John Flanagan – Tipped by Kenny Dalglish as a potential player to breakthrough, the last couple of years have seen a massive transformation in the young full back’s game. At the start of his time in the youth ranks at the Reds, many felt it difficult to see the young local lad progress to the senior team. Although a hard worker, he really didn’t have any stand out qualities.
An excellent season in the U18s last campaign and his progression to one of the reserves best players has changed all of that though. Flanagan really is an excellent tackler, and the timing of his challenges is one of the reasons he is developing into a quality full back. Not necessarily blessed with an abundance of skill, Flanagan does however have a great deal of football intelligence, similar to Robinson. He rarely lunges into tackles and gives away a silly foul, and normally makes hard hitting clean challenges. His work ethic, positional sense and anticipation have drawn comparisons with Jamie Carragher, although he still has a long way to go to become as good as Carra.
After making an impact in the U18s, he was promoted to the reserves last March, and despite the step up in class, the move up did not faze Flanagan in the slightest. His work rate and tackling held him in good stead and he has rarely made any errors. Although he throws himself into challenges, he is very level headed and is always measured with his play with and without the ball. If he gets frustrated, he quickly calms down, and he always looks calm and composed on the ball. He has also begun to improve other areas of his game, getting forward increasingly regularly to provide crosses and also utilising his aerial ability a lot more. His progression was enough to get him a place on the plane to Prague for Liverpool’s Europa League, and with the club’s defensive crisis, he has been promoted to Melwood along with Robinson to be involved in the senior team. We may see more of the pair in upcoming matches.
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INTRODUCING CRYSIS 2!
David have you seen Robinson play? Because some people who’s judgement I trust tell me his positional sense is weak and needs to vastly improve if he’s to play for the 1st team on anything like a regular basis. I’d hate to see thrown in at the deep end and get given a chasing by City so I doubt he’ll start unless things get worse on the injury front.
for a future..yes.. more 4 or 5 years…
now… time to recall back insua from loan..
insua are good boy for winger.. but only 83% good for defensive..
only a few game.. so we must get him back for cover 5th place.. and if magic come real.. maybe 4th place.. i like insua because he can more cross from wide and he like to run true inside the box.
but in situation now.. he is whiling for left back.. only skertel, cara, insua we have..
So david whom among these brilliant lads will get the nod to play against city. I like flanagan the most because he looks physically strong and his height gives him an aerial abilities than robinson. So whom do you think will play at anfield
referees h webb + m atkinson are 100% anti-liverpool and are costing us tremendously.
they interprete the rules harshly against us when it counts!!
100% spot on!!!