JORDAN Ibe made a good first impression on his debut in Carra’s final game for Liverpool FC. But that was all it was, a good first impression.
The 17 year old former Wycombe Wanderers starlet has been impressing in the youth ranks with his pace, directness, trickery and goal scoring. Along with other young attacking players like Jack Dunn, Jerome Sinclair and Kristoffer Peterson, he has been a major threat for our youth side.
His goalscoring and attacking play were a big highlight during our recent FA Youth Cup run, and he was rewarded for a strong season with a starting spot against QPR.
The boy acquitted himself very well. He was confident, using his pace to attack the fullback whenever possible; showcasing his ability to both cut inside on his favoured right foot but also dummy onto his left for a cross.
He lost the ball a number of times unnecessarily, but that is completely understandable for any young player, and certainly for one who is trying to dribble with the ball. Jordan can even claim an assist for Coutinho’s wonderful goal, although a sidewise pass to a man who then scores from 25 yards out isn’t the most pivotal of assists. But this wasn’t his best moment of the game.
His most pleasing moment for me was when QPR were on a rare counter-attack following a breakdown of a Liverpool move. A QPR player was one on one with our last defender, when Ibe turned on his afterburners to make up yards of space and muscle the QPR player off the ball. Most telling was that he didn’t dive in, or commit a clumsy foul, but was assured and calm, much like the rest of his play all game.
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Jordan came off to warm applause in the 63rd minute and will be dreaming of those minutes all summer as he waits excitedly for the new season, and hopefully more opportunities.
With all the cooing over Jordan Ibe’s debut, it’s important to remember that one promising game against the worst team in the league, in a meaningless fixture, should only be viewed in isolation. Jordan has still got a lot of improving to do, and having a good pre-season should be his focus.
In all this hubbub it’s easy to forget another young player who has progressed even further this season, establishing himself as a first team player who can make a difference on a regular basis.
Raheem Sterling was so important to Liverpool’s cause earlier this season that Brendan Rodgers overplayed him and the young man has since suffered from burn out and niggling injuries for the second half of the campaign. His loss has not been so keenly felt due to the stellar performances of Coutinho and Sturridge, but we mustn’t forget Raheem didn’t just play well in one game, but a great many.
He played a total of 36 games this season just gone, with 24 of them in the Premier League. This is an incredibly successful debut season for a lad who is barely 18 years old. His performances were enough to earn an England debut, as the fifth youngest England player ever. Jordan Ibe will have to do incredibly well to match that next season.
The news of the charges against Raheem being dropped by police will be a welcome weight off his shoulders. With his new contract in the bag, and a summer to recover fully from his present thigh injury, Raheem will be even better next season, and is likely to be some distance ahead of young Ibe in the pecking order.
Next season fans will no doubt be looking forward to seeing more of Jordan Ibe, as will I, but I’m looking forward even more to seeing more of Raheem Sterling.
You can catch more from me on my own blog: http://taintlessred.blogspot.co.uk/
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Honestly I have always been a fan of Raheem but,I believe he still has a lot to learn. He played up to 36 games this season scoring just 2goals and I can’t even remember if he had any assists. I have highlighted in one of my comments before that one of the reasons Rodgers didn’t go farther than he went dis season was becos he had to use many of these kids as key players. They are inexperienced,they can’t win you anything and Arsenal is a living testimony to that. The best u can do for these kids is to make them learn from the bench. What I’m saying in essence is this: I don’t think there is a starting shirt for the young boys next season,most of them will have to settle for the bench and in my own opinion,it won’t be a bad idea to send them out on loan in other to gain some more experience. We are all talking about Coutinho today,most of us have forgotten that the young boy already paid his dues,he went on loan for a number of times before now. This is just what I think anyway……..Ynwa.
I think Ibe will mostly with a bench player next season. He looks good running with the ball, taking on defenders, but I’ve watched plenty of him in u18s and he really needs to improve his decision making. His passing range is also limited.
Raheem is streets ahead with his decision making and passing ability (eg that wonderful pass for the goal on his England debut trisecting 3 defebders). He should start a lot of games next season and I’m sure his goal per game ratio will improve significantly. I don’t jink either should be sent on loan, but I think others like Coady, Suso, Morgan & Yesil would begin from loan spells.
Will be interesting to see BOTH together on the flanks. I believe they will be great as impact players. Introduce both in the 70th minute of the game when all players are getting tired. Their tireless run and fast pace will cause havoc to defenders.
I agree there. Both should have the ability to make a difference from the bench. Though I’m hoping that Raheem improves further over the summer and starts ahead of Downing. When Suarez returns I’d expect Coutinho will occupy one of the wide positions with Sturridge also up front. I against teams where control of midfield would be harder Coutinho may play in no. 10 role as we won’t be able to have luxury of two strikers.
he was excellent on his prem debut and in 3 or 4 yrs liverpool are going to be top of the league on homegrown players like ibe, sterling, ohanlon, sinclaire wisdom kelly they are going to be players ibe looks to be very strong for his age giving him an advantage over most youngsters in the squads…he beat three players to open up the space and dragged coutinos marker out of postion for his assist so it was a pivotal contribution to the goal
Fair point about Ibe creating the space 4 Coutinho for his shot. Good point well made. It’s hard to imagine 3/4 years ahead, as so many things can happen to young players that leads them to not fulfilling potential. What we can say is that Rafa deserves great credit for setting up the best group of young players we’ve had for donkeys years.
True. It’s just a shame that Rafa is not reaping the rewards himself of the excellent youth system he put in place
And , do you not think it strange that since Rodgers took over …not one bright young talent has been signed
It seems under rafa and Kenny that every few months we were signings this 16 yr. old or that talented 17 yr old…but under Rodgers ? Nothing
What about Sergi Canos? Or Samed Yesil? I also recall we signed a young defender not to long ago..
Your right about canos . I didn’t realize deal was complete. But thats it as far as I’m aware. Yesil was signed to back up to 1st team not for youths I thought. Anyway there hasn’t been much activity that’s for surre
We have loads of exciting talent waiting for a chance , but failure to get europa league means they won’t get chances
Rodgers has dropped young players since xmas and he will be under pressure next season so I doubt if he will try them
Very mature Fran . Ccalling people names . Grow up kid
I think your wrong fran rogers believes in youngsters look at sterling he wasnt afraid to throw him in when he had downing, he only come back in the team because sterling was injured and had that court case hanging over him dont be surprised next season if kelly is centre half and wisdom full back.
I think it’ll be difficult for Kelly to play too many games next season as we’re buying atleast one center back. Kelly will need to impress in cups if he’s played at centre back and have to settle for backup right back to Johnson. That means Wisdom will be back up to the backup and will get even fewer games.
The only team we finished above, that hasn’t been in a lower league in the past 10yrs is Villa. In Rafa’s first season he brought us Alonso(£10m) and Garcia(£6m) for a total of £16m, which is what BR spent on Allen alone. In 7months at Chelsea, Rafa has reached 2 semi finals and 2 cup finals, one which he won. All this was achieved with no support from the fans, pure PROFESSIONALISM! What is he going to with supporters that love him, like we we do? Please don’t waste the clubs time and money, sack Rodgers and Bring Rafa home…
I totally totally agree . Well said
We only got to wait till xmas. If brendan wont have improved, the he will absolutely get the sack. As for those kids, they should be loaned only to premier league sides;->ibe,suso,coates,raheem,morgan,coady, robbo,shelvey. And i hope shelvey and coates wont be sold.
I keep hearing of this kid rossiter is he that good?