[lfc-news] Academy: Learning from a physical test - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 26 April 2005
Learning from a physical test
Academy Football with Chris Wright, Daily Post

LIVERPOOL under-18s ended a disappointing campaign with a 4-0 defeat at
Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

John Owens's side were already consigned to finishing bottom of the FA
Premier Academy League Group C table, so the Liverpool coach used
Saturday's final match to see the schoolboy players, who will go
full-time next season, in action.

With a reserve match tonight against Manchester City, which will include
all Owens's U18s players, Saturday's team was made up entirely of Dave
Shannon's U16s.

And although they lost it will have provided valuable experience for the
players and coaching staff alike with next season in mind.

U18s coach Owens said: "They (Sheffield) phoned to say that they
couldn't provide both an U16s and U18s side, so we had to play just one
match. We thought it was best to play the U16 team, with the reserve
game at Man City likely to feature all the U18s boys due to the squad
needed for the first team going to Chelsea.

"Sheffield Wednesday said they would play a younger side as well, but in
the end it was virtually their regular U18s.

"They were quite a strong, physical side.

"But like all these things it was a learning experience for them and
particularly the defence had a lot to do. There was some good
performances by Jay Spearing, Robbie Threlfall and Stephan Darby at
left-back. Also up front as the main striker was Craig Lindfield, who
won a lot of headers against their big centrebacks.

"And that will have been the most physical game these guys have had this
season. In a way it bloods them for next year's campaign when they
become first years."

Liverpool also featured trialist goalkeeper Josh Mimms. The 15-year-old
is the son of Bobby Mimms, the former Everton keeper who deputised for
Neville Southall during the run-in to the 1985-86 season and played in
the FA Cup final that May against Liverpool.

Owens said: "Josh Mimms did okay. He is still only 15, but the only
problem is that was the last chance to play him in an official fixture,
but maybe we can look at him more at the Academy or in some friendly
fixtures."

LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Mimms, Behan, Darby, Spearing, Threlfall, Woodward,
Barnett, Wignall, Lindfield, Pringle, Burns: Subs: D Roberts, Hammill,
Barratt, McHugh, Neild.

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