Broomy introduces a new, weekly review of the youngsters at Liverpool FC. Each week we will focus on the under 21 players of the reserves and under 18’s, including transfer news, match previews and reports, and player profiles. If you’d like to add anything to Kop Star Magazine, contact Broomy via the forums.
December saw Hughie McAuleys side finish a successful 2009 lying in 2nd place in the League Table and also seen them through to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup fourth where Bristol Rovers await the Liverpool U18’s side….
The start of December seen the U18’s get the 2008/09 FA Youth Cup campaign under way. Hugh McAuley’s young Reds triumphed 2-1 against Leeds United at Elland Road. A goal from Lauri Dalla Valle and a sublime 25 yard free kick into the top corner from Thomas Ince was enough for a 2-1 comfortable victory.
After their convincing 2-1 win over Leeds in the Youth Cup, Liverpool U18’s continued their impressive form the following Saturday at the Academy as they stretched their unbeaten run to four matches with a convincing 3-0 win over West Brom. Goals from Joe Kennedy, James Ellison and substitute Lauri Dalla Valle ensured they retained second spot in FA Premier Academy Group A.
December was also the month which seen 3 of our former Academy players make their Champions League debut’s for the first team as Liverpool qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League as winners of Group D after Ryan Babel, Albert Riera and David Ngog found the net in a 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven. The main positives taken from the match was the introduction of three of our previous Academy players coming on as subs, Stephen Darby at right back, Jay Spearing in midfield and Martin Kelly at centre back. All three impressed and looked comfortable and put in steady displays on their Champions League debuts. They showed they will not be overawed if called upon to step into Benitez’s first team 11, if and when first team chances come along.
The final game of the year for the U18’s seen them crash to a 3-1 defeat against Manchester United U18’s at the academy. Lauri Dalla Valle scored in the 65th minute for the Reds, but the defeat ended our unbeaten run of 4 matches…..
Speaking to liverpoolfc.tv, John Owens commented “We can look forward to 2009 with great optimism when we will return to face Wolves in a friendly on January 10 before the FA Youth Cup fourth round tie at Bristol Rovers five days later.”
Thomas Ince has just been announced as the December U18 Player of the Month.
Thomas has had an impressive month at the Academy with his most notable performance coming in the FA Youth Cup 3rd Round in our 2-1 win over Leeds at Elland Road. Ince gave a man of the match performance to ensure Hughie McAuleys side progressed through to the fourth Round. Ince played in a central striking role alongside Dalla Valle and capped a fine individual performance when he gave Liverpool the lead by curling a sublime 25 yard free kick into the top corner on 15 minutes.
16 year old Thomas Ince is the son of Blackburn boss and former Reds skipper Paul. Thomas is a left winger, he is a different type of player to his Dad but he has the same professional values. Ince is a left sided player with an excellent left foot and he can also play on the right wing and up front if needed.
Thomas Ince has trained with the Academy for the last number of years and has worked his way successfully through the Liverpool’s schoolboy teams and in the Summer of 2008 he was rewarded for his progress with a 3 year scholarship.
December Player of the Month Awards
U18 Thomas Ince
U16 Craig Roddan
Left-back Robbie Threllfall has joined League One side Stockport County on a one month loan deal. The emergency deal was completed just days after the 20-year-old returned from a loan spell at Hereford. Threlfall, who graduated to Melwood ahead of the 2006-07 season, has yet to make his senior competitive debut for the Reds, though he did feature in the Asia Trophy in Hong Kong in July 2007.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have welcomed reserve team trio Adam Hammill, Craig Lindfield and Godwin Antwi back to Melwood after their respective loan spells came to an end. Winger Hammill had been at Blackpool, Lindfield enjoyed a spell with AFC Bournemouth while Antwi was across the Mersey at Tranmere Rovers. All three players will come back into Gary Ablett’s reserve team squad.
Also, goalkeeper David Martin has extended his loan spell with Leicester City until the end of the season. He is enjoying a fine campaign with the Foxes who are sitting proudly on top of League One.
Last week on KopStar we asked you to vote for your Top 10 KopStars to watch out for in 2009, after a fantastic 946 votes, we can now count down your 20 KopStars as voted on the TIA forums. Krisztian Nemeth was voted in at number 1 with an impressive 96 votes. Nemeth has made an amazing impact since his arrival from MTK Hungaria in the Summer of 2007. With an exquisite touch, clinical finishing and intelligence in abundance, the £750,000 spent on him already looks a bargain!
Krisztian Nemeth signed for Liverpool alongside compatriot Andras Simon in May 2007. Krisztian signed a 3 year contract and marked his first season at Liverpool with some eye catching performances for the Reserve team. Nemeth scored his 9th goal of the league campaign as the reserves clinched the national title at Anfield against Aston Villa in May 2008.
Nemeth’s season wasn’t finished just yet, at the end of May he scored a crucial goal against Portugal to take Hungary the Hungary U19’s into the European Championships. As a reward for his outstanding season and form, in May 2008, Nemeth was called up to the Hungary Senior squad and was an unused sub during their 1-1 draw with Croatia. Don’t miss next week’s KopStar edition when we’ll take a closer look at the Top 10 as voted in our forums:
Three days before his 18th birthday, it was reported Marvin Pourie signed a contract for the next four and a half years with Schalke 04. Despite being a regular on the scoresheet for Hughie McAuley’s U18 side, Pourie returned to his native Germany last week. Pourie has scored some great memorable goals and shown great potential during his time here.
German striker Marvin Pourie arrived at the Academy from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2007 and scored 12 goals in his first year with the Under-18s. He formed an effective partnership with Nathan Eccleston and enjoyed a very succesful first half to the 2007/08 season when he couldn’t stop scoring! However, the goals began to dry up towards the end of the season…. Pourie enjoyed an impressive first season to his Liverpool career.
This season the goals continued for Pourie as he’s notched up 7 goals so far, he bagged a first-half hat-trick as Liverpool Under-18s edged to a 4-3 opening day win at home to Crystal Palace in the FA Premier Academy League. The German striker netted three times in the opening half hour.
However, with the likes of Dani Pacheco and Kriztian Nemeth ahead of him in Liverpool’s youth ranks, Pourie has struggled to make it through to the Reserve team and has agreed personal terms with Schalke last Tuesday.
