U23s Smash eight past Southampton

A final word for Unsy and the U23 boys who beat Southampton 8-2 tonight with some outstanding performances.

Brings back memories of when the first team used to stuff Southampton and Sunderland.

Can someone tell me if any of those Under-23 players have a future as Premier League starters in the future?

Bobby, the one to watch for me is Anthony Gordon. Another very good game last night and finding the net again. Superb feet and balance.

Feeney possibly – a strong centre-back (forget his boob last night).

Disappointed not to see Simms last night, even as a sub. Another one to watch.

Baningime looking better every match after his injury last season.

I hope Beni gets back to where he was – he was looking a dead ringer for Gueye with better passing.

Evans was well thought of a while ago but seems to have dropped down a bit?

Dave, Evans was pretty good last night after what I thought was a slow start. Cracking breakaway goal from him.

I find it remarkable the job David Unsworth is doing at Under-23 level, despite losing his best players each season either on loan or moved up to join the first-team squad. His teams are still at the very top of their league.

I didn't understand when Silva was looking for a new assistant manager why Unsworth wasn't first choice. I think he loves Everton, but surely if Gerrard and Lampard with no managerial experience get good jobs, then you wonder why a Championship club hasn't come in for Unsworth.

I know Simms is only 18 but doesn't seem to be getting a whole lot of game time after his goal-scoring exploits last season.

Brent (5), Evans was very good a couple of years ago, then he seemed to drop off, then he came back and looked like he was on the way up again. I like him a lot, he has good ball control, can set up a good pass, good shooting ability and decent in the air. Maybe he lacks a bit of belief in his ability. If he can sort that out, he has the making of a very good player, as a striker or even behind the striker.

Is it just me or is the structure wrong for this team?

Harry Charsley is 22 and is very unlikely to have a future at Everton. Foulds is 21 and similarly does not look up to the top level.

The likes of Evans, Feeney, Banigime and Markelo are all 20 or older and have played a lot of U23 football. They are unlikely to progress hugely doing more of the same.

Surely those players should be tested out on loan or let go if not up to it. Promising younger players like Simms, Astley, Iversen etc should be getting starts to improve them and see if they’re good enough.

Winning the PL2 is all very good but the job of the academy is to produce players for the first team.

Sam, I agree with the gist of what you are saying.

For example, I have no bones that 'as a favour' Harry Charsley - a player the club released in JUNE - is still training at the club. What IS strange is that he is still being selected for the U-23s rather than give one of our retained and contracted players a game.

That just doesn't make sense to me.

Maybe Brands will eventually ensure our academy model at all age groups follows more closely what you propose. I note, for example, that City are no great shakes at U-23 level. I've no idea if that is a reflection of them sending out their most promising young players out on loan to get proper game experience, or a compliment to our own academy and the quality we produce.

But there is definitely some slippage in step up from junior football to the big boys' league at Everton that needs improving.

Sam, I largely agree with you particularly with regard to getting more of the 18-year-olds playing at U23s, even if it means we don't win the league. It is a balance though, and sometimes you need some experienced players in the side. Foulds, as you say doesn't appear to be Premier League standard, but in fairness to him he's played well this season, mainly at left-back but last night at centre back.

The likes of Hornby and Connolly are now on loan, hopefully Martina won't be back. Charsley is a nice gesture which has run its course and is now unfairly keeping the likes of Iversen, Phillips and Simms out of the side.

I am hoping that Unsworth is transitioning to a more vibrant attacking side this season, making regular use of our younger players.

Gordon seems special but I’m trying to temper expectations after getting carried away thinking we had a Fergies fledgling crew with Dowell and co

A great result and Unsy is doing a great job for Everton so I hope he isn't approached to by a Championship or any other club.

However it's about the individual player development. Chelsea and Man City would maybe dominate if they didn't have 20 plus players out on loan each season.

They think loans are more valuable which is evidently true and something we have targeted more over the last 3 seasons for our own youngsters.

But developing a winning mentality with a 'lesser' squad is still a great achievement. So well done.

Silva is simply buying talent rather than training and improving players. But, at first-team level, I don't think anyone cares as long as you win.

In general: City = Money. Liverpool = Mix. Spurs = Develop. Arsenal have switched from Develop to Money. Man Utd switched from Money to Develop. We have turned from Mix into a Money club without success; hopefully that's just around the corner.

I'm simply getting at: How good is the first-team coach vs what the owner (Money) wants at any club?

David Unsworth is a great Evertonian who gave his everything for the club; even with this result I don't believe he is a good manager/coach.

Everton have a great line of youth players who come through the ranks and become youth internationals but, once they get to the U/23 their development goes backwards and end up being young players with great potential that just couldn't make the grade.

I find that strange and makes sense when you think not one Everton manager has wanted him as our assistant manager and no other club has come in for him either. This is where Everton have to become ruthless like the big clubs and pick staff who are going to improve the players development but also they are the best that can be got, and not pick staff on sentimental history which is nice if you want to be a nice club but not if you want to be a top 4 club.

I think Harry Charsley was offered a short term contract because the Under-23s were short on numbers after letting players out on loan to further their development. Charsley was out in La Manga with the U23s but trained on his own with a fitness coach.

David Unsworth's success is built on a team coaching effort. Himself, Frannie Jeffers, John Ebbrell & Alan Kelly. That is a defender, midfielder, striker & goalie coaching for different areas. They jointly use Marco Silva's tactical system so the players are aware of how to play if necessary for the first team.

Anthony Evans was expected to go out on loan but obviously no decent offers came in. Probably will go out in January. Matty Foulds played pre-season for the first's & did well at left-back, he is also a left-sided centre-back.

The attitude of Harry Charsley is perfect & why not give him a short term deal, for probably little money, if you are short on numbers. Remember Kieran Phillips has been out for a year with long term injury problems & Einar Iversen has also had a few months out injured. Maybe Ryan Astley is carrying a small knock... who knows?

David, I suspect this thread is now dead re further discussions which is a shame, as I disagree with your comments on Charsley!

I have no problem in helping a decent kid regain his match fitness, but there it ends for me. If, as you say, we have given him a short term contract because we are short of numbers, it is, for me, wrong.

Yes, an experienced player like Charsley can help our U23s, but we've already made the decision to let him go as he's not good enough for our first team. We don't have a shortage of young players, we may have a shortage of EXPERIENCED U23s but that's different.

We should be giving these less experienced players a chance to see what they can do. Both Phillips and Iversen are back from injury, neither Simms nor Mampala have started a PL2 game this season, Bobby Carroll is coming back from injury, Kyle John can play further forward if necessary.

All are different players from Charsley; all are younger, we need to know if they can progress and playing Charsley blocks at least one of them every match.