ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Reserve Releases

I note that Scott Phelan and Alan Kearney have been released by Everton (although I haven't seen any news from the official website on that).

This seems to happen every off-season; promising youngsters are released, seemingly for no fee, despite having played regularly for the reserves and in the case of Phelan, being voted one of the reserve players of the season.

Andy Holden spoke of these two lads in glowing terms but they are still quietly dispatched. It reminds me of the Mark Hughes scearnio.... he seemed destined to be a future Everton captain and centre-back for years only to be flogged to a grateful Northampton Town.

The usual argument of "let's see what they do next" will invariably crop up now, but I wonder what the story is with young footballers like this and on what criteria they are released? Our reserves always seem to be made up of 10 academy players plus Andy van der Meyde. Is it the same at other clubs?
John Williams, London Posted 03/07/2007 at 10:34:41

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Norman Merrill
1 Posted 03/07/2007 at 14:26:06

John, we are about to pay Sheff Utd £4million for one of our former academy lads, some you win some you lose.

Gavin Ramejkis
2 Posted 03/07/2007 at 14:41:41

And how much did Newcastle just pay for another one?

Nick
3 Posted 03/07/2007 at 14:49:53

Thing is, this is no longer the era of English teams fielding British players. The pool for scouting and signing players is a world one, so you can’t expect teams in the richest league in the world to play many players coming up through the ranks, who most have come from the local area to bridge that gap... regardless of V&A.

Jon
4 Posted 03/07/2007 at 14:56:35

Jagielka and Barton were both released at 14, they didn’t even make it into the academy it is totally different to players being released at 18/19. Lets not forget that we have also brought through some very good youngsters.

Those that are good enough do tend to get through, those that aren’t go and play at a level that suits them. Mark Hughes is now playing for Northampton Town, he isn’t playing for one of our rivals.

John Williams
5 Posted 03/07/2007 at 14:58:40

I forgot about Jagielka....but more than that, Baines (who we are linked with) is a former academy lad and of course Barton.

They were all released under the Smith era werent they, which makes me think that the changes in management meant that some of these lads slipped through the net.

Here’s hoping that Vidarsson and Kissock come through in the end.

Andy Baker
6 Posted 03/07/2007 at 16:14:25

Thats the exact reason why Moyse was determined to get this new training facility were he can watch every payer associated with everton right down to the 10 year olds. It was always down to Ray Halls say-so regading who we kept and who was released and weve seen what happened. Now when moyse can watch every player it shouldnt happen in the future.....shouldnt!

Peter Laing
7 Posted 03/07/2007 at 17:12:00

A couple of months ago many contributors to toffeeweb where up in arms over the sale of Mark Hughes to Northampton. As far as I’m aware Hughes was a bright young prospect but unable to make the grade, he has since gone off the radar without a mention. Phil Jevons is another player who has been a success in the lower leagues, however the majority of rookies ultimately never realise their ambitions.

Kjetil Moen
8 Posted 04/07/2007 at 00:45:33

I think there’s another factor maybe involved with all of this. The fact that Phelan and Kearney played a lot for the reserves last year, doesn’t mean that they had what it takes to play for EFC first team. Hell, I was once a promising central defender at my local Norwegian team, but when I turned 17 I discovered other things in life than training. Remember that at this age, young footballers WILL fall off the wagon. Im not saying that is what happened to Phelan and Kearney, but obviously a lot of our academy players will not have the motivation needed to go all the way. No?

Eric Park
9 Posted 04/07/2007 at 07:13:09

Still got yer boots Kjetil? You just might get a call from DM when Yobo is off to the African Cup!

Kjetil Moen
10 Posted 04/07/2007 at 21:07:55

Be sure Eric, I will be ready to go to war for Davey! :)

PS: I have a great pair of Diadoras, yellow after our great Norwegian Kjetil Rekdal (remember that goal at Wembley guys?)!