Brendan Galloway on life at West Brom

I agree. But I suspected at the time they sent him to WBA because for a centre-half he's not great aerially. That's one area Pulis is good in. In hindsight it was a mistake and has set him back a year.

He had a good patch with us in the first team but then fell away and was found wanting. He has a good speed of recovery, which he has tended to need, but I'm not convinced by him. Let's see what the coaches make of him now.

As far as being one-footed is concerned, even if he is, there's been quite a few top players who are one-footed, Messi and Robben for two.

He's plenty young enough to improve his right and he has class written all over him, something you can't train for, not to mention being intelligent to boot.

I do hope the talented lads we now have on our books don't slip through our fingers. It takes a strong and brave manager to risk his future on playing 'kids' though, but that is the Premier League for you.

For me, the jury is still out on Galloway.

Fingers crossed he steps up next season but I imagine he will start off in the U23s and might be sent out for another loan unless he really impresses in training.

I am amazed that Brendan like a great many others can go from school child to adult carrying such an obvious one footed weakness.

Were a series of well paid 'expert' coaches oblivious of these technical faults or incapable of fixing them or is the problem an emphasis on winning trophies at junior levels and not on producing all round well balanced players.

However, as Jay Harris correctly reports, once back in the U-23s that season, he looked very shaky and lost his form.

I thought the loan to West Brom was a good one, but clearly didn't work out for the player, or either club. At least, judging by his comments, it has made him aware of how privileged he is to be at Everton with who he made his Premier League debut.

He has a contract until June 2020. It is in his own hands to make something of his career.

And a footnote (oops!) to claims about his 'one-footedness.' Much exaggerated IMO. Whilst it is shocking that professional footballers are not more competent with both feet, he is no worse than more senior pros who have had more than 10-15 years playing in the Premier League than he has.

I for one hope he makes it, but equally, I wouldn't be surprised if he slips down a league or two.

I puzzled how his career has stalled but would be delighted to see him back in blue.

Brendan will need considerable mental strength to get his career on track. If he fails to impress in pre-season, it is hard to see much of a future for him in the top flight.

As regards his one-footedness he is surely no worse than Funes Mori who has hearts in mouths whenever he attempts to clear the ball with his right peg.

Late in his spell replacing Baines, attackers identified the weakness and cut in on him rather than trying to beat him to the end line, which was usually futile. When they cut in to his right, suddenly he was an open door.

I remain convinced that his future is better at left back than in the middle, because I don't think he's as strong in the air as guys like Holgate and Pennington... but maybe that's part of what he learned from Pulis. We will see.

An inexperienced, 19-year-old dropped into the deep end and targeted. He got skinned a few times. To his right AND left.

There's ups and downs. He's acknowledged experiencing them without complaint.

I think he'll come good.

I think we could ultimately see some very good young players slip away under Koeman's regime based on stubborness. Garbutt, Galloway, Barkley & Deulofeu spring to mind immediately. And can anybody remember Tarashaj? Do we even know this lads ability???

Now before the "Not good enough brigade" get on my case and round on me let's bare in mind that under Koeman we have see Steklenburg, Robles, Oviedo, Williams, Kone & Valencia all feature. To some extent I would include Cleverley, Bolasie, Mirallas & Holgate in this group also.

Now whilst two of them are no longer at the club, he deemed them both good enough to stay on at club beyond pre-season after bombing out others quickly. The others mentioned have all been given chances not granted to other players despite limitations in their own game (ability/consistency/experience) which is were my bug bare with Koeman comes in.

There seems to be a lack of consistency when it comes to player judgement with no real thoughts for long-term planning. Let's not forget, Koeman, come January, has 18 months left on his contract. If this is a player rather than a manager then usually the club looks to solve that issue by not letting the player hang around until the end. Whilst the context of situation may be different there surely has to be a sense of long term development of the club?

This time next year we may have a short term solution & have consolidated being the 'best of the rest' again but then we have doubts over the managers future. This filters down to players, staff and ultimately any potential signings.

Personally, I feel that some of the criticism aimed at players "not good enough" is harsh and based loosely on nothing more than shouting with the rest of the mob. Martinez's naivety rightly cost him his job, & Koeman has done well to start the repair patch needed. However, there wasn't many blues across forums and social media that were convinced these players were not good enough during that time and got excited seeing them. The four mentioned at the beginning of the post were talked about being full internationals. two of them are, one still has time & another should be given a chance this season.

And still we don't know anything about poor Shani Tarashaj... Can he play in goal???

So if this manager is so youth averse, why did he start the derby, and so many other matches, with such a young team?

The manager has a way of playing. Del didn't fit that model, or wouldn't do the required to adapt. He is no way consistent enough to make an exception for. Garbutt has done nothing to warrant a place, either at Everton or on loan. Galloway went on loan because he wouldn't get ahead of any of the current centre-backs and could do with some experience.

Barkley?? Played most games, dropped when he played poorly. Won't sign a contract!!

I will agree with you regarding Kone: why he got minutes at the end, only the manager can explain. As for the rest? I think you are being a bit harsh.

Oh and the great Kevin Sheedy only had 1 foot but what a wand it was.

Only a kid the last time I saw him play, I think when he really develops physically he will become a very good defender.

Some people are far too quick to write off the young players as soon as they hit a rough patch – I recall the young Colin Harvey getting terrible stick from the crowd in his early days, those same people who then lauded him as The White Pele later in his career when he had grown from a raw youth to a mature man.

A bit more perspective is required with the youngsters – they will get a good first run in the side, fade and need a rest then come back much better and more mature for the experience and we need to show patience and not dismiss them as not good enough way before they have completed their development.

I agree, he has work to do, but he has the attitude to succeed.

Not sure if you've misunderstood my point? I don't believe Koeman is adverse to youth. It was more about a fair crack of the whip across the board.

Tarashaj signed on the basis he was loaned back out, then got bombed the minute he rocked up, yet we kept Kone and signed Valencia?

Deulofeu divides opinion for sure but I find it baffling when Bolasie and Mirallas are given runs in side. All are equally inconsistent as eachother.

Garbutt has struggled out on loan but two years ago was heir apparent to Baines and did look very good when called up in Europe. There is a player in there, surely?

Galloway has suffered from a unfortunate loan spell that hasn't worked out & now people are dissecting his game whilst Holgate gets away with poor positional play and a lack of strength when called upon.

Ashley Williams has been a car crash of a signing. Swansea had our pants down and nicked our undies for good measure!

Koeman's stubbornness on the goalie issue has cost us dear this season, I feel we'd've had another 9 to 12 points with a solid No 1.

So, with those personal opinions in mind, is it not fair to suggest that the manager hasn't been fair across the board?

As for the Barkley issue, I believe wages are a sticking point? Or is it that he's having doubts if the manager isn't all that arsed about it? Huge issue if you're a confidence player!

At Everton, we seem far more concerned with what players can't do rather than seeing what they can!!!

Surely if it's a training issue, that could get sorted out by a capable manager like Unsworth while still at the club playing U23, so we can at least rely on him if need be. Sending him out on a season-long loan where we are unable to bring him back without the other coach's permission is just absurd.

After all, at the start of his loan, didn't Koeman make a point of saying how well he got on with Pulis, both living near Southampton, and how much the player could learn while at WBA?

[I'm experimenting with irony, btw.]

It always amazes me that clubs pay fortunes for and to players but don't make provisions for watching out for players.

Did you perhaps mean Callum Connolly? He played in most of the Premeir League 2 games for Unsie's U23s before going out on loan at Wigan since January. His stats there show 15 starts, 3 more sub appearances, and 2 goals, which doesn't sound too bad.

And he's off in South Korea at part of Everton's 5-man England U20 contingent...

In 2015-16, there were no U23s. They were still the U21s. And Callum Lees made all of one single sub appearance for them. Is that really what you are going on here?

If not Callum Connolly, then maybe Calum Dyson?

I'd like to see Galloway build up some strength as he seems a little on the light side!

His chances at center back will probably be very limited though as that'll be one area that Koeman is targeting for new signings.

He's still young with bags of potential, and showed enough at left back previously. It will be interesting to see if he kicks on after the dip most young players go through.

I don't think he is anymore one-footed than Baines is, but Leighton is a veteran at his position and it is unfair to compare an apprentice to him. I just feel sorry for a youngster having to learn his trade under Martinez then Pulis.

When Scotland were playing and Coleman said something like, "Asa Hartford's work rate has been incredible. He's been all over the pitch. I can only say – Asa Hartford, the whole hearted player!" This was after Hartford had recovered from a hole-in-the-heart operation. :) :)

Robles (or Stekelenburg), Kenny, Holgate, Galloway, Baines (swansong), Gana, Deulofeu / Walsh, Schneiderlin, Mirallas, Barkley, Lookman (same one who plays for England).

Deulofeu is a potential midfield general and Barkley an out-and-out goal scorer... simple!

Brian Moore – "He's just pissed a late fatness test." and

Ted Lowe (snooker) – "And for those of you without colour television, the blue ball is the one behind the green."