uskopite

17 August (Wednesday)

For the most part, we were all in pretty good physical shape for the kick off of the U-18 season. Michael Nardiello, Charlie Barnett, Ryan Flynn, and Paddy Gamble would be behind the curve a ways in that category -- but mostly they would suffer from lack of match practice with the Academy team. I guess, usually the Youth team plays a few more pre season games before kicking off the season, but as far as I knew, we would have only each other to kick around from now until the start.

The big news on the week came as it looked like Alejandro Fernandez was going to be leaving us for a few months to get some real first team playing experience with another team. Last I knew there were several Championship League sides poking around to take him on in some capacity. Alejandro wasn't saying much, but he was clearly buzzing over the last few days.

Coach Owens brought us all together in between sessions at the auditorium and filled us in on the plusses and minusses of going out on loan to some of these teams interested in taking us on. Some things were a bit of a surprise for me.

First of all -- we would be told when teams were interested in us, and ultimately it would be up to us to decide if we did want to go out on loan and with whom -- but the Club's (ie Rafa Benitez, Coach Owens, Mr. Moores) interests almost always came into first consideration.
Secondly, there was more to it than just going somewhere and jumping into their starting 11. We all wanted to go out and play for the biggest team possible -- but there was also the possibility that, with the larger clubs, we would get less playing time, and might be seen as an emergency back up, or last resort stop gap in an injury crisis and NEVER play. So consider what would be better -- going somewhere where you could "possibly" play with the first team but would likely sit the bench most of the time, move to a smaller team where your talent would almost guarantee you a spot in the starting 11 but not offer you the competetive comparison or development that would lead to bigger things, or stay at the Academy and play into the plans of the reserves (or higher )
Third, transitions to and from clubs were often very stressful times. Imagine moving away from the Academy right when a crucial time comes to the team, and instead of bonding with your other team mates by working through the time together, you are off somewhere else fighting somebody else's war. You are not likely to be recieved back with the same relationships that you had before. Things can really change alot in just a few weeks. And if you were to go out on a year long loan - you might never really be accepted back into your previous circles at Liverpool!
There was plenty more to think about, including your personal life, your family, your bird, moving, financial dificulties, education, and on and on.
Damn, I'm almost glad nobody has been knocking on my door! It certainly seems easier just to stay put and enjoy being a part of the Liverpool tradition, than to have to deal with all of that. Well, for the time being I wasn't in anybody else's plans - but I'm sure the time would come when I would have to make the hard choices.

Noble and Bridges had been into see the gaffa a couple of times already on this issue, but neither seemed too interested in a move as we all seemed to be having a good time together here. Even though expectations were unusually high for them, their feet were on the ground and the season beckoned ahead.

uskopite

19 August (Friday)

Tomorrow was the start of the U-18 Youth Cup - a cup which we traditionally have done really well in, and which last year, dispite the youth sides dismal league form, they showed well in, thought they did not take home the silverware.

This year we knew things were definately going to be different in the league, and we felt we had the quality to take the cup too.

We would start the Cup against Huddersfeild, at home, so we felt it would be a strong start to the tourney.

The coach announced the stating spots for the game, and I noticed that Legears name was absent from the list, as well as the bench. I could only think that he might be worried that the Belgian's head wasn't really right at this time. True enough, he hadn't practiced well at all that week as his game lacked the edge we had been used to seeing. Also not on the starting 11 was Alejandro Fernandez, who was likely going to be rested in light of an impending move away. He was, however, still on the bench, so he would give the coach options just in case things weren't turning out.

I would make my return to center mid, and was delighted with the tactics that we would be playing. Playing to my strength, we would look to play the ball up the wings. That meant I would get a chance to play some down with my height advantage, and would have a chance to find a big part in the game.

uskopite

School of Hard Knocks
Date: Saturday, 20 August 2005
Venue: Wrexham Racecourse Ground
Opponent: Liverpool Reserves (Friendly)
Weather: Dry, 45F
Attendance: 904


Here we were in the middle of August for goodness sakes, and I was freezing my nuts off warming up on the pitch. It felt like there should have been 1/2 of snow on the ground, yet the sun was blazing in a clear blue sky. Lying sky. That cold feeling would leave as we ended warm-up, but the ball would still feel like a rock as we kicked it about, and judging by our tactics, I was going to take some punishment to my head try to thump down some crosses.

Well, Huddersfeild were re writing their tactics just 2 minutes in to the game as we couldn't have scripted an opening any better. Ronnie Bridges (MR) took and early pass from Me in right mid, with Hudderfeild's Ricky Marsh (MC) playing right up behind him. Ronnie must have caught him with and elbow or something because Marsh froze and was left clutching his cheek as Bridges blew by up the right flank. Mirroring his movement in the center, and reading his intentions, I set up for a return pass just at the top of the box and right no cue it came to feet. Expecting a rough challenge to come, I turned immediately and realized I had plenty of space. With two touches into the box, I cocked and fired left past the Huddersfield keeper Paul Bell who proceeded to lambaste his front four for their dreadful marking.

Things went from bad to worse for Huddersfeild. Just a couple of minutes after the restart it was obvious that Ricky Marsh was looking for some retribution for the double insult of taking a knock and been scored on in the same movement. He went in hard on David Barnes (DL) giving a free kick on the defensive side of the ball, which might have earned a card. Maybe disappointed he hadn't been carded or taken serious, Marsh eyed up the free kick, and when the ball came into Mark Noble (ML), He left no doubt as to his anger when he kicked Noble about a foot in the air with no regard for the ball. When the match ref brought out his book Marsh grew absolutely irate. His team mates were unable to restrain him in time as Marsh earned himself an early shower with a stream of invectives spewed out about the thumping he had suffered earlier and the refs blind idiocy, punctuated by a two fingered salute and some well placed spittle.

So, at 7 minutes, Hudderfield was down 1 in the score column and now one on the field. Three minutes later, they were down 2 in the score column. Chris Collins (DC), pulled Charlie Barnett (SC) down just outside of the box as he was turning on the ball. Noble signaled for me to take it. Sizing it up, I felt this was one of those free kicking which might have been too close to play something cute and have it dip in time. So we faked a lay off shot and I blasted it head high toward the left side of the netting. The keeper was cheating over and when the ball deflected of Nick Marshall's (ML) head and swerved right, he could only wave at it in disgust.

Mark Noble and I had a great understanding through out the half, and in truth I had 3 clear chances to claim my hat trick of his crosses, and succeeded in putting one over the bar, one Bell was able to get a paw to on a reflex save, and one he pulled down with as routine save.

Unable to stem the tide of shots coming in, Huddersfeild began to get closer to their marks and much more physical. The ref handed out 3 more yellow cards before the half. On one questionable challenge, I took a knock on the foot, and in the freezing cold I could have sworn I'd broken something as everything went numb. I was very worried as they stretchered me over the side. Our physio, Collin Robinson, gave it a working over, and when feeling had returned, I realized it wasn't broken, but definitely was well bruised.

In like a lion, out like a lamb - I finished the rest of the half limping in and out of tackles, and knew that half time would see the end of my game. Two goals was certainly something to be proud of, but I doubted I would be the only one to notch my name in the score book that day.

John Paul Kelly (AMC) would spell me for the second half, which I would miss as I sat taking treatment on the physio table. Colline assured me that it would turn all lovely shades of black and blue, but that I wouldn't miss but a day of training, and as we normally took a day off after matches, I wouldn't miss a beat. Surprisingly, I learned that we would only notch one more goal - Which Charlie Barnett would take in the 72 minute when Noble played him through clean. Clearly Mark was the man of the match from what I had seen, and he must have continued his great play long after I was gone. I was happy to have started my official tally at the club though -- Averaging a cheeky two goals a game - and long may it continue

Stats: Terry Murphy (9 Form) 2 GOALS, 0 ASSISTS. 45 mins, 14/16 passes completed (1 key), 0/0 tackles won, 4/5 headers won (2 key), 0 intercepts, 0 run, 0 offside, 1 fouls, 0 fouled, 4/6 shots on target.

uskopite

Though Milan Baros had not played during the Liverpool match on that same night -- much of the talk by the commentators was on the impending transfer of the young Czech Striker to Aston Villa

:cool: Authors Note: NO KIDDING ON THIS ONE. WHEN IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT MILAN BAROS WAS GOING TO BE TRADED IN REAL LIFE - I OPENED HIM UP FOR BIDDING. THE BEST OFFER CAME IN FROM ATHLETIC CLUB, AND ASTON VILLA! BAROS WENT WITH VILLA

Baros was never a bright favorite of mine. He always represented a stop gap to me after Michael Owen left, and until Djbril Cisse was properly bedded in. That Baros struck gold in Euro 2004, potting at an amazing rate and taking home the golden boot, would end up being fortunate for Liverpool as they sought to get value for him on the transfer market. Villa was said to have secured his signature for 7.5 million pounds ( MORE THAN IN REAL LIFE) and Liverpool were now just waiting for the physical to finish up and it would be official.

The senior team was thought to be very thin at center back, and definately lacking for options in Right Midfeild -- so we were all anticipating that in the next few days there would be a big signing or two to the organization. The only question would be wether the player brought in would represent a long term investment, or just a temp job until better talent could be brought in, or somebody was brought up from the youth team. Legear was actually shaping up to be a good option for the future, but at this point, he may not stick around long enough to figure into future plans.

Furthermore, the rumor had been circulating for a couple weeks on the return of the prodigal son, Michael Owen, to Anfield. Though Rafa insisted that he was not looking for a Striker, and that the money from the deal would be used largely in any deal to bring players in to strengthen obvious weaknesses, still the story would not die out. I thought there was definately something to it, so it was all eyes on Sky Sports News and ears open for anything coming out of Anfeild.

AUTHORS NOTE: THE STORY PROBABLY WON'T MOVE FORWARD MUCH UNTIL ALL OF THIS TRANSFER MADNESS GETS SORTED. I'M TRYING TO PLAY THE SENIOR TEAM WIHT THE PLAYERS THAT WILL BE THERE THIS YEAR. I BROUGHT IN GONZALES, AND HAVE HAD TO HOLD OFF ON PLAYING HIM SINCE IN REAL LIFE HIS WORK PERMIT DIDN'T GO THROUGH (QUITE A ****ER THAT!) IF MICHEAL OWEN WERE TO COME IN, I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE TIME TO BRING HIM IN, IN THE GAME. HONESTLY, LIVERPOOL DESPERATELY NEED A DC AND A MR -- SO HERE'S HOPING THERE IS STILL QUALITY OUT THERE SOMEWHERE!)

uskopite

NOT ENTIRELY UNRELATED TO THE STORY -- BUT THIS HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE MORE FRUSTRATING LAST WEEKS OF THE SILLY SEASON EVER FOR LIVERPOOL

THE TRADE OF BAROS AWAY TO ASTON VILLA I CAN UNDERSTAND IF IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRINGING IN A COUPLE OF GOOD PLAYERS AT DC AND RM -- BUT THE SALE OF CISSE TO BRING IN OWEN? SHOCKING, AND A VERY EXPLOSIVE MOVE FOR RAFAEL BENITEZ IF THAT IS THE CASE. I WOULD BE VERY SAD TO SEE CISSE GO IF IT CAME TO THAT (AND VERY HAPPY TO SEE OWEN COME TOO!)

DarrenP

Watch this space !

Apparently, Michael will be coming to England tomorrow to thrash out a deal.

I dont believe for one moment that we will need to sell Cisse to finance the deal as we have got 6m or so from the Baros sale.

As for a DC and a RM, I havent heard of anything in particular, but would expect one if not two new faces by the transfer deadline.

Great story btw. KUTGW :thup:

uskopite

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DarrenP:
Watch this space !

Apparently, Michael will be coming to England tomorrow to thrash out a deal.

I dont believe for one moment that we will need to sell Cisse to finance the deal as we have got 6m or so from the Baros sale.

As for a DC and a RM, I havent heard of anything in particular, but would expect one if not two new faces by the transfer deadline.

Great story btw. KUTGW :thup:[/QUOTE}

Oh, how I do dispair -- -- that has to have been the most depressing and unexplainable transfer window in the history of Liverpool FC.

Thanks for the thumbs up Darren P. Always nice to hear that somebody is enjoying your work.

uskopite

For some freakishly unknown reason, the Youth F.A. overlooked the fixture traffic involving the running of the youth cup and the start to the U-18 Liverpool season. Because of the oversight, we were forced to turn around and play the first game of our season the very next day!!

Noble and Bridges would obviously be in no condition to compete the next day; Alejandro looked to be on his way out for loan, so he would also be dropped from the lineup. That left several spots to be picked up by some of the older familiar faces like Barnes and Holmes. It also gave new faces like Nardiello, Black, and Ryan Flynn a chance to make a run out. I wasn't going to be in top form, but I still had pretty good legs, made stronger by the knowledge that it was the beginning of the season and I felt I was going to get quite alot of service. Maybe another goal. Maybe more.

uskopite

Divers, Cheaters, and a Home Town Ref

Date: Sunday 21 August 2005
Venue: Saltergate, Chesterfield
Opponent: @ U-18 Sheffield United (4-4-2)
Attendance: 448
Score: 2 - 2 (Shef UTD: Hunter 44', Lewis 64')(Liverpool: Murphy 55', Hitchen 90')
MOM: Adam Hitchen

Black Nardiello


Flynn(A) Murphy(55',A) Legear

Barragan

Barnes Hitchen(90') :cool: Hobbs Holmes

Gamble

SUBS:
Lancaster
Roberts (on 45 for Holmes)
Hammill (on 36 for Black)
Kelly (on 45 for Barnes)
Barnett

----------------------------------------------------

Somebody recently said that to win the League you have to play 10 men behind the ball when away from home and go for the tie, and play attacking ball at home and hope for a home town ref and a break. Well, Sheffield looked to have definately found a home town ref as he handed out a total of 7 cards to us on the day, and the partnership of the Ref and a cheating, diving, no good Sheffield United striker Jordan Robertson conspired to gift a win to the home team!

We took a very long time to really get any sort of continuity of play going. Despite that we squandered several great chances in the opening half hour of play to take the lead. I myself was guilty of wantonly wasteful attempts on goal when in the space of 10 minutes I missed 4 bright scoring opportunities: twice I was played onto goal with passes from Nardiello, only to see on shot flash very wide left, and one pushed away by Sheffields Harrison (GK); and twice I was able to get onto the end of dangerous cross from Legear and Flynn only to head to ball clean over the cross bar on both occasions. On a more positive note, at least I wasn't guilty of missing the best chance, as that honor would go to Nardiello. Legear, off a great bursting run forward put Nardiello through one on one with the keeper who watched Nards shot from 10 yards sail over his head into the stands.

Sheffield were making room and creating opportunities of thier own, especially on the right side, looking to bring SHEF Robertson (SC) into play several times. I swear, everytime that little beeotch recived the ball with his back to the goal, as soon as he felt a little bit of contact he flung himself down on the ground, feigning injury and offense all the time. Freak me if it was embarrasingly obvious was tricks he was on about, but EVERY TIME the ref would blow it down, giving Sheffield dangerous possession from deep positions. Gamble would struggle all day, never looking comfortable in the goal mouth, but early on Sheffield just couldn't turn those chances into goals. In the 35 minute, when for about the umpeenth time Robertson launched himself through the air over Legears leg, the referee not only awarded a free kick, but also presented Legear with a yellow card. Legear went nuts, and although he was captaining the side that day, the referee must have felt the protest to insubordinate and sent Legear to the showers with a second yellow. Hammill was brought on to maintain width on the right side, subbing out an ineffective Black (who never seemed into the game). With the better part of an hour remaining in the match and down to 10 men, things looked bleak, and then turned black after Robertson drew another foul from out of his arse just yards outside of the box in the 44th minute. Sheff's Nicky Law (D R) played a cheaky floater into the right side of the box. Gamble came rushing out to punch, and then sort of . . . stopped. Sheff's Simon Hunter (SC) reached the floater first and looped a header well over Gamble and into the back of the net with our side looking on in frustration. Horrible positional sense by Gamble. (1 - 0)

Coach Owen signalled his intent to take chances when he brought on Mark Roberts for Jordan Holmes, and switched to only 3 at the back. The other fullback, Dave Barnes, was also pulled off - sacraficed for a more attacking posture with John Paul Kelly. To top it all off -- I was moved to target man in hopes of nodding down opportunities for Kelly and Nardiello, or finding the back of the net myself.

We continued to struggle with building up play, and Robertson continued to play his sick game of cheat dive cheat by drawing fouls AND CARDS from Hobbs and Barragan. Then . . . we caught a break. Sheff's Law (D R) clumsily bundled a ball out of bounds near his box. The short throw came into Flynn who looked up and spotted me sandwhiched between two Sheff defenders in the six yard box and. The cross was tipped by Sheff Utd Ben Dawson (DC) and made contact off the side of my head and shoulder. The unexpected angle that the ball came in threw Sheff Utd's Keeper and the ball shot passed him into the net. (1 - 1, Murphy 55')

The game was leveled, and then brought back into more parity, after Sheff Utd James Simpson (M R) was sent off for a bad foul on Ryan Flynn compounded by more dissent drawing the second yellow. This Ref was a *****!

Against the run of play, Sheffield United earned a corner off a break away. I was still playing up top, so wasn't in the box for the cross. The guys I normally would have marked Sheff Utd's Barry Lewis (MC), was johnny on the spot, and headed home the corner through a crowd of onlookers

uskopite

(2 - 1)

Up by one on us, you could see Sheff United start to slow down play, eating up possession with simple passess to open guys, and not at all looking to attack. The tactics almost backfired when in the 72nd minute Nardiello intercepted a back pass, and fed me through for a great chance . . . but I walked away shaking my head in disgust after blasting well wide -- again.

While desperately trying to earn possession back, Kelly and Flynn both earned yellow cards on, you guessed it -- Robertson. But these times, you'd have to admit that they weren't without cause.

Try as we may, we just couldn't get the ball back. 86, 88, 90 -- Injury time . . . And then we did get it. Kelly blasted through Sheff's Adam Newton (M L) on a tackle that might have earned him his second card. Newton lay writhing in agony on the pitch, adding more time to injury time, as thier PHYSIO's stretchered him off. The game was signalled to end on the 3 rd minute of injury time. But that was extended. We stole possession of the ball on the restart, and for what seemed like an eternity we looked everywhere for a through ball to unlock the Sheffield United Defense (now down to 9 men). A chance open up for ME, and my toe poke was deflected wide by an heroic lunge from Dawson. Unsure of how much time remained, I raced out to take the corner. Sheffield's Defenders looked about, angrily casting glares at the ref waiting for the whistle that would bring and end to the match and all three points . . . and nobody was standing on the posts! My cross, normally a ball that would have been well contested by the back post defender, WASN"T contested. In fact, it landed squarely on the forehead of Adam Hitchen who had slipped in behind to the back post. There was no mistake -- and there would be no three points (2 - 2, Hitchen 90')

We hadn't won, but we all felt like we had, running around like . . . well . . . school boys! Increadible drama, and a well earned draw seeing as how we had to fight the ref and Sheffield United for it.

Stats: Terry Murphy (8 Form) 1 GOALS, 1 ASSISTS . 90 mins, 39/50 passes completed (3 key), 3/3 tackles won, 6/8 headers won (4 key), 2 intercepts, 2 run, 0 offside, 1 fouls, 01 fouled, 4/12 :eek: shots on target.

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Sorry about the split post - hit the wrong button. I was also trying for something different up top. Something more asthetically pleasing and fun -- and was hoping that I could show how my line up was set up -- IT DIDN'T WORK RIGHT. I'll try something different.