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Everton Youth Teams Thread

ToffeeTim said:
We've been proper garbage in this game. We won't produce any decent footballers if we don't coach them properly.
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I'm convinced it's a mental issue at the club from top to bottom. Whenever we go into a game with any meaning attached to it, we fold.

We're constantly in the mindset of "plucky little Everton" at every level. You can see that U23 side is streets ahead of Liverpools' in terms of ability, but it doesn't matter as they didn't turn up mentally.
 
jonnyboy316 said:
It is not like youth players have not been given a chance here. Is he a striker or attacking midfield?
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Nymzee said:
Literally right-footed Dowell.
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Eggs said:
..that’s interesting, i’d have him as much more nimble and more likely to get himself in the box than Dowell. Both are tall, but Dowell much bulkier at this stage.
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catcherintherye said:
I thought he was very impressive in his cameo appearance. It's difficult with Gordon, as he is probably only emulating what many of the younger lads (like Dowell) did before him in playing regularly for the reserves at 16/17. I think an important point though if how much harder it now is to break into the reserve team. Stubbs and then Unsworth have done a very good job improving the standard of that side from what was essentially a very young team that would play nice stuff but finish towards the bottom of the league to one that is the best under 23's side in the country. For Gordon to be getting game time in that context as regularly as he is is a great achievement. (As a slight aside I actually though John was more impressive than him in the cameo I saw, looked like he had a lot of pace from right back).

As for playing style,the Dowell shouts are fair. I'm not sure he has as good technique with his strong foot as Dowell had, or perhaps is quite as intelligent (though this is probably more a compliment of Dowell than taking away from Gordon).

He looks quicker to me though, over short and long distances and seems to have a better ability to make runs into the box and get on the end of things which is a bit better than Dowell.

A lot will depend on how he continues to grow and improve but he looks a very good talent for his age and it's clear they are aware of him.

I can see why many top teams want him. Fortunately we have a stable coach at 23's and a clear pathway for young players. This is important to bear in mind when people are often quite critical of younger players. The involvement of lads like Davies, DCL, Kenny etc will play a massive part in convincing subsequent players such as Gordon to stay. He can see that there are opportunities here. While I don't think it's certain he stays I'd be very surprised if he left and I think the club can feel very confident of that. It's a nice position to be in and a long way from many sides like Spurs, Arsenal, City, Liverpool and Chelsea where the same pathways don't exist and they have to likely make enormous offers to try and keep the players at the clubs.

It's interesting with Brewster, who Liverpool basically bought off to remain and he hasn't had any opportunity with their first team. I do think it affects performance giving too much too soon. Howard Kendall mentioned this as a key reason Cadamateri didn't fulfil his potential.

Either way I have little doubt Gordon will stay and he could be a terrific player if he continues his development. My favourite one to watch is actually Bobby Carrol.
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Big difference to me in the little I saw of Gordon live, he's seems much more tricky than Dowell, and loves to take players on. Think Dowell has more vision to pick a pass, and uses a quick turn to get past players or drifts past them on the run. Gordon's more likely to stand someone up and then trick his way past.
 
Everton lose the u23s derby for the 5th time in a row but stay top by 1 point,though Derby could replace them at the top tomorrow,the next u23s league game is a week friday at spurs and a midday ko,but before then,its away to sheff utd in the premier league cup this friday with 2pm ko,both teams have 2 wins from 2 in the group stage so far with sheff utd yet to conceed
 

Ring master said:
Everton lose the u23s derby for the 5th time in a row but stay top by 1 point,though Derby could replace them at the top tomorrow,the next u23s league game is a week friday at spurs and a midday ko,but before then,its away to sheff utd in the premier league cup this friday with 2pm ko,both teams have 2 wins from 2 in the group stage so far with sheff utd yet to conceed
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..oh dear.
 
Completely outplayed there. Very average to poor indeed.

Dowell and Charsley did a bit better second half. Broadhead and Markelo (didn't even really notice him in the first half) didn't.

If I was a manager from a lower league looking to pick up a decent young loan player, there is not one in blue that I would have put on my list on that performance. (And that includes some who have had decent loan periods in the past.)
 

was expecting better, they seemed to be better all round keeping Dowell well marked. Dowell made some nice touches and showed some good passing near the end but the rest around him were really poor.

As a team the play was really poor
 
Tubey said:
I'm convinced it's a mental issue at the club from top to bottom. Whenever we go into a game with any meaning attached to it, we fold.

We're constantly in the mindset of "plucky little Everton" at every level. You can see that U23 side is streets ahead of Liverpools' in terms of ability, but it doesn't matter as they didn't turn up mentally.
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It's a massive concern.

This will only change when we have big enough characters and ambition to break down the barrier.

Years of underfunding and playing down the clubs stature has done this, to everyone from the fans to the players.

USM will fix it, but it will take time.
 

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