Everton Youth Teams Thread

[blueloon]

Interesting that the talk of Connor Grant has completely gone, he was having a cracking season earlier on until he got injured...Any chance he's one of the ones Rhino was talking about? Otherwise do we think his chance at Everton is gone?

Have to say that while he scored some cracking goals on loan it's hard to believe he's going to be a PL player, maybe Championship/League 1 but still young enough to prove me wrong.

I saw in an article yesterday, probably Echo, that Rhino's quote was now up to " 8 or 9 players" ready from the u21s to contend for a place next season. 5 have appeared already ( Davies, Pennington, Connolly, Dowell, Kenny ), two more have had successful loans and have returned , Walsh and Ledson. Of the others, based on their u21 perforformances and ages ,I would say Holgate and Williams are probably the 8th &9th. (Shame about Williams' injury hopefully he'll come back stronger). I'm sure he'll never put names to numbers as there are still promising players out there who need further nurturing and developing like Evans, Henen, Duffus, Dyson etc.
Still a long way to go for all of them , even the ones who've managed PL mins only achieved about 5 full matches between them, and all have internationals ahead of them in the 1st team. Exciting though!

 

[Timak]

I saw in an article yesterday, probably Echo, that Rhino's quote was now up to " 8 or 9 players" ready from the u21s to contend for a place next season.

This is why the last thing we should do is sign squad players.

Players we sign need to be for the first XI. Our U21 are more than ready to step up to first team duties.

 

[Raino85]

Yes I think thats a nail on the head. I made a big point about who the next manager is. De Boer or Cocu would both put them in and even Koeman has played Claissie in their for Southampton who is not a big lad but a talented young player.

However a Mourinho (though I accept he has gone) has built his teams around 2 strong tall defensive midfield players. I suspect if Emery came he would play him further forward in a roaming playmaker role like Banega.

Makelele?

 

[mightymoyes]

This is why the last thing we should do is sign squad players.

Players we sign need to be for the first XI. Our U21 are more than ready to step up to first team duties.

agree with that, we should be spending our budget on a top class goalie, left sided attacker and centre forward to go straight into the first xi. then if the likes of lukaku or stones leave they'll obviously need replaced too.

 

[catcherintherye]

...Davies is quite a big lad. Perhaps too much is being made of Walsh's size. He's combative and a competitive sort who can handle himself. Lots of players will struggle against the likes of Yaya Toure but there are also plenty of smaller central midfielders in the top flight. Walsh has demonstrated he can play 'open age' football and certainly has a chance.

I think you are right, Davies is a lot more physically adept than Walsh.

I started mentioning of Walsh's size purely on the basis of who would be closer to the first team next season him V Ledson and someone asking me if my judgement on Ledson was due to size which it is. I am a big admirer of Walsh and have said so many times. I think he could surpass Davies/Ledson in his ability. He dictates the tempo of a game in the way Paul Scholes did and Alan Ball had the ability too.

However next season I see him a bit off. It's just my opinion but I think Walsh will break through a little later.

 

[johnnydawg68]

This is why the last thing we should do is sign squad players.

Players we sign need to be for the first XI. Our U21 are more than ready to step up to first team duties.

AMEN. If we sign anyone, he'd better go straight into the starting 11 or at least be challenging neck and neck for a place. The bench should be the lads ready to step up, and then prove themselves in training and be prepared to take their chance in a cup run or injury situation.

 

[johnnydawg68]

I think you are right, Davies is a lot more physically adept than Walsh.

I started mentioning of Walsh's size purely on the basis of who would be closer to the first team next season him V Ledson and someone asking me if my judgement on Ledson was due to size which it is. I am a big admirer of Walsh and have said so many times. I think he could surpass Davies/Ledson in his ability. He dictates the tempo of a game in the way Paul Scholes did and Alan Ball had the ability too.

However next season I see him a bit off. It's just my opinion but I think Walsh will break through a little later.

I'm not super familiar with the teams below the prem, in terms of style of play...if you had a choice of a championship team to send Walsh to next season who would it be? What about a Wigan, who just got promoted? It's close, I doubt they have anyone with Walsh's ability on the squad currently, and as a newly promoted side, there may not be as much pressure to play veterans to get promoted again so quickly.

 

[johnnydawg68]

agree with that, we should be spending our budget on a top class goalie, left sided attacker and centre forward to go straight into the first xi. then if the likes of lukaku or stones leave they'll obviously need replaced too.

Spot on.

 

[catcherintherye]

I'm not super familiar with the teams below the prem, in terms of style of play...if you had a choice of a championship team to send Walsh to next season who would it be? What about a Wigan, who just got promoted? It's close, I doubt they have anyone with Walsh's ability on the squad currently, and as a newly promoted side, there may not be as much pressure to play veterans to get promoted again so quickly.

I am not familiar enough either. Brentford look like they play good football and want to blood younger lads. I am never as hung up as others about getting them a loan to the championship over say league 1/2. I think they benefit from playing competitive football, whatever the level. The right manager in league 1/2 over a Warnock in the championship were they don't play will make a big difference.

There also has to be a realism. Championship teams have increasing money these days and untried teenagers for 3 months are not number 1 priority. At this stage as long as it was league football I'd happily see Walsh have another 6 months on loan.

 

[johnnydawg68]

I am not familiar enough either. Brentford look like they play good football and want to blood younger lads. I am never as hung up as others about getting them a loan to the championship over say league 1/2. I think they benefit from playing competitive football, whatever the level. The right manager in league 1/2 over a Warnock in the championship were they don't play will make a big difference.

There also has to be a realism. Championship teams have increasing money these days and untried teenagers for 3 months are not number 1 priority. At this stage as long as it was league football I'd happily see Walsh have another 6 months on loan.

I guess I was thinking a season long loan for Walsh.

 

[Neiler]

See Jake Bidwell seems to be doing well at Brentford.

 

[messymascot]

Kenny and Dowell would be in next years 1st team squad the rest need loans. Galloway needs to play CB but he's too inexperienced in that position at the moment or I would have kept him around. Connolly, Davies, Ledson and Walsh need games so I'd get them out on loan. Henen needs a loan to prove himself believe it's make it break as he hasn't developed quite as hoped. I don't think Byrne, Duffus and Jones are good enough but would give them one last year in u21s to prove me wrong. I can't see Grant getting a new contract.

 

[mightymoyes]

Kenny and Dowell would be in next years 1st team squad the rest need loans. Galloway needs to play CB but he's too inexperienced in that position at the moment or I would have kept him around. Connolly, Davies, Ledson and Walsh need games so I'd get them out on loan. Henen needs a loan to prove himself believe it's make it break as he hasn't developed quite as hoped. I don't think Byrne, Duffus and Jones are good enough but would give them one last year in u21s to prove me wrong. I can't see Grant getting a new contract.

the loan rules changes next season so more thought will have to go into them than has previously seemed the case.

 

[catcherintherye]

Kenny and Dowell would be in next years 1st team squad the rest need loans. Galloway needs to play CB but he's too inexperienced in that position at the moment or I would have kept him around. Connolly, Davies, Ledson and Walsh need games so I'd get them out on loan. Henen needs a loan to prove himself believe it's make it break as he hasn't developed quite as hoped. I don't think Byrne, Duffus and Jones are good enough but would give them one last year in u21s to prove me wrong. I can't see Grant getting a new contract.

That's a fair post. Particularly with Henen who has never really impressed me dating back a long time.

I think Davies is ready to be in the first team squad though. His two appearances have shown him to put in performances as good as any midfielder we have got. I also have a sneaky feeling Ledson will be ready for the first team squad as well and it's a funny one as I wonder if Kenny might do well with a good loan out?

Ideally, especially given the players who will be away post international duty Kenny, Dowell, Davies, Ledson should all be involved with the first team in pre season and will have a chance to state their claim. Possibly Connolly & Walsh to be added to that list too, it will be up to them to show they deserve to belong their with the new manager.

 

[Nymzee]

That's a fair post. Particularly with Henen who has never really impressed me dating back a long time.

I think Davies is ready to be in the first team squad though. His two appearances have shown him to put in performances as good as any midfielder we have got. I also have a sneaky feeling Ledson will be ready for the first team squad as well and it's a funny one as I wonder if Kenny might do well with a good loan out?

Ideally, especially given the players who will be away post international duty Kenny, Dowell, Davies, Ledson should all be involved with the first team in pre season and will have a chance to state their claim. Possibly Connolly & Walsh to be added to that list too, it will be up to them to show they deserve to belong their with the new manager.

Issue re: Kenny is we only have one RB in the squad so it's either do we buy new or keep Kenny as back up which he seems more than ready for.