Davies and Dowell feature in U23s team win over Derby

Lyndon Lloyd , 22 August, 32comments | Jump to most recent

Everton's Under-23s maintained their 100% start to the new season with a 2-0 victory over Derby County in Premier League 2.

Tom Davies and Kieran Dowell, two players who might have featured for the first team against Yeovil tomorrow, both played the full 90 minutes and Dowell was the provider for both goals before he saw a shot cleared off the line late on.

The Blues' second string got off to a great start at the Merseyrail Community Stadium, with Dowell laying on an assist to Harry Charsley to fire home in only the second minute.

And Charsley doubled the lead after half an hour, finishing off another nice Blues move that ended with Dowell setting his team-mate up to score.

Everton: Hewelt, Robinson, Connolly, Kenny, Jones, Walsh (Baningime 71'), Davies, Dowell, Charsley, Henen (Evans 58'), C. Duffus (Dyson 58').
Subs not used: Gray, Foulds

Reader Comments (32)

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Alan Humphreys
1 Posted 22/08/2016 at 18:52:00

Wonder if that game is considered more competitive. Shame though as both deserve to have a run out under the Goodison floodlights.

Sam Hoare
2 Posted 22/08/2016 at 19:05:09

Shame. Davies in particular deserves and needs more minutes with the first team.

Kevin Thompson
3 Posted 22/08/2016 at 19:06:15

They can't play tonight as the first team are playing tomorrow

John Crawley
4 Posted 22/08/2016 at 19:08:13

Disappointing & unfortunately backing up criticism of Koeman's youth policy at Southampton. Both are more than good enough to play against Yeovil.

Mick Quirke
5 Posted 22/08/2016 at 19:15:16

Koeman believes in developing the kids.

My brother and nephew were at the Spurs U23 game and said that Davies was a disgrace with his attitude and application, so possibly he's being taught a lesson.

Patrick Murphy
6 Posted 22/08/2016 at 19:16:10

John (4) The new manager is trying to stamp his ideas on his new charges, he can't tell them that every game is important if he rests most of his side for a Cup-tie. Putting on a first-team jersey should be a prize that needs to be earned, if and when a young player gets his opportunity it will mean so much more to them, when they do.

Joseph Terrence
7 Posted 22/08/2016 at 19:26:08

Agree with Patrick. It's also worth noting that Koeman was vocal just two weeks ago about the lack of fitness in the first team squad, so it's safe to say that many of the first XI will be on the pitch come Tuesday in order to build up their fitness.

Colin Metcalfe
8 Posted 22/08/2016 at 19:41:31

Quite worrying that none of the young players are going to get a chance to establish themselves in the first team; to be honest, I am not particularly happy about it.

The kids played really well in the last game of last season against Norwich, certainly Dave Unsworth seems to think they are good enough!

Our academy is the envy of other clubs and it would be a shame that Koeman opts to ignore the talent coming through!

Tony Abrahams
9 Posted 22/08/2016 at 19:52:31

Maybe Ledson will be in the squad tomorrow? Unless the kid is carrying an injury...

Dave Williams
10 Posted 22/08/2016 at 20:17:39

Ronald has a job to do in getting the first team up around the top of the league and he won't do that by blooding youngsters. Once the team is performing at the right level it should then be the time to introduce them but not whilst the team is fighting for fitness and form.

Anthony Dwyer
11 Posted 22/08/2016 at 20:23:17

I wouldn't read into the U23 selection if I'm honest, we have recently taken Garbutt and Galloway off Unsy to loan out so maybe it's just a little something to help boost his group of kids.

Lukaku, Williams and Bolasie could all do with a run out plus Gibson (if he's not injured!!), Kone and Oviedo so maybe RK is still working on his core group atm, rather than overly worrying about watching the kids v Yeovil.

Lev Vellene
12 Posted 22/08/2016 at 20:33:49

Ah, as all seasons will go, we'll probably have injuries to fast for us to appreciate...

I just feel that Davies could be a very good one for us eventually, but he'll die off without watering at the roots every now and then! So play him, loan him or sell him (no, not my choice!)! I wouldn't kill his potential by him being glued to us by default...

Gareth Clark
13 Posted 22/08/2016 at 20:34:23

Stekelenberg;
Holgate, Williams, Funes Mori, Oviedo;
McCarthy, Cleverley;
Deulofeu, Tarashaj, Bolasie;
Lukaku.

I think its time for Robles to move on... Not good enough.

Deulofeu still needs some match fitness, so I'd like to see him have 60 mins! I don't know what's happened to Tarashaj... If he's injured or not in the plans? But I'd like to see him in a CF role, just behind Lukaku.

Lennon, Davies and Dowell off the bench – with either Stekelenburg, Williams or Cleverley with the captains arm band.

Jack Plant
14 Posted 22/08/2016 at 20:34:24

For all those saying he doesnt give youth a chance, are we ignoring Holgate?

Chris Gould
15 Posted 22/08/2016 at 20:54:42

How on earth can people be criticising and complaining 2 weeks into the season?

I'm sure Koeman has a long term plan, but right now needs to focus on getting us near the higher end of the league. He needs to use these games to get some of the players fitter.

Koeman sees these youngsters day in and day out. He's in a better position to judge whether they're good enough than any of us are. Playing against a team like Yeovil is not always the best time to play the kids as they're likely to get kicked about. They may not have the temperament for it yet.

James Stewart
16 Posted 22/08/2016 at 20:55:33

Davies should be getting minutes in the first team. Extremely disappointing to see McCarthy play more minutes than him.

Anthony Dwyer
17 Posted 22/08/2016 at 20:58:03

Nuts isn't it Jack, Holgate playing and staying on the pitch over McCarthy, Del boy starting over Kone as a main striker, both situations being overlooked because RK is doing what many sensible fans wanted in loaning out a few kids, whilst benching a few others and keeping them around the first team training etc.

It's so easy to see exactly what RK is doing as he's now managed 2 games. ðŸ™ˆ

Liam Reilly
18 Posted 22/08/2016 at 21:03:29

Yeah, he should play the kids in a competition that we've never won and bow out at the first hurdle.

Dave Pritchard
19 Posted 22/08/2016 at 21:06:57

I am not against giving some of the youngsters a go but do feel that some people are reading too much into that last game of the season against Norwich. I agree with those saying that we need to get the regulars up to a good level of fitness so not upset at Koeman's approach.

Gareth Clark
21 Posted 22/08/2016 at 21:38:13

Does anyone know what's happened to Tarashaj... The man has disappeared from all Everton teams?!

Fran Mitchell
23 Posted 22/08/2016 at 22:10:01

I suppose Koeman is focused on getting the first teamers up to scratch first.

Also, the League Cup isn't the best place to develop young players. How many cup games did Rashford play? None. Premier League minutes are what they need.

Les Martin
24 Posted 23/08/2016 at 00:03:44

Dave (#10), Fran (#23)

Exactly, and it's a long season and plenty of time.

Karl Meighan
25 Posted 23/08/2016 at 05:01:55

Play your strongest team, as far as I'm aware we're not playing in Europe this season so players won't need resting and we're two weeks into a season so even footballers of today surely can't be tired.

If the young lads playing in Unsworth's U23 side are good enough, they will see first team football; as already mentioned, Holgate has forced his way in.

Alan J Thompson
26 Posted 23/08/2016 at 05:57:04

If you're good enough then you're big enough and you're old enough, or so we're told. Just don't expect to get experience as part of a First XI made up of mostly first team players that should be good enough for lower league sides.

Why not scrap all except the Premier League and replace the other divisions with U23s, U21s, U18s and this problem and fixture congestion with Cup competitions will go away? Or is that just a European Super League idea, he said sardonically.

If players like Galloway, Davies, Holgate, Dowell and others get their opportunity and get good reviews, is it any wonder their attitude changes when they are then almost entirely overlooked for further opportunity?

Would the likes of Barry, Jagielka and Gueye (Gana) not be stood in better stead from the rest even at the start of a season.

Andrew McLean
27 Posted 23/08/2016 at 06:58:44

Gareth #21 - Tarashaj was given the squad number 24. Everton have only played 2 out of 2 games. Have patience.

Frank Banterwaite
28 Posted 23/08/2016 at 11:40:52

I genuinely think some people need to find something to moan about to make them happy, unbelievable. I am sure Roko knows what he is doing.

Gareth Clark
29 Posted 23/08/2016 at 12:06:48

Andrew #27 - he is under 23 years old... Surely he would have played for the u23 to get some fitness?

Also, on the official site, there is no squad number 24...

Karl Meighan
30 Posted 23/08/2016 at 12:50:07

Winning breeds confidence and didnt Koeman say he thinks were at seventy percent, this game should be seen as a opportunity to gain fitness, win, and work on the new system as well as it being a competitive game. All good reasons for Koeman to play as close to what he sees as are starting eleven for the coming season. Get a decent lead then give others a runout from the bench is the perfect scenario.

Frank Wade
31 Posted 23/08/2016 at 15:32:15

Does anyone know if Callum Connolly played at centre back or left back in this game. Expect Gethin Jones was right back, possibly Antonee Robinson at left back. Connolly looked really good on his debut v Southampton at right back. I am wondering if he could fill in as Baines understudy at left back, were Oviedo to get injured.

Gareth Clark
32 Posted 23/08/2016 at 15:35:59

I think Connolly and Kenny played at CB. Jones at RB and Robinson at LB.

Fran Mitchell
33 Posted 23/08/2016 at 15:43:15

Symbolic use of youth players in cup has nothing about giving youth experience, and more about not wanting to risk first teamers.

The likes of the Leeds fiasco a few years back, and the dead rubber Europa tie also. How did such games actually benefit the young lads?

What boosts a young lad's confidence is when he is given a chance, not when the thinking is "Well, it's only the League Cup. If you bugger up no problem". Experience comes with a long period of time in the first team, not some one-off game in the middle of August.

And with first team players still unfit and adapting to a new system, the extra game should be used towards this.

Alan J Thompson
34 Posted 24/08/2016 at 04:10:12

Fran (#33); That is one way of looking at it, but how are they going to get that prolonged run if they can't be trusted in a one-off against lower division teams?

And how does that apply to Davies, Dowell, Galloway and Holgate. I'm not saying they all should have played last night but there seems to be differing opinions among the backroom staff but adding those injured youngsters that makes about 8 who have been given some sort of a run but only 2 for more than 1 or 2 games (Browning & Galloway).

We probably must agree to disagree but I doubt that either of us will be getting a call from Mr Koeman any time soon.

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