with both his left and right foot. His movement was good and the Wycombe defence could not deal with him.

MOTM: Mackay Steven, perhaps could of been Ecclestone but Mackay Steven looked on his game tonight and as a left winger appears to have exactly what is needed. Looks a great prospect.

[Harv]

you cant help but get excited reading that

[Jayesh87]

Bruna

Hasn't played that much - couple of games for the youths and couple of substitute appearances for the reserves

He hasn't settled in the area and has had injury problems.

[SCarter]

you cant help but get excited reading that

The togetherness within the team looked great as well, there was hardly any moaning from any of them and the captain was very encouraging towards his team. They just look a good team all working for each other and all know the role they are to play, some good interchanging and Adjarevic plays some absolutely sublime passes a real joy to watch. I hope they have highlights of the the game as you will get to see some of the quality bits of play.

I managed to speak to one of the coaches during the warm up not sure of his name but he seemed to say that a number of players that are of the right age to have played were left behind due to the volume of players available. Apparently Bruna and Pachecho were not involved due to commitments with the reserve team on monday and also the up coming game against Tottenham reserves at Leyton Orient on monday apparently Pachecho is being bulked up in preparation for one or two appearances in the first team by the end of the season.

[Jayesh87]

We have either Arsenal or Burnley at Anfield in the next round.

[Jayesh87]

todays score and match report have been added in the original post

[AFII]

todays score and match report have been added in the original post

Another impressive performance by Eccleston

[Jayesh87]

Another impressive performance by Eccleston

As i've said loads of times before, this lad has to potential to be something very special. He has all the attributes a quality striker needs. Only down side is that he is a Manc

[bazza76]

Shamelessly robbed from Anfield Banter Blog:

Saturday, December 15, 2007
Kids watch: Eccleston does the trick, Hammill continues Saint futility, Anderson settles for assists, & more

Nathan Eccleston is looking more and more the business. The 16-year-old Manchester product netted three more goals today in the U18s 5-0 annihilation of West Brom. The same West Brom that held them scoreless just a month-and-half ago. That brings the young striker's tally to 15 in 16 matches. Did I mention that in three of those matches he played less than a total of 120 minutes? The kid's scoring pace has been impressive to say the least. Just imagine our side five years from now if he, David Amoo, Marvin Pourie, Gary Mackay-Steven, and the whole plethora of young International hopefuls continue to progress and develop into Premiership-quality players. We're going to be world-beaters even if a fraction of them 'make it'.

(Oh, by the way, my friend Ciara wanted me to mention that Michael 'Fekkin' Magic' Collins also scored. Typical Irish.)

The thing about Eccleston is that he didn't come with all the hype that accompanied most of our other Academites. I wouldn't necessarily say he came out of nowhere, but he did work his way from a player who wasn't even on the bench at the beginning of the season to playing every minute of our last 13 matches. That is deserving of recognition and commendation alone. In the article I linked above, Hugh McAuley seems to hint at the 16-year-old possibly already moving up the ladder and playing for the Reserves as early as this spring, an impressive feat nonetheless.

Apparently, England has no talent at the youth level, which is easily rubbished by pointing out Eccleston. He plays on a youth side with players from all over the world, Dean Bouzanis is an Aussie, Shane O'Connor and Michael Collins are Irish, Ayala is Spanish, Astrit Ajdarevic and Alexander Kacaniklic are Swedish, Gary Mackay-Steven is Scottish, and Marvin Pourie is from Germany. Pourie and Collins are both forwards as well, competing for time with the Manchester kid, but despite the German's prolific scoring record, he now sits second fiddle to the Englishman.

Since I'm on the subject of the Academy, I was wondering where all our other 'baby galaticos' are? It appears Argentine ace, Gerardo Bruna, despite being just 16, will train with the first team and get some time with the Reserves. Finnish wonderkid, Lauri Dalla Valle, also 16, arrives in January and it is rumored that he'll do the same and young Spanish star, Dani Pacheco, 17, has seen minimal time with the Reserves already. Who knows about Ayala, he might be injured, but I haven't heard much of him lately.

I'm beginning to wonder if Southampton is the right fit for Adam Hammill. Just when it looked as if he was settling in after a two assist outing, leading the Saints to a 4-0 thrashing of Hull, he was essentially a non-factor in his club's 1-1 draw at Coventry. In fact, he was taken off the pitch in the 68th minute with the score at one apiece. At least it ended in a draw. The Saints next play a home fixture on Saturday with Preston, the team of none-other-than Neil Mellor who scored just his second goal of the campaign this season, helping the Lilywhites defeat Burnley.

Paul Anderson has decided to no longer score goals and now just set them up. The 19-year-old Wirral wonder got two more assists today to help Swansea win 3-0 at the Liberty over Southend. Anderson only played 59 minutes before being replaced by Thomas Butler. With Leyton Orient taking it up the arse, 0-1 at the hands of Carlisle, the Swans now sit all alone atop the League One table, a point and a goal clear of the aforementioned Cumbrians, which they travel to on Saturday. Anderson, like Hammill at Dunfermline last season, appears to be turning me into a Swans supporter. Hell, if Rafa goes, this blog will be changed to Swans Banter?

Since Hartlepool wasn't playing a side that featured another Liverpool player on-loan, they won, 3-0. Godwin Antwi started and played the full ninety. The Monkey Hangers head to Swindon next Saturday. Finally, Ryan Flynn failed to make the bench for Hereford. Shocker.

[carlton]

As i've said loads of times before, this lad has to potential to be something very special. He has all the attributes a quality striker needs. Only down side is that he is a Manc

Have you seen him play? Its appears he has serious talent and he's only 16. Could he be fast tracked on what youve seen?

[Jayesh87]

Have you seen him play? Its appears he has serious talent and he's only 16. Could he be fast tracked on what youve seen?

Corse i've seen him play.
Don't think he will be fastracked yet, he will probably make the step up to reserve team football soon and depending on how he does there, Rafa may give him a couple of matches in May after we wrapped up the title

[AFII]

Maybe you could add this clip to your first post in this thread Milky

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZuazoK9wzr8

It's HM talking about the team. It's from before the Wycombe game.

[homer1]

Have to say, few very good performances on the left wing in the last couple of games - Gary Mackay Stevens looks very promising as does the Swede Kacaniklic ... both possess lots of skill & pace with the ball - very attaccking, positive players

Are they likely to show the full FA Youth's match against Arsenal on LFC TV?