Everton U23s doing great

[Ashtonian]

Henen looked a bit crap mate, Sambou got himself about and stretched the defense, done more than henen for me

I thought he looked quite good, he didn't have much to do but he seemed to be fast and have a good direct run which panicked their players. Lad looked too good for me for the reserves and probably should be playing championship football at this point now if he is nowhere near our team.

Samboui for me just didn't look that effective, thought Duffus had more to his game overall

 

[Ashtonian]

Just got back from the match myself, whilst I agree with most of your comments the 1 player most ready for the 1st team is Pennington, admittedly not up against much he oozed class and organised the defence really well . i honestly don't know why RK is supposedly looking at Keane, save the money.
Overall Everton won in a canter and outclassed Southampton

Think he kinda went missing for me because he didn't have much to do. Both centre halves looked good against poor opposition but the number 5 was on my side so I noticed him more haha

Their right winger was a big lad as well wasn't he? Their number 7, got some strength on him that one. Didn't do much though in their team.

 

[gaino92]

I thought he looked quite good, he didn't have much to do but he seemed to be fast and have a good direct run which panicked their players. Lad looked too good for me for the reserves and probably should be playing championship football at this point now if he is nowhere near our team.

Samboui for me just didn't look that effective, thought Duffus had more to his game overall

Henen kept losing the ball, ran in to blind alleys and chose the wrong option, not good enough for us. league 1 is probably his level. Sambou showed a few bits but not much think he could be a decent player. Duffus again was lively but technically not the best

 

[Nymzee]

Wierd things in the game. Southampton taking a goal kick and the entire playing field went over to one side of the pitch for some reason. Never really seen that before.

Was this your first live football game? Lol

 

[DerbyshireAndHarper]

Great win tonight, keeps the momentum going.

Massive game vs Man City U23s next Friday.

If we can a draw there, we'll be 6 points ahead with 4 games left, so then we'd only need 7 points from the remaining 4 games to guarantee the title, and thats assuming that City won't have any slip ups after playing us.

If we can win there, we'll be 9 points ahead with 4 games left, and would only need 4 points from the remaining 4 games for the title.

Our last 5 games:

Fri Mar 3 - City away
Mon Mar 13 - Derby County away
Mon Apr 10 - Spurs home (being played at Southport)
Friday Apr 21 - Chelsea away
Monday May 8 - Liverpool home (currently scheduled for Southport but hopefully will be switched to Goodison)

Man City's run in is:

Fri Mar 3 - EFC home
Mon Mar 13 - Arsenal away
Fri Apr 7 - Derby County home
Sun Apr 23 - Liverpool away
Fri May 5 - Southampton home

 

[Ashtonian]

Was this your first live football game? Lol

In my memory I have never seen everyone go over to the touchline that much no. Literally half the pitch was empty when they took a goal kick. Was odd because at one point everyone lined up as normal then moved over.

 

[Connor]

Robinson and Walsh impressed me most tonight. Robinson ran the left side on his own at times and was fantastic in attacking positions. Walsh just ran the game

Robinson is brilliant. Could be better defending but he's good at holding his own at the moment.

Boss seeing him fly down the wing to join in the attack like Baines in his pomp.

 

[Darth Toffeeman]

Went tonight.
Really enjoyable game and we where head and shoulders above the Southampton lads.

Always tough to make the step to the 1st team as the gulf is huge but I was very impressed with quite a few.

Baningime stood out yet again. He could be a 1st team player if he continues to improve.

The defence was excellent and the midfield was busy. Dowell and Walsh had flashes of brilliance and frustration in equal measure.

The best praise I can give is everyone of them looks capable of having a career in football at some level. Not all will be premier league players but we are giving these lads every chance to succeed.

 

[DerbyshireAndHarper]

Also worth pointing out that our goal difference is +13 better than Man City's, so that's virtually worth a point in itself.

 

[Nymzee]

In my memory I have never seen everyone go over to the touchline that much no. Literally half the pitch was empty when they took a goal kick. Was odd because at one point everyone lined up as normal then moved over.

Happens alllll the time.

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Thought they shift the ball around well,nice and quick,particularly first half,two excellent goals,a good few of them look like they could coon be knocking on the first team squads door

 

[Mountfield1985]

I was there last night, just my quick 2 cents:

Kenny/Robinson - Both looked excellent going both ways. I'd be confident in either of them as first team back-up.

Dowell - Has that bit of magic but looks worryingly one paced. Hope Koeman gives him a chance, but I really don't see him as a Koeman sort of player.

Pennington - Far too good for that level. Needs first team football, here or elsewhere.

Walsh - Great little player, always looking to dictate things. Lacks a bit of presence though.

Williams - Great attitude and good tackler. Needs to fill out more. Doesn't look near troubling the first team yet.

The likes of Duffus and Charnsley look good in this team without really giving the impression that they can step up much further.

As a whole, a great style of play and an even better work ethic. Unsworth and his staff are doing a fantastic job.

 

[DerbyshireAndHarper]

Worth acknowledging that Man Utd are 2nd bottom and in serious danger of being relegated.

This is made even more incredible when you consider Man Utd won the league last season and have actually won the league in 3 out of the last 4 seasons.

What changed was that Brian McClair left as head of their Academy to join the Scottish FA, and Warren Joyce, the Man Utd U23 manager throughout that period, left to become Wigan Athletic manager.

Nicky Butt is now in charge of Man Utd U23s and their whole Academy. Awkward~!

Think this shows how much of a positive (and negative) affect the coach can have on the U23s, and also illustrates how good a job Unsworth is doing for us.

We've only won the Reserves league twice in the past 49 years, in 1968 and 2001, so Unsworth is doing great work.

 

[AaronTheBlue]

City being the next game is exciting. A good result there and itll give us a nice bridge until the end of the season.

 

[Barnfred 55]

I was there last night, just my quick 2 cents:

Kenny/Robinson - Both looked excellent going both ways. I'd be confident in either of them as first team back-up.

Dowell - Has that bit of magic but looks worryingly one paced. Hope Koeman gives him a chance, but I really don't see him as a Koeman sort of player.

Pennington - Far too good for that level. Needs first team football, here or elsewhere.

Walsh - Great little player, always looking to dictate things. Lacks a bit of presence though.

Williams - Great attitude and good tackler. Needs to fill out more. Doesn't look near troubling the first team yet.

The likes of Duffus and Charnsley look good in this team without really giving the impression that they can step up much further.

As a whole, a great style of play and an even better work ethic. Unsworth and his staff are doing a fantastic job.

Couple of things mate.

Do you think Robinson could do a job as a wing back.? Personally I think that role is a bit much on Bainsey's legs now he's getting on a bit, and I've been advocating bringing in a specialist during the summer, such as Robertson from Hull. I haven't seen that much of Robinson. Could he fit in at LWB on a regular basis or is that a bit too much to expect at the moment?

Agree fully regarding Dowell. Said many times that his style and posture remind me very much of the great Matt Le Tissier. You can see it in his goals too. But I'm not sure that type of player fit's in well in the Premier these days and I agree he doesn't appear a Koeman type either. I think he's an enigma for the club and they haven't a clue what to do with him. His quality is unquestionable; it's there for everyone to see. But he doesn't influence games enough and you can sense that the club aren't happy about sending him out to the hurly burly of lower leagues either. Maybe sending him abroad on loan is the answer, similar to what Chelsea do with their flair players. I hope we are able to accommodate him though as his goals are the sort you need when trying to break down stubborn defences.

I think Pennington is ready for another run in the first team. He didn't disgrace himself last year when playing in a completely demotivated side. Let's see if he's upto the challenge. If not, there'll be plenty of clubs willing to take him. He'll not learn any more playing in the U23s as you say. Same applies to Galloway and Browning. I can't see us keeping more than 1 of the 3, especially as Holgate now appears to be established. It's a strange one really. Browning is probably the best natural defender and the best athlete. Galloway is probably the best footballer. And Pennington is probably the best organiser and reader of the game. If we could combine all 3 we'd be on a winner