Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
The Kids are Alright
By Alasdair Mackay :: 08/07/2011
21 Comments (»Last)
David Moyes has an enviable reputation as a manger that likes to give youth a
chance. He also has a a youth team that recently won the FA Premier Academy
League title at Under-18 level, with several of its key players missing through
injury, international duty, or simply because they were/are already playing at
reserve team level. These next 2 years will be key in defining whether we have a
generation of youngsters capable of driving the club on to the next level AND
the right manager to take them there, or it?s just a load of hot air and if one
of them breaks through we will all be deliriously happy to have saved £5-15M in
transfer funds.
So let?s look at the evidence. First to Moyes?s reputation ? is it well earned?
Under Moyes?s stewardship, there have been a number of young players who have
stepped up to first-team level. Rooney was obvious and any manager would have
known to bring someone of such talent through the youth ranks, but Osman was not
getting a look-in under Smith, was brought through by Moyes and has not looked
back. Vaughan and Gosling are no longer with the club for various reasons, but
both have found homes in the Premier League, so would have been up to standard
had circumstances beyond Moyes?s control not come into play.
Then there is Big Vic, who divides opinion amongst Everton fans. I myself really
rate him for what he is. He is never going to be a 20-goal-a-season striker, or
a winger with the skill of a Cristiano Ronaldo, but he has never looked off the
pace or technically incapable at Premier League level, he is an international
footballer and highly rated by his team-mates and by Moyes himself. He is, for
me, Premier League standard.
The other two players to have made the grade under Moyesie are Seamus Coleman
and Jack Rodwell. I don?t think their Premier League credentials are going to be
debated by anyone.
Now let's have a look at the lads who have not made the grade. In the last 6
years, the following youngsters, all of which were spoken about by fans as being
potential first-teamers, have been shown the door by Moyes:
- Nick Chadwick,
- Mark Hughes,
- Anthony Gerrard,
- Daniel Fox,
- Patrick Boyle,
- John-Paul Kissock,
- Bjarni Vidarsson,
- Lee Molyneux,
- Scott Spencer,
- John Irving
- Lukas Jutkeiwicz.
Of these, only Fox has since played Premier League football and only he and,
possibly Gerrard, look likely to be able to form a career at that level if they
manage to win promotion with the right club.
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I think we can conclude that David Moyes has quite a good success rate at
knowing when a lad is up to standard or not. Especially when you think that, in
the days before Moyesie, we released Barton and Jagielka, amongst others, while
Richard Dunne was deemed not quite good enough and I seem to remember Gavin
McCann being released to the Championship and going on to play for England.
So, to the current crop. There is no doubt that we currently have as good a youth team as I can remember us having and there is an awful lot there that could make it. There is also little question that only a handful will make it and the majority won?t. I would like to be able to save this article and look at it again in 2 years. Ideally it won?t make me laugh out loud at how ridiculously inaccurate it is...
Defenders
Shkodran Mustafi (19) ? All the
talk when we signed this guy was what a coup it was and he has, so far, really
not lived up to his billing. It looks very much like he simply has not settled
at the club and I I think that in 2 years he will be a first team regular at a
mid-table Bundesliga side. Eventually he could go on to greater heights from
there, but I don?t think Everton is going to work out for him.
Shane Duffy (19) ? There is no doubt
that Duffy will make it. I have seen him play a few times now and he has always
impressed me. I have high hopes for Duffy this season, now he is clear of his
injury. I think he is the reason we can afford to let Yobo go without replacing
him. When two from Jags, Distin and Heitinga are not available next term, I
would feel more than comfortable with Duffy at the back. This is his year!
Eric Dier (17) ? Still only 17 and 6?2?, Dier is a bright prospect for someone. I hope we have agreed a deal in principle to sign the lad full-time from Sporting Lisbon next summer. He looks the part and still has at least 2 years of development time before he hits make-or-break age. Fingers-crossed on this one.
Jake Bidwell (18) ? I watched him play centre-half and captain the Under 18s at Fulham and looked a real no-nonsense type defender. I am not sure he has enough attacking instincts to make a successful left-back and his height could be a factor at centre-half. There is no doubting his ability, though... and at the very-least I could see him going on to be a new Tony Hibbert (except on the left).
Aristote Nsiala (19) ? Nsiala has a 1-year contract and turns 20 this season. I haven?t seen much of him, but he looks like he is one who has earned one more chance at a crack at the first-team, after impressing on loan at Macclesfield Town. If it doesn?t happen for him at Everton this season, I think he will go the way of Anthony Gerrard and build a solid career for himself at Championship level.
Tyias Browning (17) ? This lad has so much potential. He has only just turned 17 and has signed a 2-year contract at the club. Moyes and Co obviously think very highly of him but, as a right back, he is likely to be one of those who will sneak into the first team squad without too much fuss. He is still very young and has a lot of time to come off the rails but, if he continues his development at the current pace, I think he is dead cert for a future in the Premier League and, hopefully, with Everton.
Luke Garbutt (18) ? This is make-or-break time for Luke. I think he certainly has the tools and I am so impressed with his delivery of crosses; what he needs is to establish himself as first choice left-back at reserve level next season, earn a new contract, and then set about the task of displacing the best left-back in Europe from Everton?s first-team. I don?t envy the lad...
Midfielders
Ross Barkley (17) ? This is a massive season for Barkley, as he shows how much of his development he has lost following his year out injured. Cahill and others have raved about him and there is no doubt that the current Everton first-team squad lacks a real box-to-box midfielder, but injuries like the one Ross suffered have ended the careers of players in the past and it is going to take a special talent if he is to recover mentally from this. Good luck, Ross!
Adam Forshaw (19) ? Adam falls into the now-or-never category. He had a great end to last season, scoring a stunner in the mini-derby, making his first-team debut at Wolves and signing a new contract with the club, but it?s all about 2011-12 for Forshaw if he is going to make it at Everton. He turns 20 in October, so, if it hasn?t happened for him by the end of this coming season, I can see him plying his trade at a lower level.
James Wallace (19) ? Two months younger than Forshaw, Wallace has been one identified as having star potential for a couple of seasons. He has been very unlucky with injuries, but has played in Europe for the first team and earned rave reviews on loan at Stockport last season. He will definitely be a pro, but this season alone will determine if that is to be at Everton or not.
John Lundstram (17) ? John signed a 2-year contract this summer and plays alongside Hallam Hope at international level. I am a bit clueless on this lad as I?ve never seen him play. I don?t think we are looking at a first-teamer this year, but he certainly goes into the ?great potential? category.
Magaye Gueye (21) ? I know, I know ? he is not one that has really come through our youth team as such, but he is a young player who was brought to the club ?with potential?. Having seen him play a few first team games, and looking at his U21 record for France, I am confident that Magaye will be in or around our first team by mid-season.
Jose Baxter (19) ? I can?t believe Jose is still only 19. I think a lot of Evertonians, myself included, were ready to write him off into the Billy Kenny category, but he is back earning rave reviews amongst the coaching staff again and it may well be that Moyes and Co have caught him early and put him back on the straight and narrow. I think we will know by the end of this coming season if he is going to make it at Everton or not.
Forwards
Joao Silva (21) ? Joao came with a reputation already formed in Portugal and was very impressive on returning there on loan last season, but he has looked a long way from making the grade at Everton. I think he is another that falls into the category alongside Mustafi as someone who has not settled at the club or in the country. He has another 2 years left on his Everton contract and I don?t think he will see it out.
Apostolos Vellios (19) ? I am actually feeling really positive about Vellios. His progress through the reserves since signing in January was constant and he really impressed me when he played first team minutes last season. He is a lot quicker than he looks like he should be and obviously has an eye for goal. I think this lad could be a bargain of Coleman proportions.
Connor McAleny (18) ? Connor turns 19 next month, so I think he falls into the same category as Wallace, Forshaw and Co as having one more season. He has been on the bench, but not made it onto the pitch and I fear the first team may be a step too far for Connor. On the few occasions I have watched him, his shooting ability has really impressed me, so I have no doubt he will make a career for himself in football.
Hallam Hope (17) ? Hallam has potential, there is no doubt about that. He has just turned 17, so I don?t think we will see him near the first team this season, but he plays a starring role for England Under-17s and appears to be that goal-poacher type that will be successful in any team with a decent supply from midfield. Over the next two years, Moyes will find out about his pace, work-rate and attitude... and those factors will determine his success at Everton.
So who do I think we can rely on for next season? I honestly believe we will see Vellios, Gueye, Barkley and Duffy feature for the first team next season and go on to make the grade. I also think we will see Bidwell and Baxter at some stage. With Rodwell and Coleman having come through in the last couple of years too, it is clear that our youth team has come on leaps and bounds under Moyes.
I don?t think we are looking at a golden generation so much as the fruits of Moyes?s labour in the early years of his tenure finally starting to come to fruition. If we could rely on it to produce 8 first team players every 3 or 4 years, we would be laughing, but realistically one extra squad member a year would be fantastic and will ultimately save us money.
Reader Comments (21)
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2 Posted 08/07/2011 at 23:46:15
It's a shame we aren't in Europe because Moyes often gives the kids a chance there and it blooded Anichebe.
I seem to remember, from the home game in the Europa League when Hibbo was captain that, among the kids, Bidwell and Duffy stood out. Everyone is convinced the latter will make the grade and I really hope he does.
Youth players who make it are invaluable to us. Leon Osman is living proof of that as is Hibbert but I have been disappointed with the output from the academy. The jury is out on Big Vic whilst Vaughan has moved on. As for Rodwell, this season is absolutely crucial for him. They are the only 3 youth players who have stepped up over the last 6 seasons.
That said, these things often happen in waves so you might get a couple of players spurring one another on. If only Duffy and perhaps two others step up, then it's a much needed boost to the squad in terms of numbers and bringing the average age down a shade.
It would be great if they could be a midfielder, a left-back and a centre-back because those are positions we need cover or fresh blood in. Striker would be nice but they are gold dust!
3 Posted 09/07/2011 at 00:21:07
I scanned it after that.
Moyes gives young players a chance when he has to and not before.
Young players not blossoming is a problem for this league as a whole, the general preference is to buy skill from abroad ? Rooney was the last Brit of any note anywhere.
I wouldn't read too much into the list of "failures" as vindication of the Moyes genius.
I'd be asking, if he's had 10 years unfettered control only beaten by Wenger and Fergie, why aren't there more coming through? Other managers would kill to have that length of time.
The rest will come out in the wash, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
4 Posted 09/07/2011 at 08:31:49
Anyway, I really hope this current crop delivers a couple of gemstones. Andrew James is right in that the last 5-6 seasons the academy has delivered relatively little with only Vaughan, Vic, Rowell and Coleman (a debatable youth product) making the step up. I suspect, with our finances as shot as they are, this ratio may need to improve.
It's a bit of a lottery but I will pluck for Barkley, Gueye and Vellios to make meaningful contributions this year with Duffy, Baxter and maybe Browning coming through more next season.
5 Posted 09/07/2011 at 08:48:45
I am hoping Vellios gets a decent chance this season as we obviously need something up front. I can't agree with you on Vic though, I think he's awful. But... each to their own.
6 Posted 09/07/2011 at 12:28:59
I agree with the comments about Moyes only blooding thses players when he has to; I'm sure a younger player would have more belief if a manager picked him ahead of more established players because of his talent, rather than appearing to be a last resort.
Back to reality though, we'll see if anyone can beat Gueye's record of bench warming without getting on the pitch this season!
7 Posted 09/07/2011 at 13:17:57
I think Moyes has done an excellent job with the young lads so far. Of course, he will only play them if they are good enough, and therefore I don't understand people slagging him off for not playing them. Which team in the Premier League gives more young lads a chance? Most teams only have 1 or 2 (if any) playing, simply because they are not ready for the Premier League.
As Ray Hall pointed out (Youth manager), the young lads who have just signed up will have an extremely difficult task becoming a professional footballer. Moyes could go and buy lots of old fogies for their "last hurrah" but I think he's going to be placing his bets on some of this new crop instead. I'm particularly looking forward to Barkley and (fingers crossed this year) Rodwell.
Here's to the future.
COYBB!
8 Posted 09/07/2011 at 13:28:02
Considering he is no spring chicken, it's a disgrace that the man considers himself a forward. Premier League standard, you say... well that sums up how shit the Premier League is and how below-average journeymen like Anichebe can make a fortune.
9 Posted 09/07/2011 at 13:25:38
10 Posted 09/07/2011 at 16:55:23
David Moyes will shoe-horn his favourites into the side at any cost. How shite must Velios be if Victor Anichebe keeps him out? Moyes doesn't protect and nurture young players ? he is terrified of anything that isn't 4-5-1 and doesn't include Phil Neville. Is Baxter any good? Well, David Moyes doesn't have a clue, because he's good enough to stay but not good enough to play.
We must be seen as a club where young players are given a chance... The idea that we are is a myth.
11 Posted 09/07/2011 at 18:35:56
I think if you look at the players that I mentioned that didn't make the grade under Moyes, then his reluctance to bring them in has been justified. To this point he is yet to make a mistake in failing to bring through a player who goes on to play at a level that would have meant they could have been useful had Everton kept them. Does that make sense?
Perhaps, then, we should show a little more faith in Moyes in his handling of the Barkley/Baxter/Velios/Duffy and Gueye situation. If they are good enough Moyes will see it and bring them through. If not they will more than likely end up playing at a lower level.
12 Posted 09/07/2011 at 19:29:21
Not to go into it now but I think that Moyes has always had, in football management, one and only one mentor. Yep, Sir Alex. And why not? Whatever anyone thinks about SAF, no-one can slag him off for failure in bringing youth through to his first team.
Although these days he's a little more conservative on bringing the youth through, we all remember the time when almost overnight Man Utd's team copnsisted of Giggs (Giancomo Casanova), Scholes (pieces of wooden footware), the Nevs (dad with the best name in the world)... well, you get my drift.
The best bit is the "You won't win anything with kids" and we all know which BBC prostitute uttered these famous words.
With the way finances are at our club and the way I see Moyes's current thinking, I see him trying to pull an SAF anytime soon.
It's just like, when the chips are down, Moyes suddenly under pressure (Christmas plus) pulls the archetypal rabbit from the Eiseheim hat.
I see this going on with our youth now. Yeah, Vic is crap... Question is: Will he always be crap? As for the rest of the youth, I can see Moyes doing an Alex. Hope and prey it works cos we've got fuckall else to cheer about.
Good shout Alasdair, enjoyed that. It's nice that someone has the gumtion to check out what's on the horizon.
13 Posted 09/07/2011 at 22:00:56
The hypothesis you apply in evaluating David Moyes's record on bringing youth through is heavily weighted by those who have fallen by the wayside ? the inference being they were not good enough.
Let me offer a slightly different angle: these are all players of exceptional quality and skill, I hope we can all agree? Players who have been winnowed from the thousands of applicants each year whose dream it is to become part of one of THE GREAT football academies at the highest level of the FA Premier League ? the most prodigious and financially successful league in the world.
What happens next? Are those fabulous young talents nurtured, cajoled and inspired to reach the highest levels in their chosen progression?
Or is there more of an old-school mentality that sees them as boot-cleaning fodder to be bent and ultimately broken... with only the very best, toughest, most belligerent who can cut it in the rough and tumble world of professional football going on to graduate from this grueling apprenticeship?
Just asking...
14 Posted 09/07/2011 at 21:55:35
If you do a similar excersise at almost every other club you will find similar or better results. Talking about Ozzie... he was the butt of lots of the writers on this site and singled out as no good!!! He has played his best football only towards the end of last season; otherwise we would have been in trouble. Same goes for Hibbo and Anichebe who have both been castigated on this site.
15 Posted 09/07/2011 at 22:22:36
Players who are not performing, who are out of form, who don't pull their weight, who appear to be crap... They are always going to get slaughtered on here, with plenty of justification.
Yes, that form can improve, and then... Guess what: they no longer get slaughtered ? except to the extent that fans are still traumatized by how bad they were... when it can take time for the revisionism to kick in.
This is not rocket science... Just fans being fans.
Live and let live!
16 Posted 10/07/2011 at 08:30:45
Trevor raised the point of Jagielka and Baines in his post (14). I had actually mentioned Jagielka in the article, although I admit that I wasn't aware that Baines had been with us when he was younger. Jags, along with Barton, was released by the old regime, but there are better examples of players that we missed out on by not having a state-of-the-art youth system in the 90s - Jamie Carragher or Michael Owen anyone? Both boyhood Blues and, whilst they both may have gone the way of Jeffers, Ball and Rooney in being transfered because of the financial position of the club, that extra £20m that we may have got for those two lads may have paid off the debt much earlier and we wouldn't be struggling to compete with Stoke and Wigan in the transfer market today!
17 Posted 10/07/2011 at 14:59:38
Rooney would have gotten through with any manager because even at 16/17 he was built like a man and was tailor made to play for any side in the country and possibly the world.
Even so Moyes still restricted him on many occasions to subsitute appearances.
From there we have to switch many years later to 2009 when we got to The Cup Final.
Jack Rodwell and to a lesser extent Dan Gosling prospered however they would never have been allowed this opportunity with a fully fit side as it would have been a gamble Moyes would have been unwilling to make.
So really the successes from the Youth team in his period boil down to Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman.
I can only hope that he is willing to take a calculated risk on these kids as that is all we have got.
However I won't hold my breath.
18 Posted 11/07/2011 at 09:50:24
19 Posted 12/07/2011 at 04:36:22
My main problem with Moyes is the lost opportunities at seeing young players even have a 20-minute run out as a sub. Look at the bench most weeks and you know who the 3 subs are that will come on ? regardless of the state of the match. If we are in front, then why not see one or two of these kids get a feel for it rather than bring on a first team squad member?
As Alisdair points out, next season is crucial for some of the lads he lists. Did that "crucial" time come and go for the lads on the other list without them being given the chance? Osman and Coleman, for different reasons, are great examples of being given a chance. One was persevered with and the other was almost a punt.
20 Posted 12/07/2011 at 16:51:23
Where did you hear that he's injured again? There's a Ross Barkley on twitter who's looking forward to his 1st game this month - don'y know if its the real Ross though.
21 Posted 12/07/2011 at 23:21:52
His ilk have produced this homogenous mix of journeymen players native to these isles - remove the foreigners and they're exposed - see England and the "Golden Generation" myth.
Moyes doesn't go in for that young Fabregas type of nonsense so we're firmly ensconced in the journeyman club, and predictably, they go the same way as the others from other clubs.
His cast offs don't make it anywhere else because they're no diiferent from the clones at all Brit clubs.
It's a non argument.
The only player I can think of who's moved and been a revelation is Nzogbia - Newcastle to Wigan - one of the other reasons why I agree with Dave Whelan, Martinez will manage one of the top 6 clubs of europe - wish we could get him.
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1 Posted 08/07/2011 at 23:37:24
Reading your article filled me with optimism for the future of the club. Then I remembered who we have as manager! I admire Moyes and I think he's a great manager but I think his youth policy is flawed. The only way certain youth players got matches last season was down to first team injuries.
Moyes will not take the risk of moving away from the core first team he has always used. Which is a shame, because I can see Gueye, Vellios and Silva disappearing from this club within the next 2 seasons. A massive loss I think as each player I think has the quality to add to the first team. Baxter and Duffy are struggling to get a game under Moyes despite great performances in the reserves. These players should not only be sitting on the first team bench, but they should be getting used each match.
Fingers crossed we get some of them running this season, especially Gueye, very excited by that guy... and Vellios I think could add something up front.