24 May 2017 13:42:02
Watching today's game, TAA excepted, I have to say the other youngsters (Woodburn, Wilson and Brewster) were quite disappointing. I know they are only young, but where is the desire to impose themselves on the game and take it by the scruff of the neck?

Players like Owen, Fowler, Gerrard, Mcmanaman and, dare I say it, Rashford were all doing it at similar ages. Today was a perfect opportunity to showcase their talents but their control and passing was woeful.

They won't get many more opportunities to shine once Klopp strengthens the squad and they did very little today against a very mediocre side to make him look at them again in the future, unless they improve big-time.

1.) 24 May 2017
24 May 2017 14:12:40
I was at the game, thought Woodburn did pretty well and TAA did okay. Didn't see much of Wilson though.

2.) 24 May 2017
24 May 2017 14:36:38
Maybe the fact that you named Owen, Macca, Fowler and Gerrard as your example is the issue? Four top notch players! Very hard for any player to compare to those 4. Maybe they just are not at that level.

3.) 24 May 2017
24 May 2017 14:45:07
For a start, comparing player is ridiculous. Everyone matures at a different rate.
Secondly, didn't they only land 11 hours previous? Maybe they were a bit tired?
It was a silly end of season friendly that meant nothing except money. Should never have been done in my opinion. Or at least let them have a few days rest first. Asking for injuries to happen.

4.) 24 May 2017
24 May 2017 15:54:30
I agree with all the points put forward in reply, but feel that if they don't reach the level of Owen, Fowler etc, they won't make the grade with us, as much as I'd love them to do so.

Jetlagged or not, today was an opportunity for them. The fact that Carragher and Gerrard showed up better than our young players.

5.) 24 May 2017
24 May 2017 17:06:25
Woodburn and Brewster are 17 for crying out loud.

6.) 24 May 2017
24 May 2017 17:37:22
Flying for 10 hrs then straight on a coach from the hotel to the game might have been a factor for the younger players for whom this would have been alien let aline the regular first teamers. Give them some slack mate.

{Ed025's Note - fair point there IAC..

7.) 24 May 2017
24 May 2017 18:28:08
No travel didn't effect the llayers in the 50s did it. The quality of pitches. The no money wages (compared to roxay) .

I could run 4 marathonz. Have to pay to play. Fly around the world. And then play for hours and give my all if allowed to wear tbe liverpool kit.

To pampered.

8.) 24 May 2017
24 May 2017 19:35:43
And friendlies against opposition from down under is the way to measure whether youngsters are good enough or not?

Friendlies are not there to be won anyways. The results from friendlies are meaningless.

Liverpool however probably did get some good income from this match. Youngsters had a run out but games like these are not going to be a chance to show whether a player has what it takes. Australian fans had a chance to see the team they live for.

Performance means bugger all in these type of matches.

9.) 24 May 2017
24 May 2017 23:24:14
Exactly. Judging a player on a basis of his performance in one friendly game is just foolish, especially youngsters.

10.) 25 May 2017
24 May 2017 23:58:11
Woodburn for me had a fairly good game. Tried to hard at times but clearly was trying. Pressed well (wasnt he the one who robbed Brillante to setup Sturridge? ) . TAA wasnt bad, Wilson was anonymous, Brewster seemed overawed but showed glimpses of why he made it to the U23 this year.
Note it was a friendly and barely got out of second gear (which is probably why Carragher wasnt exposed - mind you I thought he was going to have a heart attack at one stage he was so red) .

11.) 25 May 2017
25 May 2017 00:19:51
A 20 hour flight,

a different climate with no time to adjust.

Searing temperatures to play in. and totally different time zones.

That would affect anyone negatively.

At 17 years of age the young lads did great.

Hopefully there were no injuries.

12.) 25 May 2017
25 May 2017 09:38:51
Dermot some good point there but "searing temperatures"? It was about 17 deg during the match - does that qualify as "searing" in the UK?

13.) 25 May 2017
25 May 2017 21:32:25
Here in Ireland that's a heatwave.
But anyway who organised this match?
Was it a benefit to anyone?

Klopp said that after the journey and time change that any body expecting a top performance from any player doesn't know football.