Seasons2021-22Everton News

Everton U21s hold out for a great win over Morecambe in Papa John's Trophy

Michael Kenrick Tuesday, 14 September, 2021 27comments  |  Jump to last
Morecambe 0 - 1 Everton
An Everton Under-21 side travelled to Morecambe tonight for their first group game in the EFL trophy, sponsored again this season by Papa John's Pizza, and stole a tremendous win.

In a difficult game against their elders and presumed betters, Everton youngsters battled to impose an impressive degree of control on the game without scoring.

But that would change after Sean McAllister came on as a substitute for Lewis Dobbin just before the hour mark. And 7 minutes later, McAllister picked up a pass from Eli Campbell, made space, turned smartly and fired in off the post with the keeper rooted, to put Everton ahead.

That set up increasingly frantic later stages to the game as the home side tried everything in their playbook to get through the Everton defence... but failed.

Everton U21s: Leban, Mills, Astley, Campbell, Welch [Y:30'], Anderson, Whitaker, Price, Butterfield, Cannon (82' Warrington), Dobbin (57' McAllister).
Subs not Used: Barrett, Hunt, Kristiensen, Hughes, Hagan.

 

Reader Comments (27)

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Phill Thompson
1 Posted 14/09/2021 at 11:32:53
I had a quick look at the rules for “ invited clubs “ i.e us, and could only find this from last season : 7.8.1 at least six of the starting eleven players named on the Team Sheet are players who were aged under 21 as at the 30th June in the year in which the Season concerned commenced;

Essentially then we could select from all our recent U23s players, and also include Gordon and Branthwaite if we want to give them a run out and strengthen the team. That would be a good option, show we are taking the competition seriously while also resting some players with a large number of games coming up.

Phill Thompson
2 Posted 14/09/2021 at 13:13:03
And good news:

Official Members can watch Everton's Papa John's trophy opener against Morecambe on Tuesday night (7pm BST) live on evertonfc.com!

The competition sees David Unsworth's team test themselves against senior opposition and the young Blues will kick off their campaign by taking on the League One Shrimps at Mazuma Stadium.

Official Members can view our live Morecambe v Everton stream here!

Phill Thompson
3 Posted 14/09/2021 at 18:56:02
Line up tonight:

Leban Mills Astley Campbell Welch Anderson Whitaker Price Butterfield Cannon Dobbin

Subs: Warrington Hunt Kristiensen McAllister Barrett Hughes Hagan

Andy Crooks
4 Posted 14/09/2021 at 18:58:41
Wish I could be there. Morecambe is one of my favourite places in the world, for so many reasons.
Phill Thompson
5 Posted 14/09/2021 at 19:01:19
Haha Squad numbers being used, and 64 is…
Phill Thompson
6 Posted 14/09/2021 at 19:14:31
Decent start from us, playing okay.

More space than U23s games; 0-0 after 12 minutes.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]
7 Posted 14/09/2021 at 19:29:08
Here's the link to the game.

Morecambe v Everton

Available to season ticket holders and those who have coughed up £35 for online membership.

Phill Thompson
8 Posted 14/09/2021 at 19:52:28
0-0 at half time. Not a great game but actually a better performance I thought than first half against Derby in last game. A more attacking formation too, switching to three up front at times. Holding their own against a League 1 side.
Brent Stephens
9 Posted 14/09/2021 at 19:58:11
If Dobbin gets his act together second half, we're in with a good chance. Very quiet first half from him.
Phill Thompson
10 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:08:39
Brent, I think last game and this, Dobbin has been outshone by Whitaker, not the same pace as Dobbin but contributes more.
Brent Stephens
11 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:13:59
Yes, Phill. I like Whittaker. I think he likes playing in that area just off Dobbin. Very mobile.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]
12 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:15:54
More than holding our own.

Our defending has been superb, clearing out everything played into our area.

Dobbin's now off without ever getting into the game.

Stan Mills again impressing.

Brent Stephens
13 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:22:24
Get in. McAllister. Good turn!
Jay Wood
[BRZ]
14 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:24:10
Cracking goal. Showing the benefit of taking a shot early. Keeper never moved.
Phill Thompson
15 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:24:21
He scores important goals does McAllister, a good substitution.
Michael Kenrick
16 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:33:53
Phill,

64 = Reece Welch, per the line-ups on EFC Match centre.

A few changes there... Tom Cannon now 47 and not 45?

Very few of these numbers reflected in the squad pages at efc.com... why should I even expect that they would be?

Have you seen anywhere else listing squad numbers with names for these younger players? Maybe they should use them in PL2 games...

Phill Thompson
17 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:35:45
Michael, just a joke from me, I know the players and the shape of where they are playing, I can’t actually pick out the numbers at times!
Brent Stephens
18 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:51:16
Interesting discussion re first team game and a back 3, with a lot of sentiment against it. But our U23s (U21s tonight) generally play a back 3. Effectively.
Brent Stephens
19 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:52:45
Against Chorley, I commented we looked like boys against men. Tonight it was (young) men against men.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]
20 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:53:01
Top, top performance tonight.

Literally boys against men and Morecambe was dishing it out. The ref was Atkinson-like, not so much as speaking to the offender for some nasty late challenges.

The Blues didn't flinch or back down. Tigers every one of them.

Impressive.

Tony Everan
21 Posted 14/09/2021 at 20:56:08
Phill, I struggled to pick out who was who in the last match against Derby, and kept referring to the names and numbers on the iPad. Is there any reason they can't wear shirts with their names on the back?

McAllister definitely has an eye for goal, he has a very powerful shot blocked last week that was goal-bound not long after he came on.

Phill Thompson
22 Posted 14/09/2021 at 21:00:56
Brent, I hate our first team playing with a back 3 but we were very effective tonight, Astley and Anderson in particular had great games.

We were clever in changing our formations, starting off with a 3-4-1-2 with Whitaker behind or in the middle of the front two; then we switched a bit more with McAllister coming on. Whitaker changed position again and then, when Warrington came on, Whitaker was on his own up front, great energy from the youngster.

A great performance from them tonight.

Phill Thompson
24 Posted 14/09/2021 at 21:10:31
Tony, it's a bizarre system of numbering. In PL2, it's 1-11 so they change numbers, in these cups, I thought it was first-team squad numbers but I'm not sure. We also seem to give the new Scholars numbers too and base those on alphabetical surnames.

Once you can recognise a few players by their height, playing style and can pick them out, it becomes easier. Butterfield and Price can be difficult as they change position and look similar to Whitaker, who thankfully plays further forward.

If you're able to watch a few games, it really helps when you recognise players and makes it more enjoyable as you remember certain ones.

Winston Williamson
25 Posted 14/09/2021 at 21:17:21
Just picked my son up from this game. He said Mills and Astley played well.

He was looking forward to seeing Dobbin, but it was his replacement, McAllister who took his goal well…

Morecambe were physical, but we handled the pressure well, apparently.

Brian Williams
26 Posted 14/09/2021 at 23:01:27
Can everyone please look for the cancer research thread and read it.
Tony Abrahams
27 Posted 15/09/2021 at 14:59:56
My partners son who is a scholar at morecombe was given a text on Sunday to tell him to report for training with the first team on Monday, and that he was going to be in the squad for last nights game.

He hadn’t been feeling well, so after playing on Saturday, I told his mum to take him for a covid test, and Sod’s law, he received a text on Sunday night telling him he was positive.

It would have been a great experience for him, and hopefully the chance comes again for him in the near future🤞 because like a few of Everton’s team last night, he’s still only 17.

Michael Kenrick
28 Posted 19/09/2021 at 14:05:44
Phill,

Not sure you will see this but I came across some very strange names under Everton Squad Numbers listed here:

Everton FC Premier League Players’ Squad Numbers 2021-22

34 Martin Kelly
40 Scott Banks
43 Rece Hannan
44 Jairo Riedwald
46 Rob Street
49 Jesuran Rak-Sakyi

I'm not convinced that the site is reliable although at a glance the previous years don't have any such strange names.

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