FOR many Red fans international breaks are fraught with exasperation and fear. Despite our lack of success in recent seasons our team has consistently been full of internationals who have had to travel to far flung locations.
If they don’t come back injured, they seem to come back tired and susceptible to a poor performance in Liverpool’s next game.
England games, whether you’re an England fan or not, are rarely good preparation for the next Liverpool game.
The England first team secured an impressive 8-0 win against San Marino (with Sturridge getting a debut goal that may further boost his self belief) and Glen Johnson and Steven Gerrard getting very pleasing rests. The tough away fixture against Montenegro was not negotiated quite so easily, with a 1-1 draw leaving England a lot to do to qualify for Brazil; a play off place being the likely scenario.
However it was the England Under 21s that I was most pleased with. In the 3-0 friendly win against Romania we had four players starting (Sterling, Wisdom, Shelvey and Henderson, who again captained the side), with Robinson coming on as a second-half substitute.
Romania were no match for England from the start, and the result was never in doubt, but with so many of these younger players not having played recently for our first team, it was pleasing to see them not only get a run out, but also impress. All five played particularly well: Sterling seemed to have his zip back and caused consistent problems down the left, Wisdom was composed in a centre-back role whilst Jonjo Shelvey and Jordan Henderson ran the game and were utterly dominant. Jack Robinson, presently on loan at Wolves, played a swashbuckling second-half as a virtual left-winger and was deserving of his goal (from a Jonjo Shelvey cross).
The confidence and creativity with which they all played continues to bode well for the future. While they aren’t as consistent in a Red shirt, there’s no doubt that they are amongst the best young players in England.
The second friendly against Austria was expected to be a far closer affair. Certainly in the opening exchanges Austria showed that they had technical ability allied with organisation and physical strength. Unfortunately the game was ruined by a trigger happy referee sending off two Austrian players in what seemed harsh decisions.
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First, off went the keeper in the 37th minute for handling the ball outside the area, which seemed a tough call considering there was no opportunity for a goal scoring chance. Later, early in the second-half, a second yellow was shown to an Austrian defender for an accidental handball when he was trying to block a shot at goal. The details aren’t important; except it killed the game and England strolled to a 4-0 win.
This time Wisdom started at right-back (moving centrally later on), Shelvey again in the no.10 role and Sterling wide left. Henderson and Robinson came on in the second-half.
Again all of the Reds impressed (although that wasn’t particularly hard against 9 men). Jonjo’s charisma and ability dictated the game whenever England had possession, passing (short and long) and moving at ease. He scored a terrific opening goal from the free-kick that had seen the opposition keeper sent-off.
Prior to the game, England Under 21 manager Stuart Pearce had eulogised about Henderson’s footballing and leadership skills, saying that the former Sunderland man had nothing left to prove to him. In both games Jordan was spraying the ball about and using his energy to cover acres at a snip. Henderson’s through ball led to England’s fourth and final goal scored by Connor Wickham.
I’ve mentioned before how disappointed I have been in recent Liverpool games where an in-form Henderson had been dropped for an out of form Joe Allen. Jordan still has a lot of improving to do, but I’m looking forward to seeing whether he (or indeed Shelvey) take the chance that Allen’s injury lay off will present.
Internationals aren’t the best time for many Reds fans, but these two recent England Under 21 friendlies did five of our boys no harm at all.
You can catch more from me on my own blog: http://taintlessred.blogspot.co.uk/
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We really have some great young talent at the moment …but I’m afraid without a decent manager at the helm – it will all be for nothing
a good pre-season for our young lad and they be ready for a hag of a season next term.we hv to challenge for championship.we just need 2 very good defender a cam and another rw then we hv a big anoive quad.
I think we need more than 2 defenders to challenge for the Championship unfortunately.
Henderson or Shelvey should have been playing for the injured Allen all along. Both are stronger and quicker than Allen, even without the injury. A solid run for either will help them settle in and possibly show the form they show for their country.
Totally agree. Come next season, if he is still in charge, I hope BR plays players who are performing first rather than players he’s signed who hasn’t performed.