Part Two
Jay Spearing’s Liverpool career runs parallel to Martin Kelly with both having been promoted to the reserves in the same summer, Kelly’s current number (34) was Jay Spearing’s before he took his current number 26 and Spearing also made his debut in the same game as Kelly. During the previous season Spearing had captained the U-18s to the the FA Youth Cup and been named player of the tournament in the Torneo di Renate; an U-20’s tournament that included teams from A.C. Milan, Inter and Torino.
Spearing made his Premier League debut in the infamous beach ball match against Sunderland, he was voted Man of The Match by journalists on the Liverpool F.C. official site. He only managed four more appearances before being shipped out in March to Leicester on loan. Spearing managed to make 9 appearances for The Foxes, helping them to the Play-Off semi final. He also managed to score his only goal to date in the 4-1 victory v Watford.
Spearing’s first league start of this season came in the Merseyside Derby and he has made a total of twenty appearances this season. Spearing idolises local legend Steven Gerrard and revealed only a couple of months ago that the club captain and new boss Kenny Dalglish re-ignited his passion for football after a limited role in the Carling Cup and Europa League under Roy Hodgson.
Jay Spearing is full of heart and running, never giving up a lost cause and always in the opposition’s face. His endless enthusiasm to win the ball back for his side has endeared him to many of the home faithful, this has also entrusted him with the belief and confidence of his teammates. On numerous occasions this season we’ve seen Spearing harry opposition players into a corner allowing the defence and midfield to get back into shape.
Jay Spearing is right up there with the best of our midfielders in terms of pass completion, even beating Meireles and equalling Gerrard. This enforces his teammates trust in him as the majority of the time Spearing will keep hold of possession after winning it back.
Jack Robinson was catapulted into the Liverpool record books during Rafa Benitez’s final game in charge v Hull. Robinson became the youngest Liverpool player ever at the ripe old age of 16 years and 250 days breaking a 27 year old record set by Max Thompson. Robinson’s appearance on the bench was seen as Benitez’s last public act of defiance against the terrible two of George Gillet and Tom Hicks as a dig at the lack of funds provided by the owners.
Robinson’s first appearance of the season came in the 1-1 draw v Arsenal as a 21st minute sub for the injured Fabio Aurelio. Robinson showed great sharpness, a level of composure beyond his years and even managed to outpace Theo Walcott on a couple of occasions. A performance that got him a place in Garth Crooks’ Team of The Week.
Robinson made his first professional start in the 5-0 win over Birmingham City. Again Robinson was impressive with the highest pass completion rate of any Liverpool player with 91% and a 50% success rate in 50-50 tackles. A performance that contributed greatly to Liverpool’s clean sheet.
With the new Premier League home-grown rules demand on clubs producing youth from their academy has increased dramatically and fans love nothing more than to see local talent make the step up. Kenny Dalglish’s confidence in the current group has, so far, been well placed and the emergence of youth will relieve the financial commitments of the club to the first team.
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