Niasse and Calvert-Lewin on target in U23s win

, 26 September, 42comments  |  Jump to most recent
Oumar Niasse was on target again and new signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin notched his first goal in a Blue jersey as Everton Under-23s beat Manchester United.

Niasse, who scored on his first outing for the second string against Arsenal last week in a 5-0 win, netted the second goal in Southport this evening as David Unsworth's side moved into first place in the Premier League 2 table.

Calvert-Lewin, making his third appearance since arriving on deadline day from Sheffield United, had opened the scoring in the first half.

The game was also notable for the return as a substitute of midfielder Joe Williams after a long lay-off with a serious knee injury.

Everton: Hewelt, Jones, Connolly, Kenny, Holgate, Davies, Walsh, Dowell, Niasse (Williams), Calvert-Lewin (C. Duffus), Dyson (Charsley)
Subs: Gray, Henen  



Reader Comments (42)

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Eric Holland
1 Posted 26/09/2016 at 20:11:39
Niasse scores again..
Simon Jones
2 Posted 26/09/2016 at 20:12:55
He's just scored again! #NiasseonFire
David Hallwood
3 Posted 26/09/2016 at 22:14:56
He's like a new signing!!
Craig Fletcher
4 Posted 26/09/2016 at 22:37:01
I'm guessing Oumar won't be a getting a text from RK saying "Congratulations on the goal"!
Brent Stephens
5 Posted 26/09/2016 at 22:46:07
Niasse didn't particularly stand out. There again, much of the service to him wasn't great. Battling with his back to the defence so often.

I have a soft spot for Liam Walsh and he was his usual tigerish self in midfield, at least as much as Tom Davies was tonight.

Kieran Dowell slowly got into the game. As he did, he showed some excellent ball skills, beating several men at a time.

Also, I quite liked Calvert-Lewin tonight. Again, a bit of a slow start but he improved as the game progressed.

Holgate and Kenny at the back the epitome of calm.

Man Utd came out of the blocks from the start but Everton still had the better of the first half attacking threat, and were much the more dangerous side in the second half.

I've never seen such a performance as the loud-mouthed antics of the Man Uyd coach in their dug-out, barely 10 seconds going by without a raucous bawl from him. Do his players hear him? Do they listen and obey every call? If so, they must be poor decision-makers.

Phil Sammon
6 Posted 26/09/2016 at 23:01:16
Thanks, Brent. Always good to read these reports from fans who go to the game.
Dave Abrahams
7 Posted 27/09/2016 at 00:10:45
As Phil says, Brent, thanks for your report. I don't want to overplay how good Liam Walsh is, but would you put him on the bench for the first team, just to give him a few minutes on the field, or is that pushing him at the moment? I look at some of the players in the first team now and they are not producing; I think Liam would.

Just to make it clear, I go on about Liam, but I don't know him, no relation to him, never met him, I just think he is a very good player who can make it big at Everton.

Anthony Dwyer
8 Posted 27/09/2016 at 01:38:30
If Niasse continues to score, will Koeman still cast him aside? I mean if he bags a brace next week, plus one or two the week later and Valencia continues to look out of his depth, will Koeman still stick to his guns??

If so I can't help but feel Niasse must have done something wrong.

David Barks
9 Posted 27/09/2016 at 02:07:49
Well, now that Allardyce has been caught exposing the fact that Valencia is owned by a third party, it's going to be interesting to see if they come down on that and we lose a player, however poor he may be.

But my God, how hilarious is this Allardyce story! This is going to be fun watching the press slowly leak more and more while the FA scrambles.

John Daley
10 Posted 27/09/2016 at 03:00:11
"Allardyce has been caught exposing the fact that Valencia is owned by a third party"

Not "is", but was. It was made clear the third party ownership came to an end when he transferred to West Ham.

David Barks
11 Posted 27/09/2016 at 03:54:13
Okay, John, I used the wrong word. Sorry. It still wouldn't surprise me if they declared the transfer illegal and that he was no longer a West Ham player. And if he's not a West Ham player, then they can't loan him to us either, can they.

Anyway, the bigger point was the hilarity of the entire story surrounding Allardyce anyway. Seems to be one massive corrupt individual who is very high on himself.

Derek Thomas
12 Posted 27/09/2016 at 06:28:00
More to the point, who played at left-back and how did he shape up?
Brent Stephens
13 Posted 27/09/2016 at 07:02:48
Dave #7. Every time I've seen Liam Walsh he's performed well. My only fear is that his size will hinder him in any step-up to the first team. But, of course, we know wee guys who did it - Ball, Styles, Stephens (well, in my dreams) and until we try, we won't know.

I reckon he's at the stage where he might well get the experience of first just being on the first team bench, and then in another game coming off the bench for 15 minutes in a game in which we are not going to lose.

Brent Stephens
14 Posted 27/09/2016 at 07:05:43
Derek (#12), Callum Connolly played at left-back. I thought he had a very decent game.

Man Utd had some very tricky players up front and I can't recall Callum being skinned at all in the game (in fact, a very compact and well-organised back four – well done, Unsworth). His distribution, and support play down the left, were also good (IMO).

Sam Hoare
15 Posted 27/09/2016 at 07:16:52
Some of these lads have surely earned a bit of first team action. Especially after Norwich and Bournemouth.

Connolly for Oviedo perhaps and a game for Davies if Barry is still not 100%.

Peter Healing
16 Posted 27/09/2016 at 07:19:05
Good luck, Niasse... Big Ron might have have egg on his chin.
Matt Traynor
17 Posted 27/09/2016 at 08:07:50
David (#11) – on what possible basis would they declare the transfer illegal, if as every report states, that the £12m transfer was for his full registration and settled the claims on his "economic rights" by third parties?

It was of course also West Ham who signed Tevez and Mascherano, and even though the transfers were ruled illegal, both players quickly moved on to Man Utd and the RS respectively. By the way, West Ham settled with Sheffield Utd who were relegated to the tune of £15m – the FA, UEFA, FIFA were not involved at all.

Or is this just the paranoid Evertonian "woe is me" speaking? We'd just take it off the FA if it happens. Years ago, Derby had an Ecuadorian striker on a hooky Spanish passport. He scored one league goal – the winner against guess who? Then he got refused entry returning from international duty, never seen on these shores again. If that was our neighbours, they'd have been screaming to get the game replayed, or the points awarded to them.

We did fuck all. Everton that...

Ray Roche
18 Posted 27/09/2016 at 08:10:55
Sam, I'd love to see Davies get a start on Friday, however, reading some Saints blogs it would appear that Koeman was quite dismissive about their youth set up and wouldn't give the younger players a look in. Let's hope that's not the case here.
Jim Harrison
19 Posted 27/09/2016 at 11:23:57
Anthony Dwyer, I agree. Niasse must have done something that Ron didn't like.
Dave Abrahams
20 Posted 27/09/2016 at 11:28:19
Brent (#13), thanks again. I have no worries about Liam's size... in his head he is 6ft-3in, his ability is there for all to see, plus aggression (maybe too much), effort, will to win – all traits lacking in too many first-team players.
Chris Gould
21 Posted 27/09/2016 at 11:34:00
Yes Jim, he refused to leave.

Scoring in the U23s doesn't mean he's good enough for the Premier League. If he was serious about playing for us, then he would have moved on loan and tried to impress for another Premier League club.

Koeman doesn't rate him. End of.

John Dean
22 Posted 27/09/2016 at 11:45:20
I'm with you, Dave (#20) on whether Liam can handle the physical side of the Premier League but he has not featured as prominently for the U23s since his return from Yeovil as I expected and that doesn't fit with him being fast-tracked to the first team. I thought he was poor against Sunderland recently but he's been prominent in all the other games.

I don't think Connolly is ready for the first team yet; most of the players who feature in U23 games for either Everton or the rest of the league don't progress to being regular Premier League first-teamers so it's dangerous and misleading to read too much into a solid performance at that level.

Our U23 defence looked good last season but Andros Townsend tore us apart when he featured for Spurs U23s and Koeman would need to be certain that wouldn't happen in a Premier League game if he were to blood another teenager at full-back.

Damian Wilde
23 Posted 27/09/2016 at 12:05:04
Great to see the new kid score. Did anyone watch and see how he played overall? As for Niasse, he's probably better than Valencia!

This is what is wrong with Everton – Valencia on loan, it's an outrage. We do it every time. Another decent goal scorer and we could have been sat second and still in the League Cup. Frustrating, eh.

Winston Williamson
24 Posted 27/09/2016 at 12:45:39
Might start supporting the U23s instead of the first team! Sounds much more interesting. :)
Mal Smith
25 Posted 27/09/2016 at 13:05:35
I feel it is time that Davies and Dowell had more first-team experience as subs rather than players such as Lennon, Deulofeu and Cleverley – who I see as no more than Championship players at best.
Dave Williams
26 Posted 27/09/2016 at 14:18:29
Mal, agreed. – I posted the same thoughts on Saturday night. Those you list will never turn a game for us and I'd much sooner give the youth a chance.

Geri shows no sign of maturing and a look at the first team shows a group of seasoned pros and I can't see how they can be transformed into a top 4 side without an injection of upwardly mobile players as opposed to journeymen carrying a big pricetag.

Young players sometimes need the first team in order to blossom and I really hope that Ronald will give them a chance.

Liam Reilly
27 Posted 27/09/2016 at 15:16:12
John #22
"but 'Walsh' has not featured as prominently for the U23s since his return from Yeovil as I expected"

I'd argue the opposite. He's receiving rave reviews from Unsworth; man of the match on a couple of occasions and regularly talked up by Rhino in the post match interviews.

Really hope this kid gets his chance this season.

John Dean
28 Posted 27/09/2016 at 16:06:44
Liam (#27). What you say is all true but he didn't make the first team squad for pre-season training (he went with U18s) and then didn't play in the first three U23 games, sometimes being an unused sub for the U18s instead. Compare that with Tom Davies's appearances and that's why I think he is not in their immediate first-team plans.
Steve Pugh
29 Posted 27/09/2016 at 16:55:40
Interesting quote from Rhino when talking about Calvert-Lewis.

"Oumar Niasse has been brilliant for him, talking to him, leading the line with him and he’s been a tremendous professional over the last four or five weeks."

Maybe Niasse has found his role.

Liam Reilly
30 Posted 27/09/2016 at 17:14:54
You might be right there, John, as he's certainly doesn't appear to be figuring in Koeman's immediate plans anyway, but if he keeps playing like he is, he has to be knocking on the door.

Re Oumar; regardless of the impression most of us have of his ability; one has to to admire his knuckling down, his contribution to the young lads and to Gana settling in.

Oumar's return to the first team could be bigger than Lazarus.*

* Disclaimer – I can't see Koeman as being the magnanimous type.

John Dean
31 Posted 27/09/2016 at 17:23:37
Unsy's interview about Dom Calvert-Lewin in the Echo states he brought Dom to the club and he doesn't refer to either Walsh or Koeman as having any say or approval in the matter. Do they trust him a lot... or just don't fancy arguing with him?
Dave Williams
32 Posted 27/09/2016 at 20:09:15
Everything I hear Unsy say makes me think he is our next manager. He has done a great job with the youngsters and looks to be trying to rehabilitate Niasse with a deliberate campaign of bigging him up both on and off the pitch.

Unsy has class written all over him.... and no, John (#31), I wouldn't fancy arguing with him!

Simon Bates
33 Posted 27/09/2016 at 21:01:54
All Koeman has to say if he is forced to do a U-turn with Niasse, is the player responded well to his challenge , then he's a man management specialist .

It's really win -win for Koeman with Oumar, he never bought him. I say fair play to him for at least sticking at EFC and trying to improve himself.

Who knows, his humiliation at the hands of his new boss might have given him the motivation and fight needed to succeed!!!

Don Alexander
34 Posted 27/09/2016 at 21:29:43
At the risk of causing concern, am I the only one musing why Rhino is now speaking as he does re our "Out-On" (Niasse) given Ron's long stated view of his, erm, ability?
Patrick Murphy
35 Posted 27/09/2016 at 21:35:06
I suppose praising the lad when he's in your team is not such a bad thing, Don, and probably doesn't impinge on the first-team manager's view... but I do wonder if there are things going on behind the scenes that we aren't privvy to.

The Echo had a podcast earlier on today and they mostly thought that the big man wasn't much use.

Tony Hill
36 Posted 27/09/2016 at 21:53:28
Yes, some very interesting dynamics with old and new schools at Goodison, perhaps. But we must not be paranoid and imagine that Ronald's directness has ruffled feathers.

I am sure that Bill and Farhad and Unsie and the Dutch are getting along very well - and that all the players are pulling together. That's the Everton way, as I'm sure we'll see on Friday.

Charlie Fath
37 Posted 27/09/2016 at 21:57:33
I watched the game last night and despite the main chat being about Niasse scoring again, Calvert-Lewin showed a lot more composure and ability on the ball plus his hold-up play is more mature.

It's not Niasse's fault we bought him so I'm sorry he's struggled but,even at U23 level, he looks Championship level at best. Great to see Joe Williams back too: with him, Walsh, Davies, Charsley and Dowell, it's easy to see why they let Ledson go.

Tom Bowers
38 Posted 27/09/2016 at 22:19:29
Everton have some good youngsters, some of whom have proved they will make the first team squad very soon. However, they have had many in the past who have shone early and faded badly, such as Jeffers and the like.

Many youngsters with many top teams don't make the grade and sometimes it's because of foreign imports bought for excessive fees who, they themselves sometimes flatter to deceive.

Whilst it is early days, one hopes the selected first teamers will prove their worth by not playing as poorly as they did this last week; but, if not, then Koeman must be big enough to swing the axe and start using his younger talent.

Alan J Thompson
39 Posted 28/09/2016 at 05:48:07
Bloody Niasse, scores two in two games, great attitude, helps out the youngsters, has he no sense of decorum? Someone should tell him he's... hang on... they have, haven't they. Still, it's only the U23s and we all know they're rubbish.

Must go to one of these games sometime, never know who you might be sat next to.

Gary Rimmer
40 Posted 28/09/2016 at 23:52:17
I watched the game on Monday and find it interesting how some people now question why Niasse isn't in Koeman's plans having scored a few goals. I went hoping to see him prove the critics wrong but he massively disappointed. He was dispossessed on many occasions when running with the ball, mis-controlled, totally frustrating and taken off before the end. I'm not even sure if the header from the corner hit him without him knowing before it went in the goal.

The team played well against a lively Man Utd side. Well organised and attractive passing football. Stand-out performer for me was Kenny, hard in the tackle, no prisoners and never put a foot wrong. First time I've seen Calvert-Lewin, agree with Charlie (37) about his composure and ability. I'd like to see him a few more times but looks the part (Calvert-Lewin, not Charlie).

Holgate, Davies and Walsh are the core of the team and it's clear to see how they are knocking on the door.

An entertaining game all round. Don't know who the Man Utd coach was but he liked the sound of his own voice, surprised none of his players didn't tell him to shut it, my dad did about 20 times.

Dave Abrahams
41 Posted 29/09/2016 at 08:56:27
Regarding Calvert-Lewin, Unsworth was his coach at Sheffield United, he rated him then and possibly had his say in bringing the lad to Everton.
Alan J Thompson
42 Posted 30/09/2016 at 11:06:49
Gary (#40); Why do we question why Niasse isn't in Mr Koeman's thoughts? Probably because of the size of the fee and the comments of the U-23s coach.

As for if the ball hit him or he headed the goal, we have a 1st team centre forward who claims goals on a less likely basis. However, I do have to admit that you have the advantage of having seen him play a game.


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