While I agree that the credit lies with Unsworth , Sheedy and the other coaches , in fairness to him at least four of last nights U21 team were recruited externally by Martinez - Galloway, Holgate, Henen and Foulds . Hewelt came about the same time. Bill of course is ecstatic as he told him he'd lead the team to a top four spot.
Beni Baningime is a busy boy , made a first start for the u21s last night , sub tonight. Unsy has some nice things to say about him at the end of his E TV interview. Lavery doing the reverse, sub last night , start tonight.
I think Martinez deserves credit for taking more an interest. He has involved himself far more in the process and in general moral has improved from the younger players. Also he may not have given players as much exposure as people have liked, but he has given debuts too, Ledson, Dowell, Davies, Garbutt, Browning, Pennington, Connolly, Galloway as well as moving Barkley & Stones up to being first team regulars. A lot on that list would be surprised to have been given an opportunity in the first team, which will bode well for other young players at the club. (For example, Pennington & Browning were nowhere near as developed as Kenny is at the same age).
Moyes also did lots for the youth set up but in a different way. He took what was good about the youth network at Everton and expanded it. The number of scouts we had in the local area, the networks we built up with local coaches were fantastic. This was his work.
Moyes's failing was increasingly he lost interest in developing them post 18 aside from the occasional standout player.
The Everton academy have always had good people involved and to me been a bit ahead of the first team. We are consistently in the top 10 teams and sometimes we win the league. They coach them to play good football and be comfortable with the ball at feet. Under Smith it always frustrated me that you'd see Everton youth teams playing with passion, technique and commitment and it would be a sharp contrast to the first team. The academy has been one area where the values of the School of Science live on. Martinez didn't transform them but he did take more of an interest.
As for Baningime I have a lot of time for him. He will do well at Everton all the while Unsworth remains in charge. He looks a proper Everton midfield player to me, loves a tackle and covers the ground well. There was a lot of talk about him as an under 16 and it's taken him a bit of time to get into being a regular starter. However now he's nailed down a place he looks very promising. He is the most natural "defensive midfielder" we have in our youth ranks and is happy to sit and break play up. I think he will be a regular for the under 21's next season and may allow Williams to move out on loan.
