Seasons2021-22Everton News
Everton U23s thrashed by Champions Manchester City
While the main focus of concerned Evertonians has rightly been on the dreadful performances of the senior side, Everton U23s were comprehensively thrashed by the PL2 Champions on their night of celebration in the season finalé at The Etihad. But Everton narrowly avoided the greater horror of relegation from PL2 Division 1, after Leeds Utd could only draw at Arsenal.
Only one change for Everton from the last game versus West Ham, Harry Tyrer replacing Barry Crellin in goal.
After complete domination by Man City for the first 7 minutes, in Everton's first attack, Whitaker drove a great volley against the bar.
Everton should have taken the lead on 14 minutes when Dodbin got free and past the City keeper a long way out but his shot on the empty net was poor and could not be finished at the far post by Cannon running in, who saw his shot cleared off the line. City then hit the post and had the rebound cleared off the line.
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The deadlock was broken on 22 minutes when Cole Palmer was allowed time to tee up a lovely curling shot beyond Tyrer and inside the post.
City went further ahead on the half-hour with another very slick goal, a tremendous finish by Lewis getting in behind the moribund Everton defence.
Palmer, easy as you like, put a dangerous free-kick inch-perfect into the top corner that Tyrer was desperately trying to cover. 3-0.
Emilio Lawrence had a rare venture forward and saw his shot slightly deflected wide, the resulting Everton corner was also headed wide from close range.
It was 4-0 well before the hour-mark when City passed their way through the Everton defence to score with ease. And it was 5-0 with 22 minutes left when City walked the ball into the Everton net. Delap then made it 6-0, quickly followed by the 7th for a rampant Man City.
Everton U23s: Tyrer, Mills, Campbell, Astley, Welch, Butterfield, Whitaker (46' McAllister), Price (62' Hunt [Y:90+3']), Dobbin, Cannon, Lawrence (74' Garcia).
Subs not Used: Crellin, Anderson.
Reader Comments (42)
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2 Posted 29/04/2022 at 17:54:13
3 Posted 29/04/2022 at 18:18:09
#KenwrightOut #MoshiriOut
4 Posted 29/04/2022 at 18:21:28
I think team ranking at this level isn't necessarily indicative of actual performance in terms of development. Chelsea are below us and yet few would say they don't have good youngsters it is just their 18-23 year olds are in their first team or out on loan.
5 Posted 29/04/2022 at 18:55:08
City are the winners of this League, so it will be interesting to see if they are in holiday mode or not.
Hopefully Everton put up a fight.
UTFT!
6 Posted 29/04/2022 at 19:04:49
7 Posted 29/04/2022 at 19:08:57
The Everton side for tonight's match at the Etihad: Tyrer, Mills, Campbell, Astley, Welch, Butterfield, Price, Whitaker, Cannon, Lawrence, Dobbin
8 Posted 29/04/2022 at 19:18:24
9 Posted 29/04/2022 at 19:23:45
Standards have really gone to pot since Unsworth up and left.
10 Posted 29/04/2022 at 19:26:31
City clinical finish. Looks like a tough night she'd.
11 Posted 29/04/2022 at 19:28:03
I'm surprised since his deputies who took over were the cream of the crop among coaches and not just like his mates.
12 Posted 29/04/2022 at 19:45:22
13 Posted 29/04/2022 at 19:50:46
What a time to be a Bluenose...!!
14 Posted 29/04/2022 at 19:52:39
A younger version of their first team.
15 Posted 29/04/2022 at 19:58:58
We are advertising for a top coach to take over the Academy today, better late than never!!
16 Posted 29/04/2022 at 20:00:14
17 Posted 29/04/2022 at 20:19:48
A few months later, I remember getting MotM against City, in another reserve game, and think this is what happens with young footballers.
Everton have got some good young players, but they've all been thrown in at the deep end together, and this has obviously made it a much more difficult season because of this.
Let them get the summer out of the way, I think a lot of young kids develop physically during the close season, and let's see how they come back next season, now they've got a bit more experience?
18 Posted 29/04/2022 at 20:24:35
20 Posted 29/04/2022 at 20:30:49
21 Posted 29/04/2022 at 20:38:01
22 Posted 29/04/2022 at 20:42:31
23 Posted 29/04/2022 at 20:43:30
Palmer and McAtee are lovely footballers. Unfortunately we've nothing like that in our ranks. Possibly Metcalfe.
25 Posted 29/04/2022 at 20:50:24
26 Posted 29/04/2022 at 20:52:11
It's Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds Utd.
27 Posted 29/04/2022 at 21:02:13
As if things weren't bad enough.
Get yer bloody beads out and beg for forgiveness!
28 Posted 29/04/2022 at 21:05:00
So we're safe from relegation… err well the u23s are!
29 Posted 29/04/2022 at 21:08:17
30 Posted 29/04/2022 at 21:10:54
Sad though because I think with a few of them they have real talent - but we approach the game as you would an amateur game and it doesn't help them showcase their talent.
No passing triangles. No structured movement of the ball up the pitch. No organisation in any attacking sense.
The kids at City will be coached along the lines of the grid used at La Masia which enables progression of the ball up the pitch, overloads, passing triangles and balls across the 6 yard box from wide positions.
Why not us?
31 Posted 29/04/2022 at 21:17:41
Football.
Take care of the football and impact or influence the game of football.
I'm probably being to simplistic, but control the football, you control the game.
32 Posted 29/04/2022 at 21:18:03
33 Posted 29/04/2022 at 21:36:43
On another website it said Leeds have now equalised and they have scored again to lead 2-1, I posted that in good faith, in fact Leeds scored in the 84th. minute to make it 2-1 but the goal was disallowed, thankfully, but that disallowed goal wasnt reported until later in the thread, so apologies if I upset anyone but it was definitely not intended.
34 Posted 29/04/2022 at 22:43:28
Some of of the City players could make good careers in football, if they keep their application and focus.
But now for Chelsea.
UTFT!
35 Posted 29/04/2022 at 22:48:13
UTFT
36 Posted 30/04/2022 at 00:27:11
Over to you Kevin Thelwell!!!
37 Posted 30/04/2022 at 01:01:04
That City game you mentioned. Was that in the era of Paul Lake, Ian Brightwell, Redmond, Hinchcliffe etc I remember that group pre-dated Fergies fledglings are were rated similarly but never quite made it. I cant remember the term the media came up with for Mel Machin but it was akin to Busbys babes. I remember you mentioning Gary Crosby so its roughly the era but maybe they were a year or two before your time.
39 Posted 30/04/2022 at 01:27:41
I don't think Thomas Touchel is coached to meet the most partizan UK crowd, and he will find out what the soul, in football terms, is about this weekend.
UTFT!
40 Posted 30/04/2022 at 01:50:35
I think it's improved.
I'd say the players – albeit late, far too late – are now trying to use the ball and move off the ball better, but it's work in progress.
Tonight, Man City put on a show, Everton showed some rays of hope but, compared to the first game in November 2021 when, Everton beat this team, the ravages of a very tough season, have taken the toll.
But the lads stuck at it, but serious questions about the coaching at Finch Farm, as many have raised for donkey's years, is a good positioning point.
There's a massive gap, but starting late in the best practice and techniques, is better than never.
If Everton stay up, then they've earned it.
41 Posted 30/04/2022 at 09:08:48
I think Everton get coached to win from a very early age Robert. I also dont think there is anything wrong with this unless it gets in the way of nurturing talent.
Look at results from tournaments, Evertons younger teams always do very well, so if they are winning, they must have talented kids, which is why I personally think that, the initial recruitment is not the real problem?
42 Posted 30/04/2022 at 09:40:39
But being coached to win youth football matches does not equate to good coaching. I think it does get in the way of nurturing talent.
It equates to finding a simple formula to win youth matches:
- physical attributes often beats technical ability
- score goals from counter attacks and set pieces
- force opposition mistakes
You can see all of that in evidence in our u23s.
There is a bit of token (and stressful to watch) playing out from the back but that is our only consistent commitment to use of the ball in possession.
Players like Whitaker and Dobbin are good footballers and probably could have held their own in that Man City side. Welch, Campbell and one or two others too maybe.
The difference is that the City players are drilled in the things that allow them to win by using the ball properly.
Highly rated Emilio Lawrence must be wondering whether it's a good idea to get out now and learn how to use the ball properly.
Sam is right that City and others have invested in this (and the rewards are evident) but I wonder how the investment compares to, say, our investment in a player like Iwobi or Tosun (where it really wouldn't have been hard to get a player as good for 1/4 of the price).
43 Posted 30/04/2022 at 09:58:53
Telling a kid to pass the ball, when hes got the strength or ability to do it all by himself wont be easy, but how are they going to truly learn, if you dont?
44 Posted 30/04/2022 at 10:47:03
Growing up older fella's would always tell me “Let the ball do the work” watching Everton's teams at all levels that poor ball gets worked to death just going from the penalty area to the half-way line then gets passed all the way back to Pickford to starts the process again.
How did Busby, Catterick, Shankly, Nicholson, Clough and many other managers do so well without these coaching badges? It will be interesting to see how Unsworth prospers now with his badges.
45 Posted 30/04/2022 at 14:24:12
I was out with the wife and dogs this morning and starting ranting because I was watching the local teams going through their training.
I almost wanted to go over and take over. Coaching? Sending them around the pitch and then run up and down in a straight line. When do you play football in a straight line? Press ups. Not once did I see them working with a football. When I coached, the warm ups were always based around the ball. Mini matches with emphasis on tempo to keep the ball or press to win it back. Work harder off the ball than on it, but be comfortable when you have it. I watched blokes shouting instructions that they probably could carry out themselves and just sent the lads running around a pitch whilst they
I got told to shut up and leave it by my better half. But it frustrates the hell out of me.
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1 Posted 29/04/2022 at 17:41:41