Nathan Broadhead signs a new 2-year contract extension

At 23 he hasn't set the pulses racing. Probably a league 1 or championship level player. Bizzare 2 year contract for a 23 year old

Ian

The only logic I can see here is if Brands really rates him and thinks Carlo was wrong not to use him. Otherwise it makes no sense unless like Jose Baxter it's a EITC type charity case.

Agree with others, a strange decision.
Either he's good enough or will rapidly develop, (only a few years younger than Dom) which is possible if he'd been playing regularly football.

I'm presuming Simms successfull loan and being younger has moved him ahead into 3rd or 4th choices striker behind Dom, Ric and Mo-Kean.

Thats how small, average, poor, limited the squad is. Thats why we need to buy 2 or 3 forward players. Mr Brands, over to you.

Maybe they are starting up an Under30s reserve league and we're entering a team.

Odd to say the least. Can only assume he's a good influence on others coming through.

Too good for the U23s, but no impact at Burton Albion.

I presume he's been offered a contract to provide a focal point to an u23 side which is going to be v young next season. Sadly for him, that might be a more lucrative contract than he might get by dropping down the leagues.

Sad situation, because he's a decent footballer and might build a good career if he got a proper contract lower down the leagues or in Scotland.

I think he's a better player than many fans give him for, how can he show what he can do for the first team if he doesn't get played. Why did they sign Josh King and then hardly play him? Nathan could have played as many minutes as King, saved quite a lot money and might have converted some of the chances that DCL and Richarlison squandered, because he does have a good eye for goal and finds space to score a few, not a bad footballer either. Doubt his wages will break the bank so he is well worth the contract. Go and show them lad!!

Nothing wrong with late developers. Doesn't seem like an unreasonable move. We need a group of forwards to select from. Assume Simms signs contract extension and goes on loan, it leaves DCL and Richarlison with some lingering question marks over latter. We'll sign one player up front and Broadhead will complete the options with four. He may not make it but has a chance and support of those around him. Preferable to keeping King for the same role.

Broadhead has been at the club since the age of 10, moving through the age groups and finally hitting a brick wall when he reached the Under-23s and the dead head of David Unsworth. Broadhead was actually one of the supposed golden youth crop that played in the Europa League dead rubber game in Cyprus against Apollon Limassol. But now, at the age of 23, it seems ridiculous he is still at the club and has been given a new 2-year contract.

The case of Broadhead only highlights the lack of strategy at the club and the awful state of the academy, which has been left to stagnate under the leadership of David Unsworth. You only have to look at some of the players who have been released this summer: Josh Bowler, Con Ozounidis, Callum Connolly, Matthew Pennington (the ultimate – he was actually 26 when we finally released him this summer). Why were any of these players still on the club's books!?!

The role of an academy is to bring players through for the first team or to produce players who are good enough to be sold for profit. On both criteria, Everton are failing miserably. What players from the academy have actually brought in any sort of transfer fee over the last 5 years or so?

The best are Kieran Dowell and Antonee Robinson, who went to Norwich City and Wigan Athletic for fees of just under £2 million. Not exactly a glowing examples of producing players for profit. While players breaking into the first team... let's not go there. Tom Davies is about it, Calvert-Lewin and Holgate were actually poached from Sheffield United and Barnsley.

Which brings us back to Broadhead. At 23 years of age, why is he getting another contract at the club? In reality, his chances of becoming a first-team player will be no better than they have been since he was probably 18. Yes, you do get late developers, but can anyone really say Broadhead has the potential to be one? I highly doubt it.

So, what will the club do with him? It will be a waste of time sending him out on loan in the hope that we may get a club to come in for him. This may happen but, in reality, we will probably only get a transfer fee in the region of the Dowell and Robinson deals. We will have spent probably as much on his development and wages as the price we would get for him.

Or will we do one of Unsworth's great favourites and have him, à la Garbutt, playing in the Under-23s and blocking the progress of any promising youngster below? Or will he just spend his time being a bench filler for the first-team squad and never getting a game?

The case of Broadhead is an indictment of how the club and the academy are run. Surely you need to make decisions on players concerning their development, if they have a chance of becoming a regular first-team player or if you can sell them for a tidy profit. Broadhead does not fit any of this and handing him another 2-year contract is turning him into another Matthew Pennington.

With the signing of this contract, Broadhead is wasting another 2 years of his football career and the club is wasting a salary on him. This really is a sad indictment on the way we operate.

Thank you, Martin, for another of your pathetic diatribes in the constant and now boring war of attrition against the Academy in general and Unsworth in particular.

Yea, let's call him "dead head" because we know for certain that's what he is, don't we? The Academy is in an awful state... really? Judging by what? Your criteria that they must either produce players for the first team or sell them off for vast fees.

You don't consider for one moment the fundamental limitation on the success of the Academy in meeting these wonderful aspirational targets, which is namely the innate quality of the talent they have acquired over the years. Yes, it's the old "nature versus nurture" argument but your so-called analysis is all one-sided in proclaiming an abject failure of the nurturing side of this complex dialectic when it comes to creating Premier League stars.

There is another role of the Academy that you ignore, and that is to provide a competitive team environment for the development of young players. Why does this always get ignored by the critics like you? That's why players are not summarily dismissed at some arbitrary age based on your perfectionist criteria but the better of them are retained to form and maintain a decent team for all the Under-23 players and the up-and-coming Under-18 players to play in and be a part of. If Everton did what you and your fellow travellers require, there wouldn't be enough players to form such a team.

And this old saw about retaining these players blocks the path for the up-and-coming talent who can't get a game. No proof of that whatsoever, in fact it's nonsense. There has always been a progressive rollover as players progress through the years. The decision on how fast they should progress, how long they should stay at the club, how long a contract they should be offered – on what basis can you possibly be a better judge of these things than the people – the paid professionals – whose job it is to assess such things and make such decisions, based on day to day contact and involvement with the players involved?

The chances of Broadhead becoming a star are very small, but the reasons for retaining him may outweigh those for dispensing with his services, especially considering the investment the club has made in each and every one of the young players they have.

A high rate of attrition is inevitable but your ridiculous critique and unreasonable demands would decimate the pool of decent players needed to sustain the Academy teams – and what is most annoying to me, you do it based on supposition and inference from your own 'superior' knowledge and judgement as a complete outsider with zero material evidence.

I don't what I'd do if I was him. It depends how desperate he is to play first team football I suppose. He's taking a punt on the new manager liking the look of him, or perhaps he's scared to lose the kudos of being a premier league footballer.

Still, a 2 year contract brings him in a good wage and the occasional place on the bench for a league cup game, so he might be happy with that. And come January he can always go in and ask for a transfer and there's bound to be someone who'll take him, even if it's just on loan.

I dunno, if I was that good a player, I'd want to play I think. Drop down a division at this stage and see where it takes me. There are any number of ex-Everton lads who have gone on to very decent careers elsewhere.

Or may be, he's done the right thing and has a mortgage and bills to pay off and earns more with this contract while, as an Everton "reserve", he still has the chance of another club being interested in him. Heaven forbid somebody at the club sees something in him.

Michael # 12 ] Have to agree it's a tricky one for an outsider to work out.
Difficult to see a 23/24 year old breaking into the first team.
Maybe the prospect of a 2 year contract - perhaps with a loan or 2 included - seems a financially safer option than taking a chance in the lower leagues?
Of course if he/his agent had received little or no interest from other clubs then accepting any offer from Everton makes perfect sense.
This is another one where a TW poster with an ITK contact at Finch Farm could add some clarity.

I can see the logic in offering Broadhead a 2-year extension. Our squad is currently very light on attacking options, he is quick and can finish, and his weekly wage will be a fraction of the average first-team squad member. Whether he is part of the first team squad next season or out on loan, there is a world in which his stock will rise sufficiently to the point that he can either become a proper squad member with us, or command a transfer fee north of £1 million that will make this extension look like good business.

Andrew. No two ways about it we need him and Simms in the first team squad pronto unless Brands remembers his Eindhoven days and actually does what he's paid to fo and unearths some gems. The front two need serious competition plus the obvious winger that Walcott should if been. Providing they stay.,

It's natural fact of life in any profession and walk of life that some develop and mature later than others.

There is also a good shout above, that players can be retained to ensure that one or two others coming through the academy, who the staff believe are the next big thing, are surrounded by good players to enable them to progress. It sounds a bit cut throat (it is), but it's almost like investing in others to really invest in those who will come through if that makes sense? That's how academies work. Either way, this boy is enjoying and will enjoy a career in professional football. What more could he ask for? Good luck to him. I hope that's with Everton, if not then enjoy it elsewhere and Everton have enabled him to do that.

I see two things here; what I have just said and Michael eludes to above. Or, the club genuinely believe this lad is going to feature in the first team squad, he's just taken a bit longer than others.

For those interested in academies, have a read of this link:

https://schalke04.de/en/inside-en/future-begins-new-logo-knappenschmiede/

For those who read my previous, yes I'm bias, but one of the best academies in Europe over the years and an impressive sight to see. Forget the marketing "fluff", some interesting insights into the philosophy. And if you want to see the standard of player they've produced over the years, just Google it!!

On another note, somewhat related, but this one somewhat belated since he's been released now.

Bobby Carroll was one of the U23 squad who was expected to go on and develop. After building up to a stellar season for the Under-18s in 2018-19, he was fully expected to make the grade in the Under-23s as an exciting midfielder.

Not perhaps the best source but here's what some guy wrote about him at The Transfer Tavern.

Yet I can't find a single game he played for the U23s in the last two years – just 3 early ones spent sitting on the bench in August 2019. Since then, GOT note him having major surgery on his knee after ACL damage. Seems he suffered serious injury or recovery issues that have kept him completely on the sidelines since then.

He was given a 2½-year contract back in January 2019 on the strength of his impressive performances for the U18s but seems that his career has since been destroyed and the club released him at the end of that contract.

It illustrates that injury is another very real factor that must play into the retention of players for the U18 and U23 squads to ensure they can maintain a competitive team for the players that are fit.

If anyone knows anything more, I would be grateful. Thanks.

Michael, all,

Apologies, as well as ranting about our managerial situation, I have had my Schalke head on this morning, checking what they're up to as they head to Bundesliga 2.

For those interested in academies, do a search for "Knappenschmiede" on You Tube. The club has just released an interesting documentary on their academy. It's in German but sub-titled.

Interesting how many times they use the word development versus results. Being custodians for the boys and having a plan A to develop them into professional footballers, preferably with Schalke but if not, then elsewhere. Plan B is to ensure they are educated, so that if this does not happen, either through ability, injury or whatever reason they have an alternative.

You get a snap shot of some of the players that the academy has churned out as well.

Anyway, if you like wider football documentaries, well worth a watch and only half an hour of your life.

Michael (18) I would have thought that Bobby Carroll has played in the last twelve months but I trust your record on this. I was aware of his injury because I couldn't understand why he wasn't playing unless he was injured, Bobby was a cracking little box to box midfielder who worked entirely for the team, the team always came first, he cold do all the basics very well, passing, dribbling and never shirked the tackling part of the game, a big part of making the team tick.

I might have mentioned on here that I expected Everton to extend his contract because of the injury he had, I knew it was up this summer, I hope Bobby can continue to play, but it looks to me that it is too serious for him to carry on, because he was very, very good and Everton have played the game, in the past, and given players in Bobby's situation another contract and a chance to show that his obvious potential was worth another year or so to come to fruitition, it looks like the vital ingredient, luck, has eluded Bobby, so sad for him if this is the case.

Michael and Dave - I remember Carroll's name mentioned on here, but don't follow the U-teams routinely.

I just looked young Bobby up. He has a twitter account. He posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed on November 11, 2019. Given his potential and still young age, his knee must have torn up bad for the Club to decide to let him go 19 months after surgery.

He posted this a couple weeks ago. Guess he'd gotten the word:

"Had the best 10 years at Everton. Just want to thank all the players and staff for everything they have done for me Blue heart can't wait for next season."

It really surprised me too, Dave. I could not believe he hadn't played for 2 years. But I think I've commented before that so many of the academy players seem to go through this rite of passage with a serious injury that can knock them out for a season or two... or, as I fear in his case, it may even signal the end that budding career.

Thanks for coming up with that, Jimmy. I have no patience for Twitter, sorry. 19 months is a hell of a long recovery period, so it must have done some serious damage. Surprised there doesn't seem to have been an Echo feature on him. But then they're too busy trawling through the latest click-bait nonsense from NewsNow...

Cheap backup in case DCL joins Carlo after the Euros

The only reason he gets a new contract is because Brands think he could either contribute for first team or be sold for a decent fee.

I've always thought he looked very decent for U23s and it makes more sense financially having him come on for 15 minutes at the end of matches on 10k per week than Josh King or whoever on 90k per week.

Get a manager who develops young talent with a strong first team and hungry, young academy talents like Broadhead filling in a good portion of the fringe spots.

Definitely a shoo-in for the League Cup and FA Cup.

Happy to develop off the bench in the Prem. Can finish from the edge of the box in the reserves- what's not to like?

Even if he drops down to 3rd striker, he looks like someone with a bit of confidence to hold the ball higher up the pitch and a bit of fight to get in the first team. Hope he does well.

Also hope Gordon kicks on too, another player not afraid to turn with the ball and drive down the wing. Grealish is not super quick but knows how to draw in a tackle and go past his man. Obviously a long way to go, but Gordon knows how to go around players without passing back, can cross and has a decent shot from distance. Hopefully we persist with him too.

Sam # 24 ] No idea what Broadhead is like, but you'd hope there is some logic to offering a 2 year contract to a 23 year old.

In unrelated news, while looking for tickets to the Les Mis concert I noticed that Leopoldstadt is scheduled to resume in August. Hope it goes well for you.

Michael (22) - You're welcome. I don't twitter either.

But with the fever dreams, hallucinations, and outright lies populating the Benitez thread, I've been trying to track down all the "the latest click-bait nonsense from NewsNow...", you mentioned.

So many of them are quoted from a tweet. Since you don't need an account to have a look-see using a link someone posts, you can track down the origin of the latest "rumor".

I find it worth taking a few minutes.

I think it's such a difficult decision for younger players these days, especially for those who started at a club when they were very young, under 10 etc. They grow up hoping to get a professional contract with the club they are with. If it was me, I think I would want to take my chance and perhaps start off at a smaller club and get games and hope for the best. Of course, financially, it might not be as attractive but I would just want to play games and to avoid injuries. Ryan Ledson always springs to mind, assume he's doing OK for himself and perhaps moving his way back up to the Premier League.

Not picked up anywhere else that I've seen, but Josh Bowler has found himself a club already since being released. A good fit for him I think.

Bowler Joins Blackpool

Lundstram is a good example Ian. I watched him years ago in an FA Youth Cup fixture at QPR. You could see something about him then, but obviously he never made it at Everton. He went away and started again. Okay, he's just been relegated, but the lad has forged a solid career in the professional game and has just had 2 seasons in the top flight. Either side of that, playing tier 2. No mean feat.

Danny(#30); didn't Lundstram have problems with a knee injury that almost scuttled his career?

I'll confess to not knowing that level of detail Alan.

Just done some reading and it appears he's had periodic ankle problems.

Captain of Oxford United at a young age too.

Not sure many of these youngsters will get an extended first team run when there are so many bigger paid stars ahead of them.

They get frustrated and then end up out on loan where many just peter out to oblivion.

Those youngsters still in the squad generally have difficulty ousting the big names.

Holgate, Davies and Nkounkou are a few who are a few who are arguably affected by this.

Jay (29), I didn't know that, Josh will be joining Shane Lavery another ex Everton player and possibly Simms who might go on loan

On another note, off topic but might be of interest, Steven Naismith has just retired, now in football development at Hearts. Imagine we'll see him back at Everton one day. Always have time for him. Decent player.

Connolly joins Blackpool as well. Picking up our best casts-offs. Hopefully Simms heads back for another season as well.

I can only endorse what Dave Abrahams has said about Nathan, having seen him play for the reserves (U23's) several times, and he does/did look decent to me and quite capable of providing support from the bench, IF given a chance!

I also pick up on the release of other youngsters in Josh Bowler Callum Connolly and Con Ouzonidis to Blackpool, from what I can gather all on a free! I remember them pursuing Josh Bowler who was also coveted by other Clubs and they paid a tidy sum for him too. Now can someone explain why we let decent players. who haven't quite made it into the first team, go on a free and yet Liverpool manage to get £M's for their (many unheard of) reserves (U23's)?

Are we supporting a Money Laundering Outfit? It certainly seems so!

I don't believe fees are an option Derek, if they're at the end of their contract with us, and we don't offer terms, they can go and sign for whoever they want.