Jon Flanagan

[Fredo]

What i liked about Flanagan was he was very composed on the ball. He didn't just panic and hoof it, he was picking his passes whilst also not dwelling on the ball. Top performance

Ironic that he was being marshalled by Carra.

[Mostar]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2011/04/12/john-flanagan-dedicates-memorable-liverpool-fc-debut-to-his-dad-100252-28504556/

John Flanagan dedicates memorable Liverpool FC debut to his dad

JOHN FLANAGAN dedicated his memorable Liverpool debut to his dad - and also thanked the inspirational words of Jamie Carragher and Kenny Dalglish.

The 18-year-old made his Reds bow in last night’s 3-0 win over Manchester City and drew high praise from the manager.

Flanagan - a product of Liverpool’s Academy - was only informed two hours before kick-off that he would occupy the right-back position against Roberto Mancini’s men at Anfield.

But unfazed, the teenager served up a terrific display, one of which he said his dad was very proud.

"My dad was on the books (at Liverpool) and didn't make it," he said.

"He is proud. He was up there in the stands and this is for him.

"I found out two hours before kick-off. We had a meeting, the manager named the squad and I was in it. I was delighted.

"He is a great help, always talking and down your ear, telling you what to do.

"Kenny was giving me advice, telling me not to be nervous and to get on the ball, do what I do and keep it simple. That helped me a lot.

"I was obviously nervous - first game against Man City, a big team. But I just tried to get the job done and we got a good win.

"I'm feeling great. It was a great win, all the lads are made up. Brilliant. It was my first game so to win 3-0 is great."

"It's a dream come true - the fans are amazing so what can I say? Brilliant."

[Craig_H]

Didn't you start a thread in General Football containg the contents of a Facebook conversation with a 'mate' of yours?

Mate of a mate, actually

[cled the red]

How about this for a future back four??

LB - Robinson
CB - Kelly
CB - Wilson
RB - Flanagan

You never know!

You can add Andre Wisdom to the mix as well - great talker and organiser by all accounts and quite a big unit already!!

[Fivex]

Couldn't have gone better for the lad, really pleased for him.

I know it was due to injuries but giving kids a chance like this really gets the fans excited about the future. Obviously a 3-0 wins make it seem all the more sweeter..

[Neil Young]

See maybe I'm getting old or something, but I've got a curious old fashioned opinion that full backs should well, be defenders first. If he wants to act like a winger he should be a winger. Johnson offers a certain amount of attacking threat, for a full back anyway, but does he offer more than say, a proper midfield player? Every time he goes bombing forward then someone else has to fill in behind him, so our sum total of players in the attack is still the same. I don't think his distribution is amazing, nor is his reading of the game. In how many games when teams have done exactly that against us has Johnson's attacking play really made the difference?

That's not really true though, is it? If we're attacking on Johnson's side then perhaps the other full back has to hang back, but since we're not attacking on his side of the pitch that's not very important. There's an argument to say we'd have more threat if the other fullback was forward too but then you can argue it's the other one's fault someone else needs to fill in.

Of course the holding midfielder(s) also hold(s) but that's the very definition of the job.

By being better going forward than most other fullbacks he adds to the attack, and in a position where it often makes a significant difference, by stretching the opposition defence, etc. - I don't really see how you believe otherwise.

I think you're right - you are becoming old. Before your time perhaps.

[McDermotX]

What i liked about Flanagan was he was very composed on the ball. He didn't just panic and hoof it, he was picking his passes whilst also not dwelling on the ball. Top performance

Helps when others in the team are moving about offering options for outlet

One lovely bit in the second half was when he was about 10 or so yds from the halfway line, and rather than launch it up to the forward line, he dinked it about 40yds right onto Carroll's chest who had dropped back to receive the ball.
All keeping the momentum of an attack going, rather than looking to just get the ball out of our half........

[dww]

See maybe I'm getting old or something, but I've got a curious old fashioned opinion that full backs should well, be defenders first. If he wants to act like a winger he should be a winger. Johnson offers a certain amount of attacking threat, for a full back anyway, but does he offer more than say, a proper midfield player? Every time he goes bombing forward then someone else has to fill in behind him, so our sum total of players in the attack is still the same. I don't think his distribution is amazing, nor is his reading of the game. In how many games when teams have done exactly that against us has Johnson's attacking play really made the difference?

That's not really true though, is it? If we're attacking on Johnson's side then perhaps the other full back has to hang back, but since we're not attacking on his side of the pitch that's not very important. There's an argument to say we'd have more threat if the other fullback was forward too but then you can argue it's the other one's fault someone else needs to fill in.

Of course the holding midfielder(s) also hold(s) but that's the very definition of the job.

By being better going forward than most other fullbacks he adds to the attack, and in a position where it often makes a significant difference, by stretching the opposition defence, etc. - I don't really see how you believe otherwise.

I think you're right - you are becoming old. Before your time perhaps.

I think the key here is that the numbers in attack are not everything. If you have width and players with different capabilities then it changes the amount of space players have and the types of options available.

In a way though I do think there is a problem with Johnson in defense but it has nothing to do with him attacking and being out of position. Too often when he is back and one on one with a player they do a simple trick and are then able to either get the cross in or move into the box. He does tend to keep harrying people who are past him which is good but I still think he is very vulnerable when isolated and has trouble holding a player up to wait for support.

[RedReet]

With Johnson and Kelly fighting for the RB spot, Flanagan will not get too many playing opportunities and in order to continue his development he should go out on a loan but I am not sure he'd get many playing opportunities in any low ranking PL. Championship football, preferably club in the upper half or better, would be imo exactly what he needs.

I’m not so sure he will go on loan. I’m pretty sure the club had no intentions of playing him this year but Kenny’s hand was forced due to the circumstances. Just because he may play a few good games for the first team, I don’t think it should change how the club had planned his development which would have likely been another year to improve in the reserves. He is still only 18 and will have plenty of opportunity for first team football in the future.

Get him to keep his head down and work hard in the reserves and no doubt an injury to Johnson or Kelly will give him the odd opportunity again with the firsts.

[The Birdman]

LMFAO at posters on here seriously suggesting selling a regular international because we have 2 kids who have played 20 games between them.
Jeeeesusssss.

No doubt the same one will be quick to criticise when Kelly and Flanagan have poor games

[Exiled_red]

I’m not so sure he will go on loan. I’m pretty sure the club had no intentions of playing him this year but Kenny’s hand was forced due to the circumstances. Just because he may play a few good games for the first team, I don’t think it should change how the club had planned his development which would have likely been another year to improve in the reserves. He is still only 18 and will have plenty of opportunity for first team football in the future.

Get him to keep his head down and work hard in the reserves and no doubt an injury to Johnson or Kelly will give him the odd opportunity again with the firsts.

How long has he been in the reserves?

I believe that if a player is performing well in the reserves the only way to continue their development is by playing at a higher level, players who only play reserve level football tend IMO to stagnate and stay at that level. I'd be tempted to restrict players who are considered to be good prospects to a couple of seasons reserve team football at a max (1 year to get to that level and a year playing consistently well at that level). Just my 2p...

[RedReet]

How long has he been in the reserves?

I believe that if a player is performing well in the reserves the only way to continue their development is by playing at a higher level, players who only play reserve level football tend IMO to stagnate and stay at that level. I'd be tempted to restrict players who are considered to be good prospects to a couple of seasons reserve team football at a max (1 year to get to that level and a year playing consistently well at that level). Just my 2p...

This is his first, is it not?

[Exiled_red]

This is his first, is it not?

I've no idea that's why I was asking

[RedReet]

I've no idea that's why I was asking

Ha ha, one of our management team walked in so I had to rush my response.

But yes, I'm 99% sure this in his first full year in the reserves. He may have played the odd game the year before if numbers were short for whatever reason, but I'm not sure if he did or not.

As far as I'm aware, he had one full year in the U18 accademy, 1 in reserves, so next year might be a big ask to step up to regular 1st team football. I could be wrong and I could check it out, but just couldn't be bothered.

I also though he had a brother in the younger accademy teams with him, but I may have imagined this.

[Rudo]

If we've got Kelly and Flanigan as right backs, where does that leave Glen Johnson?

Left back? Squad player?

Sell him, or use him as a back up right winger.