Holgate off the mark in U21s win

, 29 September, 24comments | Jump to most recent

Mason Holgate scored his first goal in Everton colours as the Under-21s beat Norwich 3-1 at Southport.

The new signing from Barnsley doubled the Blues' lead from a corner mid-way through the second half after Jonjoe Kenny's penalty had levelled the game just before the break.

Callum Connolly added a third a two minutes later to make it 3-1.

David Unsworth's line-up included Brazilian and former Espanyol fullback Fellipe Mattioni , described by the club's official Twitter account as "working with the Blues", who played 85 minutes before being replaced by Ryan Ledson.

Mattioni is a former Gremio and Espanyol player looking for a new club after an injury-plagued career that has restricted him to just 44 league appearances for his past four clubs, including a one-minute cameo for AC Milan six years ago.

Mattioni was then struck down with successive cruciate knee ligament injuries in both knees between 2011 and 2012.

Everton U21s: Hewelt, Mattioni (85' Ledson), Kenny, Holgate, Oviedo, Connolly, Grant, Williams {c}, Dyson, Jones (Henen 59'), Byrne (Charsley, 77')
Subs not used: Gray, Yates

Reader Comments (24)

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Dave Abrahams
1 Posted 29/09/2015 at 20:55:13

Ledson on the bench again, came on in the last minute for The Brazilian trialist, who played right back.

Aidy Dews
2 Posted 29/09/2015 at 21:03:09

What's happening with Ledson lately? Has he been injured or something? He hasn't really been involved with the U-21s, he's been on the bench a lot here and there.

No Rodriguez either, he must've been in the match day squad yesterday but I don't think he made the 18 did he?!

And this Felipe Mattioni's name rings a bell! I'm sure we were linked to this lad in Bobby's first season?! RB is he? Maybe were looking at him with a view to signing him in January for some cover for Coleman.

Bob McEvoy
3 Posted 29/09/2015 at 21:51:26

Ledson was looking the real deal 12 months ago. Is he going backwards or is it just a blip?

Robin Cannon
4 Posted 29/09/2015 at 22:12:18

Ledson is only *just* 18. Missing a few U-21 starts isn't really a big deal, and likely as much about not overplaying him as anything else.

Anthony Dwyer
5 Posted 29/09/2015 at 22:23:26

Robbin Cannon @4, I hope you're right, mate. It is a worry though that 18 months ago he was expected to be on the bench for the final few games of the season only to be taken away from us for England duty. Since then, I've not exactly heard or seen glowing reviews on him.

He's only young so I'm sure there is plenty of time to get back on track but it would be gutting if we had another George Green scenario.

In regards to Mason Holgate, I've only seen him a few times but he looks a good solid lad; we seem to be blessed with top quality young defenders at the minute which is fantastic.

Hopefully we have some attacking quality to sneak through too as we all know they're the more difficult ones to find.

Gerard Carey
6 Posted 30/09/2015 at 08:49:39

Good to see Oviedo get 90 minutes as well, hope he really makes it back.

Harold Matthews
7 Posted 30/09/2015 at 09:13:21

Ledson is hoping to be loaned out. Says he can't wait, especially after talking to his mate Gethin Jones who enjoyed every moment of his loan spell. Joe Royle and Unsy will be looking to find him a spot somewhere but will pull him back if he's left sitting on the bench.

Holegate looks the business and Williams is also very tough in the tackle. Good to see Oviedo getting a run-out. Guess he played in front of Callum Connolly who is yet another promising left back.

I see we've found goalkeeper Stanek a loan spot. Can't remember where. It flashed up on Sky Sports.

Harold Matthews
8 Posted 30/09/2015 at 09:43:08

Sorry, Connolly played defensive midfield and drove through the middle before shooting low into the net. According to the official site, we dominated throughout and the Brazilian lad had a very interesting game.

Colin Glassar
9 Posted 30/09/2015 at 09:51:35

Mattioni played RB. 26-year-old Brazilian who's had a terrible run of injuries and has never really got his career going. He's without a team so, if he's good enough, he can sign today if wanted.

Aidy Dews
10 Posted 30/09/2015 at 09:55:37

Robin, I'd be very surprised if we feel were over-playing Ledson after only 2 months of the season! I think he's been injured but he hasn't really been involved this season with them.

I don't see what all the fuss is with Ledson personally. He's alright but I've not seen him stand out amongst the rest whenever I've seen him play. Maybe he needs a loan move now to kick his progress on.

Personally I rate Connor Grant a better midfielder. The lad has a great left foot, good shot on him, great from set-pieces and very neat and tidy on the ball.

Phil Sammon
11 Posted 30/09/2015 at 10:08:58

Surely we should be looking for the likes of Kenny to come through rather than some clubless 26-year-old.

I agreed on Connor Grant, Aidy. I thought he looked like a real Rolls Royce centre mid. Has a bit of Gareth Barry about him... in a good way.

Sam Hoare
12 Posted 30/09/2015 at 10:21:46

Does anyone know why we recalled Kenny from Wigan where he was first choice RB to play for the U21s? Seems a waste of a loan move that had worked out well.

Seems the current U21 crop is a bunch of good young players without any real standouts of the Rooney / Barkley ilk. Wish we had a live-wire young striker who was banging in the goals to add some competition to the first team squad.

Harold Matthews
13 Posted 30/09/2015 at 10:34:25

Yes Colin, the Mattioni situation is very interesting. Three years since his last serious injury. Age 26, 5'-11", lots of experience and ability but no-one willing to risk signing him. His marauding run won us a penalty and we love players who cost nothing.

Aidy. Ledson is a DM. Grant is an AM. Two completely different type players.

Jon Withey
14 Posted 30/09/2015 at 12:36:59

What happened to Dowell?

Ian Jones
15 Posted 30/09/2015 at 13:35:15

Re the Brazilian guy. Best to find out how good he is from the BBC's resident South American expert!

Dave Abrahams
16 Posted 30/09/2015 at 15:59:21

Jon (14) I think Dowell got injured a couple of weeks ago.

Peter Gorman
17 Posted 30/09/2015 at 17:11:15

Sam, I don't think Kenny was recalled, I just think it was a month long loan. He will probably be back out again soon.

Aidy, Grant probably is the better footballer technically but I don't think he is mentally as tough as Ledson. Taking into account their difference in age, I was kind of disappointed at how anonymous Grant was in the last U21 derby. Despite his age and experience he was easily outshone by Liam Walsh and Joe Williams.

Mental toughness is more important I would argue. Look at Browning. He has always been a bit lacking in confidence but he has made some appearances and grown up and hopefully will settle into the team. Then on the other side you have Galloway who just doesn't care who he plays against. One we hope will fit into the team, the other we have hardly a doubt about.

Grant just doesn't strike me as a lad to break through any time soon and will probably go the way of Lundstram which hopefully means he can still have a good career as a professional elsewhere.

Jay Harris
18 Posted 30/09/2015 at 17:24:40

Jon,

Dowell picked up a bad injury and as far as I know had to have an op so will be out for a while.

Shame because he had the look of a top player about him with his passing range and work rate.

Jay Wood
19 Posted 30/09/2015 at 17:33:45

Peter #17

"I don't think Kenny was recalled, I just think it was a month long loan."

This Echo story suggests otherwise. Precautionary additional cover for the absent Coleman at right back..?

Link

Peter Gorman
20 Posted 30/09/2015 at 18:15:28

Hi Jay, are you well? Just been snooping around the OS to work this out and it says the loan was for 2 months and started around the week of the 24th July (only story I could find). If he then played for the U-21s on 21st Sep (and last played for Wigan on 19th Sep - probably explaining why he wasn't at his best against Utd U-21s) then the loan was only cut short by a few days if at all.

Perhaps the injury to Coleman was the reason it wasn't extended immediately as with Junior. It seemed Kenny was getting a lot of game time there so would be good to send him back out.

Jon Withey
22 Posted 30/09/2015 at 21:24:08

That's a real shame regarding Dowell - I was hoping we'd start to see him this season. Well, he's young and can bounce back.

Shouldn't hype him up, but for me he is the stand-out player of that generation.

I hope it clicks for a few of the other lads too - Henen, Ledson, Rodriguez.

Maybe Thorpe will be pushing for a place next season too.

Dave Abrahams
23 Posted 30/09/2015 at 21:43:39

Jay (18),

Dowell has bags of skill, but work rate? You are having a laugh there, it is the one thing that will stop him making the grade.

David Pearl
24 Posted 30/09/2015 at 22:12:14

Wow, 'Successive Cruciate knee ligament injuries in both knees'

I might try and get myself a trial... I'm also on a free. It's really a no lose situation!

Charles Brewer
25 Posted 02/10/2015 at 17:04:57

I expect Mattioni will turn out to be another rubbish crock like Peter Reid, Andy Gray, Duncan Ferguson and that useless Spanish bloke, Arteta.

At least I hope so.

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