Ledson joins Oxford United in permanent deal

, 25 August, 80comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton have sold Academy product Ryan Ledson to Oxford United for an undisclosed fee, confirming suggestions in the local press that they would allow the midfielder to leave.

The Liverpool Echo had reported this week that the 19-year-old could leave the Blues on a permanent basis rather than just on loan and that has been confirmed with his switch to the League One club where he has signed a three-year contract.

At one stage predicted to be a future Everton captain, Ledson came through Everton's Finch Farm Academy and has played regularly at all levels up to the Under-23s.

He captained England U17s to European Championship glory two seasons ago and has played as high as U19 level for his country.

Ledson posted a goodbye message on social media today after the deal taking him south was confirmed:

Would like to thank and wish Everton all the best. Had an unbelievable 14 years at the club and had some great memories there.

Thanks to all the staff that have worked with me over the years and I wish you and all the boys the best of luck.

 

Reader Comments (80)

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Daniel Lim
1 Posted 25/08/2016 at 15:22:08
From the comments of TWers, I thought this kid was going to be an Everton great. Maybe not but at least expected to play for the first team regularly pretty soon...
Christopher Marston
2 Posted 25/08/2016 at 15:23:47
Why do we always let these types go for next to nothing? Manchester United youth players nowhere near the first team command millions of pounds in transfer fees.
Terry White
3 Posted 25/08/2016 at 15:34:00
Christopher (#2), since the report says the fee was "undisclosed), please tell us how you know it was "next to nothing"?
Martin Nicholls
4 Posted 25/08/2016 at 15:34:47
Chris#2 - as do any players who have ever been anywhere near Klanfield.
Victor Jones
5 Posted 25/08/2016 at 15:40:41
Maybe he might do a Pogba or even a Mustafi and command a huge fee in the future. He clearly doesn't fit into Koeman's plans, just as he didn't fit into Martinez's plans. So there you are. Another young player moves on. Good luck to him. I for one will be checking his progress. We might just have not heard the last of young Ledson. He would do well in Scotland. Find his feet. Work his way back into a Premier League team.
Geoff Williams
6 Posted 25/08/2016 at 15:44:47
I hope some provision has been made should he really make the grade.
Ian Burns
7 Posted 25/08/2016 at 15:54:47
I wish the lad all the best and I hope he carves out an excellent career for himself. You never know what is around the corner - look at Adam Forshaw at Middlesbrough - he is doing well - hopefully Ledson can follow suit.
James Watts
8 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:05:08
Good news, we should have enough money to buy Martina now.
Phil Walling
9 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:10:55
Davies, Dowell and Holgate to follow, no doubt !

But one comes through every five years or so.

Brent Stephens
10 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:16:01
I think there was talk of Ledson having an attitude problem. Maybe that did for him in the end?
Brent Stephens
11 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:18:21
Phil, I see Davies has been called up to the U18 England squad.
Joseph Mullarkey
12 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:18:56
I hope we have put some sort of buy back clause in as Barça did with Geri. I would hate for us to have lost a talent with out an future option.

Not saying he will turn out to be a Pogba but better safe than sorry.

Steve Ferns
13 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:19:30
Sad news.

He looked a neat and tidy player. Good touch. Two feet. Good range of passing. Great shot. I thought he was going to go to the very top, but I did fear for him after seeing Davies jump ahead of him and not being given a squad number. Davies is a younger guy at 18, and I think ledson is 20 soon.

He seems a sensible fella and hopefully he can knuckle down and work his way up the leagues.

It's hard to excel as a central playmaker at a young age and even the great zidane only really made it at 27 years of age. So he has plenty of time.

All the best.

Jim Hardin
14 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:39:50
C'mon Daniel,

You know that if a kid is English and doesn't trip over his own two feet while walking out onto the pitch, then he is the next sure-fire can't-miss future captain of Everton and England!

Seriously though, Ledson looked good when given the opportunity but not great. Hopefully, he will do very well and have a long career. Best of luck to him.

Rahman Talib
15 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:40:00
Is there a chance we can buy Adam Forshaw back?
Gary Reeves
16 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:42:53
Brent #10 - Well that's the first I've heard! That's an extremely vague summary of a young man's potential career, don't you think? Especially when it just amounts to idle gossip.
Julian Wait
17 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:45:13
I agree he could come good but it doesn't help him or us to wait and see, especially if there's younger players ahead of him for first team and U-23. If he does come good, I would love to see him come back to us, if not, I will always be hoping he does well unless he's playing us!!
Maynard Hanna
18 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:53:12
I wish him well but at 19 there should be better signs of future progression and obviously that is not the case.

Pity, but it's best for the young fella that he gets the opportunity to play football.
Gary Edwards
19 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:53:31
I saw Ledson play a few times when the U21's played at Southport (inc. last year's mini derby) .. impressed me with his skill and commitment. I hope we have favorable buy-back terms.
Martin Mason
20 Posted 25/08/2016 at 16:54:34
It's always sad when such a promising product of the academy doesn't make it but it's a reflection of how good the club's quality control is and it shows what a precarious career soccer is. I can only wish him the best of luck with Oxford.
Iain Thomson
21 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:06:55
Good luck to him.. its just how things are.. if your 2 years older than a kid in your position who is around the first team and you are not then leaving is normal.
Thomas Surgenor
22 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:12:29
As said on another thread, this probably has dr.vints finger prints all over it.

His progress had stalled and maybe didn't tick vints boxes. Pity as we all had high hopes for him but as was said above, in football, if there's someone younger and better in your position then it's time to pack your bags. Has happened to better players than young Ryan (arteta was scrap heaped at barce for iniesta/Xavi).

This means RK/DU rate young Davies highly.

Peter Gorman
23 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:15:31
I'm a bit surprised by this to be honest but I suppose the signs were that it was coming as younger players started to usurp him at Everton.

Perhaps in the end he just wasn't that great a footballer but I declare solemnly he has more natural aggression, cool and determination that the entire shower who played for us last season.

We'll hear of this kid again some day.

Steavey Buckley
24 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:17:09
I hate to tell you so when Ledson went with the England under 19's in a now forgotten tournament instead of turning up for Koeman's first ever Everton pre-season. I think he is regretting that now. Because it is far more important playing for the Everton 1st team than playing for a country, especially when the player is not in the Everton 1st team.
Kevin Rowlands
25 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:28:56
If his only option was a permanent to Oxford it's pretty obvious that he isn't as good as some thought, good luck to him.
David Chait
26 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:29:28
I'm very very disappointed! I thought he was bang on to make it after he captained the u17s and was playing u21s at a very young age... What happened?
For some reason he was then out the national set up and didn't seem be taken up further. Don't get it.
Agree this has Mr Vint all over it..
I hope he runs our noses in it.. Surprised a bigger club didnt go in for him. I'm sure he will progress if he puts his mind to it.
Ian Jones
27 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:41:29
Hi Steavey. Get what you say about Ryan going for an intl tournament instead of Ronald K's pre-season sessions but perhaps the management had been tipped off already about Ryan's ability or his wishes to go elsewhere. Never seen Ryan play. Perhaps part of a Europa League game. Not sure.

But gd luck to him. Hope he makes it

Paul Hay
28 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:50:47
I wish him all the very best for the future.

Keep the faith.

Christopher Marston
29 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:52:04
Terry - he has joined Oxford. I'm inferring of course but the likelihood is that he has gone for hardly any money.
Dave Williams
30 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:53:54
Sorry chaps but who is Mr.Vint?
Colin Glassar
31 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:56:30
The brains behind the USA Olympic team, Dave.
Patrick Murphy
32 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:56:33
Dave (30) He's our new sports scientist. There's an article all about him linked on the front page of TW 'Meet the Team USA sports science guru transforming Everton'
Martin Mason
33 Posted 25/08/2016 at 17:57:35
Colin, is that the team that is reputed to be the biggest user of drugs in world sport?
Dave Abrahams
34 Posted 25/08/2016 at 18:02:44
I am surprised that Ledson has gone so quickly to one of the first clubs to show interest in him. I would love to know who is in charge at Oxford, manager and chairman, I would also like to know the financial terms Ryan has got for himself, or his agent has got for him.

To go to a team in the bottom rung of the League, doesn't at first glance, look a very good move for him, but maybe he has got a very good financial deal which makes a move very rewarding for him and maybe his wages at Everton didn't compare to what he is getting at Oxford. I still think we will hear a lot about this lad in the future, good luck Ryan with your future career.

Dave Williams
35 Posted 25/08/2016 at 18:03:16
Aaaaah!

Thanks chaps. Sorry to see him go but with Davies, Dowell,Williams and Walsh there are a lot of youngsters competing for a CM berth and we must trust RK, Unsy and Joe to get it right.

Colin Glassar
36 Posted 25/08/2016 at 18:04:00
No Martin, that would be Russia closely followed by China.
David Chait
37 Posted 25/08/2016 at 18:09:29
I won't be surprised to see Walsh follow soon enough... I think these guys are seeing what's in front of them and with their mates Baxter, Green etc going and forging careers they might just be thinking along the same lines..
Surely he could have done better than Oxford...
John Dean
38 Posted 25/08/2016 at 18:12:43
Ryan was a stand-out player in all his age groups but that wasn't enough to make him a stand-out player once he reached u23 level and certainly he is nowhere near the level needed to start a Premier League game. He's a true blue - but we can't all play for Everton.
John Raftery
39 Posted 25/08/2016 at 18:13:18
Some speculative nonsense on here about the lad's attitude and the role of the Academy Director. Ledson was on loan at Cambridge United last season. He played 27 league games for a team which finished ninth in League Two. It would appear he did a decent job for them but there is a chasm between the standards required at that level and those required in the Premier League.
It was part of Joe Royle's role to monitor the progress of the players out on loan and make recommendations on the way forward. As with the overwhelming majority of Academy players Ledson had some promise but even as an England under 17 captain there was always a question mark about whether he had any special qualities to suggest he would be able to progress to Premier League level within the foreseeable future. With Barry, Gana, McCarthy, Cleverley, Davies and probably Walsh in front of him the harsh reality is he had no obvious pathway into the first team squad this season or next. It would seem therefore in the player's best interests for him to go to a club at League One level where he can continue his development .
Realistically we cannot keep every promising player in the development squad until they reach 21/22 just in case they might eventually reach the standard required. It would not be in their best long term interests or the club's. Choices have to be made and while there will always be a risk we lose an exceptional late developer that applies to every club. In that regard some mention Adam Forshaw who has done well to work his way back up to top level. To be brutally frank though he is hardly in the Pogba class and I doubt very much if he would merit a place in our team at present.
Rob Dolby
40 Posted 25/08/2016 at 18:23:35
The odds are stacked against a holding centre mid from the 2nd div making it back to the prem. Most managers will buy foreign players and give them more chance to succeed as they are the managers choice.
The bigger picture is ignored and local talent disappears. Everton like most prem teams produce great talent that hits a glass ceiling when it comes to the 1st team. Look at Chelsea, youth cup winners 4 out of 5 years and 1 player loftus cheek is anywhere near the 1st team. In my opinion its time to introduce quotas for home grown players. I am fed up of ordinary players taking the place of local talent. I could get a dozen strikers from the lower leagues who are better than Niasse or centre backs who are better than Alcaraz every prem team is the same.
Sam Hoare
41 Posted 25/08/2016 at 18:47:30
Good luck to him. He'd not been turning out regularly for the u23s recently and was behind Davies and Williams. We have had a glimpse of why already with what we've seen of Davies.

Often happens that kids rated highly at 16-20 get overtaken by their peers. Anyone remember Peter Clarke?

Julian Wait
42 Posted 25/08/2016 at 18:52:04
On a positive note, even if he's not good enough, perhaps the ones that remain ARE, and they must be better than him? Or we're going to buy someone better than him? We might take this, heartbreaking as it may be for this young man, as a sign of progress, and as an indicator of our upwardly mobile standards and expectations. As I said above, I would love to see him come back and play for us if he's good enough at a later dat, if not then good luck to him.
John Graham
43 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:05:15
Sorry but I always think it's very sad when one of our youngsters don,t make the grade. I know everyone had high hopes for him but somehow things went wrong and he didn't progress enough. I agree with Rob (40), something is going wrong when hardly any youth players from any premiership team ever makes the grade. Are we still just picking out the biggest and strongest when they are younger but as they get older the skill factor isn't there. We need to spend lots more time on the skills and decision making side of the game.the physical side usually sorts itself out.
Wish the lad all the best and hope one day he proves us wrong and we have to pay £100 million to get him back.
Ian Bennett
44 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:07:51
A bit of realism that not every player will make it big. If we can keep a couple of lads, and the rest make it in league football then this has to be seen as a success.

Good luck Ryan.

Frank Crewe
45 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:08:59
Our academy has only produced two players of note. Rooney and Barkley and they were twelve years apart. Continental clubs appear to be able to produce good young players at a much greater rate than english clubs do. Hence our urge to buy them.

Maybe not having the money to splurge on transfer fees like English clubs do they have to put more into youth development to be sold on for ridiculous fees to English clubs with more money than sense.

But in any case it is almost impossible for young players to make it into PL first teams. All PL sides are off the shelf and as long as they have the money that will remain so.

Martin Mason
46 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:10:12
The reason is that we can buy experienced EU resident players cheaper than we can develop our own youngsters. Another example of the horror of being in the EU and being in the pay of SKY
Frank Crewe
47 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:15:03
Well soon we won't be in the EU, doesn't bear thinking about, and we won't be able to buy EU players and we can start playing all these young superstars we keep kidding ourselves we have.

Maybe we can bring back "England v Rest of the World" games like we used to do back in the fantasy 50's when Johnny Foreigner knew his place.

Geoff Williams
48 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:15:16
There is simply nowhere for young players to go within the club's structure. The Under-21s or Under-23s are no preparation for first team football and if players appear good enough there is a whole gaggle of senior pros ahead of them in the pecking order.

Like most of the contributors on this site, I don't know the reasons behind the club's decision to let Ledson go but it is hard to accept that he doesn't have more to offer than the Injury prone Gibson and Besic or even Cleverley. If it is down to attitude rather than playing ability, as some have implied, then that reflects badly on the club.

Martin Mason
49 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:18:41
Why have an expensive academy system then?
Les Martin
50 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:28:55
With our excellent academy and the youngsters we already have, someone has decided that he is not of the standard required to make our first team as yet. It is with this in mind that it would be beneficial to be playing football elsewhere to enhance his chances of earning a living in football. I wish him a long and happy and successful career.

This is also a wake-up call to other promising youngsters at the club, that they have to work exceptionally hard, go on loan when required, and improve their first team chances. Nothing is guaranteed despite potential until it is reached.

Steve Ferns
51 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:30:31
Our academy system is one of the best. We've produced Barkley, Rodwell, Osman, Ball, Jeffers, Rooney who have all been capped by England in the last 20 years. How many have Liverpool had in that time?

Baines, Jags and Barton were also there before getting cut and ending up elsewhere.

What I've been impressed with in recent years is that most of the lads have impeccable technique and can use both feet.

Coaching seems top class. Even more so when you consider these are all local lads not the best lads stolen from other academies. The only thing missing is the English problem of hunger, desire and application. Which is probably because they all think they've made it at 16 and it's just a matter of time until they fulfill their potential, instead of realizing that this is in fact the hardest part to make that final jump up.

Geoff Williams
52 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:31:38
Stones, Galloway and Holgate have one thing in common — they didn't come through Everton's Academy. Why is it that so many highly promising youngsters fail to graduate from the Academy.

I half expect to read in a year or so that Tom Davies, Joe Williams etc have signed for some lower league club. Barkley apart, how many boys have made it in the last few years?

Frank Crewe
53 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:42:34
Look at the millions Citeh put into their academy since they hit the jackpot. All that investment and they've produced exactly no young players. Zilch, nil, nada and they're not going to.

The fact is managers sign 3/4 year contracts. They are under pressure to produce results almost straight away, especially those in the PL, so they don't have the time or motivation to play young players.

Look at Holgate. If Coleman was fit would he be playing? I doubt it very much. And the fact is that it is only injuries to senior players and lack of experienced cover that allows young players the chance to play. Then it's sink or swim time.

Brent Stephens
54 Posted 25/08/2016 at 19:43:17
Gary #16 "That's an extremely vague summary of a young man's potential career, don't you think? Especially when it just amounts to idle gossip."

Gary, no I don't agree – because that's not my summary of a young man's career, just one aspect of it which I read about but can't remember where. TW is full of "idle gossip" – it's what we do ffs! I was not speculating but remembering something I'd read and was hoping somebody else could remember something about this.

Robert Workman
55 Posted 25/08/2016 at 20:18:43
How many Evertonian's can claim that they have played for Oxbridge?
Gary Reeves
56 Posted 25/08/2016 at 20:27:19
Brent #54

No probs, mate, you're right – gossip is allowed, I agree, and this is a forum. I just wanted to point out that, having followed young Ledson's progress, I'd never heard anyone doubting his attitude, that's all.

I think the top and bottom is, it's very hard to become a Premier League midfielder and just maybe we haven't seen the last of this lad. I wish him luck.

Ian McDowell
57 Posted 25/08/2016 at 20:28:05
I wish him all the best. Always good to see a youngster coming through the ranks and breaking into the first team. We really need to look at coaching in this country and getting youngster more competitive football to prepare them for the EPL. As a post earlier says can we really say that in recent times Alcaraz was worth a game over Duffy.

With the money that's at stake I believe we will see less and less academy players coming through now. Clubs won't take the chance, every manager knows they they are only 6 games from the sack. Mourinho gets slated for not bringing in young players but he is only at a club for 3 or 4 years. In that time he wants to win the league, champions league and cups. He won't take the chance on a Rashford when you can get a Zlatan.

Damian Nolan
58 Posted 25/08/2016 at 21:00:44
Phil Walling - is it true you were considered too macabre for the new edition of Dickens' "Christmas Carol?" I am sorry but you seem programmed to be the guy who would wrap clouds around any silver lining you could find. Give Koeman a chance before you comment with certainty that fellow youth team players will be sold. Through a close family link I know for a fact that he has NO intention of selling Dowell. In fact the very opposite is the case. The same goes for Davies or Holgate.
Steve Ferns
59 Posted 25/08/2016 at 21:03:09
Problem for academies as I see it is there's a smaller pool of kids to pick from. I always thought that Liverpool bucked the trends of fat kids playing on Playstations rather than kicking a ball around in the street or in the parks. However, drive past most parks this summer and you'll find that they're not full of kids like they used to be. I don't know if it's just Playstations, or parents keeping kids safe, or clubs preventing their talent getting injured, but the lack of street football is a big worry for Everton and England.
Christopher Wallace
60 Posted 25/08/2016 at 21:14:48
Christopher 2 & 29

How much value do you assign to a young player that the club are prepared to let go, and Oxford are the buying club?

Serious question.

Brent Stephens
61 Posted 25/08/2016 at 21:18:29
Gary (#56), I watched the lad a few times in the U21s, and really liked his spunky approach to the game. Always got stuck in. Look what happened to Pogba after Man Utd let him go. Maybe... just maybe?
Liam Reilly
62 Posted 25/08/2016 at 21:23:48
It's a tough call but ultimately the Manager will make it as to who he thinks will make the grade.

They'll all get it wrong sometimes (and ther will be whoppers: Pogba) but its rare and most would trade Ferguson's whoppers for his successes.

Personally I think Davies and Walsh will be the ones to come out of these apprentices.

Jack Cross
63 Posted 25/08/2016 at 22:02:44
Does anyone know who Garbutt as been sold to?
Ernie Baywood
64 Posted 25/08/2016 at 22:09:49
Man Utd didn't let Pogba go... he just went. Out of contract.

The odds are against Ledson making it big. Even Rodwell had plenty of Premier League experience to his name at a similar age. But there's time – if he is good enough he'll make it back.

Andrew Keatley
65 Posted 26/08/2016 at 00:34:56
Steavey Buckley (24) – Just because you want to be right about something doesn't mean you are. I believe Jonjoe Kenny and Callum Connolly also both went to that tournament – probably with the full blessing of the club, and are still here. Selection for those international youth tournaments are good for the development of the players, and good for the club.

I assume that Ledson was not sold because Koeman doesn't think he's ready for the first team yet – but because the club have decided that we have better long-term options elsewhere. Having spent 14 years at the club I doubt a pre-season with Koeman is likely to change that. They could have loaned him out again – as is all the rage – but didn't, which surely indicates a fair amount.

Ledson has gone exactly the way of John Lundstram. Neat and tidy player, but sadly not thought to be Premier League class. We have a lot of talented footballers in the academy, with some of the English contingent receiving call-ups to recently announced squads; Anthony Evans and Nathan Holland join Tom Davies in the Under 19s, Dowell joins Connolly and Kenny (and Ledson) in the Under 20s, Galloway and Holgate in the Under 21s, and Morgan Feeney in the Under 18s.

Not all of these are going to become regular members of the first-team squad. Add to those the injured Williams, Liam Walsh and any number of popular others. Most of those named above will be playing their football elsewhere within five years - that's what history tells us. Fergie's Fledglings were the exception that proves the rule.

Frank Thomas
66 Posted 26/08/2016 at 00:39:46
As one of, if not the first club to set up a youth system, we seemed to have stopped innovating in this area. If we are aiming for European competitions then it might be a good idea to see if we could place some of our youth players with European clubs. There seems to be a number of British footballers who 'drop' through the EFL and go to Europe to find themselves in demand.

Placing players in this route would help the players realise how lucky they are to be playing for relatively high salaries in England. It also offers them a chance to improve with more contact with Continental coaches and different football skills and tactics. From a club point we might increase the transfer fees or include 'sell on clauses' or 'buy back clauses' for these players. We might even get back players who have improved like Pogba or Mustafi

Eric Myles
67 Posted 26/08/2016 at 00:57:09
Jack (#63), he's out in loan at Wigan.
David Ellis
68 Posted 26/08/2016 at 02:49:42
Why such a long thread on this? There are better players underneath him and no pathway to the first team so we wish him well elsewhere.

It's always been the case that very few "star" youngsters make it to the first team (or at least since the 1970s to my direct knowledge). It's becoming even rarer now because Premier League clubs are so rich compared to the rest of the world – so we can attract the best in the world. Obviously when competing against the best youngsters in the world (or a fair proportion of them) only a very few local lads (or English lads) will make it. Its plain mathematics.

Good to see that we have this fellow Vint behind the seasons helping make the right decisions. Maybe Ryan Ledson was an early developer which is why he made the national age grade teams... but peaked at a level below Premier League standard.

Jack Cross
69 Posted 26/08/2016 at 02:59:41
Eric (#67). Thanks mate. I liked what I've seen of him, so let's hope it's only a loan.
Clive Rogers
71 Posted 26/08/2016 at 10:32:06
Garbutt is 23, so it's difficult to decide if he has a future st EFC or not.
Brent Stephens
72 Posted 26/08/2016 at 10:33:57
Ernie #64 - yes I stand corrected. Cheers.
Alan J Thompson
73 Posted 26/08/2016 at 11:21:36
I'd feel a lot happier if I knew the assessment of Ledson was made by someone with playing and coaching experience and based on performance rather than on the word of an American who feels he doesn't fit the crossword.
Shall we ever know?
David Ellis
74 Posted 26/08/2016 at 11:33:46
Alan #73 - I am sure it wasn't just done on the basis of Vint's formulae - but it would have aided the decision making.

In any event I am a big believer in unpicking "experts" thinking process to work out what actually works well in predicting future performance. There are too many possible biases for existing coaches that have coached the kid since he was small.

You only have to look at the train-wreck of England in the Euro's to get sceptical about "experts" with all the coaching and playing experience that you could possibly ever need. They still make very poor decisions.

Jay Wood
75 Posted 26/08/2016 at 11:46:07
Alan @ 73, if you haven't done so already, I recommend you read the article about Wint linked in this thread:

Link

He frankly acknowledges he has very limited knowledge of football, but he is here to complement not compete with the club's coaches.

Even though his job title is head of the academy, I doubt very much that he has total executive powers on who is retained and who is released. I am sure diverse opinion on many criteria is sought from various staff members - including the 1st team manager and director of football - before any absolute decision is made on a player.

Wint's remit is a simple, but potentially, very powerful one: make Everton's academy the best in the world.

I for one support his appointment and the club's initiative and ambition on this.

Winston Williamson
76 Posted 26/08/2016 at 15:59:30
Realistically the lad wasn't going to break into the first team.

Hopefully he'll develop up through the leagues and maybe one day he'll be back at the first club that helped develop him.

It's happened before and it may happen again.

All the best for the future is all we can say.

Gareth Clark
77 Posted 26/08/2016 at 16:17:41
I hope we are turning into a club that ensure there is a buy back option.

Let him go learn the ropes of first team footy - and see what he can do.

He now has to earn his way back, instead of going on loan and having guaranteed safety of returning.

Mike Gaynes
78 Posted 26/08/2016 at 19:00:18
Regarding another one of our released young players... Shane Duffy has finalized his move from Blackburn to Brighton.
Alan J Thompson
79 Posted 27/08/2016 at 04:49:50
David(#74)&Jay(#75); It appears that Dr Vint has only just been appointed so may be he didn't have any input into this decision. He comes across, as do most Americans I know, as friendly and intelligent but underneath there is an individuality that seems to drive them albeit he admits he hasn't been through the footballing mill as have some of the Academy staff.

However, what he says in the article is what you would expect from a "new broom". He implies that he has a system, not necessarily a scientific formula, that marks criteria at various stages for Identifying those most likely to succeed. There are no individual cases specified which is only to be expected and that any future decisions will be after consultation with those with playing and coaching experience and may be about targeting coaching requirements as well as predicting futures. There is also mention of outside distractions, booze and substances they should be avoiding and good luck to him on that with Merseyside teenagers but all part of overseeing young sportsmen.

I wonder over what period does he mean 42 youngsters have had first team experience?

I'm still mystified, however, on the Ledson case and I doubt we will hear any more on this for at least 15 years unless Ledson becomes the next Rooney or has something uncomplimentary to say on the matter that needs refuting. And as he has captained his national team at various levels and is considered good enough for the latest squad bit not Everton U21/23s.

Perhaps there's a part of me wants to see Dr Vint asked what is your greatest failure and what your greatest success and then to hear the one answer, "Having a drink and a few tokes with Michael Phelps."

All in it appears another piece in the largest shareholders restructuring of Everton FC; Board rep, Manager, Head of Recruitment, Academy Head, Ticketing and probably at the end of this season, shirt sponsorship.

Alan J Thompson
80 Posted 27/08/2016 at 05:07:38
Sorry, meant to add in #79 concerning Ledson's national selection that since Puskas Magyars in the '50s the England set up has been most consistent with the obvious disparity of 1966.
John Pickles
81 Posted 27/08/2016 at 17:52:13
Hope he is made welcome by the Oxford captain and potential midfield partner .. John Lundstram.

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