U18s dumped out of FA Youth Cup by Derby County

Good night all round then

We were the better team 2nd half, Ryan Astley should have equalised with a last minute header. Some odd selections tonight with the usual right back Hosie starting at left back and top goalscorer Tom Cannon on the bench, so it was 4231 with Dobbin up front. We definitely looked better with Cannon on alongside Dobbin. Onyango continues to stand out at this level as a defensive mid with brains, long legs to tackle and the energy to get up and down the pitch.
It was a shame that only the second half clashed with the Derby, if it had kicked off at 8 15 I would have saved me some pain. I'd rather watch the kids lose at least they put up a fight.

I watched a lot of the FA Youth Cup game.They looked like they'd never ever played together before, couldn't string two passes together, slow and looked unfit, hardly any movement off the ball, lethargic and uninterested most of the second half.

There was one player, I won't mention him or his position, but he was absolutely woeful. He's kiddin' himself if he thinks he'll ever make a footballer. This team didn't look like it had ever been coached, they dillied and dallied, woke up a bit near the end and speeded up to ambling along. I'd say that was the worst performance I've ever seen by an Everton Youth team since the competition started around 1955.

Dave you could copy and paste that comment into any article on the Men's first team

It seems that all the teams across the club, are in a loosing streak and loss of any form.

The first team is setting the wrong benchmark, and sending the wrong message to the young players.

Sadly I have to say this decline sees no end, as matters stand.

Deliverance, is needed.

Paul, no need to worry, as this is The Peoples Club.

Dave #3. Wow!! I couldn't disagree more with your negative assessment, in our current plight there are many reactive negative comments about our club that I read and shrug my shoulders, move on but I feel your post needs challenging.
Firstly, you have me if you've seen every Youth team since 1955, I haven't, but I would say the team of two years ago that lost in the first round at home to Ipswich was worse than this in both playing style and potential of players.
Second, regarding your “ I won't name him”, I'm sorry to say that smacks of indecision or lack of knowledge - your criticism is certainly damning of the whole team.
I would challenge you to write a one sentence summary of each of the starting players and their negative points, I'll counter where I can with the positives.
We were beaten 1-0 by a good team who scored a fortunate goal, in my view they won the first half, us the second. Let's put this into perspective, these are kids of 16, 17, 18 making their way in football, some of them won't get contracts with us, the majority won't make a full time living in the game. Three players in my view look decent prospects, a further three I think should get contracts with us.
This is u18 football, which is different in style from U23s in many ways. Two people can watch the same game and come up with different views, that's what you and I have done, in the end it's just opinions, neither of us can prove which opinion is right. But I felt I couldn't let your negative take go unanswered.

Phil (7), first of all Idoubt if I've seen every youth team since the competition started, they have been knocked out early while playing away, I have seen plenty of those teams though.

Secondly, Instated last season that I was disappointed with the attitude of the team, they didn't to take the competition seriously, same definitely goes for last night.

Thirdly I wouldn't mention the player concerned,not out of indecision or lack of knowledge, I just wouldn't want to embarrass the lad.

Phill, like you, I think young lads need and deserve to be encouraged,but there was practically hardly anything that impressed me in that game last night, especially the desire to go as far as they could in the FAyouth cup.

From past games I would say that Onyango, Dobbin, Astley and Cannon, who you named in your first post have a decent chance of making a good living out of the game. IknowOnyango is only sixteen, so shouldn't expect him to excel every game, but he certainly didn't do anything special last night,neither did Dobbin, tried one or two individual dribbles but ran into trouble each time,Astley had hard lines with the last minute header, butI expected him to marshal the defence better than he did, how many times did they cock up bringing the ball out of defence, starting with the ‘keeper.

Phill the team didn't, seem to me, to play with any plan, it was all individual moves, often breaking down through lack of control or just running into trouble without looking up and trying to find their team mates in good positions, although not many were showing a lot of movement.

You are correct it is all about opinions, I'll admit your attitude on last night's game is the better one, encourage rather than criticise young lads, but I was very disappointed by the performance I put it into a post, like you I like to see young lads with talent making their way in the game, for me they didn't show very much of it, last night. Maybe they all had an off night, or maybe they missed the injured Bobby Carroll, who usually knits the team together.

Thanks for your post and putting your point of view.

Well Dave, we'll obviously have to agree to disagree on this. I saw lots of positives last night, but admit I have a weakness here in that our kids frequently gladden my heart compared to our feeble first teamers, and as such I'll give them more slack.
We are widely divergent in our views on what we saw, for instance Onyango was for me our best player and looked very comfortable in his defensive mid role. No he didn't do anything special that made you go “Wow! “ but I saw things I really liked in his work rate, reading of the game to cover areas of weakness and in using his height to make effective tackles. I'm not unhappy with your view of him that's what you saw I saw something different, and it's far better than the ludicrous “ he's like Fellani / Viera” based presumably on his height and hair cut. He's no Rooney, but in two years time we should have a cracking 18 year old on our hands. Or of course it could all go wrong and you could be reminding me of this post . ;-)

Phill (9),No I'm with you, I hope Onyango goes all the way to the top with us, he's got a lot of talent and he's still sixteen, and even at just sixteen I expected him to take over the midfield completely the other night, he has played for Everton's U21's already this season.

Obviously I expected too much, too soon, however if he doesn't make it at Everton there is no way I would pull you up and remind you of your prediction, I wouldn't do that to a casual fan, never mind yourself, who wants the best for our youngsters and offers encouragement and praise.

Thanks for the debate Phill and here's to spotting the next promising young player at the Blues, I've already bagged Bobby Carroll !!

Dave, from that intake I've been mightily impressed with Ryan Astley since he first appeared as a 16 year old schoolboy in the U23s, but he's an open secret now. It's a shame that Carroll's injury will keep him out this season, I love his style and commitment but am wary of his small size. Maybe another Liam Walsh..? His midfield partner Mackenzie Hunt has the size and ability, so we'll see how he develops this season.
The one that intrigues me the most is the Schoolboy centre back Reece Welch. I've only ever been able to see short clips of him playing for us and England u16/17, but he appears to be a stand out at his age.
Again, the reality is that only a small few of the kids we discuss ever make it, so I just enjoy them for what they are, a bit of future hope in a gloomy Everton present.

Phill (11), yes Reece Welsh, is he injured? He wasn't in the squad the other night, like you I have only seen clips of him, but he is very well rated at the club and is only sixteen.

Dave, I believe Reece Welch has been injured but it's hard to tell as the club is very protective on information about u18s e.g. I don't think Bobby Carroll's injury appeared in official sources. I suspect they will be even more cautious for Welch as he's still a Schoolboy so we won't want to overplay him. I think this is the most games played by a Schoolboy since the Kenny/ Ryan Ledson days.
Often at this time of year the club start issuing Scholar Contracts but they are not officially announced, usually an individual may announce it e.g. Tim Cahill's son, so I'd have expected Welch to be in this category.