My fear going forward - what about the youth?

[jinkyali]

A priority ? Yes.

Top priority ? ( which is what some want, probably not you though ) . No.

Agree .
Should be up there though. The original post was more of a high level analysis of the change in circumstances within the club which in my opinion greatly reduces the route from academy scholar to first team opportunity.

I stand by it but I am happy to be proven wrong in elements of it. One of which is RK giving young kids the chance. Let's hope it continues.

 

[Woolly Blue]

Agree .
Should be up there though. The original post was more of a high level analysis of the change in circumstances within the club which in my opinion greatly reduces the route from academy scholar to first team opportunity.

I stand by it but I am happy to be proven wrong in elements of it. One of which is RK giving young kids the chance. Let's hope it continues.

Kids go to Chelsea and City knowing they probably havn't got a snowball's chance of getting in the first team there.

But they know they'll get good coaching and will likely get loaned out somewhere for first team opportunities to be able to show other teams what they're capable of.

Now obviously we're not currently as successful as those two clubs, but it's not a bad model to aspire to, so if our youth players struggle a little more to make the first team because we've improved the squad by signing better players, then I for one will be very pleased !

 

[Woolly Blue]

Agree .
Should be up there though. The original post was more of a high level analysis of the change in circumstances within the club which in my opinion greatly reduces the route from academy scholar to first team opportunity.

I stand by it but I am happy to be proven wrong in elements of it. One of which is RK giving young kids the chance. Let's hope it continues.

Two youngsters started today.

It's probably a gross oversimplification, but it looks like Koeman has been giving them game time coming off the bench to ease them in a bit before starting them.

I think if they're good enough, then they'll get game time. Obviously if we buy quality players in their prime then the youngsters might not get the same chances, but I'm struggling with the notion that that's a bad thing.

 

[Prevenger17]

but it looks like Koeman has been giving them game time coming off the bench to ease them in a bit before starting them.

Unheard of!

 

[Goat]

lollollol

 

[roydo]

Some stat on BBC said we are the only team to start 2 teenagers in a game this season. In the Prem that is.

 

[bicycleheader]

He has thrown in Calvert-Lewin too early there and now he is on crutches. Its hard not to be cynical and imagine that he only picked the youngsters so they would get injured or they would play so bad that he didn't have to play them again. He is an evil man with a heart of stone.

 

[roydo]

lollol

 

[Prevenger17]

A shame about DLC. Looked like he might actually get some change out of Hoofkaku before his injury. He'll be out for 2 years now

 

[Jags..class]

Did the Southampton teenager start who started in the last game where Koeman got slated for not playing kids

 

[jceverton]

I really hope today is a defining moment for the young lads and big Ron.

Suitably impressed that DCL, Holgate and Davies given chances but it must be maintained.

Fair play he gave them a start today but it's taken a hell of a long time to give Davies a game. My frustration in this regard is that he and a number of them are ready to be playing. I've watched Everton youth players for last thirty odd years and this is, in my opinion, the best group we've had. For most of that time we've had the odd one or two who you thought could make it but most of them weren't even close. This time I think we've got more than half a dozen but they've been conspicuous by their absence. Hopefully Koeman will give more of them a chance. Today was a good start.

 

[jinkyali]

Two youngsters started today.

It's probably a gross oversimplification, but it looks like Koeman has been giving them game time coming off the bench to ease them in a bit before starting them.

I think if they're good enough, then they'll get game time. Obviously if we buy quality players in their prime then the youngsters might not get the same chances, but I'm struggling with the notion that that's a bad thing.

I think they started due to it being the third game in 6 days or so.

 

[Woolly Blue]

I think they started due to it being the third game in 6 days or so.

Well fielded squire

 

[jinkyali]

Well fielded squire

I really wish it was different. But the evidence that lies before us thus far doesnt indicate so.

Keen to be proven wrong in the future.

 

[johnnydawg68]

Fair play he gave them a start today but it's taken a hell of a long time to give Davies a game. My frustration in this regard is that he and a number of them are ready to be playing. I've watched Everton youth players for last thirty odd years and this is, in my opinion, the best group we've had. For most of that time we've had the odd one or two who you thought could make it but most of them weren't even close. This time I think we've got more than half a dozen but they've been conspicuous by their absence. Hopefully Koeman will give more of them a chance. Today was a good start.

I wonder if there is a bias because no one has brought six through...maybe ever. I am curious why Dowell hasn't at least gotten on the bench after Bolasie's injury.