There's some interesting and varied discussion on this over the last few pages, all of which I do think is worthwhile even though it has different viewpoints.
I watched the game last night, and Liverpool looked far more co-ordinated and controlled the game. You could also see, they pressed as the first team did, but were also exposed to the same problems the 1st team has when side beat the press.
We looked a lot bigger and stronger than them which was a positive, though as I said last night we didn't use it. The ages were also quite similar, I think across the teams we have a cumalative average age about 0.35 years younger than them. So really marginally younger. We also had the 2 youngest players on the pitch (Onyango then Kouyate). So it's a bit of a mixed bag.
I do think the ban has hit us. Over half of Liverpools 11 yesterday were bought in at reserve level, only 5 of them were scholars from under 18's. 10 of our lads were all with us at under 18 (albeit Iversen was brought in). Liverpool is obviously a big place, but what Liverpool are doing and have done very well is supplement local players with a large number of players from further affield, which given the ban we have been unable to do. A number of thelads they've brought in, when you factor in agents fees, singing on fees etc are 1m+ deals (similar to what Nkounkou would be). But last night in essence they have 6 or 7 Nkounkou's to our 1.
This is heightened further by a couple of points. Firstly the year groups around that age group were not particuarly strong. The current 17's are a good year groun, but between them and Tom Davies's year group there wasn't a lot. That sort of shows last night really. Also probably the 2 strongest players- Gordon (in the first team) and Dobbin (injured) were not playing. Like if we had Nkounkou, Brainthwaite and 4-5 others at that level, alongside say Dobbin and Gordon with maybe 2 of last nights players playing you get a closer understanding of where both sides are at. Sure they will say Curtis Jones is like their Gordon, so perhaps he should be left out, but you get the gist.
The ban lifting is an opportunity. It allows us to start competing to sign players again. It makes a big difference, local lads from Liverpool will get you so far, but we do need more like Brainthwaite and Nkounkou. For us players like DCL/Holgate/Stones all signed as teenagers have worked very well for us.
Of the players last night, I was really disappointed with Simms. He spends a lot of time walking around. I don't think he will make the grade. John was also underwhelming. When you look at the two teams, and start thinking- if we could do what Liverpool do, those would be 2 of the 3/4 local lads you'd have in your team, yet neither really stood out.
I thought Onyango showed promise. He is a big big unit. Next to that Clarkson, he was about a foot bigger than him and is 2 or 3 years than him as well. For the youngest player on the pitch, against lads who will be on 1m+ per year I thought he competed well and you can see the genesis of a player in there.
We take Nkounkou as red as he's performed well in the 1st team- but of the others he was the only one who really caught my eye and I thought he can carry the ball at pace and have the physique to play in the 1st team.
For Liverpool, you'd only really look at that Billy Koumetia as a potential option to "make it" in the PL. He's listed at 6 fr 5 but looks smaller than Onyango, so looks bout 6 ft 1 to me. He played ok, but if he can't get a look in for Liverpool now at 18/19 he never will.
As a final aside, I here a lot about academy restructuring, though I'm not sure what it really entails. I know they have the fella from Derby there. If we are going to have Unsworth and Ebbrell in charge, I'd at least want them to look like they play in their image, which I didn't think we did last night. We weren't aggressive enough, or physical enough. I tghink had we been the game was there for us to win.
-14 v -9
