I really enjoyed the performance against Manchester City yesterday. They are without doubt one of the two strongest academy teams (along with Chelsea) while we are comfortably in the top 5. It's a huge result to go and win, by such margin away from home, even within the context of having to ride our luck somewhat.
I see a lot of the Everton 90's team in our under 23's. It's a team full of scrappers who have little time or fear for opponents with a bigger reputations. There's an attitude of we will outrun you, out tackle you and out fight you to a man which is great testament to David Unsworth. All of these things make me firmly believe he would do very well in the senior job if it were to become vacant in the coming months. Like the 90's team they also have 1 or 2 gems, such as David Henen who is really kicking on at the moment. If he can maintain this vain of form and nobody delivers for the first team he will certainly ask questions. He looks quicker, stronger, sharper and more clinical than I have seen him.
It's hard to put enough superlatives on Unsworth really, other than to say all the players he works with seem to get better under his stewardship. You see them every month or two and you can see them growing and improving. A lad like Baningime who even 12 months ago was a bit on the fringes at this level is increasingly looking like a dominant midfielder. Off the bench Broadhead came on and looked quite effective, when he barely got a kick last season, Foulds and Feeney get better and look more dominant than 12 months ago. I think they both need to grow physically as they lack a yard of pace. The lad from Fulham looks a proper unit at 18, and if he can kick on looks a really good potential player to me.
I'm not sure what's happening with Garbutt. It's hard to work out his career development. Mark Kevin De Bruyne out of the game at 21 and out on a limb at 24. You can only presume he went a bit off the rails, but it looks like Unsworth is getting him back on the straight and narrow. If he gets his head down, even at 24 he stands a decent chance given we have no back up to Baines of being given a chance. He has all the attributes.
A big final mention to the young Dutch right back. Improvements are needed and was a bit naive at times, but he looks very comfortable on the ball, quick and aggressive and I was quite impressed at a first glance.
Everyone one of those players has a chance to make it, but none of them at present you'd stick your hat on and say they were nailed. It sounds like a fudge answer though unless you have a Rooney or Barkley there is a lot of guesswork involved. However they have the potential to win the 23's league again, seem an ambitious and determined group and keep improving which is pleasing.
