U23s goalless again at Wolves

Everton U23's draw again today versus Wolves 0-0 with the young American goalkeeper, Hansen, keeping us in the game with a string of good saves.

Surprised to see Harry Charsley listed...

We reported back in May that he was released at the end of 2018-19 – that's after an amazing SIX seasons at U21/U23 level. However, the club were allowing him to use Finch Farm for his rehabilitation from injury until he found another club.

Perhaps they relented? I would expect that he would have to be registered as an Everton player to appear in this game... unless there's some dispensation for trialists and hangers-on? Perhaps they never actually cancelled his registration?

Michael, I think he might have been picked because there was a lot of young players involved in an U19 tournament in Amsterdam.

Harry could be playing as a non-contract player.

Well Unsworth will either spin this as we were the better team and should have won or they didn't play as they do in training. I watched a live stream and Wolves were the better team, Hansen stopped a few goals, we had our chances, most notably Callum Connolly missed with a header from a corner. Hornby was played in once but lacked the composure to finish, Evans buzzed about but was never a threat on goal, Charsley looked rusty and was subbed, Feeney was very comfortable at CB with Connolly alongside him, and the midfield were hard-working but really didn't pose much of an attacking threat.

That's two U23s games I've watched, both 0-0 and you could sum them up as we've got a sound defence, a hard working midfield and attackers who can't score goals. Dull.

We missed the creativity, pace and general ability of Anthony Gordon who was with the U19s in Holland. I can understand the thinking of giving Martina, Connolly and others game time but there were 5 or 6 today who need to be moved out on loan by 2nd September to let others come through.

At one time we had four defensively minded midfielders on the pitch in Baningime, Adeniran, Denny and Markelo and two big guys to score the goals, Hornby and Evans. Even the full-backs failed to get forward enough, hardly surprising we haven't scored a League goal this season yet.

And this from the Echo re Charsley “As the ECHO reported at the time, the plan was for the 22-year-old to remain at the club so he could recover from injury and look to find his next move.”

Phil

The most difficult season to be an Under-23 coach is the one after a title-winning season so I don't think Unsworth has to make excuses.

Eric, sorry I'm not sure what you're saying, are you suggesting Unsworth has a free pass because he won PL2 so doesn't need excuses ? I don't think he would see it that way, he's a passionate guy who will know that this standard is not good enough.

Either way, still hard even for the U23 players, that possible psychological effect on them and the opponents that want to prove themselves against the champions.

Of course, all the best to Unsworth to take care of that little hurdle.

No, Phil, what I'm saying is when you win the U23s PL2 Tittle, the team gets broken up, either by loaning out the more promising youngsters or selling, so you have to rebuild, which he had done by winning the double.

It's not a free pass; it's a period of rebuilding.

Ah, ok thanks Eric. I'm very much in favour of rebuilding and I can live with us not winning anything this season if it means we're developing younger players coming through. Which is why I made the point that 5or6 need to be out on loan, some of these have reached their limit in the U23s and need to be playing men's football for their own development.

Also, Phil, I think Unsworth is very progressive in that he overlaps some of the Under-18s in positions he knows he will lose to ready them. We are lucky to have him with the Under-23s, progressing players for the first team or providing a revenue stream to the football club.

Nil satis nisi optimum

Progrediamur

Thanks, Dave (#3) – that must explain why there was no U18s match this weekend... and why the could only muster 4 subs.

And thanks, Phill (#4) re Charsley. Let's keep an eye on that one.

The lads training with the first team and the lads promoted from the U18 side were taken so there must be some kudos placed on this tournament.

Where was Gibson?

Brent
See post 12

Brent/Eric,

Gibson wasn't taken to the Otten Cup, it's U19 and he's too old. The main centre backs we used were Ryan Astley and Joe Anderson, so not sure what's happened to Gibson.

It's probably worth a separate thread on the Otten Cup, we finished 3rd in the end as Barca wouldn't play us. We won the first game3-0 against Red Bull Brasil with goals from Onyango, Gordon and John and played some really good football. Team was a nice mixture of 1st year, 2nd year Scholars and last year's U18s.

He's here

Thanks for the pointer, Phill. There's a thread up now with everything I could find about the Otten Cup. Sounds like it's from the same source.