Everton Youth Teams Thread

[Eggs]

I didn’t read too much into Sherif being on the bench , apart from Armstrong and Dixon we seem to have been a bit random in the bench selection lately eg Callum Bates and Luke Butterfield for one match only I think, and both are likely to leave in June. There’s certainly some promise with Sherif, I don’t see a natural goalscorer yet , but it’s early days. So far I have him alongside Okoronkwo , Ebre and the now departed Katia Kouyate as being big , strong , nice touches at times but never consistent enough to show they’ll score goals at a higher level. But the rapid late development of Tom Cannon gives hope to all our young forwards.

….a little surprised Benjamin hasn’t been included in a match day squad.

 

[blueloon]

….a little surprised Benjamin hasn’t been included in a match day squad.

Selection does seem a bit random, I’d add Graham and Clarke as well if the thinking is to give them bench spot experience with little chance of playing . Although there are others, these three are the most prominent of youngsters we brought in from other clubs , it could help with future recruitment if we are indicating a pathway , even if only a bench spot in these very early days of their careers. When the RS take players from other clubs they seem almost guaranteed to get first team minutes as part of the deal.

 

[Eggs]

Selection does seem a bit random, I’d add Graham and Clarke as well if the thinking is to give them bench spot experience with little chance of playing . Although there are others, these three are the most prominent of youngsters we brought in from other clubs , it could help with future recruitment if we are indicating a pathway , even if only a bench spot in these very early days of their careers. When the RS take players from other clubs they seem almost guaranteed to get first team minutes as part of the deal.

…I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a proviso for Graham too, we could see him at some point this season.

 

[Nymzee]

I didn’t read too much into Sherif being on the bench , apart from Armstrong and Dixon we seem to have been a bit random in the bench selection lately eg Callum Bates and Luke Butterfield for one match only I think, and both are likely to leave in June. There’s certainly some promise with Sherif, I don’t see a natural goalscorer yet , but it’s early days. So far I have him alongside Okoronkwo , Ebre and the now departed Katia Kouyate as being big , strong , nice touches at times but never consistent enough to show they’ll score goals at a higher level. But the rapid late development of Tom Cannon gives hope to all our young forwards.

Part of me thinks the Butterfield subs bench app is like a "we know you'll be leaving but how about one great memory before you leave" kinda thing.

 

[blueloon]

…I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a proviso for Graham too, we could see him at some point this season.

While they are far from ready , on a mischievous day I might be tempted to start a “ Benjamin , Graham, Clarke need to be in the first team NOW - between them they’ve scored more goals than our entire first team “ thread . A few would bite. If I was doubly mischievous I’d start a thread “ Benjamin, Graham , Clarke - Thelwell’s best signings?”

 

[Nymzee]

Just for fun, name your "best" combined U18 and U21 XI.

 

[Eggs]

While they are far from ready , on a mischievous day I might be tempted to start a “ Benjamin , Graham, Clarke need to be in the first team NOW - between them they’ve scored more goals than our entire first team “ thread . A few would bite. If I was doubly mischievous I’d start a thread “ Benjamin, Graham , Clarke - Thelwell’s best signings?”

…sounds like a firm of solicitors but you’d be right there

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

Just for fun, name your "best" combined U18 and U21 XI.

You'd have to define best because it's a pretty simple exercise if it's just who's best right now. It's just the U21 side.

 

[Nymzee]

You'd have to define best because it's a pretty simple exercise if it's just who's best right now. It's just the U21 side.

So no U18 player for you gets into the U21’s?

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

So no U18 player for you gets into the U21’s?

Again, it depends on the purpose of the exercise and what exactly you mean by best. If it's to win a one off game probably not, no, a couple would make the bench - assuming Thomas who plays for 21s and 18s counts as a u21.

If its to develop them for the future or who i think will make the best footballers then that's a different question but right now the 16/17 year olds are either completely unproven or just not as good currently as the older lads who are in some cases 4 years older.

As an exanple "Best" would mean I'd have Zan Luk Leban in goal, that obviously wouldn't be the case if you were asking an ideal XI for developing or who I thinks got the best chance of making it.

 

[blueloon]

Again, it depends on the purpose of the exercise and what exactly you mean by best. If it's to win a one off game probably not, no, a couple would make the bench - assuming Thomas who plays for 21s and 18s counts as a u21.

If its to develop them for the future or who i think will make the best footballers then that's a different question but right now the 16/17 year olds are either completely unproven or just not as good currently as the older lads who are in some cases
4 years older.

As an exanple "Best" would mean I'd have Zan Luk Leban in goal, that obviously wouldn't be the case if you were asking an ideal XI for developing or who I thinks got the best chance of making it.

It’s an interesting debate and we’ll all have formed different opinions. Having watched the lengthy clips of the u18s defeats against United and City , 2 very good teams, I would say that apart from Thomas our 2nd year defenders are not looking that good while the 1st year /u16 midfielders and attackers look very promising .But then again Armstrong and Pickford are obviously decent 2nd year prospects. Tonight may reveal more!
PS Last night I watched Morgan Feeney in League1 get easily outmuscled by the experienced Steven Fletcher to score an easy headed goal, then get on the wrong side of an opponent, have to haul him back and got booked. At u18s he looked a decent prospect with his lack of physicality/ build being a drawback , last night he looked very much a League 1 player , which in fairness is a standard some of our current u21/18s will fail to reach.

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

It’s an interesting debate and we’ll all have formed different opinions. Having watched the lengthy clips of the u18s defeats against United and City , 2 very good teams, I would say that apart from Thomas our 2nd year defenders are not looking that good while the 1st year /u16 midfielders and attackers look very promising .But then again Armstrong and Pickford are obviously decent 2nd year prospects. Tonight may reveal more!
PS Last night I watched Morgan Feeney in League1 get easily outmuscled by the experienced Steven Fletcher to score an easy headed goal, then get on the wrong side of an opponent, have to haul him back and got booked. At u18s he looked a decent prospect with his lack of physicality/ build being a drawback , last night he looked very much a League 1 player , which in fairness is a standard some of our current u21/18s will fail to reach.

I quite like Thomas, and Finney is a player I think has room to grow. Outside of them 2 I don't think there's much to shout home about for 1st and 2nd year defenders. As you say though it's all opinions, for me Pickford looks a better prospect than Doug but apparently Everton and England see that differently

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

Finally a really interesting team to tune into! Mills and Ebere back from lengthy injuries, Benjamin leading the line, Dixon right back.

Alls that's missing is Boakye