Saturday, April 16, 2011

Youngster Eyes Silverware

Academy youngster Craig Roddan has called upon his teammates to give it one more push as Liverpool U18s look to cap a superb season with some silverware.

Rodolfo Borrell's side have responded well to their FA Youth Cup defeat against Manchester United and remain in the hunt for the FA Premier Academy League Group C title.

The Maghull-born midfielder admits it has been a joy to play in a team packed full of attacking talent and is hopeful they can maintain their momentum as they enter the final straight.

Roddan told Liverpoolfc.tv: "We've done well recently and got a great result at Manchester United, which was especially pleasing after losing to them in the FA Youth Cup.

"It helped us to put that game out of our heads and we then beat Sheffield Wednesday. We can now look forward with optimism.

"We still have a chance of winning the league. We've had a great season and it would be fantastic to win some silverware at the end of it all.

"We've had a few blips and issues with postponed matches, which mean we are up against it in the run-in. But we will take it one game at a time and hopefully our quality will see us through."

Roddan arrived at Liverpool from Wigan back in 2007 and has gone on to develop a fine midfield partnership alongside Conor Coady.

The 17-year-old believes the duo complement each other at the heart of Borrell's team and admits they have a good relationship off the pitch, as well as on it.

"Conor's a great lad," he said.

"We get on great away from football which I suppose helps in some ways. We've got a great understanding on the pitch too.

"We are both very vocal and tend to break up the play and give it simple. We play a 4-2-3-1 formation most of the time and we just hold as a pair in the centre.

"We've got a lot of talent in our team so it's great to get involved and then support as the attacking players do the damage."

On occasions this season the U18s have been a joy to watch, a fact Roddan puts down to a combination of talent and the coaching of Borrell.

He said: "We have some great lads here but we've also got a top manager in Rodolfo. He pushes us hard when we are on the pitch but when we are off it he can have a laugh with us.

"He knows when to come down on us and when to have some banter, which is important.

"I feel I've learned a great deal under him and I know that all of the lads love working with him."

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