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Not a bad Reserves line-up

The line-up for tomorrow night's home reserve game looks promising:-

Turner, Coleman, Bidwell, Wallace, Jagielka, Duffy, Craig, Forshaw, Vaughan, Anichebe, Baxter.

Yes - The Jag is back (almost)! Can things really be going that well? And is he in the Europa squad for the next round?
Keith Glazzard, Stalybridge Posted 22/02/2010 at 13:12:09

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Shaun Sparke
1 Posted 23/02/2010 at 08:03:58

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Well Keith, I am off to Halton tonight to have a look at the reserves. The encouraging thing is that three out of that back 4 could quite comfortably start for the first eleven if called upon (Jagielka's fitness not withstanding). I have been impressed with young Duffy whenever I have seen him and we all know what Coleman can do. Fingers crossed that the Jag comes through without any problems.

James Elworthy
2 Posted 23/02/2010 at 09:01:16

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My only concern is Halton Stadium being a rugby ground is a pig of a pitch... possibly not as bad as Wigan's but let's hope he comes through. I wouldn't be surprised if he does 45 minutes with Mustafi on the bench to come on... Heard on the radio he could be in the Sporting Lisbon squad.

Also heard on the radio Pienaar been done for drink driving at 4:30am running a red light in Lime St on Sunday morning, his new contract will have to include a chauffeur. Do drink driving bans in the UK cover other EC countries as I wouldn't like to think he would leave because he can't drive here. With all the money these guys have, can't they afford a taxi?

Dick Anderson
3 Posted 23/02/2010 at 12:02:49

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Turner
Never going to make it at Premiership level.

Coleman
Slaughtered by Benfica, terrific at Spurs.

Bidwell
Young and highly rated but they use to say that about Lee Molyeneux and what happened to him?

Wallace
He’s 19 and has made one Europa League appearance. Not promising.

Jagielka
Class player but don’t expect too much because it will take time. Lets hope the injury hasn’t ruined him.

Duffy
Looks useful but will probably end up being another Peter Clarke or Mark Hughes.

Craig
He’s 19 and has made one Europa League appearance. Not promising

Forshaw
He’s 19 and has made one Europa League appearance. Not promising

Vaughan
Injuries seem to have robbed him of his early promise. He’s 22 soon and seems unable to hold down a regular starting place. I doubt he’ll make it an Everton now.

Anichebe
Probably has more chance of making it then Vaughan because of his strength but could easily become the next Chadwick.

Baxter
Isn’t this kid out on bail? Hailed as the next Rooney but I don’t remember Wayne playing more then once for the reserves.

James Elworthy
4 Posted 23/02/2010 at 12:09:09

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Dick: I went to Halton Stadium and saw Rooney play in the Reserves, was a big crowd there, they were not there for him though it was the return of Big Dunc after another long layoff they all went to see. Osman and Carsley played and if I remember Ossie scored. He probably didnt play many reserve games because you have to be 16 to play for the reserves and he was catapulted into the first team squad on his birthday.

Ernie Baywood
5 Posted 23/02/2010 at 12:21:43

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I just read this has been postponed? Shame for Jags if so.

Steve Collins
6 Posted 23/02/2010 at 13:20:55

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Dick,

Do you know anyhting about these young players at all?

Duffy is one of the best young defenders we have so is Coleman.

Both will have great careers with Everton eventually in my opinion.

Dick Anderson
7 Posted 23/02/2010 at 13:42:42

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Steve Collins

If Coleman is so great why was he playing in the Irish league until the age of 21? Seems a little of to me that Moyes has found this great player that everyone else missed.

Duffy may be highly rated but so was Peter Clarke. He was tipped to be the next Everton Captain. You can never judge a young player on just potential. So many disappoint.

James Marshall
8 Posted 23/02/2010 at 13:50:33

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The games is off cos of the weather anyway - shame because it would be nice to see Jags get a run-out.

Peter Warren
9 Posted 23/02/2010 at 13:48:56

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Dick, history shows that many great players missed until later in age, Les ferdinand, kevin philips, stuart pearce to name a few.

I think Coleman

I’m unsure what you place your judgments on , hope you’re wrong, to me Coleman and Duffy look like excellent prospects

James Elworthy
10 Posted 23/02/2010 at 13:48:50

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Wasnt Ian Wright languishing in the lower leagues until his early 20’s.
Didnt Stuart Barndoor Barlow play in the Liverpool Sunday League until his 20’s (bad example I know)
Jermaine Beckford was at Wealdstone not long ago.
Some players develop in their late teens
I think it is too early to say Coleman is great he has potential based on 2 substitue appearances. Duffy is highly rated in Ireland, they are gutted he chose the Republic over the North but this is the norm for a catholic lad in the North to do especially when they treated Neil Lennon they way they did because he played for Celtic.

Dave Lynch
11 Posted 23/02/2010 at 15:48:10

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Game now postponed because of weather.

Garry Corgan
12 Posted 23/02/2010 at 15:39:40

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Why’s the game off?! I live in Widnes and there’s sod-all wrong with the weather or access to the stadium. Hasn’t been for days.

Alex Robinson
13 Posted 23/02/2010 at 15:53:49

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Garry - it’s been called off due to a frozen pitch apparently.

Michael Brien
14 Posted 23/02/2010 at 16:17:09

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Dick — as James pointed out to you, Ian Wright didn’t make it until he was over 20. The same with Les Ferdinand.

There are several examples of players who didn’t play League football until they were over 20 — e.g. two of these were Steve Heighway and Brian Hall over at Anfield in the early 1970’s. Looking beyond the obvious bias, both of these did very well.

I seem to think Heighway went virtually straight from Non league football — and not at the highest Non league level (apologies to Skem Utd) — to playing in the top flight.

Let’s try and give some of our younger players a chance, eh? Personally I think we have some good young players, who given the chance and with a bit of luck could well save Everton millions in the transfer market. We sing " If you know your History" — well, some of our most successful teams have included "home grown " players e.g. 1969-70: Tommy Wright, Joe Royle, Jimmy Husband, Alan Whittle, Colin Harvey, John Hurst and the skipper Brian Labone; Mid 1980s - Gary Stevens and Kevin Ratcliffe.

There have been some since then who haven’t fulfilled their potential that’s true, but the current "crop" look very promising and I believe give us some cause for optimism.

Geoff Edwards
15 Posted 23/02/2010 at 17:22:56

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Dick, how can you label a player as "not promising" based on 1 appearance?

Keith Glazzard
16 Posted 23/02/2010 at 19:29:04

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If we needed Coleman and Duffy right now they would be ready. They would need time and help, of course, but a few full PL games under their boots and they would start to impress.

Their problem, like that faced by many a prospect before them, is that incoming transfers put them (and sometimes force them off) the bench. It takes a very brave, or very broke, manager to use his ’kids’. And Moyes had two very good ones on display last Saturday.

And while he is broke compared to to tossers like Fatty, he has a canny eye for a bargain (Heitinga), and can burn the whole kitty on a ’kid’ for the future (Fellaini).

Seamus and Shane should really be doing an Osman, and getting valuable experience out on loan. But they are on the bench.

I wonder where they would like to be?

ps - Irish note - does Seamus usually become Shay? Or is that quite different?

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