blogombal Chapter 3: The Final Match of the Premier League U18 Elite Group A
Chapter 3: The Final Match of the Premier League U18 Elite Group A
The next day.
Kirkby Youth Academy.
The final match of the 2016-2017 Premier League U18 Elite Group A season.
The competition is divided into two stages.
Phase 1: 24 teams that meet the criteria of the Elite Player Performance Program (ELMP) youth academy are divided into North and South divisions.
Each of the 12 teams will play a double round-robin format with home and away games.
Each team plays 22 regular season games.
The top four teams from the North and South divisions will advance to the second stage, Elite Group A.
The 5th to 8th place finishers will enter Elite Group B, and the 9th to 12th place finishers will enter Elite Group C.
Elite Group A, also known as the Championship Group, uses a single round-robin format.
The champion will qualify for the UEFA Youth League next season.
The tournament allows four over-age players.
One U19 goalkeeper and three U19 players.
Liverpool U18, who finished third in the North Division and entered the championship group, had a lackluster overall performance.
6战1胜1平4负积4分垫底。
末轮对手曼城u18上轮主场0：1不敌切尔西u18，提前一轮无缘本赛季u18联赛冠军。
However, the vast majority of the key players still came to the Kirkby youth academy to prepare for the final game of the 2016-2017 season.
Dedicated competition venue.
Liverpool U18 players and Manchester City U18 players arrived at the stadium to warm up.
Having acquired the system, Chang Huan was no longer the dejected person he was yesterday, but instead full of vigor and high spirits.
Curtis Jones, who was warming up with him, noticed his change in mood: "You're in a good mood today."
"Absolutely."
Chang Huan smiled and said, "I feel like I'm in particularly good form today. If I get the chance to play, I'll definitely give a performance that will convince the coaching staff!"
You can do it.
Adam Lewis encouraged him, "I'll pass you the ball then."
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the U18 captain, who joined Kirkby at the age of 6, will be promoted to the U23 team next season.
Having been eliminated early from the FA Youth Cup, this final match of the Premier League U18 Championship Group stage was the team's last official game of the 2016-2017 season.
This was also the last match for many players representing the U18 team.
"Hey, count me in."
Many team members encouraged each other before the match.
Only a very small number of team members with hostile attitudes turned a cold shoulder to the situation.
Chang Huan high-fived each of her teammates who were sending friendly signals.
For some, this may be the last game in their lives where they are teammates.
at the same time.
The stands and the area outside the stadium's "GG" sign were packed with enthusiastic spectators.
Most of these spectators were die-hard Liverpool fans and players' families.
The rest are scouts, newspaper reporters, and social media bloggers, who focus on those well-known talented players.
Even before the final match, mainstream European media reported that several top clubs were interested in signing Manchester City U18 player Jadon Sancho this summer.
Brahim Diaz has been a long-time target of interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Phil Foden, one of the three stars, has also attracted attention, but Pep Guardiola, who became Manchester City's manager last summer, has positioned him as David Silva's successor and has explicitly rejected any form of loan or buyout.
Liverpool U18's top striker Brewster, winger Woodburn, and Curtis Jones are also attracting much attention.
These geniuses have an inherent aura that attracts the attention of the media and scouts.
Behind the "GG" sign in the northeast corner of the stadium, two people who care about Chang Huan's future are chatting.
One was his father, Chang Xian.
He runs a Chinese restaurant called "lucky luck" in Liverpool's Chinatown.
The other is agent Vinnie Grella.
He is a former Australian international who retired four years ago and joined Base, one of the UK’s top football agencies, as a registered agent and senior partner that same year.
Responsible for player scouting and business liaison in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Chang Huan became a signed player thanks to the financial storm that swept through the Chinese Super League in the past two years.
With a Liverpool youth academy background, yet overlooked, his talent is unparalleled in China's U-series national teams, making his entry into the spotlight a natural progression.
He's quite efficient; he recently reached an agreement with Guangzhou Evergrande on various terms.
This includes youth training compensation, agent commissions, and Chang Huan's annual after-tax salary of over 10 million RMB.
However, plans can't keep up with changes, and the penalty issued by the Chinese Football Association changed everything.
Kirkby's youth academy intends to terminate his contract at the end of this season, while other Premier League and Championship teams have no intention of signing him on a free transfer.
However, Vinnie Grella is very professional; once he signs a player agency contract, he has to be responsible for Chang Huan's future!
If you're not interested in the Premier League or the Championship, then League One or League Two will do.
If all else fails, then try to move to the Scottish Premiership or the home league, the A-League.
I'll stay here for about two years.
When the suspension expires and the Chinese Football Association is undergoing a leadership change, it will be no problem to start a "military arms race" in the Chinese Super League again!
Floor-to-ceiling windows in the office of the youth training director on the second floor of the youth training building.
Roma's sporting director Monchi, Liverpool's sporting director Michael Edwards, youth academy director Alex Inglethorpe, and first-team manager Klopp, who took time out of his busy schedule to visit the youth academy, had a lively discussion.
Liverpool U18 coaching area.
"Kids, this is our last game of the season. The past is history; we need to live in the present and play well in this next game. Manchester City U18 is very strong, and don't forget, this is Kirkby..."
Gerrard, who will be the U18 head coach next season, has taken command ahead of schedule and is full of passion and meticulousness.
The surrounding fans cheered and created a fervent home atmosphere.
The club's management has personnel tasks to complete, so the result of the final match will not have any impact.
However, Gerrard was very cautious and only fielded three players to "check his card": Herbie Kane, Okla Simons, and Diego Latti.
Chang Huan has been included in the roster again as a substitute after two months.
Manchester City U18 were eliminated from the title race with one round to spare, but still fielded many key players in their starting lineup.
The three key players Sancho, Foden, Brahim Diaz, and Dutch right-back Frimpong are all included in the squad.
Curtis Jones, Kelleher, and Brewster led the Liverpool U18 starting lineup.
Fifteen minutes into the match.
Both sides' attacks were mainly probing, and the pace was relatively steady.
Liverpool U18, playing at home, had a slight advantage in possession.
As time went on, Manchester City U18, with their superior technical skills, gradually took control of the game.
This group of young players is very talented, and their overall performance is second only to the Chelsea U18 team led by Mount, Chalobah, Gueye, Reece James, Hudson-Odoi, and Gallagher.
It was only natural for the guest to take the lead.
The home team players were very focused and used full-field pressure to limit Manchester City U18's attack.
25 minutes.
Liverpool U18 created a fantastic chance.
Curtis Jones received the ball in midfield and played a through ball, creating a one-on-one opportunity for Brewster.
Unfortunately, the shot went wide of the goalpost.
A wave of regret swept through the stadium.
However, that's just how football matches are.
If you fail to seize the opportunity, then... you will be punished.
Seven minutes later.
Foden received the ball on the right flank and sprinted past Curtis Jones and Herbie Kane.
Out of the corner of his eye, Connor Masterson noticed that Brahim Diaz was in the middle of the field, and he sent a hidden diagonal pass to the left with the outside of his left foot.
Sancho received the ball on the left side of the penalty area and moved forward in one fluid motion.
Neco Williams turned to defend, but it was too late. He could only watch helplessly as his opponent swung his right foot and shot into the far corner.
Kelleher instinctively fell to the left, extending his arm a beat too late.
The whip is beyond reach.
Manchester City U18 took the lead at the Kirkby youth academy.
The home team, trailing behind, was very mature and continued to launch an offensive according to Gerrard's pre-match tactics.
The leading away team is playing the "no rush" strategy.
As a result, neither side managed to score by the end of the first half.
The game resumes after switching sides.
Liverpool fans in the stands were ecstatic, singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" as if they were at Anfield.
Chang Huan and the other substitutes continued to warm up with the strength and conditioning coach in the warm-up area on the sidelines.
The game passed quickly as both sides exchanged attacks and defenses.
Fifteen minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
The score remains in Manchester City U18's lead.
Liverpool U18's attack, despite dominating possession, was all bark and no bite.
Gerrard, now in charge of the head coach position, did not wait any longer and made adjustments to the lineup.
He yelled towards the warm-up area, "Stay warm-up!"