3 Full England Internationals 23/24 years old: Pickford/Keane/Barkley
6 U21 England Internationals: Kenny/Holgate/Davies/Dowell/Lookman/DCL
2 High potential Full Internationals: Vlasic/Onyekuru
David Unsworth won the u23s league last year and strengthened with a few signings including Lewis Gibson and Dennis Adeniran (England u17 /18s) and we also have others such as Connolly and Walsh on loan and unknowns such as Nathangelo Markelo (Holland u19s).
The way we get into the top 4 isn't making signings to impede the progress of these players, its by signing more and more top young players and developing a team ethic with pride, passion, togetherness and love for a manager and a club.
Forget about signing Sigurdssons, Costas and Cavani's and lets build on the young team we are growing, sign the next wave of stars and be known as 'The Peoples Club who play exciting attacking football with pride and passion'.
'School of Science'
'The Holy Trinity'
'The Dogs of War'
Which non-Evertonian even knows these relate to us?
Joe Royle, John Ebbrell, Duncan Ferguson, David Unsworth and others are the framework and stability inside the club. Steve Walsh comes with strong pedigree and looks like he can pick out young talent.
We may need to be patient for a few years as the kids develop, but i'd be more interested seeing us build something gradually from youth than signing older players and being happy with top 6/7 like the last 20+ years.
Look at Ryan Sessegnon at Fulham, played 30+ games at 17, would he rather be a 2nd choice at United or Spurs or would he join us for high chance of a starting place with other young stars who show merit? Wouldn't it be great if these types of players joined us because they will play, wouldn't it be even better if they asked their agents to speak with us first and aspire to join us?
The questions which are being asked about finishing 5th or 6th because 'that's the best we can hope for' aren't true, football is cyclical and we have an amazing opportunity here to build the best Everton team in most of our lifetimes.
Howard Kendall would have loved the young players we have, he signed 19 year old Trevor Steven (for example) and was amazing at mixing youth with experience. Joe Royle could have done wonders with this young team as well.
We need to stop hoping that a big name manager (Mourinho now Ancelotti) will come in for a couple of years and instead look at how we can create a dynasty.
I see this moment as being a very exciting opportunity for Moshiri and Kenwright to really build a team fit for a world class stadium.
Will they keep hanging onto Koeman, or go for another Koeman type short-term appointment based upon a big playing name and possibly success with superstars or will they research which managers have won trophies building young teams.
I cross my fingers.
keane will be 25 in a few months.
