Everton Youth Teams Thread

[Eggs]

I’ll take it that that’s tongue in cheek mate and just you getting in another pop at Thelwell as Nymzee’s post shows it’s Tait’s strategy.

…no, it was a genuine question, it wasn’t a pop at Thelwell (indeed I mentioned Dyche).

When I watched teams coached by Neil Dewsnip, he would often change formation and move players even during matches. I always thought it quite innovative.

I’ve watched Tait since he was a lad in our Academy and he stayed in house of a good friend of mine in those days. I’ve met him a few times but I have no agenda here. Strategy is often set throughout all teams, I wasn’t aware if Tait was going rogue (I’ll read Nymz post now).

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

I'll be honest, I quite like Tait. And he's a pro license level coach, he's not exactly thick

 

[Raino85]

I was curious about the formation myself and found him talking about it here which I kinda understood but also kinda didn't:

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2024/september/25/tait-s-praise-for--different-class--senior-duo/

The young Toffees have primarily operated within a 3-4-3 setup during recent games – a move away from last season’s heavily used 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations.

On that switch, Tait added: “In that system – 3-4-3 – we’re asking the wing-backs to put a big shift in and get forwards. We felt it would suit Patto coming in. And Isaac Heath, it suits him because he’s more of an attacking player.

"We try not to stick to one system. We’ll do a system for a certain amount of time and I normally pick systems to suit the players I’ve got, to be honest, and then work on that.

"So, if they do go into a first-team setup and they have to play in different positions or different systems, then they’re adaptable."

Young players can often be dtrafted into the first team squad at times of injury os it does actually make sence for them to not be hamstrung to one position.

Something Ajax have always been big on is moving players around through there whole development and when they are first team ready, let the manager decide.

Look at Alexander Arnold at them lot, played majority of youth football at Centre mid and is now one of the best full backs in the world.

 

[Nymzee]

Young players can often be dtrafted into the first team squad at times of injury os it does actually make sence for them to not be hamstrung to one position.

Something Ajax have always been big on is moving players around through there whole development and when they are first team ready, let the manager decide.

Look at Alexander Arnold at them lot, played majority of youth football at Centre mid and is now one of the best full backs in the world.

Well yes, moving positions, but you should really move positions within a system the club actually uses. Teach Isaac Heath LWB means nothing as he'd never once be required as a LWB for the first team.

 

[Raino85]

Well yes, moving positions, but you should really move positions within a system the club actually uses. Teach Isaac Heath LWB means nothing as he'd never once be required as a LWB for the first team.

You never know though do you, in 2024 the shelf life of a football manager is probably what? about 3 years?
Someone like Heath might be available for a new manager with new ideas in 12 months time.
Also a lot of young lads are often given the loan out first to prove themselves, knowing a couple of positions give them more scope?

I agree with getting them used to specific ways in which the first team plays, it makes sense.

Maybe its well known around the club Dyche wont be lasting past this season? And the development coaches have been given a bit more license? Would explain his slaty interviews

 

[blueblue]

Young players can often be dtrafted into the first team squad at times of injury os it does actually make sence for them to not be hamstrung to one position.

Something Ajax have always been big on is moving players around through there whole development and when they are first team ready, let the manager decide.

Look at Alexander Arnold at them lot, played majority of youth football at Centre mid and is now one of the best full backs in the world.

Of the non defending variety of full backs.

 

[Eggs]

Of the non defending variety of full backs.

….some of the best full-backs in history were converted wingers/forwards. Immediately think of Ray Wilson and Tommy Wright for us. It’s a regular route, especially for some wingers. John Hurst played as a striker for us in an FA Youth Cup Final before converting to a central defender in arguably our greatest ever title winning team.

Coaches/Managers should be open to considering such transitions.

 

[blueloon]

Young players can often be dtrafted into the first team squad at times of injury os it does actually make sence for them to not be hamstrung to one position.

Something Ajax have always been big on is moving players around through there whole development and when they are first team ready, let the manager decide.

Look at Alexander Arnold at them lot, played majority of youth football at Centre mid and is now one of the best full backs in the world.

I must admit I know little about the RS youth only what permeates through when we play them , but my memory of Alexander Arnold is of him marauding forward from right back and blasting a 30 yarder in to the net to put them 3-1 up at u18 level!
In the past 10 years or so we just seem to do this swapping about very poorly , with Heath being the latest of a line of “ he’s fast ,lets try him at full back/ wing back “ following on from Kyle John, Seb Quirk etc. It would be great if I could see a plan , some methodology in these moves.

 

[Nymzee]

I must admit I know little about the RS youth only what permeates through when we play them , but my memory of Alexander Arnold is of him marauding forward from right back and blasting a 30 yarder in to the net to put them 3-1 up at u18 level!
In the past 10 years or so we just seem to do this swapping about very poorly , with Heath being the latest of a line of “ he’s fast ,lets try him at full back/ wing back “ following on from Kyle John, Seb Quirk etc. It would be great if I could see a plan , some methodology in these moves.

The plan is, or should be, "hey we don't seem to have have LB's coming through, maybe we should try sign one" but alas, no.

 

[blueblue]

….some of the best full-backs in history were converted wingers/forwards. Immediately think of Ray Wilson and Tommy Wright for us. It’s a regular route, especially for some wingers. John Hurst played as a striker for us in an FA Youth Cup Final before converting to a central defender in arguably our greatest ever title winning team.

Coaches/Managers should be open to considering such transitions.

Totally agree and that is why I think Paul Tait is right to rotate formations.
The object of the academy is to produce players capable of settling "easily" into the first team set up.

My comment about TAA was somewhat tongue in cheek, a very talented footballer but a liability at full back against the better teams... imo.

 

[blueloon]

The plan is, or should be, "hey we don't seem to have have LB's coming through, maybe we should try sign one" but alas, no.

Indeed, how many years have we been saying that for RB too , since Kenny , Dixon is the only natural right back to come through from our Academy yet we’ve never targeted a young 18-20 year old RB from outside, only Patterson .

 

[Eggs]

Indeed, how many years have we been saying that for RB too , since Kenny , Dixon is the only natural right back to come through from our Academy yet we’ve never targeted a young 18-20 year old RB from outside, only Patterson .

….it is a surprise we haven’t brought a FB through since Kenny. I don’t doubt the massive leap in standards but the skill set is such that you’d think we’d have at least back-up. I suppose we can also include Antonee Robinson who I said at the time we moved on much too quickly.

Athleticism, speed, attitude and quality in possession are key attributes which is why I like players who convert from more advanced positions (Tony Hibbert was a CM in an FA Youth Cup winning team). I thought Stan Mills looked the ideal type for a switch.

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

The plan is, or should be, "hey we don't seem to have have LB's coming through, maybe we should try sign one" but alas, no.

Is this not a bit harsh given we went out an got one (Poland) this summer?

 

[Nymzee]

Is this not a bit harsh given we went out an got one (Poland) this summer?

I’m on about at each level.

 

[Bluelladevil]

Very surprising - I can't recall an Everton reserve team playing with 3 at the back in recent years. I reckon Tait would be liaising with DOF about team shape to be played in reserve games. Thelwell as a DOF lives his life looking to the future. So, in the expectation that Thelwell must be working on the basis that these young players will be playing to impress the new manager in a few years, is Thelwell telling Tait to play 3 at the back and if he is then is this a hint as to who the next manager will be? (And almost certainly the identity of the next manager is known already - these multi million pound contracts aren't entered into on a whim). So - who plays 3 at the back? I can only think of 3 : Southgate, Potter and Ruben Amorim.