Everton Youth Teams Thread

[mightymoyes]

I mean they may do but if Feeney, Anderson & Astley are anything to go by it's not something that's targeted which is a shame as I just don't see how you can make it at the top level without that physicality unless you're truly exceptional in every other aspect.

It's why for me Branthwaite has natural advantage and to a lesser degree Gibson did because they're bulky. I mean we can see it in the PL with Ben White can't we.

What was Ben White like at 17 though?
I'd say welch will have no problem with physicality in the next couple of years

 

[Nymzee]

What was Ben White like at 17 though?
I'd say welch will have no problem with physicality in the next couple of years

That's just an assumption though.

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

Gotta love the idea a professional football club has banned 18-21 year old defenders from going the gym

 

[mightymoyes]

That's just an assumption though.

It won't be through lack of gym work if he stays relatively thin.
Even the likes of feeney and Astley look like average sized defenders now they're in their 20s

 

[Zatara]

It's quite a difficult question to answer, as you're not seeing him training every day etc.

Given who we have currently, and it probably being the strongest area of the pitch, I'd say a little way. Brainthwaite is much closer and 18 months older. So I'd say maybe 18 months at least.

Yes. I am trying to be as diplomatic as possible.

It's not a kop out at all (though may sound like one) but it's very difficult to predict that final stage for a couple of reasons really. Firstly you see the player much less playing for the 18's/23's so you can't use your own judgement as much (he is training with the 1st team which you just don't see). Also chat around the player will tend to drop a bit. It is a final hurdle and it's probably the hardest to predict.

The ones that come through tend to get given a chance and take to it. Lots either don't get that chance, or ultimately don't take it at that moment.

Welch ticks a lot of boxes. He and Dobbin are the 2 I watch with most interest, behind them you had Small, Onyango and Whittaker who all look good prospects (though Small has left).

I like Welch, but 4th choice centre back is a big ask. You'd be asking me to predict us selling at least 1 CB, factoring in the development of Brainthwaite and even Gibson before we even looked at Welch. There's a lot of variables.

Cheers. Was just wondering if Branthwaite makes the step up then would he be someone potentially next on the conveyor belt.

My guess is Keane and Holgate will be sold soon with Branthwaite stepping up if the manager deems him to be good enough.

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

Cheers. Was just wondering if Branthwaite makes the step up then would he be someone potentially next on the conveyor belt.

My guess is Keane and Holgate will be sold soon with Branthwaite stepping up if the manager deems him to be good enough.

Keane is on 80+ grand a week until 2025 and is a bottom half cb who turns 29 this season. I wouldn't get your hopes up too much on that front.

 

[Eggs]

That's just an assumption though.

….he’s a terrific size now and he’s very mobile. I think his physical ammunition is largely there, now he needs to learn how to apply that physicality on the pitch. If he can do that with the required quality and attitude then he has a chance but it’s a massive step up.

 

[mightymoyes]

Keane is on 80+ grand a week until 2025 and is a bottom half cb who turns 29 this season. I wouldn't get your hopes up too much on that front.

Yeh we're stuck with Keane for the foreseeable unfortunately, Benitez should soon realise he's not to be trusted though

 

[Eggs]

Cheers. Was just wondering if Branthwaite makes the step up then would he be someone potentially next on the conveyor belt.

My guess is Keane and Holgate will be sold soon with Branthwaite stepping up if the manager deems him to be good enough.

…I think we have to be realistic, it will be very difficult to shift Keane given his salary & length of contract. I suspect he’ll be around for at least another two seasons.

I wouldn’t rule Reece Welch out of the equation, although he’s very young he’s training with the 1st team and could be in the pecking order next summer.

 

[mightymoyes]

…I think we have to be realistic, it will be very difficult to shift Keane given his salary & length of contract. I suspect he’ll be around for at least another two seasons.

I wouldn’t rule Reece Welch out of the equation, although he’s very young he’s training with the 1st team and could be in the pecking order next summer.

You would also have to consider Gibsons Everton career over so there is 1 player ahead of him gone

 

[Eggs]

You would also have to consider Gibsons Everton career over so there is 1 player ahead of him gone

…good point, it very much looks that way. Be interesting where Welch and Branthwaite sit in the pecking order this time next year.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Miles off is the answer you were looking for.

Miles off is the answer, but I don't think he was particularly looking for it.

 

[Nymzee]

Miles off is the answer, but I don't think he was particularly looking for it.

You know me, straight to the point.

 

[Cameron Manning]

Keane is on 80+ grand a week until 2025 and is a bottom half cb who turns 29 this season. I wouldn't get your hopes up too much on that front.

£4M a year if true, that’s nearly £16M he’s had off Everton since he’s been here, the great train robbers went to gaol for hundreds of years between them, for stealing £3.5M, there’s no justice in this world.

 

[blueloon]

To put Reece Welch into perspective, he’s 17 years old and hasn’t even started half a dozen PL2 games yet. Against Blackburn U23s Ryan Astley was very much the senior defender , organising the defence, anticipating and getting his head to dangerous crosses etc. But there’s reasons why Welch and not Astley is training with the first team not least he’s two years younger and four inches taller . He’s got great potential , is very comfortable playing out from the back , carrying the ball forward and doing the stuff CBs need to do but crikey give the kid chance to develop.