Everton Youth Teams Thread

[hetion]

Hi mate, I have done a few posts on Dowell on here and have always tried to be balanced (and at times quite critical) so I hope what I am saying here won't seem like I am going over the top.

I had always worried that he might be a luxury player. When he was younger that was probably the one major critique of him along with lacking a potential yard of pace. However this year that has definitely changed. He demands the ball now and is a strong, quicker runner. He has increasing influence in games and needs to be central to them. Without the ball he does work quite hard, not as much as a Cleverley/Lennon but probably does more than Barkley does.

I think he is going to be a very strong player for us in all honesty. His special awareness is fantastic as is his vision.

A new manager coming in? I think it depends on the type of manager we get. I hope we get one who is happy to give young players a chance as I think he should be with the first team squad this pre-season and next season. At present I'd have him over our current wide players and with Barkley's recent form maybe over him too.

Thanks for the reply mate, appreciated. He's just the kind of player I like (graceful and clever...like De Bruyne is my favourite player in the Prem atm) so am really hopeful he comes through well.

 

[chippy1722]

Mate it's about 35 yards out at least - bloody brilliant.

35 yards, martinez would have told him he has to make at least another 4 passes before you can have a shot.

 

[kithnou]

Great work in here everyone. You are gems.

 

[catcherintherye]

Thanks for the reply mate, appreciated. He's just the kind of player I like (graceful and clever...like De Bruyne is my favourite player in the Prem atm) so am really hopeful he comes through well.

he always reminded me of a Wiltshire/Ozil type player. As he got older he resembles Ozil increasingly.

 

[bluebrotha77]

he always reminded me of a Wiltshire/Ozil type player. As he got older he resembles Ozil increasingly.

Hopefully as in goals/assists and not his workrate

 

[jinkyali]

Really reminds me of David Silva

 

[jceverton]

Really boring question on Dowell for those who have watched him. What's his attitude/workrate like when we're not in possession? Might he be seen as a 'luxury' player?

I only ask cos I'm thinking about how a new manager coming in might view him - in terms of promoting him to the first team.

@catcherintherye @jceverton @blueloon

I haven't seen him enough live to make a full judgement on his work off the ball. Last night I didn't think it was an issue, he's not a McCarthy but he works harder than Barkley (that maybe down to the manager & what he demands off players though), I'd say for the role he plays its fine.
He's filled out and grown a fair bit from last time I saw him live. What impressed me (apart from his goals!) was the way he demanded the ball, and he kept finding pockets of space. He always seemed to have time when he was on the ball and he's also got an eye for a pass. His technique is very good which is why I joked in one of my posts that he could be Spanish.
Without a shadow of doubt he should be involved in these last four league games.
It wasn't just him that impressed me there was 3 or 4 others who I think should be on the bench and getting some playing time for some of these next four games - Davies, Connolly, Pennington & Williams.

 

[West Everton Blue]

Sack Martinez and play some of these youngsters in the upcoming games, and suddenly the next few weeks look a lot more appealing.

 

[orly]

he always reminded me of a Wiltshire/Ozil type player. As he got older he resembles Ozil increasingly.

Really reminds me of David Silva

Not to mention Rooney and Messi.

Ffs lads

 

[GlosBlue]

Not to mention Rooney and Messi.

Ffs lads

Do you not see the Maradonna comparisons? Plus he also has an air of Pele about him, but with more of a Best type swagger?

 

[blueloon]

Really boring question on Dowell for those who have watched him. What's his attitude/workrate like when we're not in possession? Might he be seen as a 'luxury' player?

I only ask cos I'm thinking about how a new manager coming in might view him - in terms of promoting him to the first team.

@catcherintherye @jceverton @blueloon

Funny enough the same thoughts re work rate / perception were in my mind. I can't really add anything to @catcherintherye s excellent post. In terms of work rate and skill he's closer to Delofeu than Lennon.

Each of those goals were similar to otheres hes scored in previous matchs, yet all were different too I.e These were no flukes. The first is comparable to his strike against Southamton , except that one had a lower trajectory. I loved his quick glance to the left to see where Charsley was before the 2nd goal, and decided he was best place to let the ball run across his body and strike it into the net. His arm raised celebration for his hat trick goal was probabably as animated as he gets, he not a slide on his knees into the corner to celebrate player.

But hes not the finished article yet , and at 18 still has some way to go and has to prove himself on a bigger stage. That's the exciting bit, watching to see if he can still find the space say at PL level, lose his marker and shoot. He could be a bright spot in our end of season campaign.

 

[catcherintherye]

Not to mention Rooney and Messi.

Ffs lads

I am trying not to go too overboard, but in terms of style he is similar to Ozil. He has a similar build and glides with the ball in the same way. Like Ozil he also lays on assists and weight of pass very well and is able to play "1 touch" well. Of course I am not saying he is as good as Ozil, but people ask for a comparison of what sort of player he is and I try to give an evaluation of his abilities and a similarity to a player people are aware of.

If you read most of my posts in this thread I think most would say I am fairly reasonable and balanced and try not to go overboard. After the Dallas cup win I poured a lot of cold water on the players for example. Dowell is a good player though, not as good as Ozil, Silva, Rooney or anyone else currently, but a good player none the less.

 

[MikeH72]

35 yards, martinez would have told him he has to make at least another 4 passes before you can have a shot.

We can laugh but this is actually true. He'd go mental at him for shooting from there. And Davek would call it an agricultural hoofball goal that shouldn't count

 

[Rollo Tomassi]

Can't wait to see Ossie get a run out Saturday instead of Dowell.

Talent like this needs to be nurtured by someone like De Boer, Stones and Barkley have regressed under Martinez.

There is just no logical reason for Osman to take up a place on the bench instead of Dowell

 

[catcherintherye]

Funny enough the same thoughts re work rate / perception were in my mind. I can't really add anything to @catcherintherye s excellent post. In terms of work rate and skill he's closer to Delofeu than Lennon.

Each of those goals were similar to otheres hes scored in previous matchs, yet all were different too I.e These were no flukes. The first is comparable to his strike against Southamton , except that one had a lower trajectory. I loved his quick glance to the left to see where Charsley was before the 2nd goal, and decided he was best place to let the ball run across his body and strike it into the net. His arm raised celebration for his hat trick goal was probabably as animated as he gets, he not a slide on his knees into the corner to celebrate player.

But hes not the finished article yet , and at 18 still has some way to go and has to prove himself on a bigger stage. That's the exciting bit, watching to see if he can still find the space say at PL level, lose his marker and shoot. He could be a bright spot in our end of season campaign.

Thanks mate, I think we share a similar view on Dowell. It has been a pleasure following his age group for a few years now. I remember thinking a few years back I wonder if we will ever see the day when they make their debuts, and possibly more than 1 in a game. It definitely wasn't like Southampton at home in my head, I had a vision of us trouncing a team and a bit of a celebration!

He has improved physically massively over the last 18 months. My only concern for him was the physical side of things and that is very much box ticked. I think alongside that he is now much more involved in games. When you watch the team, they all look for Dowell most of the time and he now demands the ball from them. It's always a telling sign when players in his team see him as a cut above.

I think it's a good example too, of what a little exposure in the first team does for a player (and I know why you have been advocating in cup games probably a little more opportunities for some players). I think for Dowell it gave him that final little bit of confidence to show he can do it and he needs to dominate games at a lower level.

We don't know how he would cope. I think he would do well, I think he's a clever player and would play better with other better players. I know people are giving me and others stick for saying "play him" as it is a very easy thing to say and becomes a bit of a cliché at the end of a season when things have gone badly. I try not to go down that route. However Dowell for me would be as good an option in our attacking midfield players as the players we currently have. He is the only one at the club in the under 21's, either at the club or out on loan I'd say that for. If we signed Yarmalenko, and Deulofeu/Barkley were in form and fit I would have to revise that, but currently that's how I'd read things.