A golden generation

[blueblue]

The impression seems to be that we have some incredible talent in the academy at present.I think RM said as much recently.
I wonder just how true this is? Apart from a takeover by some wealthy Arab this is our most likely route of substantially improving our fortunes. I wonder if RM was comparing the standard at the Everton academy with the one he left at Wigan or if he genuinely believes there are top players in the production line...and more than one or two.

I look at the under 21 team and wonder who will break through from that group as well as they are doing as a team. I love to see signings but more than anything I love to see academy players become first team players as Barkley has done.

So who will be the next Everton academy product to play in a competitive game for the first team?.

 

[KMRock]

John Lundstram looks really promising in the near future..would love to see him get a go.

I can see Duffy, Kennedy and Leidson being first team/squad players in the future

 

[Rupert's Tower]

And yet barely a dozen starts under his belt and Barkley gets dropped the last 2 games for 32 year old Leon Osman

The U21s are mostly ex academy grads who'll never be good enough for the first team, e.g., Duffy, Hope, etc. It's the u18s you should be looking at. Ryan Ledson, Liam Walsh and Jonjoe Kenny are the standout lads from that group, Ledson in particular will be a star

 

[knowwhatimean]

Keeping in contention with the big money clubs has to be the main prerogative, as in European football, cup finals for us to bring academy players into the first team. That is the only way we are going to keep any talent that can eventually be first team regulars. From what I hear we are well regarded in the football community for our academy so that can only be encouraging for any young promising players who feel Everton is the place to be. A natural goalscorer would be great. Stones looked class against Juventus in pre season.

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

boats and hoes

 

[billycopper]

Depends how you define 'academy product'. Stones seems the most obvious next in line but he came from Barnsley. Garbutt has been around the England U21 squad, but we got him from Leeds. And Kennedy was signed from Kilmarnock.

From the actual homegrowns I think that Duffy has a good chance, especially if Distin retires and Heitinga leaves on a bosman at the end of the season. McAleney's progress will inevitably be halted by his injury. Lundstram can't be too far away but how's he going to get a game ahead of Barry, McCarthy, Gibson, Osman and Barkley?

The strikers, Long (5 in 9) and Hope (4 in 9) would be a good shout too. Jelavic now has a World Cup place to fight for and may ask for a move in January. With Kone already out, if anything happens to Lukaku or if we want to throw on another striker, there is a chance that it could be one of our youngsters.

 

[johnnydawg68]

From what I've read, it's Lundstram, Ledson, and Kenney that have a chance to be special. If George Green put it all together, him too.

It's a lot to ask, but imagine if we can produce two Rooney types in the same generation...and keep them?

 

[Christiffa25]

Christ! Duffy is ok, not a bad player who will go on to have a life out of football BUT if you hoping your academy is gonna bridge the gap then believe me.... The players coming through need to be of better quality than Duffy (no disrespect to him).

You need players of Barkley's ability coming thru for there respective posistions for it to make a real difference.

People get confused on here with promising youth who will have a career and top top players who will either make you lots of money of win you trophies.

Utd built half a title winning team out of 5 quality youngsters. 5 players who played top tier footy for 10yrs plus from the ages of 18. Basically 5 Barkley's all at once. They've never done it since tho!

 

[Groucho]

From what I've read, it's Lundstram, Ledson, and Kenney that have a chance to be special. If George Green put it all together, him too.

It's a lot to ask, but imagine if we can produce two Rooney types in the same generation...and keep them?

Not academy, but John Stones is young, and also Barkley obviously. Imagine if Vellios sacked off twitter and pulled his finger out, there's a ready made impact player.

I'll not do a formation, but that could be a very good side in a few years.

 

[MickM86]

You don't hear as many academy graduates making it through into the Premiership as much these days due to the money available to teams who can buy the best 20 year olds from around the world.

Man United had the best youth to come through in my life, that youth team won a lot with the senior squad and the team was built around them.

We had a good youth team around 1998 but only a handful made it through to have good careers, a lot played lower division.

The standard is higher for a young player now, most products of the youth teams will end up lower league with some not having careers at all.

Everton have a great set up and invest their time and money into that to develop players which is the way to go. If we keep this up we can continuously produce solid footballers but I also think we have been lucky to have players with natural ability who've stood out come through. We are doing a good job, long may it continue.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

How do you define great? We have what is widely regarded as the poorest England squad in years, yet only two regular members of it have come from the Everton academy. I wouldn't say that's all that special.

The under 21 squad doesn't have any Everton academy players in it (I don't count Stones).

You'd say the best academy at the moment is probably the Southampton one. They've produced:

Bale
Walcott
Ox-Chamberlain
Lallana
Bridge
Luke Shaw
Ward-Prowse

which is a decent return.

 

[Jags..class]

Christ! Duffy is ok, not a bad player who will go on to have a life out of football BUT if you hoping your academy is gonna bridge the gap then believe me.... The players coming through need to be of better quality than Duffy (no disrespect to him).

You need players of Barkley's ability coming thru for there respective posistions for it to make a real difference.

People get confused on here with promising youth who will have a career and top top players who will either make you lots of money of win you trophies.

Utd built half a title winning team out of 5 quality youngsters. 5 players who played top tier footy for 10yrs plus from the ages of 18. Basically 5 Barkley's all at once. They've never done it since tho!

Its was different in those days to be fair.

 

[Pabbers]

Bournemouth to receive 25% of Lallana fee, when he is sold.

 

[FTY]

I'm friends with George Green on Facebook.

 

[Eggs]

....it would be unusual for a swathe of players to come through at once. The norm is for one or two at the most and it starts with seeing them on the bench. Usually a good crop coincides with a successful FA Youth Cup run. I'm not seeing any of this at the moment, so perhaps the positive noises are for the U16 group.