Thelwell credited for Mathew Mallon turnaround

The new manager could be a surprise. I thought he was a very good player for the Blues, many on here are not fond of him.

All pretty chaotic. I wonder if concern over his past injuries played into this – and the opinion of previous medical staff.

Dave,

It's not Niasse, is it?

Agree with Dave A, he is a good player. I think Thelwell is bringing more logic and structure to the decisions on the Academy.

I don't know the player but this sounds positive.

Both that the player was convinced to stay and the DoF is being allowed to do his job and restructure, starting with the academy. Sorry to his supporters, but Unsworth probably slowed any progression at Finch Farm. I don't know for sure, as I don't have insider insights or knowledge, but it seemed that he had a "we've always done it this way" approach. When a player did come through (eg, Gordon), it feels like it was by fortune rather than the coaching or the structure of Finch Farm.

A fresh pair of eyes from someone who has not been involved with Everton previously is a good thing, in my opinion.

Wow! Champions League here we come!

If he has the 'Mallon Streak' he could be a useful squad addition, which has been under our noses. I'm all for youngsters to be given a chance if they are good enough, and glad we have someone who can recognise potential and talent, before dismissing as not being up to standard.

Erling Haaland springs to mind, who was the genius at the time that rejected him as not being good enough? Did that snake Kenwright have any grubby fingers in that pie?

I'm fascinated, Dave and Kieran. Johnny Heitinga?

I'd be pleased with Heitinga.

More so with an Osman & Pienaar dream team.

Robert # 8. Dave says many were not fond of the soon to be new U21 manager as a player, yet I'd have thought the majority liked Johnny Heitinga?

Royston Drenthe has just had an article published on the official website!!

Isn't that just a bit shitty, Dave?

"I know the name of the new U21s manager but I'm not telling you plebs."

Cheers, mate.

Michael (11) - Agree.

Very mysterious thread.

Somebody tell me about this player.

Somebody tell me who the new U21 manager is.

Loved the Drenthe interview, Rob. He is one colorful character.

Mike @13,

There's not much more to tell about the player, Mike. I did put some basic stuff in his profile here but I can't really tell you much about him as a player, sorry.

Perhaps Brent or Phill can remember watching him, although he has played very little for the U23s. He is though yet another of our Academy youngsters to spend many many months of their development sidelined with injury.

A player most fans didn't like? Doesn't narrow it down a lot based on the last 30 years but we can exclude Kanchelskis and Cahill.

I'm getting more and more curious. Van der Meyde?

Is Earl Barrett still kicking about?

Can we bring Kevin Sheedy back? I know he doesn't fit the unpopular category, that's just a personal plea.

Someone Dave thought was a very good player for Everton but many on here aren't fond of him...

It isn't your Tony, is it, Dave?😊😊😊

Franny Jeffers?

Mallon looked to be quite a skillful right back, likes a tackle, good on the ball, good positional sense and a good passer, from what I have seen.

Hopefully if he is over his injuries, he can put together a good run in the U21s next season and maybe get involved in a few senior cup games.

Good luck to him. COYB

Dave @1,

Rod Belfitt, Brett Angell, Per Krøldrup, Morgan Schneiderlin?

Just say if I'm getting warm! :-)

A player many thought was good but many didn't like?

Surely not Sigurdsson, that would be a controversial move.

I thought Lee Carsley done a good job for Everton, but I was never his biggest fan... unlike my brother.

I give you Lee Carsley.

Lee Carsley – I'm told he is a regular visitor to Finch Farm.

Danny/Steven

Wouldn't the England U21s be a bigger job for Carsley than Everton U23s?

It's the new U21 construct Kieran, not the U23s as I understand.

If you're asking me that question (Everton v England), then you know the answer!!

If you're asking Lee Carsley, it depends what he wants.

With Everton (or club football for that matter), he gets to develop players to make the next step as well as assessing the younger teams to see who has the potential to step up. So he get's to identify, shape, develop and mentor players for a career in the game (hopefully at Everton).

With England, it is more of a pick the best players that someone else is doing all of the above with. Get them together, have a few training sessions and prepare for a match before releasing them back to their club.

That's my simple take. It will depend on where he wants to take his own coaching career I guess.

Carsley's predecessor Aidy Boothroyd once described the England under 21 job as "The England U21 team is the utterly impossible job."

The fact that few under 21 managers progress to the first team (Southgate is the exception) is indicative of the importance placed on the role.

I am certain that the Everton role will be far better paid.

Maybe Carsley could do both jobs, it might stop him getting as big as Unsworth got.

Michael (11), what I was implying was the new manager could be a surprise if he gets the job, at the moment he is in the running for the job!

Kieran #24,

I would have thought that management at club level would be the bigger draw. I don't think Southgate would be with England nor Martinez with Belgium if either had the ability to be successful at club management.

Dave @ 28, Come on Dave A, Spill ?

I am in Suspenders here and the Cross Dressing Police are on their way ! :-)

Going through a list of former players who are coaching (especially U23 and lower) & split opinion. My best guesses would be:

Kevin Richardson (Newcastle U18s)
Scot Gemmell (Scotland U21s)
Lee Carsley (England U21s)
Davey Weir (Brighton)
Paul Rideout (Kansas City)

Oh Dave @28,

Thanks for clarifying that. Much appreciated.

Sounds like he could be a good fit... or not. Seems like he must have the right credentials and be well known to the likes of Thelwell. Perhaps his experience as a player would help him in this role... or not?

Sorry, who are we talking about again?

He never rated Carsley, Danny, and he never really rated me either, Brendan, so my guess would have to be Alan Stubbs, although I'm obviously just guessing?

Michael #14,

I seem to remember Mallon featuring for the U23s at some point but really can't remember the performances - probably didn't make a great impact on me. Possibly because I was having frequent micro-sleeps.

Is this a private game of Guess Who or can anyone join in?

What colour hair does he have, Dave, if any?

Brian H, @ 35, possibly more hair, or less, than a ten-pin bowling ball !

I've seen Mallon a few times and been quite impressed. Quick, hardworking and got up and down his line a lot. Glad he's staying.

Sam (37), I agree with that, I was sorry Everton were letting him go and hopefully he will take this new chance and prove himself in the U23s next season.

One thing very noticeable about him is the way he runs, he has an unusual gait probably from the back injuries he has suffered in the past.

We have a promising young defence developing but it needs a wise head.

I'll put my Koulibaly record on again. I see he is looking to leave Napoli.

Can we rival Barcelona? I know the answer but give that one a go.

Dave, an unusual gait? As unusual as a certain tall Colombian?

Brent @34,

More a case of blink and you missed him! Just one game in Southport last season, Sheffield Utd in the Premier League Cup back in September. You made some comments on the game thread, but not about Mallon.

In March of the previous season, he came on for the U23s in a league game against Arsenal at Southport, and set up a fine equalizing goal. You were at that one too, and liked the goal, per your comments in the game thread which includes a YouTube link to the game, that might jog your little grey cells.

Mallon's cross for the goal is at 54:00 on the YouTube stream (40:30 on the match clock).

Big Blue Bro is watching you!

I'm going to take a cheeky punt an Royston Drenthe being the new U21 manager. Why otherwise would they suddenly have a random article about him on the official site?

Glad the lad has changed his mind, but I am sceptical of Thelwell, the Director of Football role, and the promise of the Academy producing players for the first team. At this early stage, the jury is very much still out.

Initially, progress will be determined how much Thelwell is his own man, working with the manager, and whether the Academy be turned round, as a proactive part of the manager's policy to develop youth at Everton. In a well run club, this should be a given, but Everton is not a well run club.

At least Thelwell is not on the Board and therefore should not be part of the collective bulshit we have been subject to in the past.

Kevin Nicholson was brought in to develop the Coaching developing program in April. Unsworth departed and John Ebbrell took over temporary management of the U23 team.

Hardly narrowing the field Dave with some are not fond of him, could be any of our former players.

Think we can rule Hibbert out of the running, cannot see anyone disliking Carsley so will rule him out as well.

I picked up the you thought he was a good player for the Blues' but never mentioned which Blues.

Is it John Terry Dave :-)

Nothing on here seems to rule out Unsie or Dunc, does it?

I'm going for Carsley, a player I liked as a midfield anchor man, only thing we got him too late in his career, but no doubt he has had a few Coaching Jobs and has the experience. He gets my vote. Wait a minute we don't get a vote! :-)

Phil Neville would be my guess.

Michael #41 thanks for that. It was a good cross, wasn't it.

I'm a bit like our Rob Halligan in not having a great recall for goals, scorers etc (except when somebody owes me a pint – Danny!) – unlike a certain Mr Abrahams senior of this parish – a phenomenal memory.

Having no knowledge or particular interest in the Academy comings and goings, this being blunted by the endless parade of the next surefire wonder. Even ones bought in quickly disappear into obscurity.

I dislike the period before the next season starts, it's full of either no news, like this, or fake news about incoming saviours and "This time it will be different" bleatings. Oh and don't forget the signings whining in waves. I really believe all to do and media should cease till pre-season starts.

Brian W,

I can see the John Terry connection through Frank from their Chelsea days, but he was hardly a major success at Villa! If that should be the case we seem to be exchanging Everton Old Boys Coaching Staff for Chelsea Old Boys Coaching Staff!

Still, if it brings results, it's what we need! Still think Carsley though! 😜

I noticed Alan Stubbs near the touchline in our last home game.

Brian (45),

I don't know who is getting the job, just indicating someone who is in the running for it. Carsley might be in the running but here is one Everton fan who wasn't fussy on Lee, as a footballer, master of a 3-yard pass then looking like a bizzie on traffic duty pointing to the player he passed the ball to where to pass it next when he could have done the same.

I think his popularity all came from the goal he scored in the derby game. I liked him a smidge myself that day!!

Mike (40), no that certain Colombian runs like a giraffe with arthritis. This young lad is more like a deer with a slight strain!!

It's all a bit mysterious. Is whomever it is being paid with the Arteta money?

Regarding the new position, it was advertised as “U23 (now U21?) Head Coach”, not manager and as reporting to our “Head of Academy Coaching” who is currently John Ebbrell. So for me a substantial downgrading from Unsworth's role of U23 manager reporting to the DoF.

Unless they've changed their minds on this, I can't see it attracting a high calibre external candidate to work under Ebbrell. I can though see Jose Baxter getting interviewed at least and being a strong candidate.

Michael #14, you're right – Mallon didn't start a game for the U23s last season, the Arsenal match where he had a decent performance and an assist was the season before.

The few times I saw him last season was with the U18s, he's a solid defender and a competent attacker and actually about the first actual right back to emerge since Kenny - all the rest like John, Quirk etc have been converted midfielders/ wingers.

I don't think Kyle John or Seb Quirk are good enough defensively to make it with us so it seems worth giving the younger Matt Mallon a chance.

Personally, I am hoping that young Roman Dixon will be making a breakthrough at U21s this coming season, but maybe others see Mallon as the better prospect.

Personally, I thought Carsley did a lot of the donkey work, tidied up here and there, while Gravesen got all the plaudits, worked well together, but I never thought Carsley got the credit he deserved, until much later.

There are many youngsters who will impress at a certain level but of course getting into the first team and impressing is another thing altogether.

We Everton fans have seen many fall by the wayside as many Prem. teams will opt for imported, established players these days and not be patient with emerging youngsters, instead, preferring to loan them out.

Of course there are always exceptions but they are usually with the top clubs and slot in with exceptional players around them such as Foden and a few others.

Many youngsters are impatient themselves and want to become big wage earners as quickly as possible but just don't want to put in the effort and commitment on a regular basis.

Thanks, Phill @ 57.

Mallan stopped playing for our Academy U18 side in February. No hint of any injury so he must've had a right good meltdown I suppose. He had been playing in most of the U18s games up until then, made captain for five of them.

He was then out for 11 games straight over 2½ months, and I hadn't spotted this before but he came back to play in the last two U18 games of the season, toward the end of April.

We can but wait and see what role and how many games he gets in the U21s come the new season.

Michael #60, I must admit I thought Mallon was injured at the time he dropped out of sight. This based on the fact that the club rarely keep us informed of injuries to academy players, we usually only find out if a player posts on his social media.

I said it before, and I'll say it again:

We have more pressing problems with the first team squad than players who will never be in it.

A pity neither of these will be helping out next season.

In the "For What it's Worth" department, I'm watching England's U-19s vs Israel.

No Everton boys on the roster. Brentford have 2.