Tonight the really younger players looked like they still have a long way to go before they can be even considered for the bench in a PL game. Coleman & Duffy looked ok but i was a bit dissapointed with Baxter. As for Agard he is quick but he reminds of Vaughan except he isnt as good, a bit like a chicken with no head.

One other thing i thought about is that Ruddy looks a better bet for the bench than Nash.

Agard can run like a whippet all night but if the nearest player to him to get on the end of a cross is Yakubu who’s still on the edge of the centre circle, what’s the point? Coleman and Duffy the stand-outs among the youngsters. Nash looked capable as experienced cover. Hibbert again stepped up to the plate. Not convinced by Akpan or Forshaw but can only judge by Five’s camerawork. As for individual technique, most players on both sides looked well off the mark.

We created very little tonight. Impressed with Duffy but thought Akpan was poor and Baxter was flattering to deceive. Agard and Forshaw were fair but didn’t really threaten. The Yak wasn’t arsed. What have we learnt.... Duffy and Coleman have potential.

A younger version of the first team. competent at the back, incompetent up front.

1. I’m more impressed with Coleman going forward than in defense. Is it possible he could work on the right in midfield?

2. I think Yakubu can only work as a goal poacher. If he’s on, we need to organize our attack with that in mind. I don’t think there is much point asking him to go back to defend. Agard beat his man and tried to fire one into the box and Yak had just about crossed the halfway line. Too slow and ponderous.

Question: This defeat has no effect on crowd morale and team, does it? I presuming having rested players is much more important than a purely academic victory.

Just for the stats

Average age of the starting line up 22 years 11 months and 12 days

Average age of the finishing line up 2 years and a day younger.

Take Nash out and you get 19 years 5 months.

That is a seriously young set of players who just about held their own with the Champions of Belarus and who were in the Champions League group stages last year.

Well done the kids

Back from the game, it was bleeding freezing. Items of note from my perspective

Yakubu looked like he didnt want to be there and did very little

Agard showed him up but clearly still just a kid

Baxter showed some decent touches but a few silly mistakes too

Rodwell, hope he isn’t injured

Akpan, sorry but he just didn't do anything for me, very hit and miss and most passes ended up to a yellow shirt

Osman looked lively in CM and a few neat passes and moves

Bidwell looked assured at LB which was great at his age - looks like Tony Hibbert from a distance too

Forshaw had a good game and constantly looked to go forward and look for a pass

Hibbert had a decent game at centre half and a great song in the Park End every time he got the ball calling his name to the tune "There’s no limit"

Duffy looked really impressive apart from the goal, played well with Hibbert

Coleman had another good game and looks like he desperately wants to charge down the line and attack

Nash looked shaky, was saved by Duffy when he didn’t win a ball and I felt he should have saved the goal as it was a proper grass cutter not even at much pace

Silly items, ball boy behind the goal at the Park End carried out by First Aid crew, not sure but looked like he was bloody frozen

Two Bate supporters wearing Bate colours Balaclavas - looked well dodgy, fair play to them at least some turned up.

Went to the game still thawing out I was wondering when the 1st Osman is shite post was (you must’ve missed him) and it took an hour! Thought the kids did ok without really threatening, but they held their own with the champions of Belerus

Duffy looked a real prospect, great composure and strength for a 17-year-old. Mustafi is expected to be similar and I expect will get much better once he’s all settled in to new country, language etc.

Baxter clearly has confidence, and you’d hate to coach it out of him,but his touch needs to improve somewhat. But I like him. I also thought young Forshaw looked very neat on the ball.

Have to say I wasn’t impressed much by Agard tonight. He was head-down almost all the time, very one-trick pony trying to go past teh defender, who invariably got between him & the ball. He needs to look up & see the options before he can be seriously considered. Hope Akpan on teh other hand did seem to have something about him that suggests he can make the cut.

Leon Osman has fantastic feet and in a game of football, as opposed to hoofball, is an asset that can be appreciated. Yakubu just looked pissed off tonight.

You’re proud of that?

I really don’t want to launch a tirade of abuse against a bunch of kids but FFS can’t anyone even admit that they were a fucking shambles?
If they are the future of our club then God help us. The only conclusion I can draw from tonight is that the anti-football cancer that Moyes has inflicted on the first team has spread through to all levels. Utter shite & you just lap it up.

F’n ’ell Gary...grow up, even Tony won’t be on criticising these young boys in blue (apart from the obvious and correct ’is there no-one at the club who can play as a’proper’ winger?)

Gavin..sorry mate, could you sing us a few notes of that one; wasn’t there tonight and no idea how it goes, meself (apologies if it’s an age thing)

Sorry Phil, but I played to only a half decent local standard & when I first ventured into open age football at 16 I’d have been fuckin slaughtered for calmly side footing a measured pass straight to the opposition or out of play. The basics are the basics. If you can’t master them then you have no right to be on a football pitch never mind earn a fuckin living out of it.

Gary, I played in the Business House and Sunday Leagues; a young lad who just started in our place was on Wrexham’s books and played in our practice match

He, absolutely, at 17, wiped the floor with us... we thought we were good and, yes, I was more skillfull than him and could pose for England, but that lad taught me how far away we amateurs were from even semi-pros.

What we saw tonight were game lads with talent. I’ll grant you they didn’t play with the freedom and flair we might have displayed in our day but, with 11 like me and you, even in our heyday, we’ve have been stuffed 12-0 by a professional side such as BATE

These boys did us proud with what they had to give — a don’t blame them for the dross that’s accepted nowadays as ’survival’ football and the tactics and regimentation they must have drummed into them.

What happened to Anton Peterlin and Cody Arnoux?

Rory,
4am? Where did you watch the game?

Rich,
They are not "locally-trained players"(as we only get them last summer), so they cannot play as they are not listed in A squad (which we handed to Uefa in September).

Yes not bad to hold Bate to 0-1, but I was not impressed. Too much "rabbits in headlights", with only Coleman and Duffy looking like they had the right head for the game. Tim Cahill said it a couple of weeks ago that these young lads must grab their chance when it comes, but I just cannot imagine Moyesy rubbing his hands this morning about a bright future.

Thought that new bloke Osman was terrible, where did they get him from?

Tongue in Cheek no doubt.

Ossie did okay considering the footie kindie surrounds and the fact that he was coming back from injury. I think the boss just wanted to key him up for Sunday.

I don’t want to criticize the youngsters of course it would have been nice if they had won, but that’s a stretch against a team that plays in the CL! So, considering, they did well. Not much for the first team cover I think though, except Coleman, who I think should be right back more and more or at least brought on from the subs.

Duffy too when he is older is a gem. I think already commanding confident an strong. Jose is a don’t know for me and the others too. Agard looks a carbon copy of Vaughanie and just seems to run around like a flame thrower was following him!

The Yak was a disgrace but I think they marked him solid as the only threat we posed for a goal. I think Monsieir M is so shit scared of injury sword of Damocles striking, he just didn’t want to risk anyone!

Sunday’s game is the Biggie — if we lose that then it’s deep shite I am afraid. We have to start winning; if we don’t beat the likes of Brum at home, we ain’t going to stay in this league! Simple as that. Start praying!

Those who are being (in some cases ludicrously) critical of ’the boys’ are missing a key point. Other than the goalkeeper, Osman and Yakubu (who didn’t give a FF), this was team of boys. When young players make the transition to the first team they are surrounded by experienced, better players. That allows them to play and learn with less risk and their inevitable flaws mostly disguised. Here, that inexperience inevitably showed.

Despite this, I was pleased that the team kept trying to play football against a side with tremendous experience at a high level. Whilst it’s too early to say how many of these kids will come trhough, after watching the game I’m confident that, in a more supportive team context, many of them will not let us down.

Could have been a lot worse. They had their own youngster come on, No 88, 21 years of age - My arse, he looked like a Yakubu 21.

I was expecting them all to start waning around the 75 minute mark but they still kept going.

One thing I do know, I pray to whatever God is listening that He/She doesn’t strike Howard down with an injury.

The Yak was a disgrace to watch, he never wanted to know.

For the first time in my life — and he wont thank me for it — I’d like to endorse GavRam’s every word! Just like to add that it was good to see the kids trying to play their football on the deck thus belying the widely held belief that they are brought up to play hoofball!

Well, I’m not entirely sure that it was worth the 2 1/2 hour drive from Nottingham, but hey like my mate who came with me (who travelled for an hour on top of that and doesn’t even support the blues) said at least it was a game of footie. It was essentially £25 to watch the reserves play a distinctly average team and I would say that is a bit steep (as did a lot of people seeing as how empty the ground was!), but hey at least I got to watch my first European game. I assumed we’d get through to the group stages last year and we didn’t and then with the possibility that we might not qualify for the knock out stages this year (before we beat Athens away) I thought I had to book my ticket early.

Anyways, I digress. The team itself did ok I suppose. It did look like some of them were nervous with some very poor passing at times and long balls up to Agard really don’t seem to be the way he should be played in. Here’s my summary for what it’s worth.

Nash: I and all around me were in agreement that we hope and pray that Tim doesn’t get injured at any point. He was poor, flapping at everything, not communicating. slow off his line. Also Moyes must have a very low opinion of Turner (unless he’s injured) for him to not even make the bench for a game like that.

Coleman: One of the better players who looks great going forward. Nice turn of pace and certainly one who you would feel happy stepping up to the plate in the Prem. The only problem might be that if you had him and Baines at full-back is they’re both pretty small.

Bidwell: At 16, you shouldn’t really be expecting too much and he was solid without looking overly impressive. That’s probably good enough at this stage of his progresion.

Duffy: My MOTM. Thought he looked more confident after his run out against Athens a couple fo weeks ago. Dominated aerial balls with some good headers and got in a few timely blocks to save Nash’s blushes. Unlucky with the deflection for the goal.

Hibbert: I think you get what you expect from him and it’s to his credit that he didn’t seem like he was playing out of position. Did well with the inexperience around him and 20 European games is no mean feat.

Forshaw: Had some good runs down the right hand side and put in a few crosses, some better than others, but looked pretty decent to me. Not ready for this season, but maybe a few run outs in the Carking Cup next year (a la Wenger).

Baxter: Some nice touches and I think I was expecting him to be really good which is perhaps a bit unfair seeing as he’s still very young. Did ok and had a good effort from a free kick in the 2nd half which didn’t look far wide.

Rodwell: Arrrrrrrggggghhhhhh... One of 4 first teamers who started and he only lasted 8 minutes. I think it’s a reflection on the season’s injuries so far that he has played so much and now it looks like he’s out until the new year. Not good, though at least it means we won’t sell him in January!!!

Osman: Did well on his first game back from injury. Looked calm when in possession and skipped round a few challenges in the way that we have become familiar. Looking forward to seeing him back in the side (controversial I know!)

Yakubu: Looked like he just wasn’t interested. Wasted possession on so many occasions and I can’t remember a single opportunity on goal. Hasn’t looked like his old self since coming back and I hope that he can turn it around.

Agard: More than compensated for the Yak’s lack on running. Had a couple fo good chances, but neither on target. I think he looks pretty good though he does need a few tricks to get past defenders to enhance his game. By far our best attacking option of the evening.

Akpan (on for Rodwell): Didn’t look very assured in centre midfield. Passing was wayward and looked off the pace. A shame really as it was certainly a good occasion to highlight what he has to offer.

Mustafi: Looked confident enough on the ball, though he didn’t have loads of defending to do.

Craig: Wasn’t really on long enough and by the time he did come on it was difficult to tell the difference between all the kids running around!!

---

So overall, some good performances from a very young team. The atmosphere was pretty shite, and it took until the 2nd half for the first singing to start. Not the electric European game that I was hoping for when I booked the tickets, but hey, it means I’ll just have to make it along for the next home tie in the last 32. I just hope we don’t get someone massive so that I can get a ticket!!

Doddy, thanks and Merry Xmas

Phil Bellis - try this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFd5Cci_pE4 but with the words below of course

"Toe toe toe toe toe toe toe toe toe toe toe toe Tony Hibbert!"

Duffy and Coleman look like potential...With colemand doing some decetn defensive work to add to his defensive game..

But there wasn’t much else...when you compare the kind of yuth teams that arsneal regularly put out with what we put out last night..there really is no comparison...

But then again...there’s always teh chance of someone being a late blossom...

Can’t see many of them making it though..But it’s nice to see them given a chance..

In no way did they achieve the kind of level that Wenger puts out. That is the truth and its no use kidding ourselves otherwise.

The lads were well drilled in the Moyes defensive mould but from midfield to attack they were not surprisingly completely lacking in ideas.

My dearest wish is for a youth coach who served his time as a striker. It would be a criminal waste if the only coaching they were to get was from Moyes and his crew of ex defenders.

It was a good run out for the young lads, and they did ok. It was the right thing for Moyes to do last tonight, with more important games coming up.

Baxter has some nice touches, and Duffy looked competant. Akpan looked way out of his depth, and out of all the lads, looked a million miles away from the 1st team.

One plus for me out of the game was Coleman, who should now start every game at right back.

I’m not convinced Duffy will necessarily make it into our first team (though he may do, it’s too early to tell) — I would be confident that we would at least get a sum of money for him, rather than him being one released on a free.

Coleman is promising but I think we may be getting over-excited. For me, he’s not too dissimilar to Hibbert (yes, yes I know he’s ventured forward a couple of times but I think we maybe look too far into that — he doesn’t seem like a natural adventurous full-back).

Forshaw looked a good player to me, the type that Arsenal would produce — a good technical player. I’m sure Moyes can eradicate that though and integrate him into our brand of non-football.

Agard is fast and energetic but rubbish. I can see why Moyes is so hesitant to use him.

Baxter has obvious promise, but again it is too early to tell with him just how good he’ll be.

Bidwell did ok, but clearly has some developing to do.

Akpan looked lost but seems strong so hopefully his footballing will develop enough to make him a decent player.

Didn’t really see Mustafi or Craig for long enough to get an insight.

But that is all based on one performance, so I might be miles off, just my two-pennies worth!

Thought I would add my views on the performances of some of the kids:-

Coleman - I like him. He has an "edge", that bit of attitude combined with ability that may make him succeed.

Duffy - have to agree he looked to have a good positional sense. Dived in once and perhaps a bit unlucky for the goal but all in all promising.

Bidwell - as with Duffy, dived in and got caught on the wrong side once or twice but generally I think he can be quite pleased with his contribution.

Baxter - disappointed me too, I expected more from him and thought his passing was poor.

Akpan - although I thought he was one who fared worse on the night he was in an exposed central midfield role. Did look especially out of his depth to me.

Forshaw - don’t think he saw enough of the ball really. Whether due to not seeking it or not I don’t know but he didn’t do much to catch the eye.

Agard - looks a bit Stuart Barlow to me. All pace and little technique.

I expected more from Yak. I know it could take him a while to come back properly from injury but he just didn’t give enough. Unlike Hibbert that is who as always tried his best and tried to help the kids around him.

Gutted that Rodwell limped out. He had a real chance in that game to look to control the midfield and act as a steadying influence. Without that the kids looked a bit overrun and the defence were under more pressure. The criminally un-match fit Osman was largely a passenger.

A bit of slack for the Yak however is that without a solid midfield the front men were starved of service and the defence were offered little protection - hence we’re largely talking about Coleman & Duffy’s performances!

Still, will have been a good experience for the lads and they didn’t disgrace themselves. BATE may not be the best but they certainly had enough experience to have worried us more you’d think.

The second paragraph of Dick Fearon’s comment above could be about the first team. Yakubu should not be playing. He isn’t good enough. Good to see the kids. Coleman and Duffy look like future regular first-teamers. As for the rest, they all look very promising but will need a lot more time before moving up.

This observation below is nothing to do with last night but about our play over the past few years. I just wish that we had a manager who believes in attacking football played on the floor with short passing, running off the ball the number 1 priority. OK I know that Moyes has done a good job for us to an extent but we sure are awful to watch at times.

It’s a bit like the X-Factor — you sit with your family watching crap every Saturday night when all of a sudden you are reminded that you have been turned into a zombie accepting rubbish as entertainment. Everton need a Rage Against the Machine ’happening’!

Fred - Thanks, good knowledge.

Personally I was disappointed by the kids. They failed to create any real goalscoring chances and none of them shone bright enough for a shout in the first team.

Duffy and Coleman were probably the best but even they don’t look ready for the Premier League. Bidwell showed that he might be good in a couple of years.

I thought the others looked very average and miles away from making it. Agard in particular looked out of his depth. His first touch is awful.

I don’t know about anyone else but I find myself more and more proud of Hibbo this season. He’s taken a lot of flak from our supporters for a youngster who came through the ranks and seems to be coming out with his head held high. Will never be the greatest player but he’s a great servant and put in some fantastic performances when we’ve been on the ropes this season.

Now he’s in the record books so truly an Everton great?

I watched it on telly and to be honest, it was crap.

The young players tried hard and a couple,the Irish duo at the back, clearly have something about them, but as any form of entertainment it was grim.

BATE were shite. Kept misplacing passes and knocking it out of play. They looked like what they are - a team who hasn’t played for 6 weeks.

Crowd was virtually silent. An 18,000 Gate being a very pertinent reminder of the early 80’s or 90’s and should serve as a reminder to the club of not taking the fans for granted.

Everton had 4 corners, a power puff lob from Baxter easily saved, a half decent free kick also by Baxter and a bad miss by Agard who panicked when a chance finally came his way. Yakubu looked like a Pub Team player, so slow and unfit it was truly incredible. I fear that injury may have finished him as a top grade player.

With Rodwell going off injured I’d call it a night best forgotten.

Here's my opinion on the kids:-

Jake Bidwell - 6 This lad was the youngest player on the pitch and the youngest player to represent Everton in Europe. In fairness he did quite well. Sure he got caught a few times but for his age he looked decent. I like him because he is strong and has an eye for going forward. Give him a couple of years and he could be a player.

Shane Duffy - 7 Probably the pick of the youngsters. An elegant and intelligent performance. Also very good in the air. Seemed to be in the right position almost every time. Was a little unlucky for the goal but considering the problems Everton have at Centre Back maybe this lad could be the answer.

Seamus Coleman - 7 Another solid performance from the young lad. He's slightly older then the others and didn't come from the Academy but he certainly looks like a find from Moyes. Didn't get forward as much as he did against Spurs but was very solid defensively and there were some terrific tackles. Seems quite composed on the ball and is happy to make space for himself.

Adam Forshaw - 6 Didn't know anything about him before the game and don't know much more now. Showed a couple of nice touches and tried to put in some crosses but didn't really make a name for himself.

Jose Baxter - 6 This should have been the game that Baxter showed his worth. With most of the team his age or younger this was his chance to shine. There were moments of quality, a couple of times he showed great skill but for every bit of genius there was a misplaced howler. I definitely thought he was one of Everton's better players but I just think he needs to focus more and use the ball better at times.

Kieran Agard - 6 Worked really hard and has lightening pace but never troubled the keeper. The problem is Agard has no first touch and cannot beat a defender on the ball. His first touch is really appalling. Every time the ball went to him his first touch sent the ball flying away and then he had to use his pace to try and reclaim it. Pace and hardwork is useless if you can't control the ball. Thought he was better then the Yak though.

Hope Apkan - 6 Came on very early for Rodwell and looked very green. Much like Agard his first touch was lacking and too many passes went wild. Put himself about as much as could but doesn't have Rodwell's touch or composure.

Shkodran Mustafi - 6 Came on late but looked pretty good. I can see why he's so highly rated in Germany. Shame we didn't see more of him.

Nathan Craig - 5 Another late appearance. Welsh youngster called Craig but he didn't make much of an impact either. Not his fault just didn't have the time needed to make an impact.

There were certainly some promising signs but really only Coleman, Duffy, Bidwell and Baxter looked like they have a future at Everton. Mustafi possibly might but we didn't see enough of him really.

As for the others, Forshaw (very average looking), Apkan (bit of a headless chicken), Agard (awful touch) and Craig (who?) this could be their first and last Everton game.

What was most disappointing is that none of the kids really shone. I was hoping that at least one of them would have a stormer and get in with a shout for the first team but none of them did (Coleman is the closest I would say).

All we learned from the game is that the Everton kids are still a couple of years away from making the first team. And, most worrying, it's yet another loss for Everton. The bad run continues...

I wouldn’t go as far as Gary Hughes but apart from Coleman and Duffy it was a pretty poor show.

I enjoyed watching the kids on Thursday. Like others I was pleased with the progress of Duffy and Coleman. Baxter was okay but he’s no Wayne Rooney. Didn’t we hear that one or two of them were supposed to have been better than Rooney was at his age? What age was that anyway? Whatever, there was no evidence of anyone being remotely in his league on Thursday. Although, we may have been cleverly trying to hide it from Manchester United and Co...

The bottom line is that it is unlikely that we will see the likes of Rooney coming through again. Although I can’t help myself from booing him every time he’s on the telly, he’s certainly the best English footballer I have ever seen. He was a once-in-a-lifetime gem and we failed to hold on to him. It makes me want to cry. Happy Christmas everyone.

@Fred Kwong, Singapore, mate.

As someone pointed out, this wasn’t blooding one or two young players alongside our first XI where they can grow into their position with experience around them. it was a whole team of debuts, with two senior players in for rehabilitation and a veteran youngster who needed a rest and has now done his hamstring instead. what did some of you expect, our reserve team to come out and play like Chelsea’s 2nd XI and spank BATE? it really was boys against men out there and the boys held their own.

i do agree with Dick Anderson in that it was disappointing that they couldn’t create any real, meaningful chances for themselves. but neither could our ’first XI’ against the poorest Liverpool side in a long time! this was just one game, and i was pleased with what i saw. would i expect a lot better from them in a continuous run of games, you better believe it.