Thanks.
Was Connolly not even in the squad?
Don't think so, he didn't come on if he was.Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I thought McGeady did ok, tried to beat his man too many times, and it wasn't coming off.
Leicester looked very solid at the back, mainly due to McCarthy, it wasn't until Aliadiere came on and Beattie started to push forward that ****** started looking more likely to score.
The keeper, Boruc, had a great game, but the defence (esp Balde) looked well short of match fitness.
All of the players in Man City's squad for the Premier League Asia Cup will get a run out, Stephen Ireland is mentioned here but I'd imagine Willo Flood and Karl Bermingham will also see game time over the next few days.
Just as a slight aside, the young player to watch on Sky Sports today is interviewed and said Leon Best is the most skillful player he's played with. Not sure if it's the one and the same Leon Best at Southampton, but read it here
Rodney Marsh predicted Leon Best would be a star. Not sure if that's a good thing though! I thought he looked decent, but nothing more, in the FA Youth Cup Final.
Ipswich's website says Owen Garvan played well for Ipswich last night, but despite Kelvin Davis' move to Sunderland, Shane Supple didn't make the team. He's still very young though. The Ipswich website didn't list the full team so I don't know if Clarke, Synott, Lordan, Nash etc played any part.
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 20/07/2005 at 11:17 AM.
They didn't the squad list is here:
http://www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page...687543,00.html
Garvan looks a good prospect for a 17 year old though. I've heard good things about Supple and Clarke also.
Connolly was ruled out with a slight knock and Sheehan was in the squad but didnt play any part,another lad from the academy who usually plays at right-back or centre-half,played at left back throughout the game.
Leon Best moved from Notts County to Soton so it would be the same player.
I'm suprised he didn't kill anyone.
Stephen Ireland, Willo Flood and Karl Bermingham were all in action for city against Bolton today. Joey O'Brien also played and is mentioned in the report on Bolton's website.
http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page...688616,00.html
http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=115&pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=201813&siteid=&pageno=&newsca tegory=1051&frommonth=5&fromyear=2005&tomonth=7&to year=2005
Extract from today's Indo:
Ireland U21 international Darren Potter could be given another chance at some point in right midfield, a reminder that home-grown talent has its place in Benitez's thoughts.
"The manager can bring in players from Barcelona and Real Madrid, but he has shown that it doesn't matter where you are from - if you do your best, he will have a look at you," said Potter yesterday.
"I played against TNS and I hope I have given the manager some food for thought. I am more comfortable in the middle than on the right, but you know that Steven Gerrard, the best player in Europe, Xabi Alonso and Didi Hamann are competing for those places, so it is not going to be easy playing there. But as far as I am concerned, I'd give an arm and a leg just to get a shirt in any position."
Is he referring to "Steven Gerrard, the best player in Europe" or "the best player in Europe, Xabi Alonso" ?
This whole cult of Steven Gerrard is driving me mad. Fine player undoubtedly but I think the UK media overlooked his direct involvement in Milan's 3rd goal. In my opinion Smicer, Hamann & Alonso did every bit as much to get Liverpool back into the CL final. I despair...but good news re-Potter.
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 26/07/2005 at 11:17 AM.
I thought Darren Potter had a pretty good first half last night. Neat & tidy most of the time and was eager to get involved. Did well to get a good cross in and met a cross pretty well on the volley. Nothing to shout home about but it was encouraging, especially as he's out of position.
Potter was in action again last night. He looked ok but I still reckon he'd be better in a more central role than wide out on the right. He's too lanky to be a wide player and I doubt if Duff, A Reid or McGeady will be too worried. Match Report here:
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drill...50726-2137.htm
It seems that most of the young Irish players that I mentioned at the beginning of this thread are figuring in the majority of their respective clubs pre-season games and therefore I reckon that many will break into the first team at some stage next year.
Of all these young players I've been particularly impressed with Bolton's Joey O'Brien. He's the type of midfield player we need coming through - likes to stick his foot in, is full of energy, makes bursting runs into the box and likes to have a pop from distance. Similar in many ways to a younger Roy Keane. Maybe I'm getting carried away but what are the chances of Keane and O'Brien being our midfield pairing in Germany next summer (if we indeed make it)? It's ceratinly a more attractive proposition on paper than Kilbane and Keane if O'Brien does indeed break into the Bolton team this season (and considering the amount of fixtures Bolton have with the League, the two cups and the UEFA cup he'll certainly get his chance to impress). It's a nice thought.
Karl Bermingham scored for Man City against Sheffield Wed at the weekend. Whelan also scored for the Owls. Bermingham was singled out for parise by Man City captain Distin who reckons he is definitely one for the future. Check the lnk below:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/sp...es_babies.html
I see Sundelrand signed LeTallec from Liverpool and are also looking at signing two more attackers - Andres Oper and Damani Ralph. Read the report here:
http://skysports.planetfootball.com/...el=premiership
They were also linked with Rasiak last week. Doesn't look like McCarthy has much faith in his young strike force. THis is bad news as I reckon Elliot may not be guaranteed a place in the starting line up now next season (if indeed he ever was) and I'd say Murphy is unlikely to get much of a look in.
Karl Bermingham followed up his strike for the first team at the weekend with the second goal against Burton Albion in a 3-2 defeat for Man City's reserves. Willo Flood and Stephen Ireland played no part in the side, so they may be involved against Olympiacos at the weekend.
Match report - here
Glowing praise for Stephen Ireland from Stuart Pearce here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/sp...r_thought.html
It hasn't been a great year for our young players in the premiership thus far.
Timlin and Daryl Murphy not only haven't made an appearance all season they haven't even been on the subs bench as I'm aware.
Flood and Mark Yeates have been farmed out to lower league teams and neither have pulled up any trees.
Kelly has perhaps surprisingly been confined to the subs bench for most of the season after impressing last year.
Elliot hasn't been great in the premiership so far but at least he's getting his game and he did in fairness play well yesterday against Middlesborough though a goal would have been nice.
Only Stephen Ireland and Joey O'Brien seem to be coming on this season. Ireland has been impressive as a sub now on two occasions for Man City and O'Brien played most of the game for Bolton against Portsmouth on Saturday and seemed to have a good game according to most sources. Did anyone see O'Brien or Ireland playing on Sat and if so how did they perform?
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