U23s subject Saints to a goalfest at St Mary's

I watched the highlights provided by Southampton on site, only 4 minutes but great entertainment! Charlie Whitaker was involved in most things that were good including a spectacular attempt at an overhead kick which went just wide and a very cute dink over the goalkeeper for his goal.

Stan Mills has really progressed in recent weeks, he was not even an U18 regular a few months ago, he strikes the ball very cleanly when he has a sight of goal, as per his goal in this match.

It's a shame Broadhead is not 20, he's far too good for U23s and – unless we have a change of heart – will be leaving at the end of the season.

He looks a good little player Whitaker, Phill, I’ve said it before but he reminds me a little bit of a young Adrien Heath. He finds little pockets of space, he’s not bad flicking things on with his head, but he’s got to work on his casualness imo, because he gets into some great positions because of his natural ability, and then doesn’t take enough care, probably because he finds the game easy, again maybe because he’s got natural talent?

Excellent result, hopefully at least 1 of them makes the grade at the senior level. Talking of Everton youth, our ex-U-23, Kieran Dowell seems to be doing really well at Norwich. he was deemed too 'light-weight', a 'luxury' player, not suited for the PL, etc, but all credit to him - he has found a regular place in a very good Norwich team, and I am quite sure that we will be seeing him playing quite regularly in the PL next season. Was he another one that got away?

Ajay, I don't think it's a question of Dowell being 'one that got away'; more a question of him being pushed out. He will, no doubt, be joined by others not deemed good enough by us, whilst we instead recruit the likes of Iwobi, Delph, Bernard and Gomes at no small cost in terms of fees and wages.

Just seen the latest Blackpool highlights with a brace from Simms. Unlucky not to get a hat trick too. 7 in 20 now with two assists. That's not a bad return for his first shot at proper football. Maybe ready for another step up next season.

Simms is at a good level. Leave him to learn playing real meaningful football for another season.

Dowel has quality, it was always a question about his work rate and strength against Premier league players. As he matures and gains experience playing the game his quality will shine through.

He wasn't good enough for us at the time. He's still not so it made sense for him to leave. Could he be worse than Bernard and Iwobi from an attacking sense.. in another few seasons it may be a clear answer.

17 players formally promoted to u23s today, many of whom are familiar names. It does strike me that the depth of quality seems very strong all of a sudden. Baines and others are credited with key roles in the development. Getting these boys into the first team reckoning altogether but it's still very encouraging.

Robert (7), how many of the current U23 squad are being released to make way for these youngsters coming in? Has there been a list issued with this information?

I was hoping Broadhead and Carroll were being given a twelve months extension to their contracts, in Carroll’s case because he looked a very good player but received a bad injury which has kept him back, I think his contract is up this summer, as is Broadhead’s.

Nathan Broadhead is 23 Dave.

Sorry, but he is exactly the sort of profile we need to clear off our academy books rather than retain with another contract extension.

Good luck to the lad but his future lies away from Everton.

I was thinking that myself Jay, and was wondering why he never got himself another club, after doing okay at Burton Albion, last season. Something seems to be getting lost in translation, because if a kid isn’t really part of the plan by the age of 21, then the chances are he his not going to make it at Everton, and this is hopefully going to change now they seem to be lowering the ages of the players representing both the under 18’S and 23’S.

Jay (9), Nathan is twenty three, true, I doubt very much he is on high wages, I would suggest around £2,000 to £3,000 a week, but I haven’t got a clue truthfully. I am not making a judgement on King, who was brought in on the last minute of the transfer window, because he hasn’t been used enough to have view on him. The fact that he has hardly been used and the money used to get him here has been wasted. I think Nathan Broadhead would have been better used and the money saved if he had been used instead of King.

Why I wanted Nathan to be given another twelve months at Everton is because I believe he is a good player and will have a good career if given a few games to prove himself, he could even be a good squad player, possibly be sold for a decent fee once he gets a chance.

I think he would have been gone from Everton, being honest if he hadn’t had a bad injury while on loan at Burton? Then last summer he would have been fixed up with a club but again was injured, Jay he won’t be a weight on the clubs finances, I think there will be a few clubs interested in the summer if he is let go, I just think he is a better player than some people realise.

The only reason Broadhead remains at the club is probably Covid and championship clubs tightening their belts. Too good for u23s but only got 3 in 23 for Burton Albion. Good lad but needs to build a career elsewhere once his contract expires this summer.

Robert (#7), sorry to take issue but I feel you may be granting our wonderful local rag with more stature and influence than is strictly merited when you say:

17 players formally promoted to U23s today.

If that's how you read it, I'm afraid it's the usual hyperbole that passes for local journalistic accuracy. These are U18s players who have been elevated to the U23s during the course of the season.

The significance of 'today' seems to be that this is the day the Echo decide to pull together an article on them, perhaps building on the popular conviction that youngsters in the Academy are being advanced to higher levels at a much greater rate than previously.

I remain unconvinced that this season is really that much different than previous ones in terms of turnover, with many of the older guard going out on loan and results in the PL2 taking something of a hit as a result. T'was ever thus, methinks.