30 is probably when some players, particularly defenders are in their prime. This number is of course distorted ridiculously by Neville, Howard and Distin. Considering one of them is a keeper this isn't too bad. Baines and Jags are smack in their prime and will be at least for a few more years. Gibson is fine, as is Mirallas, Naismith, Jelavic, Coleman and Fellaini. The two worries are Osman and Pienaar, less so Osman because he's never had any pace or strength so he doesn't really have anything to lose by getting older, his touch and passing range will only get better as we have seen this season until one day he has a Paul Scholes moment and just decides enough is enough. Pienaar is the only one I worry about as he has good pace and a boundless energy in closing down players. He seems to be giving his maximum every match even when not fully fit and we rely on him ridiculously to move us forward on nearly every attack and cover Baines. At some point I fear he'll just break but I hope not as he is, along with Baines, probably our best player and would be very difficult to replace (as we well know seeing as we bought him back)

Maybe the fallacy that Everton gives youth a sporting chance will finally die.

The average age was 47 and a bit when Moyes took over which doesn't take in to account the lack of proper birth registration in Nigeria

At least four different factors to consider, with experience being just one part. Other three are strength/ physicality, footballing ability and attitude/ psychology (though this may be particularly closely linked to experience).

Full strength is unlikely to be reached until the mid twenties for most ethnicities, and so unless your game is based almost exclusively on pace, that is when most players will come into their prime. A team of youngsters is likely to have only one advantage, and that is in running ability, but an older team (up to a point) will know how to pace themselves better, keep possession, and use the ball more efficiently.

It is also dependent on team play, so a balanced team will generally have an advantage over one that is simply young and enthusiastic.

When physical attributes decline is also variable, with stamina based players (those who aren't particularly fast but can run all day) likely to continue much longer than the speed merchants (strength is something that doesn't really decline until long after most players have hung up their boots). What finishes such a player is probably as much to do with a gradual accumulation of chronic injuries as the decline of their abilities. Those fortunate enough to avoid them or have the time to recover properly will have the greatest longevity.

This is one of the problems likely to result from having a small senior squad. Some of our players are probably playing with injuries that ordinarily they would get time off to recover from. DM goes for players with a great work ethic, which is especially important when some players may actually be shortening their careers somewhat through their bravery and loyalty. Then again it is a hugely well rewarded job and the risk of a premature end to it hangs over even the youngsters.

#966 Brian Lawlor

The average age of the team over the last 12 months of Walter Smith was 28¼ - about 14 months younger than it has been over the last 12 months of David Moyes.

Yes, I thought Walter only played old guys. At home to Boro in early 99, his team's average age was only just over 23 (3 teenagers, Ball, Dunne, Jeffers) with Materazzi at 25½ the oldest player. Just for the record, we won 5-0. Amazing how myths are perpetuated.
Moyes' youngest team was at Newcastle, just over 4 years ago at just under 25 years old, a 0-0 draw.

Hey, what do statistics prove?

Phil

Interesting point re: Smith but didn't he fill his squad with some very good youth players and some dinosaurs? It's no good having a team whereby half are likely to be sold and the other half are in the final days of their careers.

Back to your main point. I wouldn't be too worried about the older players. Distin and Neville are unique. In the last 18 months Moyes has moved out two older players in the form of Cahill and Arteta while moving in players like Coleman and Gibson. Without major investment we will always need to work it this way.

Villa's current form may not be the best example for you to choose from!

Not too worried about the team at the moment but I do wonder in 2-3 years time by which time Neville and Distin will surely be finished and the likes of Osman, Pienaar and maybe even Jags will be slowing down.

How will we replace these players with no money at all for transfers (other than that made through sales) and so few young players breaking through at the moment.

The only youth players who have broken through since the likes of Rodwell, Anichebe and Vaughan are Vellios and Barkley and even they don't have more than 5 starts between them over the last 12 months.

Where are the next players coming from?

Age means less and less these days not because of diet and fitness but the fact you're only looking at immediate form, 12 to 18 months optimum seems the name of the game.

The days of having a settled team have long gone. At the top they swap between Man Utd, Madrid, Milan and Barca the rest are rungs on the ladder passing players between themselves every 5 mins.

The reason Redknapp has lasted while O'Leary, Curbishley and the rest have fell away is because he's worked this out.

Moyes has twigged now and being a careful builder I think it irks him. Looks like he's thinking may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb and go somewhere with money and have a proper go if that's the name of the game. Which it is.

Interesting and astonishing point about Walter's team, Phil.

On the flip side, didn't the manure team of the mid '90s wipe the floor with everyone else with the 'kids'?

Dont think you can use the villa example to back up your claim as villa were also doing shite when they had the older players in the team earlier on - the team is not that good and seems to be v low on confidence at the moment.

IMO experience will never be a subsitiute for talent - if you're good enough you're old enough. The older players we have do not only have experience but they can also play (more or less). Ideally you'd have some more experienced heads are amoungst some good youthfull confidence and stamina.

Think Neville and Distin will be gone soon and if we get younger replacements in, then the average age will come down some. TBH am not so worried about the age of the current squad, other than Neville and Distin, the other 'oldies' have at least a couple of years left in them. I would like to see more pace though.

Given that Moyes apparently doesn't think that being 3 goals to the good against a team 3 Divisions lower leaves you safe enough to give Barkley and Duffy a run out, I can't see how any youngster at Everton is going to develop under his tutelage. There's no substitute for actually playing, and without playing more, their development will be stunted.

Phil, the problem is that Moyes sees a player below the age of 22 as being too young for first team football, with the exception of Rooney, Rodwell and a few others. Rooney was that good that he would've made most first teams but, for the likes of Rodwell, Anichebe and Vaughan, I wonder if they would've even got the playing time that they did if Moyes had had more older pros to pick from?

It is an interesting thought, I didnt quite realise how experienced the squad was until that post Phil, great stuff.

I think at the moment it is fine, it is probably helping us actually. But in 2 or 3 years, it will hinder us, but Moyes has a few transfer windows to get it sorted. We may buy some younger players, like Forren for example, in these few transfers window to lower the squad.

What is interesting though, is that most of our back up players are relatively young. Hopefully, if everything goes to plan, Duffy, Barkley, Oviedo, Anichebe and Vellios may be capable of taking the places. People like Gibson, Coleman and Mirallas will just be reaching their peak then too. So I don't think its panic stations yet, but will be in a couple of years, if it continues,