U23s held by Plymouth Argyle

I’d rather see Simms or a youngster get minutes than Niasse. I get he’s in the shop window but his contract is up in June so it’s not like we are going to cash in if he gets a few U23 goals. Ditto Charsley.

I get your point Kieran, but both a good pros for the younger prospects to learn from. And they are playing well l, which brings the whole team on.

I agree with Kieran. Why is Niasse playing. I understand Charsley. We have a dearth of talent in that position. We have already got some 16 year olds (Onyango and Dobbin) appearing for the u23s already so perhaps raising the standards in some positions so the team is better allows for the talented youngsters to develop faster. However, holding Simms back in place of Niasse makes no sense.

There's talk of Foulds leaving for free at the end of the season. Sad really. Unsworth explained after the game that he's not good enough for our first team and that he needs league football now so will be leaving us soon, whether that's on loan in January or for good at the end of the season, remains to be seen.

This is shaping up for a couple of barren years for Unsworth and the u23s as they await Tom Cannon, Lewis Dobbin, Onyango, Tom Warrington and Bobby Carroll passing 18.

I'd guess the Cub wants Niasse to be playing so he is in game shape come the January window. Perhaps, in lieu of an x-fer free, the buying club pay off the last few months of his contract and we're done with him.

I'm sure Niasse will be back playing champions league football within a season or two. Perhaps in a weaker league, for a lesser club but he'll be happy and we will all be happy.

I wouldn't be surprised if he had a short stint at another Premier league or championship club but he'll have plenty of options come the summer.

It's a shame things didn't work out for him, he's simply not good enough for us or the Premier league. Which begs the question, how good or poor is the champions league?

Some players, manages etc are just not suited to some leagues. Finding and buying the right players isn't as easy as we would like to think.

I would also ask the question if you can't make it at Everton, how good are they and how good is the top 2, 3, 4 teams?

Currently there's a massive gap between us and Europe's elite and that's the reality. Fans who think another £100M on a striker or two will propell us into fighting for a top 4 position may need a reality check.

It's possible but timing, hard work and a sprinkle of luck is needed. The keep ball, possession based tippy tapy football has been largely replaced by teams of serious athletes who are also highly skilled and highly organised.

I'm sure Niasse will be back playing champions league football within a season or two. Perhaps in a weaker league, for a lesser club but he'll be happy and we will all be happy.

I wouldn't be surprised if he had a short stint at another Premier league or championship club but he'll have plenty of options come the summer.

It's a shame things didn't work out for him, he's simply not good enough for us or the Premier league. Which begs the question, how good or poor is the champions league?

Some players, manages etc are just not suited to some leagues. Finding and buying the right players isn't as easy as we would like to think.

I would also ask the question if you can't make it at Everton, how good are they and how good is the top 2, 3, 4 teams?

Currently there's a massive gap between us and Europe's elite and that's the reality. Fans who think another £100M on a striker or two will propell us into fighting for a top 4 position may need a reality check.

It's possible but timing, hard work and a sprinkle of luck is needed. The keep ball, possession based tippy tapy football has been largely replaced by teams of serious athletes who are also highly skilled and highly organised.

Liam Walsh was a cracking little central midfielder who I was not alone in expecting big things from. I recall Dave Abrahams also taking a shine to him. He left Everton for Bristol City on a free and after initially impressing, he found himself out the team and so is now at Coventry City on loan. Well he scored this goal for Coventry at the weekend, and it's an absolute belter:

Link

He’s at a funeral Steve, so maybe when he sees that goal it will buck him up a bit mate. I also thought Bristol paid a million quid for Walsh, Steve? Just watched that after posting Steve, and it’s bucked me up, what a great goal that was, absolutely brilliant.

That really is one helluva goal by Liam.

Dave A will enjoy that, that's for sure.

That’s an incredible goal! Thanks for the link. In that kit you could have mistaken him for that amazing winger that used to play at Man City (Kinkladse??)

My condolences to you, Dave. I hope the goal raises a smile.

By the way did we all see Gordon’s belter for England?

Gordon scored again today. No video yet, but here’s a description from the twitter feed:

70 mins. Anthony Gordon with a cracking finish off his left following good work by Buchanan

This is his goal 3 days ago:

Link to Twitter

Cracking goal. Typical Anthony Gordon movement. Love the guy. Soon, please. Soon.

He’s our future number 10 for sure. The movement and vision is top notch for such a young lad. He’s too young to play there just yet, but he can also play left and right, such is his technique. Surely with Bernard out it can’t be too long before he gets on the pitch. If we can get a comfortable lead early enough against Norwich and he’s on the bench, then there’s no excuse not to bring him on.

Steve (8) and Jay(10), I read about this goal last week, great to see it live, thanks for the link. Ye, I really enjoyed watching that run and finish, only League One but showed Liam's quick thinking dribbling and changing pace and direction.

I said on here a few weeks ago that I hadn't give up on this kid, still plenty of hope there for me to believe he hasn't finished with premier league football, even though I don't know the lad.

I think Liam left Everton for £2M. I hope we have a buy back clause or a percentage of any fee when he's sold on.

Brent (@17), thanks for the updates on tonight's game. Off to bed, had a rough week in more ways than one.

Take care, Dave.