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..or Silva has made up his mind that neither Holgate or Pennington figures in his plans. I assume he’s seen enough of Holgate by this time to evaluate. It’s all assumption on my behalf, of course, but the other consideration is decisions need to be made on the likes of Feeney.
Keeping so many was an issue with Walsh strategy, I suspect we will see lots more churn with Brands.
He's the worst of our 5 centre halves by some margin. I'm not sure why anyone would be against him going out on loan to improve.
...but what if he doesn’t improve and do we keep renewing his contract in the hope that he does? Folk were saying similar with Galloway and Garbutt but both became millstones and still draw considerable salary.
It comes to a point where you use them or sell them.
Milk
Udderly delicious
Yes but I suppose that when they were bought we didn’t have the cash that we seemingly have now. To my mind, if you have the cash, you may as well buy in ready made players to go straight in to the first team rather than speculate which was probably what Holgate was
Makes a bit of a mockery of academies though
..I still think that strategy (buying very promising youngsters) is low risk and worth pursuing given John Stones, DCL and Ademola Lookman are also in that category. The point you make about academies, though, is well made. It means only the exceptional comes through.
Milk
Udderly delicious
Many are called, few are chosen
Whilst I suspect the majority of us love seeing academy players come through to the first team, I cannot see too many of us picking Tom Davies over Gomes if both were fit. It’s painful to see the gulf in class tbh
..well it’s obviously a global v local market, so players of the Gomes quality rarely come through our Academy. Looking at the bigger picture, many Everton youngsters have productive careers in the lower leagues and by that route I suppose we play our part supporting the future of the game.
messymascot
Player Valuation: £35m
The danger of course of sending Holgate out on loan is he does badly then we can't even sell and get stuck with him like Galloway and Garbutt. Feeney or Gibson may well step up and be able to provide cover as 4th choice centre back. Either way Holgate needs to go somewhere this window be it on a permanent with a buy back or a loan, as u23 football he'll end up playing loads of games at right back and it will hinder him. 22 is an age where players need to be playing in their proper position not filling in.
Milk
Udderly delicious
Perhaps the answer then is to leave these players in the lower leagues and churn the money by buying them when deemed “ready”?
Don’t know but I can’t see too many youngsters coming through ATM. Seem to shine briefly then fade from view.
Doubt we’ll see the likes of Holgate, Benni, Dowell et al becoming regular first teamers
..the reality is not many come through to have lengthy careers with the club in the same way Osman and Hibbert did (both part of Youth Cup winning team, which I always say is a really good indicator you have a really good one or two).
A
Albro
Guest
I was surprised that when reverting to a back 3, that we opted to not give Holgate a start on the right of a back 3. He has always seemed comfortable in that role.
TheBigIguana
Player Valuation: £100m
I could be off on this but I believe Koeman abandoned that idea after Holgate got ripped to shreds by Arnautovic at Stoke. He would not have been the answer today.
Felt sorry for Holgate in that game, Stoke just targeted him, threw everything at him.
TheBigIguana
Player Valuation: £100m
West Ham did too this season. Arnautovic clearly knows he fan bully Holgate.
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