Everton Youth Teams Thread

[maccavennie]

Like to see some of these lads coming off the bench this season instead of Lennon, Kone, Valencia, McCarthy etc and see how they get on.

It's a tough one mate because all the owns you mention have the type of experience managers rely on. Most important thing for the u23's I think is to wrap up the title and then hopefully next season either some of them are knocking on the door to be part of the 1st team squad or they are sent out on loan.

 

[blueloon]

It's a tough one mate because all the owns you mention have the type of experience managers rely on. Most important thing for the u23's I think is to wrap up the title and then hopefully next season either some of them are knocking on the door to be part of the 1st team squad or they are sent out on loan.

I'm sure with Koeman seeing them playing on the wide spaces of Goodison will give him confidence that some of them are worthy of joining in 1st team training, which allows them to still get gametime for the U23s. The defence looked particularly good not only collectively but the way they shut down space then used it to attack down the wings.
As an afterthought, Joe Williams was initially doing all the things we know he's good at , hard tackles, putting himself about a bit, but his more forward role revealed a touch and a finesse I haven't seen from him before. A couple if times I had to look hard at the screen to ensure it was him at 10 doing it and not Dowell.

 

[Goat]

It's a tough one mate because all the owns you mention have the type of experience managers rely on. Most important thing for the u23's I think is to wrap up the title and then hopefully next season either some of them are knocking on the door to be part of the 1st team squad or they are sent out on loan.

I think the lads currently on loan, if they kick on with the games, are more likely to be involved around the first team squad, we already have Pennington, Donkor and Kenny taking part in sessions. The way they have "coped" with having their team taken apart and still perform is a credit to them all and Unsworth, they had Davies, Holgate and DCL taken "off" them for the first team, added to the 5-6 on loan, a real underbelly of talent around the club.

Now ive never been a big "fan" of the youth, @Mikey_Fitzgerald , I do think we as fans always hold them higher than I think some of them deserve, but for once, I think some of the praise is warranted, we have some very, very good lads, my only concern would be that the majority of them are on the slight side. Its not always a major issue, but I honestly think it will be a factor with a few.

From what I watched today they are all technically superb, we really do have some superb coaches at this club.

 

[catcherintherye]

I think the lads currently on loan, if they kick on with the games, are more likely to be involved around the first team squad, we already have Pennington, Donkor and Kenny taking part in sessions. The way they have "coped" with having their team taken apart and still perform is a credit to them all and Unsworth, they had Davies, Holgate and DCL taken "off" them for the first team, added to the 5-6 on loan, a real underbelly of talent around the club.

Now ive never been a big "fan" of the youth, @Mikey_Fitzgerald , I do think we as fans always hold them higher than I think some of them deserve, but for once, I think some of the praise is warranted, we have some very, very good lads, my only concern would be that the majority of them are on the slight side. Its not always a major issue, but I honestly think it will be a factor with a few.

From what I watched today they are all technically superb, we really do have some superb coaches at this club.

That's a fair post mate. Our age groups who are now 18-20 whereas strong as the club has produced post 98. I think that's what's been reflected in the results and performances we are getting. Those age groups were always the best in the country as youth teams. By a fair distance as well.

 

[Woolly Blue]

I have to stand out in a crowd mate,otherwise you go missing impressive performance that was from our u23s that the saints just could not live with,sure snodin give liam walsh the MOTM,cant remember lol

yep,snodin give walsh the MOTM after just fast forwarding the game to were he picked his choice

full game still there at the min,if you payed for it
http://preseason.evertonfc.com/live

Haha, I'm more of an italics man myself mate !

I try to get to watch the U23's on and off and was there tonight, and, as with every other time I've seen him over the last year or two, Walsh is the one that really stands out. He's a bit unlucky in that he plays in a position where we're not short of numbers. He's not in the same class ( yet anyway ) , but he reminds me a bit of Arteta.

I doubt he'll make the step up this season though.

There were plenty of good performances tonight, but, barring injuries meaning unexpected call ups, I suspect we might see Pennington start making the squad / bench before the season's over though. He seems to have recovered from that long lay off very quickly

 

[chicoazul]

Very pleased for them all. Don't think too many will make the step up as there's a massive gulf but there's no shame in that. Many of them will have careers as professional footballers, and if just 3 of them have a sustained career with Everton then that's a massive result.

 

[hetion]

Very pleased for them all. Don't think too many will make the step up as there's a massive gulf but there's no shame in that. Many of them will have careers as professional footballers, and if just 3 of them have a sustained career with Everton then that's a massive result.

I'll be honest - and I know the step up is big, but still - it was hard to imagine any of the players I watched tonight not making a career out of the game at some level. I'd go as far as to say that they should all really be League One level at the very least in the end.

 

[chicoazul]

I'll be honest - and I know the step up is big, but still - it was hard to imagine any of the players I watched tonight not making a career out of the game at some level. I'd go as far as to say that they should all really be League One level at the very least in the end.

Whilst I'd love that to be true it's extremely unlikely even half of them will end up as League One level professional players for any period of time mate.

 

[hetion]

Whilst I'd love that to be true it's extremely unlikely even half of them will end up as League One level professional players for any period of time mate.

I don't say it lightly to be fair. We'll see.

 

[Woolly Blue]

Very pleased for them all. Don't think too many will make the step up as there's a massive gulf but there's no shame in that. Many of them will have careers as professional footballers, and if just 3 of them have a sustained career with Everton then that's a massive result.

From a dull business perspective, if two or three go on to be first team regulars then it's time, effort and money well spent.

More broadly though it gives a chance to some other, mainly local lads to make a living in the lower leagues, doing something most of us only dreamed about.

Others will drift away.

Unsworth's done a cracking job with them. It must be a few months since I last saw most of them, and you can see the progress that's been made in quite a few of them. I reckon the majority of the starters tonight will make a half decent living out of the game.

 

[chicoazul]

From a dull business perspective, if two or three go on to be first team regulars then it's time, effort and money well spent.

More broadly though it gives a chance to some other, mainly local lads to make a living in the lower leagues, doing something most of us only dreamed about.

Others will drift away.

Unsworth's done a cracking job with them. It must be a few months since I last saw most of them, and you can see the progress that's been made in quite a few of them. I reckon the majority of the starters tonight will make a half decent living out of the game.

These age groups coming through have been feted as special so you both could be right to be optimistic. Some great work has gone into them from the coaches earlier on too. Unsworth is reaping the benefits of that but seems to be no bad coach himself.

Watch us flop it to City now. EV-ER-TON.

 

[Eggs]

...Dowell doesn't score many tap ins.

 

[Eggs]

...I don't know if one or two might make the step up to top flight football or how many will have a career in the game but one thing worthy of note is the obvious team spirit in that U23 group. When you have a group of individuals who are in competition with each other for contracts, getting everybody 'joined up' and pulling in the same direction is no mean feat. Unsworth and the players deserve praise for that.

 

[Eggs]

....seems like Nathan Holland is making the right impression at West Ham. Last night he scored the first ever U23 goal at London Stadium and it was a beauty.

 

[Barnfred 55]

That Beni Baningime is very good. Stood out hugely for me, reminded me a bit of Gana.

Gone on record as saying despite all the star names being in the age group above, the 2 academy players I have highest hope for are Beni and Anthony Evans. Said last season Beni reminded me of Kante (have to confess Gana wasnt on mg radar then) and its good to see him step up and do well. Evans is in middle of a strange loan spell at the moment and his development seems tk have stalled. Havent given up on him yet though.


A year ago I would have said there were at least 4/5 players ahead of Davies so what do I know.

Its very difficult for the club because you never know who is able to step up. But itd important that we continue to find some way to give them an opportunity as every Davies we uncover saves us 10s of millions and we're possibly more likely to keep hold of them should thdy reach the very top level.