Everton U23s take on Notts County tonight

Tuesday, 15 August, 2017 18comments | Jump to most recent

Everton U23s start their Checkatrade Trophy campaign with a visit to Notts County on Tuesday night.

The game kicks off at Meadow Lane at 7:45 pm and promises to be a test for David Unsworth's Premier League 2 Champions with a number of his best players from last season now out on loan.

Perhaps the most noticeable aspect of Unsworth's starting XI is whom he did not select. Jonjoe Kenny was not in the squad, suggesting that he could either be involved at first-team level when Ronald Koeman names his team to face Hajduk Spit in the Europa League or that the young fullback is on the verge of securing a loan move himself.

Callum Connolly, another player who got minutes in Koeman's team in pre-season, starts along with Josh Bowler, Bassala Sambou and Luke Garbutt.

The Blues struggled in the first half, conceding two goals at the break, but Anton Donkor came in and reduced the deficit after 56 mins. However, it wasn't enough and the Everton start the first of their three group games with a loss.

Everton U21/U23: Gray, Connolly, Garbutt (46' Donkor), Jones, Charsley, Foulds, Grant, Baningime, Bowler (46' Evans), Feeney (56' Gibson), Sambou.
Subs: Renshaw, Denny, Bramall, Broadhead.

Reader Comments (18)

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Mike Allison
1 Posted 15/08/2017 at 08:51:18

So is it u-23 or u-21?

Phill Thompson
2 Posted 15/08/2017 at 10:13:53

Well what's in a name mate, only two of our current U23s team fail to make the U21 criteria, Garbutt Davies, Calvert-Lewin, and Gethin Jones so we could play who we like, including Kenny, Holgate, Lookman if we so chose. Usually this type of match on a Tuesday would be ideal to give the likes of Lookman and Holgate game time but two 1st team fixtures in a short space would probably preclude this.

Last season Unsy went the other way and picked players on the fringe of the U23s to give them game time , consequently our results were poor in this competition so it will be interesting to see his team tonight .

Charlie Lloyd
3 Posted 15/08/2017 at 11:16:41

Phill @ 2

Good points made there. Conor Grant can be included in those not elegible too.

I'd like to see as strong a line up as possible for this one. Holgate and Lookman should only be included if they are likely to be on the bench Thursday. If they play I'd expect them to be subbed to save them.

Mike Williams
4 Posted 15/08/2017 at 11:59:31

Is anyone going to the game? I live about 10 miles from Meadow Lane and will try to get there if possible. It would be good to meet up with some other TW'ers??

Mike

Gary Edwards
5 Posted 15/08/2017 at 14:05:59

Bit far for me Mike, though look forward to your thoughts after the match.

Charlie Lloyd
6 Posted 15/08/2017 at 16:45:14

Mike @ 4

Sorry I can't get there either. It's about 100 miles for me.

Try and post a bit of a report on how the lads do.

Shame it couldn't have been relayed via Facebook or YouTube.

Michael Kenrick
7 Posted 15/08/2017 at 17:43:27

Yea, fair point with the U-21 vs U-23 thing...

As only six need to be U21, then it will essentially allow Unsworth to pick from his fill U23 squad, I imagine.

Dave Williams
8 Posted 15/08/2017 at 18:08:42

I think it's on Facebook chaps.

Mike Williams
9 Posted 15/08/2017 at 18:50:31

Well, I've booked my ticket, along with 15 others so I'm hoping for a mad rush on the turnstiles else it'll be quiet to say the least!!

I'm not the report writing type but I'll let you know my thoughts on the match if it's not on Facebook. It'll be no 'Ken Buckley' by any means though. ðŸ˜

Phill Thompson
10 Posted 15/08/2017 at 19:34:33

Well we've fielded a relatively strong team :
Everton: Gray, Connolly, Garbutt, Charsley, Foulds, Grant, Bowler, Sambou, Feeney, Jones, Baningime Subs: Renshaw, Donkor, Evans, Broadhead, Gibson, Denny
Charlie #3, yes I forgot about Conor Grant , so three over 21 in the 17.
Notts County are apparently mainly their reserves.

Frank Wade
11 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:17:35

No sites showing this that I can find. I wonder if 3 centre halves is now the chosen Everton way, that Unsy has to follow in line with first team strategy. I hope not, but looking at the line up I see Connolly and Garbutt as full/wing backs, plus Foulds, Jones and Feeney at centre back. Maybe they can change at half time. At least the absence of JonJoe Kenny may give us hope for action for him on Thursday.

Chris Williams
12 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:18:56

1 down

Chris Williams
13 Posted 15/08/2017 at 20:23:40

2 down

36 minutes

Paul Hughes
14 Posted 15/08/2017 at 21:23:06

BBC calling it as 2-1 with 12 minutes to go

David Ellis
15 Posted 16/08/2017 at 02:55:06

Darren Hind - shouldn't all these players be in our first team?

Joseph Terrence
16 Posted 16/08/2017 at 04:08:54

Tangentially related but yesterday saw two of our U23s face off against each other in the championship. Dowell and Joe Williams both played the full 90 and both seemed to have done well. Long may it continue.

Phill Thompson
17 Posted 16/08/2017 at 10:42:03

Frank (#11), I saw a tweet somewhere that said we started with 3-5-2 when attacking and it was Connolly, Feeney, Foulds as the three Centre Backs, which makes sense, Connolly has played in a three fir the U23s before but more often on the left side.

Brent Stephens
19 Posted 19/08/2017 at 14:00:09

Dave. No probs. Leicester U23 have some big players in defence and it was a hard battle against them.

Jones and Baxter came on as subs. I though Baxter ran a lot but wasn't sure he actually achieved much.

All-in-all a tight game, played with some pace and aggression.

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