Stephenlloyd
Player Valuation: £40m
I didn't see the game, how did Denny play? And is it right he's only 15
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Random thoughts and comments on Dallas so far.
Firstly well done to Everton Twitter better coverage of goals and players than we get for UK u18 games.
Two lovely goals from Brewster so far , one with left other with right and looking very powerful when on the ball.
Broadhead showing dribbling skill and goal scoring ability we've seen from him before, good lad.
Beningime looks a natural captain and leader on the pitch , full of energy , determination and no little skill.
As far as I can tell Harrington has played midfield, centre back when Yarney was suspended and left back when Mellen was suspended against RSL. Would need someone who was there to confirm that but nice versatility.
In answer to @Stephenlloyd yep Alex Denny is only 15. Didn't see enough of him to comment but he's a pretty big lad for 15 looks to be not far off size of Baningime, Lees etc.
GKs seemed OK.
We had 3 youngsters I who I presume are schoolboys in the squad, Denny, Corke , Moore . Couldn't comment on their performances but nice that they've got early experience and presumably Scholars come July.
Made up with last nights win, an Everton team playing well , working hard for each other and scoring goals, great stuff. Oh and we left 4 of our most talented 1st year youngsters at home - Evans, Lavery, Foulds and Feeney.
Firstly well done to Everton Twitter better coverage of goals and players than we get for UK u18 games.
Two lovely goals from Brewster so far , one with left other with right and looking very powerful when on the ball.
Broadhead showing dribbling skill and goal scoring ability we've seen from him before, good lad.
Beningime looks a natural captain and leader on the pitch , full of energy , determination and no little skill.
As far as I can tell Harrington has played midfield, centre back when Yarney was suspended and left back when Mellen was suspended against RSL. Would need someone who was there to confirm that but nice versatility.
In answer to @Stephenlloyd yep Alex Denny is only 15. Didn't see enough of him to comment but he's a pretty big lad for 15 looks to be not far off size of Baningime, Lees etc.
GKs seemed OK.
We had 3 youngsters I who I presume are schoolboys in the squad, Denny, Corke , Moore . Couldn't comment on their performances but nice that they've got early experience and presumably Scholars come July.
Made up with last nights win, an Everton team playing well , working hard for each other and scoring goals, great stuff. Oh and we left 4 of our most talented 1st year youngsters at home - Evans, Lavery, Foulds and Feeney.
Raino85
Player Valuation: £35m
Its all absolutely brilliant to see these lads come doing well at youth level and the lads out on loan doing fantasticly but with my negative Everton head on at the moment i cant really see any of them getting a chance in the first team anytime soon.
Contrary to common belief Martinez does not really bring young players through (suprise suprise a myth about our manager).
Barkley & Stones were brought into the side by him but they are both rediculous talents and had already made steps towards the first team before Martinez arrived.
Galloway was a product of Baines & Oviedo injured and Garbutt is stalling on a contract so i cant play these 3 left backs so i will have to put these in. And even after Galloway has performed fantasticly he lost his place to an average Oviedo and a Leighton Baines struggling to get over an injury. What does that do to his confidence.
He left Browning sat around twiddling his thumbs all last season when he was at the age that he needs game time wether it be with a loan or some cup time. He got neither.
Everyone remebers WEst Ham at home last season were he put Tony Hibbert in at left back ahead of Garbutt
You have your likes of Ledsons, Walsh's, Kennys, Connellys, all doing well out on loan but when they come back they will be no better off apart from abit more experienced for the under21's.
Then you look at the likes of Dowell, Brewster & Broadhead who have all been performing well and not even a sniff of a place on the bench (especially Dowell).
He has a squad that is too full of senior players that it blocks the way for the kids to come through! Even if Hibbert, Osman, Gibson, Pienaar, McGeady leave in the summer.
Look at Ledson & Walsh, even if we lose our first choice centre mid pairing of McCarthy & Barry, they have Besic & Cleverley blocking there path, and i bet he would put Barkley or Stones in there if the them too were missing.
What would happen if Lukaku, Kone & Naisse were injured? I bet he would go with Mirallas or Barkley up there!
My worry with the money coming in is we go and buy 4 or 5 10-20million quid players were it is not needed!
Pochetino at southampton kept his squad small, he got an injury to a first choice player in most positions his backup was a youngster- Chambers, Shaw, Reid, Gallacher, Ward Prowse. He has it the same at Spurs too.
Contrary to common belief Martinez does not really bring young players through (suprise suprise a myth about our manager).
Barkley & Stones were brought into the side by him but they are both rediculous talents and had already made steps towards the first team before Martinez arrived.
Galloway was a product of Baines & Oviedo injured and Garbutt is stalling on a contract so i cant play these 3 left backs so i will have to put these in. And even after Galloway has performed fantasticly he lost his place to an average Oviedo and a Leighton Baines struggling to get over an injury. What does that do to his confidence.
He left Browning sat around twiddling his thumbs all last season when he was at the age that he needs game time wether it be with a loan or some cup time. He got neither.
Everyone remebers WEst Ham at home last season were he put Tony Hibbert in at left back ahead of Garbutt
You have your likes of Ledsons, Walsh's, Kennys, Connellys, all doing well out on loan but when they come back they will be no better off apart from abit more experienced for the under21's.
Then you look at the likes of Dowell, Brewster & Broadhead who have all been performing well and not even a sniff of a place on the bench (especially Dowell).
He has a squad that is too full of senior players that it blocks the way for the kids to come through! Even if Hibbert, Osman, Gibson, Pienaar, McGeady leave in the summer.
Look at Ledson & Walsh, even if we lose our first choice centre mid pairing of McCarthy & Barry, they have Besic & Cleverley blocking there path, and i bet he would put Barkley or Stones in there if the them too were missing.
What would happen if Lukaku, Kone & Naisse were injured? I bet he would go with Mirallas or Barkley up there!
My worry with the money coming in is we go and buy 4 or 5 10-20million quid players were it is not needed!
Pochetino at southampton kept his squad small, he got an injury to a first choice player in most positions his backup was a youngster- Chambers, Shaw, Reid, Gallacher, Ward Prowse. He has it the same at Spurs too.
mightymoyes
Player Valuation: £70m
have to agree, another reason i want him booted out. as you say the likes of pochettino (or van gaal or koeman etc) would all have used some of our youngsters if they had them.
....whilst accepting the principle, a word of caution that it's a massive step up to top flight first team football. Youngsters have to be special to come through and take their chance when it comes along.
mightymoyes
Player Valuation: £70m
yes it is a big step up but its not as if the first team players are even playing well to make it harder for them to be dropped.
even in the fa cup against complete dross like carlisle none of them got a sniff.
Coffee and TV
Player Valuation: £25m
I agree with this tbh, we have good young players that could have played in some games this season. We played the lowest ranked team in the football league and still didn't start any academy kids.
catcherintherye
Player Valuation: £80m
I enjoyed watching the stream of the game last night. As I always seem to indicate it is a very young team and always worth noting, primarily as a pat on the back for the academy staff but also to add a degree of caution over some of the players. In all likelihood if the players were really special they wouldn't be playing in this team as under 18's. Harsh as that sounds, it will be borne our by the information below.
Players who were eligible but didn't play; Evans, Davies, Holland (England duty). Feeney, Foulds, Dowell (considered under 21 players primarily and needed at home). Donuhue, Walsh, Connolly (currently out on loan in most cases to league clubs).
If you take those players you could set an outfield 9 up as follows
Feeney Foulds Connolly
Holland Davies Walsh Donuhue
Evans Dowell
As regards the game and the performances I as oddly impressed with Salt Lake. For an MLS side to be competitive with a PL youth side is grea testament and bodes well for the league. Their centre forward looked lively.
As regards our players. I liked the goalkeeper but looks a little small. Yates at right back I thought played well and positioned himself correctly. Lees took his goal well and has a lot of potential but a bit like Yates hasn't kicked on that much this season. Yarney I really like. It's funny when you watch a player and are really impressed but the club don't seem as keen. I would rate him more highly than Feeney, but Feeney obviously has something about him and wonder if they are just waiting for him to fill out and feel he has the defensive basics better. Either way I like Yarney, he must be 6ft 2 already and looks a real leader and organiser at the back. I hope he kicks on in the under 21's next season. Harrington filled in well at left back, but you can see his natural position is midfield.
As for the midfield 3. Denny I tried to watch closely. To be in the squad at 15 is a big plus for him. I thought he handled himself well and looks a really big lad. Also has good technique, but needs to develop his confidence a little. Definitely one to watch though. I was impressed with Kiersey's energy levels and he has benefitted from a regular run and players (as named above) moving beyond the under 18's. Unfortunately there is a lot of competition ahead of him, in all likelihood too much.
Baningame was very impressive and a stand out man for me. Lots of energy, loves a tackle, a great athlete good technique and you can tell he enjoys playing the anchor man role. We seem to produce lots of central midfielders as an academy and he looks a bit of a gem.
As for the forward players, the wide right (name alludes me) worked very hard but s lacking quality. Broadhead has been the biggest beneficiary of game time this season. Last season he hardly got a look in and I'd have described him how I have done some of the fringe players in this team. It's al the more reason why people should never write players off as development comes at different ages.
I was very impressed with him. He has a turn of pace, skill and confidence and you can see an eye for a goal. My worry would be there is a lack of pace there but his goal was fantastic. While we produce midfielders very well it's ben a long time since we brought thought a tricky winger and he is probably the biggest stand out in that role since Osman. I would love to see him kick on as he is clearly a clinical finisher.
Brewster worked the front line hard. He's a big lad who runs in behind and has always been a composed finisher. He looks to have everything. The only nagging doubt is we currently have Byrne, Duffus & Dyson playing up top for the under 21's. None of them are anywhere near the first team squad (and unlikely ever will be). Yet Brewster is not starting games ahead of them at a higher level? If he is to make the grade he needs to dislodge all of the above. As I've said though he runs the channels very well.
Anyway a very positive result and performance.
Players who were eligible but didn't play; Evans, Davies, Holland (England duty). Feeney, Foulds, Dowell (considered under 21 players primarily and needed at home). Donuhue, Walsh, Connolly (currently out on loan in most cases to league clubs).
If you take those players you could set an outfield 9 up as follows
Feeney Foulds Connolly
Holland Davies Walsh Donuhue
Evans Dowell
As regards the game and the performances I as oddly impressed with Salt Lake. For an MLS side to be competitive with a PL youth side is grea testament and bodes well for the league. Their centre forward looked lively.
As regards our players. I liked the goalkeeper but looks a little small. Yates at right back I thought played well and positioned himself correctly. Lees took his goal well and has a lot of potential but a bit like Yates hasn't kicked on that much this season. Yarney I really like. It's funny when you watch a player and are really impressed but the club don't seem as keen. I would rate him more highly than Feeney, but Feeney obviously has something about him and wonder if they are just waiting for him to fill out and feel he has the defensive basics better. Either way I like Yarney, he must be 6ft 2 already and looks a real leader and organiser at the back. I hope he kicks on in the under 21's next season. Harrington filled in well at left back, but you can see his natural position is midfield.
As for the midfield 3. Denny I tried to watch closely. To be in the squad at 15 is a big plus for him. I thought he handled himself well and looks a really big lad. Also has good technique, but needs to develop his confidence a little. Definitely one to watch though. I was impressed with Kiersey's energy levels and he has benefitted from a regular run and players (as named above) moving beyond the under 18's. Unfortunately there is a lot of competition ahead of him, in all likelihood too much.
Baningame was very impressive and a stand out man for me. Lots of energy, loves a tackle, a great athlete good technique and you can tell he enjoys playing the anchor man role. We seem to produce lots of central midfielders as an academy and he looks a bit of a gem.
As for the forward players, the wide right (name alludes me) worked very hard but s lacking quality. Broadhead has been the biggest beneficiary of game time this season. Last season he hardly got a look in and I'd have described him how I have done some of the fringe players in this team. It's al the more reason why people should never write players off as development comes at different ages.
I was very impressed with him. He has a turn of pace, skill and confidence and you can see an eye for a goal. My worry would be there is a lack of pace there but his goal was fantastic. While we produce midfielders very well it's ben a long time since we brought thought a tricky winger and he is probably the biggest stand out in that role since Osman. I would love to see him kick on as he is clearly a clinical finisher.
Brewster worked the front line hard. He's a big lad who runs in behind and has always been a composed finisher. He looks to have everything. The only nagging doubt is we currently have Byrne, Duffus & Dyson playing up top for the under 21's. None of them are anywhere near the first team squad (and unlikely ever will be). Yet Brewster is not starting games ahead of them at a higher level? If he is to make the grade he needs to dislodge all of the above. As I've said though he runs the channels very well.
Anyway a very positive result and performance.
Raino85
Player Valuation: £35m
I agree with that it is a massive step up. But i find it is more preductive to use these sort of lads as back up then it is maybe using a player who is 28/29 "squad" player who maybe dosent have the eagerness a young player would.
Especialy in Dowell's case as it is easier to bring a young player in who is a winger/forward than maybe a centre mid or centre back
.....I really appreciate your insight. I agree that it is an achievement for Denny, so he must be a stand out at his own age. I also agree about Baningame, hard not to see the potential he has. Slight difference over your view that Brewster is a 'big lad'. I see the pace but not the size although he makes the most of what he has. Sheedy plays him in an isolated position but he has the ability to work on scraps and provide an out ball for defenders. Perhaps that's why he hasn't yet stepped up an age, although he has been playing open-age with Stockport. As you say, he runs the channels really well and must be a handful for any defender as he's always on the move.
mightymoyes
Player Valuation: £70m
im looking forward to seeing how broadhead and brewster do for the u21s next season, for me they're already better than the 3 you mentioned.
in all likelihood they would be used this season for the u21s if the u18s didnt have so many games coming up especially with byrne and duffus injured again and rodriguez out on loan.
Billy Dean
Player Valuation: £70m
Koeman hasn't really developed any youngsters at Southampton to be fair.
mightymoyes
Player Valuation: £70m
maybe none have become regulars but hes given some games to the likes of targett and hesketh
catcherintherye
Player Valuation: £80m
Thnaks mate, I enjoys yours as well! Unfortunately I haven't really got to watch this age group anywhere near as much as I'd have liked or as much as Ledson's year.
Denny looks a really promising player. We always used to produce strikers but currently we keep churning out central midfield players! I always remember when we sold Jeffers and a young Rooney signed on the pitch shortly after and my dad said "don't worry about Jeffers this lad is the next cab off the rank". There was a time when it was like that for us. It seems that way with midfielders now. Ledson, then Walsh, then Williams and Davies doing well, and on last nights showing Baningame & Denny.
As for Brewster you are probably right. I remember him as a younger lad and he was a tiny slight thing. In the last couple of years he has really shot up and filled out. I really like Brewster and he's a good finisher. The concern I have with him, is why hasn't he dislodged some of the lads in the reserves?
Brewster was the biggest lad on the field against Tigres, who aren't small themselves. He's strong and used his body well in that match.