Everton Youth Teams Thread

[blueblue]

Well he is focussed on winning, nothing wrong with that in itself and they are quite keen that players develop a “winning mentality” that will stand them well in the future. You could argue that he’s done exceptionally well with an average squad with no significant stars. Equally despite our reputation for bringing through youngsters , if you exclude one off Europa league appearances only Galloway from last nights squad has appeared in a 1st team squad. I may be wrong , but I don’t think we’ve had any new youngster appearing in a PL squad this season or last season either - the usual suspects appeared over two seasons ago or at the start of last season if I remember right.
So I do find it unusual that no new players from a team that have won two trophies have appeared in a PL squad this season. Unsworth or Sliva’s fault I don’t know but certainly a disconnect . I’m not advocating that any of these kids are good enough to displace any of our current squad, just unusual for a club with our reputation not to have had a “new” youngster in a PL squad for a long time.

It will be interesting if Brands gets more involved in the under age side of the club in the future. Winning is important, but having players ready technically to step from the under 23s into the first team set up is important also and I would appreciate your opinion on the style of the under age team compared to the first team , are they playing the same brand of football where moving from one to the other is about adopting to the quicker pace and maybe better opposition only.

 

[Nymzee]

It will be interesting if Brands gets more involved in the under age side of the club in the future. Winning is important, but having players ready technically to step from the under 23s into the first team set up is important also and I would appreciate your opinion on the style of the under age team compared to the first team , are they playing the same brand of football where moving from one to the other is about adopting to the quicker pace and maybe better opposition only.

I suspect Brands' is already very involved in the academy mate.

 

[blueblue]

I suspect Brands' is already very involved in the academy mate.

I would guess that you may be right, but on the face of it there seems to have been no huge changes.
I am wondering if every team in the club from the youngest boys up to the first team are playing in the same way as this to me is probably what Brands/Silva will want from the academy coaches.

 

[Nymzee]

I would guess that you may be right, but on the face of it there seems to have been no huge changes.
I am wondering if every team in the club from the youngest boys up to the first team are playing in the same way as this to me is probably what Brands/Silva will want from the academy coaches.

Well he's definitely ripped up the scouting for now but he's also talked about how he's working/will work with the academy in an Echo article yonks ago.

 

[blueloon]

It will be interesting if Brands gets more involved in the under age side of the club in the future. Winning is important, but having players ready technically to step from the under 23s into the first team set up is important also and I would appreciate your opinion on the style of the under age team compared to the first team , are they playing the same brand of football where moving from one to the other is about adopting to the quicker pace and maybe better opposition only.

There are some noticeable differences in the style the U23s play compared to the first team. Throughout the season Unsworth has used man to man marking , with all the shoving , holding etc in the box that it entails. It was very noticeable before Christmas when the U23s looked far more secure defensively while at times the first team looked all over the place with zonal marking.

Last night wasn’t a great performance, with long diagonal balls forward from the back not very effective and on very few occasions did we attempt to play it out from the back. The two DFMs , Adeniran and Markelo play similar to Gana/ Schneiderlin, protecting the back four but rarely getting forward, not sure if they’ve scored a goal between them this season. The U23s don’t seem to have adopted the same pressing play , although we work hard once we have a lead we seem to sit back on it without pressing, just dropping back. A notable exception was the 2-0 win at Anfield where we played a higher tempo game, and it was probably their best performance of the season. No doubt the Derby factor played a big part.

It is of course difficult to compare styles in two teams who play in completely different leagues and age groups , and I guess the U23s style is deemed what is needed to succeed in PL2. The u18s are different again, playing largely 433 with a fluid attacking midfield and pacy forwards , so have a style perhaps closer to the first team but play in a league
where inconsistency is rife from week to week.

 

[Barnfred 55]

BL.
Is there a possibility that Dave Unsworth is more focused on winning than developing players in the right way to play in the first team down the line ?

Yes

 

[Barnfred 55]

fantastic achievement from the lads, it's so annoying that we can do this though and only think a couple will become squad members at best though. Players like kenny, walsh and ledson recently looked the business, like they'd properly make the step up and yet they've turned into league 2 level players.

When you see a 21 year old like richarlison as one of our best players, you realise just how far off most of these kids are despite the success. Taking nothing away from the achievements though.

FFS Kenny is NOT League Two.

He will have a Premier career, just maybe not with us.

 

[Billysgingham.]

I like the jib of that Feeney, Boyhood blue and captain of the double, Really hope he makes it for us.

He wont.

 

[T LEAFE]

So we have a double winning U23 side but no one is likely to make the first team?
What is the rationale?
Developing individuals for our first team or winning junior competitions?
I’m hopeful that Brands will produce the latter over the long term

 

[Neiler]

How much symmetry is there between the U23s and senior team in term of style and philosophy of play.............

 

[Nymzee]

How much symmetry is there between the U23s and senior team in term of style and philosophy of play.............

Zero

 

[Neiler]

Zero

That’s the worry, the hope in these lads stepping up becomes that bit problematic, when they need time to adapt to a different style and philosophey from junior to senior. It took many in the senior team the guts of s year to do it under Silva.

It’s great winning titles at this age group don’t get me wrong, but ultimately it’s a game of transition to the senior team and trying to save yourselves millions.

Having a symmetry between junior and senior in terms of style of play and philosophy will better enable the lads with the ability, to break through.

 

[Nymzee]

That’s the worry, the hope in these lads stepping up becomes that bit problematic, when they need time to adapt to style and philosophey from junior to senior.

It’s great winning titles at this age group don’t get me wrong, but ultimately it’s a game of transition to the senior team and trying to save yourselves millions.

Having a symmetry between junior and senior in terms of style of jay and philosophy will better enable the lads with the ability, to break through.

I suspect we’ll see changes next year with Brands fully settled in now.

 

[Billysgingham.]

So we have a double winning U23 side but no one is likely to make the first team?
What is the rationale?
Developing individuals for our first team or winning junior competitions?
I’m hopeful that Brands will produce the latter over the long term

I have said the same myself,the u/23 should be for young players to develop and hopefully become 1st team players not be whipped game after game for Unsworth.How many players have come though from his 1st league win?

 

[Connor]