2022/23 Reece Welch

[Eggs]

….think he’s been quite poor at Youth level when I’ve watched him the last 18 months.

Fabulous physicality & athleticism, very decent in possession but he’s like a dormouse on the pitch & appears to have little or no fire in his belly. Play like not conceding a goal matters.

He needs attitude, you wouldn’t be too concerned playing against him.

 

[Nymzee]

….think he’s been quite poor at Youth level when I’ve watched him the last 18 months.

Fabulous physicality & athleticism, very decent in possession but he’s like a dormouse on the pitch & appears to have little or no fire in his belly. Play like not conceding a goal matters.

He needs attitude, you wouldn’t be too concerned playing against him.

I don't even think his physicality is all that; looks weak as tits in youth footie. File under Feeney, Astley, the rest.

 

[Eggs]

I don't even think his physicality is all that; looks weak as tits in youth footie. File under Feeney, Astley, the rest.

…yep, he’s got the size and pace but beyond that he’s more like Keane.

For once, I’d like to see him go on loan & play football that matters. Sink or swim.

 

[Nymzee]

…yep, he’s got the size and pace but beyond that he’s more like Keane.

For once, I’d like to see him go on loan & play football that matters.

Baffled he keeps getting chances ahead of Anderson. He looked levels above him vs United. Even their two centre halves, (18 and 17-yo) were a level above him.

I sound like I hate him on here I just don't see anything at all, never have.

 

[Eggs]

Baffled he keeps getting chances ahead of Anderson. He looked levels above him vs United. Even their two centre halves, (18 and 17-yo) were a level above him.

I sound like I hate him on here I just don't see anything at all, never have.

….he was outstanding in the Youth Cup run a few seasons ago. If I recall rightly, they won at City and Chelsea with backs-to-the-wall displays & I remember posting how terrific he was.

it’s why I’ve been so disappointed of late. His part in the 2nd United goal said it all, but he was poor in last seasons Youth Cup when he & his partner were led a merry dance.

 

[Bluemersey]

….he was outstanding in the Youth Cup run a few seasons ago. If I recall rightly, they won at City and Chelsea with backs-to-the-wall displays & I remember posting how terrific he was.

it’s why I’ve been so disappointed of late. His part in the 2nd United goal said it all, but he was poor in last seasons Youth Cup when he & his partner were led a merry dance.

He looked woeful, just big.

 

[argietoffee]

collpased like a primark suit when the wee irish fella ran at him in the first half. Keane bailed him out big time.

Luckily, they were as toothless up front as we are.

 

[originalgreaserbob]

I’d like to see him go on loan & play football that matters.

Who are you and what have you done with Eggs!?!?!

 

[BigMick]

He’s naff honestly. Don’t get your hopes up. Joe Anderson will be fuming.

Yes - Welch's selection must have made it clear to him that the coaches think Welch has the potential to develop into a 1st team player while he doesn't, no matter how he plays in the U23s.

 

[Nymzee]

Yes - Welch's selection must have made it clear to him that the coaches think Welch has the potential to develop into a 1st team player while he doesn't, no matter how he plays in the U23s.

Which I find confusing, as with Anderson being 21, surely he’s the one to test first so you know if to sell or not next Summer.

 

[Lanolin]

Which I find confusing, as with Anderson being 21, surely he’s the one to test first so you know if to sell or not next Summer.

That's just not really how it works with youth development though is it? It seems pretty clear Welch is the one they rate higher so he's the one they're pushing.

 

[Nymzee]

That's just not really how it works with youth development though is it? It seems pretty clear Welch is the one they rate higher so he's the one they're pushing.

So why offer Anderson a new contract? Surely Everton want to know if a 21-year old has use before a 19-year old. Welch still has 2 more years of youth development awaiting him. Just seems illogical to me.

 

[Lanolin]

So why offer Anderson a new contract? Surely Everton want to know if a 21-year old has use before a 19-year old. Welch still has 2 more years of youth development awaiting him. Just seems illogical to me.

I can't answer the contract thing, although I have said many times that sometimes players will be given a contract because the club thinks it's important to have players like them around the under 21 set up and that not every young player on the books will be seen as a potential first teamer.

In terms of the rest of it though, like I said, it's just not really how it works anywhere. The coaches are there to make decisions on players and they will have ideas about what everybody's ceiling is from the work they do with them every day. The first team is not a talent competition where everybody gets a chance to show what they can do and then we decide who we like the most, it's picked based on the opinion of the manager and coaches. It is very clear that they rate Welch higher than Anderson, and always have. On that basis it's perfectly logical that he's picked first. Whether they'll be proved right obviously I don't know, but that's football isn't it.

 

[BigMick]

I can't answer the contract thing, although I have said many times that sometimes players will be given a contract because the club thinks it's important to have players like them around the under 21 set up and that not every young player on the books will be seen as a potential first teamer.

In terms of the rest of it though, like I said, it's just not really how it works anywhere. The coaches are there to make decisions on players and they will have ideas about what everybody's ceiling is from the work they do with them every day. The first team is not a talent competition where everybody gets a chance to show what they can do and then we decide who we like the most, it's picked based on the opinion of the manager and coaches. It is very clear that they rate Welch higher than Anderson, and always have. On that basis it's perfectly logical that he's picked first. Whether they'll be proved right obviously I don't know, but that's football isn't it.

I think your first paragraph is spot on. They want players like Anderson, who's comfortable at U23 level, to ensure there's some consistency with the team and they aren't getting beaten every week, which is likely to happen if you have a team full of 18 and 19 year old players. It's harder to develop players if they are losing every week and their confidence taking a hit.

Whether it's the right thing for Joe Anderson's career is another matter.

 

[blueloon]

I can't answer the contract thing, although I have said many times that sometimes players will be given a contract because the club thinks it's important to have players like them around the under 21 set up and that not every young player on the books will be seen as a potential first teamer.

In terms of the rest of it though, like I said, it's just not really how it works anywhere. The coaches are there to make decisions on players and they will have ideas about what everybody's ceiling is from the work they do with them every day. The first team is not a talent competition where everybody gets a chance to show what they can do and then we decide who we like the most, it's picked based on the opinion of the manager and coaches. It is very clear that they rate Welch higher than Anderson, and always have. On that basis it's perfectly logical that he's picked first. Whether they'll be proved right obviously I don't know, but that's football isn't it.

It’s hard to disagree with any of that. You can’t help but like Joe Anderson, big , strong, committed, a great left foot, but for me has never looked first team material. I was surprised he got a two year deal, but yes I’d say he is the type of player you‘d want around the u 21s, I hope they have a plan for him that allows him to find another club eventually. We’ve given some deadbeats extended contracts in the past , I don’t place Anderson in that category.

I’m sure that Welch, rightly or wrongly , has always been on our equivalent of a “ fast track” . Personally , I’d place him behind Branthwaite at the same age , and I’d say Ishe Samuels-Smith at 16 looks better at CB than Welch did at 16 . Just opinions though , who knows where all 3 will end up given their young ages. Against United, Welch was beaten by a brilliant pass from the most talented player on the pitch, Kobbie Mainoo, - it happens . The u21 coaches saw it, no doubt the first team coaches and Lampard saw it too , their opinions were that he was good enough to start in a first team game at left centre back in a back 3 , a position that I don’t believe he’s ever played competitively before. Playing him against lower league opposition made sense.