As has been said numerous times, that isn't evidence that it's Unsworth making the decision. But you're Mr I hate being challenged even when it's extraordinarily polite and believe that anyone who disagrees with me is doing so because they hate me rather than just having a different opinion, so there's no surprise you're whining again.
This is now a 1pm kick off tomorrow and if you become a digital member via Everton you can listen to CommentaryEverton u23s beat Chelsea u23s 2-0 and move from 9th to 7th with there 1st win in 4 league games [Simms and Onyango with 2nd half goals], Everton u23s now play away to 2nd bottom Arsenal u23s a week friday at 7pm, and that game is NOT live anywhere unless Everton go and show it from London, Arsenal only got there 1st league win 2 days ago but it was a big one 6-0 away to Blackburn
[still nothing via arsenal who usually never show their games] . Everton still wont learn will they by going and showing every game home or away free, never mind been blackmailed into signing up for something to get something that is never on despite been told that it will be, as Above Arsenal only got their 1st win last game but a win for Everton will move them from 7th to 3rd
Unless Unsworth has autocratic control over U23 affairs I would echo previous posters and suggest that the manager and Brands would have reasons why they might want to see a Niasse or a Pennington given some playing time. I know that this has been the case in the past with Besic.
There’s an article in the athletic about this. Says the club still feel an obligation to the younger lads even when it’s clear they won’t become part of the first team. That’s why you see some of the older youngsters still getting games
The key to me is getting better/more ruthless at deciding who's going to make it and who isn't. We don't tend to get big money for our unwanted academy players so I think we just need to stop being so liberal with the contracts. We tend to have too many 22 year olds who've never been anywhere near the first team still under contract, it's fine to have one or two that you think might be a late bloomer but not 5 or 6. Once they are under contract though, I think it's the right thing to keep playing them. Freezing them out won't make you a very attractive opposition for the next batch of kids coming through, and you're effectively just paying them thousands of pounds to contribute absolutely nothing if you do.
Unsworth said that Niasse was great with the under 23 players and showed great attitude.
Pennington is also experienced to learn from and seems a good lad who will help the others and be a good example. I'm sure he'd love to be out playing first team football, but it's where he and the club are at the moment.
Right Back seems to be a weakness at u18/23/ 1st team in terms of depth of cover. I think Liam Higgins from the u18 got some minutes there for the U23s in pre season friendlies but it’s been mainly John, Connolly and Pennington otherwise , so yeah options are limited. None of the u18 except Higgins are looking like an u23 RB , John requires a lot more work defensively to challenge Coleman/Kenny so if we really are joined up in our thinking we need a decent young RB to come in in January at U23s level who can maybe be developed for next season.
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