Everton Youth Teams Thread

To be fair, look at how much computing/data analysis/opta has changed since that term. I don’t think even the most basics metrics like xG had really entered the lexicon during his tenure. I would have to assume the scouting depts for all clubs has shrunk since then.
 
Interesting game, just a few comments -
Graham - the lad's got it. A bit too young to get near first team as he looks as though he's a late grower but once he's developed physically we've got a diamond.
Foster - love this lad. His first touch and calmness when being pressed is remarkable for such a young player. Also a great range of passing. But he seemed to tire quickly last night and that definitely wasn't helped by the team set up with them being outnumbered in the middle of the pitch. If he played in the centre of a midfield 3 he'd shine. Physically - he'll fill out and develop power and hopefully stamina.
Loney - really like the look of this boy. Tidy footballer who makes good choices when in possession which is not a common trait in a young centre forward. As someone else said it's hard to believe he's 16.
Olayiwola - first time I've seen him and very impressed. Seems a natural energetic CM who can pass and carry the ball through midfield. Shame he wasn't on from the start with a different formation being played in central midfield.
Coaching - not the first time I've felt disappointed by the lack of tactical flexibility at this level and at U21 level recently. 442 or 424 when attacking is so predictable and dated. The new owners need to look at a bit of a shake up. Perhaps look to find some youth coaches from Spain or Portugal - they produce such great technical and tactically aware players. Or just poach a few of City's youth team coaches.
 
Toffeebraeden said:
To be fair, look at how much computing/data analysis/opta has changed since that term. I don’t think even the most basics metrics like xG had really entered the lexicon during his tenure. I would have to assume the scouting depts for all clubs has shrunk since then.
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All scouting departments will have shrunk but this is specifically referring to local scouts where data isn't availible and scouting remotely isn't feasible
 
It appears to me that we’ve broadened our scouting network in recent years away from local scouts to more national/ international coverage and are now fishing in a more diverse pond. Whether that’s a result of fewer local scouts , fewer talented “ local” players or both I don’t know.

The end result is an external influx of potentially decent players in both age groups. At u21 - Gomez , Nigeria; Boakye Ghana; Benjamin Arsenal,; Tamen last season from Burton. And an even bigger external influx at U18s with Akarakiri, Clarke, Graham, Loney , Freedman, Matos, Poland. And we’ve still brought or are bringing longer term players through the ranks like Armstrong, Foster, Thomas, Olayiwola , Robert, Moses etc and four u21s in the Palace squad.

We know they won’t all make it, but I find it refreshing and exciting seeing these newcomers coming in along side local players.
 
Raino85 said:
I dont get this theory, football can be played in so many different ways. Why pigeon hole kids at a development age into one box?

Not every youth team player will be a first team player, making them adaptable opens the door for them to all sorts of other clubs if we decide to sell them
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What did our commentators say about the u18s in the wigan game? What they arent getting in the first team squad? Its nice we want to train players so the can get into other teams. But we are everton and maybe we should try our best to coach them to be good enough to play for us. Thats like being an employer who trains every employee to work somewhere else. What a crazy logic i have that i think there should be some structure for everton thoughout the club hey?
 
TheBlueBlitzer said:
What did our commentators say about the u18s in the wigan game? What they arent getting in the first team squad? Its nice we want to train players so the can get into other teams. But we are everton and maybe we should try our best to coach them to be good enough to play for us. Thats like being an employer who trains every employee to work somewhere else. What a crazy logic i have that i think there should be some structure for everton thoughout the club hey?
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….of course the hope is one or two come through but the vast majority simply aren’t good enough, some will find their future in lower leagues. To think players are ‘trained to play for other clubs’ is a bit ludicrous. They all find their level and for almost all of them, it won’t be in the top flight.
 
Eggs said:
….of course the hope is one or two come through but the vast majority simply aren’t good enough, some will find their future in lower leagues. To think players are ‘trained to play for other clubs’ is a bit ludicrous. They all find their level and for almost all of them, it won’t be in the top flight.
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Maybe we should look at it from a more fundamental sense, if the hope is one or two comes through from 3 different age groups maybe we are doing something wrong as a club.
 
TheBlueBlitzer said:
What did our commentators say about the u18s in the wigan game? What they arent getting in the first team squad? Its nice we want to train players so the can get into other teams. But we are everton and maybe we should try our best to coach them to be good enough to play for us. Thats like being an employer who trains every employee to work somewhere else. What a crazy logic i have that i think there should be some structure for everton thoughout the club hey?
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Completely gone over your head what was said there.

1) Aligning 15-20 year old lads into one way of playing is not going to help them find who/were they are as a footballer. As a 15 year old by the time they hit 22, the whole club could of changed by then, as football styles move so quickly.

2) Some players go through youth teams in different positions and by the time they hit men's teams become a success in completely different positions (Ashley Cole/Trent Alexander Arnold/Declan Rice), that's because they have learned to play different roles, different positions. Ajax are the absolute perfect example of moving players around the pitch to make them knowledgeable to the whole game and not just the one position

3) Even if this group manage to get a staggering 8 players to play for the first team, and become 38 game a season regulars, that still leaves another 9-10 (if not more) lads that would be deemed to be not good enough, you are making them only attractive transfers (and money into the club) to teams that play the same style as Everton, why would you put that block on yourself?
 
Raino85 said:
Completely gone over your head what was said there.

1) Aligning 15-20 year old lads into one way of playing is not going to help them find who/were they are as a footballer. As a 15 year old by the time they hit 22, the whole club could of changed by then, as football styles move so quickly.

2) Some players go through youth teams in different positions and by the time they hit men's teams become a success in completely different positions (Ashley Cole/Trent Alexander Arnold/Declan Rice), that's because they have learned to play different roles, different positions. Ajax are the absolute perfect example of moving players around the pitch to make them knowledgeable to the whole game and not just the one position

3) Even if this group manage to get a staggering 8 players to play for the first team, and become 38 game a season regulars, that still leaves another 9-10 (if not more) lads that would be deemed to be not good enough, you are making them only attractive transfers (and money into the club) to teams that play the same style as Everton, why would you put that block on yourself?
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1) right now under moyes do we have 1 style of play? Maybe if you want to pigeonhole it into "evertons style" its one style yes. And if the first teams style of play has changed from you 15-22 difference, my point is to still make the play like the first team no matter how much the style has changed.

2) i never said anything about playing one player in one position? My point that went over your head is the full team to play like the first team not an individual playing in one posistion.

3) with PSR this is probably the only one i semi agree with.
 
TheBlueBlitzer said:
1) right now under moyes do we have 1 style of play? Maybe if you want to pigeonhole it into "evertons style" its one style yes. And if the first teams style of play has changed from you 15-22 difference, my point is to still make the play like the first team no matter how much the style has changed.

2) i never said anything about playing one player in one position? My point that went over your head is the full team to play like the first team not an individual playing in one posistion.

3) with PSR this is probably the only one i semi agree with.
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TheBlueBlitzer said:
Maybe we should look at it from a more fundamental sense, if the hope is one or two comes through from 3 different age groups maybe we are doing something wrong as a club.
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….i suppose the club could ditch its Academy. Given the stats are something like 0.012% of youngster will become professionals, you might wonder why any clubs bother.

Thing is, if Everton sell Anthony Gordon for £40m, then it probably covers the outlay for a number of years and there is the fundamental view that the most talented youngsters need to play and be coached somewhere. Ultimately the upper echelon of the game feeds lower leagues, maybe that’s how it should be.
 

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