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It will be interesting to see how Liverpool FC’s reserves get on this season. The last two were very mixed seasons – in 2007/08 we won the league, ocassionaly playing really good football but also highly dependent on Krisztian Nemeth‘s goals (the next Robbie Fowler, don’t you know)  and often winning scrappy games by a single goal. Last season Nemeth was mostly injured and those scrappy wins became scrappy losses. Pacheco didn’t kick on from his promising pre-season and we lacked creativity in the middle – and often on the flanks. In defence, reliable Stephen Darby (the next Carra) was shuffled around, as was Martin Kelly. Sometimes the absence of resources was embarrassing for a club with so many players not regularly involved in the first team setup.

But by another measure, the one that apparently counts, it was a successful couple of years for the reserve. During that time, players broke through into the first team, most notably Nabil El Zhar and Emiliano Insua, following in the footsteps of Damien Plessis from the previous season. This season, to some surprise, Ayala has stepped up to first team duties. Lucas and N’Gog also made big contributions having spent some time at reserve team level (although were always destined for first team involvement) and Jay Spearing, Martin Kelly and Stephen Darby all featured at some point during the season.

At the end of last season there has been a complete shake-up. Gary Abblet, his coaches and even some physios left the club to be replaced by John McMahon from Tranmere Rovers (Steve’s brother), a new specialist goalkeeping coach, John Achterberg (also from Tranmere), the obligatory Spaniards, and even replacement physios. The venue has been moved once again, with home games being played at Prenton Park this season. The captaincy has been given to Victor Palsson, a tall, rangy midfielder signed last season from Iceland, taking over from Darby and Spearing.

Pre-season was a bit of a mixed bag for the reserves, as with the first team. Despite the ocassional flash of talent (such as Bruna’s free kick against Cambridge, a heavy defeat to Peterborough looked like a regression on previous seasons).

Once again, the challenge this season will be managing the squad given the depth of players in positions like goalkeeper (Bouzanis, Martin (back from a season at Leicester City), Gulacsi, Hansen, Oldfield promoted from the Academy and even Mihaylov out on loan) and out wide (Pacheco, Weijl, Putterill,  with Kacaniklic, Amoo and Ecclestone promoted from the reserves) but notable gaps in defence, particularly centre back. The FA, in their wisdom, have cut the number of games in the reserve league (north) from 20 to 18. 20 was not enough so goodness knows how you can develop young players on just 18 games a season.

With Nemeth, Simon, San Jose and Threlfall out on loan, and you’d expect a few more to follow. But currently only Chris Mavinga, a left back has been brought in. Perhaps that’s an opportunity for some Academy players to step up, Dalla Valle and Buchtmann look the most likely – though Ince and Irwin will also fancy the opportunity. McMahon will need to ensure a good run of results to keep the confidence up – and establish his authority on the side – whilst developing a large squad so that they are ready for Carling Cup participation.

I will try and blog about each game this season – in the context of developing players for the future.

Related posts:

1. Stepping into the unknown: Liverpool season preview 2010-11
2. Liverpool reserves v Wigan Athletic reserves preview
3. Liverpool reserves v Man United reserves post match analysis
4. Liverpool reserves v Bolton reserves post match analysis
5. Blackburn reserves v Liverpool reserves

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