Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

Time to Blood the Youngsters

By Aidy   Dews  ::  27/12/2011   39 Comments (»Last) The point raised elsewhere about the average age of the team is that Moyes as gone full circle as he said he intended on getting the average age down and wanted to build a younger side for the future, which in fairness he did... but, like I say, it's gone full circle.

He said early on this season that he would have to build a new side with what he's got at his disposal and to be honest, he hasn't done that; he's still going with the old guard, his favourites instead of blooding the youngsters more and looking to the future, and his favourites are either well past it or not doing his loyalty to them any justice, probably cos they're just not quite good enough anymore?!

Now Moyes has written off our season a few times this year with such statements as "We'll be lucky to make the top 10" or "We've got to make sure we break the 40-point barrier to avoid any chances of being in a relegation fight," so, if he isn't really setting any high targets with comments like them, why isn't he using this season as a transitional one? Why not sstart blooding the youngsters he thinks are capable of making it at Everton and capable of doing well?.

I know people will say certain youngsters aren't ready and we can't throw all of them in at once but that's not what I'm talking about. Why not start them more or give them more game time than the odd 5 mins here and there so they can gain more match experience in the Prem and gain a bit more confidence at playing at Premier League level? ? The likes of Vellios, Barkley, Gueye and McAleny that he's given game time to and possibly thinks they're capable of making the grade?!

Injuries don't help but this was the season for me where we should've started to play the likes of Coleman at right-back like Moyesy said he would start using him more this season; start sticking with Jags and Heitinga in the centre; start playing Felli and Rodders in the centre of midfield; and possibly start using Barkley ahead of them either from the start or off the bench and for longer than 15, 20 mins; or if not there's always Cahill, Ossie or IMO, Bily to fall back on and play there.

Then we could use Drenthe right wing as he's more effective from there I think and with Coleman bombing on it looks a deadly combo, although it could leave us vulnerable at the back on the right but that's why you've got both Felli and Rodwell in there, two defence-first minded players to be disciplined and stay back and cover for the likes of Coleman and Baines when they go forward!

Then on the left you've got Gueye who could be a good option from there when he gains more experience and confidence. He's got a bit of pace, can pick a pass and cross the ball and would do well down the left IMO or if not him, swap him with Barkley and let him play that similar role to what Pienaar did in that he created a lot of space for Baines to move in and worked really well to get Baines in good areas to cross and create through some incisive passes.

Then you've got Vellios who in the years to come you would think will lead our attack if we don't find the money somewhere to buy a proven marksman. He's got all the attributes to be a good target man: tall, good in the air, good touch and technique, good link up play and awareness and he isn't slow either and can finish too and if he, like the others, fulfill their potential, they will be good players for us in the future IMO!

But, with blooding those players I mention, you've still got the nucleus of a good, experienced side. You've still got the likes of Howard, Jags, Heitinga and Felli as the spine of the team. We have the class of Baines down the left, Coleman to come through and be a good right-back. Drenthe if we could sign him permanently with his pace, tricks and direct running and then we have the youngsters to blood and have the experience of the likes of Cahill, Ossie, Saha and Bily if they don't leave to come in when things aren't going the youngsters' way, which they won't all the time as youngsters seem to be more inconsistent at first but they will only get over that through being played and gaining experience themselves!

Now I know Moyes won't do all this, not a chance of it, but we know we won't qualify for Europe and I don't think we'll get relegated either and with us mainly having the nucleus of an experienced line-up, why not blood these youngsters and start to build are team of the future now, this season, cos seriously, what's the worst that could happen?

I don't for one minute think that if we played the youngsters more regularly ? either start them or give them plenty of game time from the bench ? they wouldn't be so bad to get us in a relegation fight. I just don't see it; some of them youngsters have shown enough quality in spurts to suggest to me that they're going to be good players in the future... one, possibly two or three of them really good?! It's all about being played and gaining experience and finding that consistency... but you only gain all that through being played regularly!!!

With no money at his disposal and his favourites not getting any younger or better, what other choice as Moyes got? I'd rather he started to look and see things the way I've said than leave it too late, like pre-season next summer, to start just throwing these youngsters in at the deep end; blood 'em now and let them gain the experience that might just stand them in good stead for next season!!!

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