Connolly and Walsh go out on loan

Lyndon Lloyd Thursday, 31 August, 2017 15comments | Jump to most recent

Callum Connolly and Liam Walsh are the latest Everton U23 players to go out on loan, joining Ipswich Town and Birmingham City respectively.

Connolly was involved at first-team level in pre-season and was used an stand-in left back to deputise for Leighton Baines but he will not be used as cover for the veteran this season despite the fact that Ronald Koeman was not able to sign a left-sided defensive player before the transfer deadline.

He moves to Portman Road until next summer while Walsh, one of the more highly-regarded members of David Unsworth's team, will be at St Andrews until January.

Reader Comments (15)

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Phil Smith
1 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:34:46

I guess we can call him back in an emergency then??

Anthony Dwyer
2 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:24:04

Galloway, Browning, Connelly, Pennington, Grant and now Walsh all gone the Championship, surley some of these are going to be first team ready next season!

Phil Smith
3 Posted 01/09/2017 at 03:55:39

I think most of them are first team ready now on some level. Just need game time.

William Cartwright
4 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:04:50

Do't forget Dowell . . . . . . Also I thought Connelly had gone out on loan to Swansea? What happened there?

The reality is the U'23's are a youth opportunity scheme with big bucks attached to it. If a small minority make the step up to the 1st 11 / squad then great. In parallel, if we buy in players with yet more ability than the U'23's then that's also great, as it improves the chances of success. It is a win win all round, just that we get a greater sense of satisfaction from seeing our youth succeed.

I am looking forward to seeing Kenny being brought through this season alongside Calvert-Lewin as bona fide 1st team squad members.

If we average 1 or 2 breakthroughs a season then that is success in my book.

Next season Walsh and Dowell earmarked to make the transition. . . . . . . .

Sam Hoare
5 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:21:47

Also Robinson on loan at Bolton and Joe Williams at Barnsley. I think that makes 8 players in the Championship. Those that do well will have a real shot at the first team later this year or next season.

If anything gives me hope its that we have some crackers in the next generation.

Alan J Thompson
6 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:15:35

What is the point in signing all those youngsters we have in the last few weeks if we are not prepared to give them a chance at the top level particularly as it seems they couldn't do any worse, at least effortwise.

Or is it a case that now we have someone overseeing these loans that he has to find someone to oversee. Parkinson's law; work expands to fill the time available.

Gary Edwards
7 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:38:25

Agreed Alan (#6) as I pondered our shortcomings in the transfer window I placated myself with the thought that Koeman may have it in his mind to blood some more 'youngsters' yes, "they couldn't do any worse". Like others I have longed to see Liam Walsh get his chance with the big boys though fear he may struggle (like our other creative midfielders) due to our severe striking limitations.

Then I open TW the morning after and read that 2 of those commonly thought to be ready for the 1st team have been loaned out.

I'm quite concerned about the way in which our playing staff are being managed.

Brent Stephens
8 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:49:24

Alan #6 "What is the point in signing all those youngsters we have in the last few weeks if we are not prepared to give them a chance at the top level particularly as it seems they couldn't do any worse, at least effortwise".

Alan, I suspect the answer might be in the "youngsters" part of it. Not ready yet but having potential. And while I admire the effort of the young lads, they need more to develop than that. I'm comfortable with what's going on with the young lads.

Steve Ferns
9 Posted 01/09/2017 at 14:53:54

I think the loan deals of Walsh and Dowell are good. I have seen Forest on the TV and watched their highlights so far and Dowell seems to be doing well. But the live game I saw didn't suggest we should have been recalling him and sticking him straight into the side. He's a long way off Sigurdsson, Klaassen, and Rooney. Let's hope he makes progress on bridging the gap this season.

Dave Abrahams
10 Posted 01/09/2017 at 18:02:08

Who has Grant signed for, I thought he was still here?

James Stewart
11 Posted 01/09/2017 at 21:05:58

Connolly was our left back cover, genius idea letting him go NOT.

Jeff Armstrong
12 Posted 02/09/2017 at 08:10:50

James, our very limited right back Cuco Martina, is now our very very limited left back cover, or he'll draft yet another right footed centre back over to the left should the slowly declining Baines get injured.

Alan J Thompson
13 Posted 02/09/2017 at 11:25:44

I'm not getting at any other poster in particular but woe betide that we should sign a World Cup winner at 21, blood a 16 year old in the San Siro or sign someone who at the time was the youngest to play in a Cup Final.

It doesn't need to be half a dozen at the same time but let's have some adventure in selection or we'll be playing those over-30 has beens alongside the youngsters like Sandro, Calvert-Lewin and Davies.

When are you old enough and when are you good enough?

Kieran Fitzgerald
14 Posted 02/09/2017 at 15:08:48

Arsene Wenger has gotten a load of stick over the years for spending a load of money on young players who never made it. This was especially true when Arsenal's competitors were strengthening their first teams and pulling ahead of Arsenal.

We are spending a lot of money on potential when the first team is short of pace and a decent striker. Little point in looking to develop for the future when we need talent now.

Dave Abrahams
15 Posted 16/09/2017 at 22:41:18

I wonder how Liam Walsh will fare now at Birmingham now that Harry Redknapp has been sacked.

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