More joy for Everton's U18s

, 14 November, 17comments | Jump to most recent

Everton's U18s maintained their excellent record this season with a 4-3 win at Stoke City today.Goals from Kieran Dowell, Delial Brewster, Liam Walsh and Antony Evans made the difference for the young Blues.

The Young Blues got off to the worst possible start, conceding almost immediately from the kick off, before shipping a second on nine minutes. However, a spirited comeback began when Dowell turned in, before Brewster deservedly levelled things up.

Everton's dominance continued and Walsh made it 3-2, only for the hosts to hit back with a third of their own. But Evans made sure it would be the Toffees' day, smashing home to seal three hard-earned points.

Everton U18s: O'Loughlin, Lees (80' Lavery), Yates (20' Myers), Feeney, Bainbridge, Davies, Walsh, Dowell, (60' Kinsella), Donohue, Evans, Brewster.

Reader Comments (17)

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John O'Brien
1 Posted 14/11/2015 at 17:10:31

Good news here. Not so much the result but more that Kieran Dowell who was so impressive pre season for the 1st team is fit again after his ankle problem.

I think he has the talent to break into the first team squad if required this season.

Sam Hoare
2 Posted 14/11/2015 at 17:36:26

U18s romping it this season. Well done lads. Hope we'll see the likes of Brewster, Walsh and Dowell in or around the first team in the coming years.

Jon Withey
3 Posted 14/11/2015 at 17:37:34

I agree, glad to hear Dowell's name again, and a goal to boot.

Well done to all the U18s, though.

Brent Stephens
4 Posted 14/11/2015 at 18:04:02

And with Davies, Donohue and Evans, the future looks very bright.

Andrew Presly
5 Posted 14/11/2015 at 18:51:10

Great to hear. This sounds like a promising batch.

Tony Hill
6 Posted 14/11/2015 at 20:43:47

Indeed it is good to hear Dowell's name. Conor Grant is doing very nicely at Doncaster and played well again today. Felipe Mattioni put in 70 minutes for them as well.

Dave Abrahams
7 Posted 14/11/2015 at 21:04:48

The four goal scorers are well known on here plus Michael Donohue, could serve us well in the future, well played lads.

Harold Matthews
8 Posted 15/11/2015 at 01:16:55

These lads will have to be very special to get a chance with Martinez who goes for experience every time.

Anthony Dwyer
9 Posted 15/11/2015 at 01:43:52

Great to see Brewster score again, he's knocked in a fair few already this season.

He may just be one who sneaks through for a few little games before the end of the season.

Mark Andersson
10 Posted 15/11/2015 at 06:17:42

Harold, for the first time ever I can't agree with your comment. It is Martinez who has picked Stones and Ross over more experienced players.

Duncan McDine
11 Posted 15/11/2015 at 14:05:11

That's a bit unfair Harold. Especially when you consider the chances he's given Ross, Stones and Galloway. Also consider the fact that Deulofeu has only really gained top flight experience under Roberto's management.

The reality is that any teenager will have to be very special to play first team for any Premier League side. So long as one or two from this crop make the grade eventually, our youth system will have proved itself very valuable once again.

Harold Matthews
12 Posted 15/11/2015 at 15:48:47

Sorry, Duncan, it's not unfair, it's a fact. Martinez confessed when he substituted the in-form Besic instead of the struggling just-back-from-injury McCarthy: "You have to go with experience."

Ross is a special case. We all know that but Stones and Galloway were bought from Barnsley and MK Dons respectively, where they both played for the first team. Injuries to experienced team-mates gave them their chance but, unlike Stones who has no-one of more experience in front of him, Galloway must resume his fourth place spot behind Baines, Oviedo and Garbutt.

No matter how well Robles or Browning play, they are always replaced by more experienced team-mates. Howard, Coleman, Stones, Baines, Barkley, Barry, Lukaku, Jagielka and McCarthy do not sit on the bench.

Martinez does not like taking risks. He had no option with Stones who made a ton of mistakes whilst learning the role of CB. There was no-one else. Luckily, the lad had enough talent to get him through and is now quite outstanding.

Like you, I hope one or two of these youngsters make the first team but they'll need to be very good and in the right place at the right time.

Duncan McDine
13 Posted 15/11/2015 at 17:13:14

I can see where your coming from regarding Besic. Also his treatment of Robles when Howard has been poor. Especially strange seeing as he bought both of them!

But in the main I think Roberto has been encouraging to the young players and gives more chance to talented youngsters than most other managers in this league.

Sam Hoare
14 Posted 15/11/2015 at 19:42:01

Agree with Harold. He has really only given chances to youngsters when forced to by injury. Then often the senior player walks straight back in irrelevant of form. Robles being the most criminal example.

Ciaran Duff
15 Posted 15/11/2015 at 22:31:27

RM giving chances to young players is not a black and white issue. Like most things, it is more subtle than that. He will give opportunities to young players if he feels that they are ready (eg Stones). However, the likes of Stones and Rooney (players who are match ready at a 18) are the exception.

Generally most young players need to transition to first team football and RM has emphasized in the past how critical that 18-21 period is in player development (an area where English football is traditionally not good). So, while we might see young players getting patches of games here and there, I think RM is looking at the bigger picture (ie, having them fully developed in 2-3 years time).

I think we can already see the likes of Galloway and Browning with others just behind in the pipeline (eg, Holgate) becoming first-team regulars in the future. Personally, I think the future (player-wise) is looking very bright.

Phill Thompson
17 Posted 16/11/2015 at 22:52:54

This is the U18 team, it's daft to think that any of them are currently ready for the first team squad and that somehow Roberto is holding them back.

Only Yates and Davies have played regularly at international level Walsh & Dowell have had a few games but not regularly. None have even played on loan outwith Everton.

Dowell is probably the closest to getting into a squad but, talented though he is, he needs more experience .

Jon Withey
18 Posted 17/11/2015 at 13:53:10

He might not be ready for the first team, but he's got some talent that boy. Check out his goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqQTCpTIzmE

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