Blues' young stars in international action

Tuesday, 27 March, 2018 29comments  |  Jump to most recent
Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images
A number of Everton's talented young players were in international action this evening, with Nikola Vlasic scoring a brace for Croatia U21s.

The 20-year-old, who signed for the Blues last August for £8m from Hajduk Split but who has found himself out of the first-team squad at Goodison Park under Sam Allardyce, found the net twice for his country in their 4-0 win over Moldova.

Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Tom Davies and Jonjoe Kenny started England U21s in their European Championships qualifier against Ukraine, with Ademola Lookman coming on as a second-half substitute.

Calvert-Lewin scored the only goal of the first half on his return to Bramall Lane, home of Sheffield United from whom he joined Everton in 2016. The striker sprinted onto an excellent through-ball and prodded it expertly past the on-rushing goalkeeper.

In the second half, Kenny helped preserve England's lead with a brilliant goal-line clearance but Mykola Shaparenko's header looked to have earned the Ukrainians a draw in the 83rd minute.

Dominic Solanke scored what proved to be the winner two minutes from the end of the 90, however, to secure victory for England.

 

Reader Comments (29)

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Kim Vivian
2 Posted 27/03/2018 at 19:49:36
Tom, Dom and JJ on the pitch. England 1-0 goal from Dom. The future looks bright for EFC with these guys, Mola (on now sub for Gray) and Dowell coming through. I just love these lads.

Kenny MotM tonight. Official.

Jerome Shields
3 Posted 27/03/2018 at 21:40:18
They won't get a chance with Big Sam. He wants old pros who can strife a game. No tactical team play going forward won't suit these younger players.
Tom Bowers
4 Posted 27/03/2018 at 23:10:15
Wouldn't be really nice if all these talented youngsters Everton have, come together and bear fruit next season. God knows we have suffered enough for years and this season has been pretty much a disaster.

Everton have a real good nucleus of young players but the trick is always to have a good manager and coaching staff to get the best out of them.

Many of them have been blooded over the last two seasons and with the guidance of some of the veteran players one would hope they are ready to progress to the next level and hold their own.

Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Kenny, Baningime, Lookman and Holgate are the main hopefuls but there are others who could force their way into the reckoning.

Steve Ferns
5 Posted 28/03/2018 at 02:22:40
Apologies, it's the wrong thread, but it's about tonight's internationals. Can some confirm that Ramiro Funes Mori was in fact in the Argentina team tonight, albeit an unused substitute.

Then can Lardiola explain how he can play for Argentina but not for us?

Sooner this idiot leaves the better.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

6 Posted 28/03/2018 at 04:06:43
Steve Ferns, Funes Mori was an unused sub, as this page shows (#13 in Argentinian's sub list).

Link

Don't quite understand the point you are trying to make as Funes Mori didn't play for Argentina tonight, did he?

Argentine's shocking 6-1 defeat to Spain even merited first mention on the main evening news bulletin here in Brazil, ahead of Brazil's own outstanding performance against Germany. A result that exorcised a tad the ghost of the 7-1 tanking Brazil received in the World Cup semi-final 4 years ago.

Watch out for the very impressive Brazilian manager this summer, Tite. I wouldn't be surprised if he is on Real Madrid's radar if they decide to bin Zinedine Zidane.

Mike Gaynes
7 Posted 28/03/2018 at 07:08:51
Unfortunately, Antonee Robinson was also an unused sub tonight in the US victory over Paraguay.

I can't wait to see our youngster in the lineup, particularly since the US left back job is currently occupied by the spectacularly mediocre Villafana.

Robert Leigh
8 Posted 28/03/2018 at 09:38:03
What should be an exciting time for the Club with a quality group of youngsters has become a worrying one, purely because they are performing on an international stage.

We have a wealth of young talent at our disposal, it'd be a shame not to give them each a chance.

Pickford; Kenny, Holgate, Keane, Robinson; Davies; Onyekuru, Vlasic, Dowell, Lookman; Calvert-Lewin

That doesn't include Baningime, Gibson, Joe Williams, Lavery...!

Andrew Yates
9 Posted 28/03/2018 at 09:53:58
I was at the England U-21 game last night. Kenny was outstanding, Davies bossed the midfield, doing almost a two-man job as his midfield partner Omoah(?) basically just flitted around looking big. Calvert-Lewin, although often isolated, worked hard, got a deserved goal, and his movement off the ball was fantastic.

Lookman, when he came on, looked confident and always willing to try and make something happen. I would love to see him given a run upon his return.

On a side note Ryan Sessegnon looked well out of his depth, offered really little.

Anyhow good kids with bright futures hopefully with us!!

Trevor Peers
10 Posted 28/03/2018 at 09:55:10
Robert, if we put that team out each week, I guarantee we would lose heavily home and away. Youth has been given it's chance at Everton this season and I don't see any outstanding success stories to date.

Davies is still learning his trade, but his game is riddled with faults that will only be ironed out with time and experience. Apart from him, the other youngsters blooded don't look to have the winning mentality or consistency to claim a regular place.

Sam Hoare
11 Posted 28/03/2018 at 10:14:21
Trevor, that's obviously complete speculation which in no way can you guarantee.

There may not be any outstanding success stories from the youth but are there from the seniors either?!

I'm not suggesting that we should play a team of youngsters but it would be criminal to waste the crop we have currently. For me, the trouble is that the seniors have seldom shown leadership or responsibility which makes it a much less stable and resilient team for the youngsters to learn in.

Robert Leigh
12 Posted 28/03/2018 at 12:11:44
Trevor (#10),

I thank you. (Sam (#11), I think you saw what I meant!) I wasn't suggesting we put that side out each week, merely pointing out that we have players in each position that have showed some promise this year.

I'd like to see a sprinkling of them between now and the end of the season, perhaps in the last game, especially when Dowell & Robinson are back from their respective loans.

The last day of the Championship season is 6th May (when ironically Dowell's Forest are playing Robinson's Bolton) which gives us the last fixture v West Ham on 13th May to give them a chance.

Trevor Peers
13 Posted 28/03/2018 at 12:49:24
Sorry about the misunderstanding, Robert, I'm all for youngsters coming through the ranks, and making the grade... it's just that it doesn't happen too often. Most of them just aren't good enough.
Dale Rose
14 Posted 28/03/2018 at 13:15:09
We have bought and nurtured all of these youngsters – why don't we use them? I would rather have a season where we started to integrate the youngsters into the team and give them the experience, rather than to risk losing them on loan spells, when other clubs can snap them up.
Minik Hansen
15 Posted 28/03/2018 at 14:17:22
Yes! Good on Vlasic. I hope he keeps up the good work and gets into that first team, we are behind him, Vlasic. COYB.
Sam Hoare
16 Posted 28/03/2018 at 14:40:13
Robert @12, yes I'd like to see the youngsters used more in the last few games. Presuming we will have next to nothing to play for. Every place counts for a few millions these days.

I'd also love to see us play the last few games with a new manager! If Fonseca really is being lined up, then why not get him in early to witness the task he has first hand?

John Boon
17 Posted 28/03/2018 at 14:40:25
Simple. Vlasic should be in the squad on a regular basis. I hope he plays "this" season. Why not?
Patrick Pulis
18 Posted 28/03/2018 at 16:28:49
Mike @7. Not sure what it says about the US national team, but Villafana looked like one of the best players on the pitch last night.
Geoffrey Williams
19 Posted 28/03/2018 at 17:14:16
I thought DCL's goal was a really well taken goal.
Mike Gaynes
20 Posted 28/03/2018 at 20:16:25
Patrick #18, sorry but I couldn't disagree more. In attack, Villafana is all flash, no effect. He overlaps great and crosses often, but never with accuracy... nothing actually hits a teammate's head. He turns the ball over in bad positions – did that twice last night and gave up counterattacks. And in defense, he's average at best... tackles poorly, and you saw him get overpowered at the back post on that late cross.

Miazga and Trapp repeatedly had to cover to their left last night, and that's always the story with Villafana. He's a solid, average league player. Not international caliber.

By the way, I wouldn't mind if Everton took a look at Santander. Imposing defender. Paraguay's MotM last night by far.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

21 Posted 28/03/2018 at 22:27:22
A very well taken goal indeed by Calvert-Lewin.

Sees the play early, starts accelerating from the half way line to put himself in a good position when the ball is delivered to him. Very quick thinking – and feet – for the finish.

Link

Patrick Pulis
22 Posted 28/03/2018 at 00:07:25
Mike (#20), I couldn't agree with you more about Santander. Had a little nasty streak to him too, enjoyed that.

On Villafana. I agree with you that he was a liability on defense. I just thought he was one of the few players that attacked and pumped balls into the box. A lot of the youth last night attacked to a point and then lost the ball without any chance being created. I usually don't like Villafana, but I thought he was quite useful last night.

John Dean
23 Posted 29/03/2018 at 09:03:05
Despite not being that tall, both Vlasic's goals were headers. The first was from a floated free-kick that found him in space at the back of the melee and his powered header found the top corner. For the second, he met a corner at the edge of the box and the keeper was distracted enough by his defender to allow the ball through his legs.
Dave Abrahams
24 Posted 29/03/2018 at 09:39:09
I think that both Vlasic and Lookman should have both been getting more game time in Everton's first team – and not just as wingers: they both have the ability to play in the Number 10 role, both have quick feet, great dribbling ability and are always ready to have a shot at goal.

They have both been neglected by Allardyce as he just wanted the points on board to achieve his aim of keeping Everton up and getting his reward. hope now he gets that reward and moves to his next firefighting job.

Trevor Peers
25 Posted 29/03/2018 at 09:49:01
Common sense tells you that you never put kids in a relegation battle – to suggest otherwise would be reckless.

Vlasic and Lookman aren't ready yet for the rigours of the Premier League, Lookman is on loan and Vlasic should be also. Let's see if he can impress in the Championship.

Colin Malone
26 Posted 29/03/2018 at 12:02:05
No need to send them out on loan. What we need is a footballing coach or manager.
Minik Hansen
27 Posted 29/03/2018 at 12:50:45
Trevor, agreed to an extent. Look what happened to Aston Villa with them young players. Right mix between young and experienced is key. It's just a shame with the managers we've had recently. Who knows, Fonseca might do. I'm looking forward to a new guy on the sideline.
Peter Gorman
28 Posted 29/03/2018 at 13:07:17
Trevor, I certainly agree you can't expect to put the youngsters in en masse but can't agree that Davies is the only one to have shown potential (either physically or mentally).

The dip in form for the academy players coincided with some shocking performances from supposedly experienced professionals.

And there is one kid who I don't believe has ever shown himself to be overawed and already has produced more consistent performances than Schneiderlin (sorry, I mean better: Schneiderlin is nothing if not consistent). I refer of course to Beni Baningime.

With Gana injured, he should see the season out but I doubt that he will.

Karen Mason
30 Posted 03/04/2018 at 13:00:24
Spot on, Colin at (26). I keep reading 'our youngsters are not good enough' Really??? It couldn't be that we don't have a manager who can't coach, could it?

A decent coach/manager could do something pretty special with this crop of youngsters. They are not the finished article yet, but most of them will make it, & I hope, with an EFC shirt on. But then, hey, you can't win anything with kids!! Ask Alan Hansen.

Karen Mason
31 Posted 03/04/2018 at 13:03:34
That should say. 'a manager who can coach'.

Double negative my phone typed doesn't make sense – even to me!


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