U23s defeat Reading to reach last 8 of PL Cup

Seems we are now officially 'ashamed' of our success in these games — this one didn't even rate on the Fixtures list or Match Centre at the Official Everton website.

But they did at least provide a link to this video:

Michael, you had me scratching my head for a second, with the ref to Monday evening, as we played Chelsea U23s then. This was Sunday at S'port? I did have it in my diary so I guess it must have been on the official website.

Yea, thanks Brent. I think you're right – it must've been Sunday, especially with the bright sunshine in the video.

But searching on the Red Echo site throws up nothing. You've gotta love their impeccable journalistic standards: If we didn't have someone there, then it didn't happen.

"If we [the red Echo] didn't have someone there, then it didn't happen".

Quite!

That looked like Mampala who missed a good chance. It also looked as if Dobbin got on as sub.

You're right, Brent. They are now at least showing it with the U23 results at the club website, and the match timeline shows Mampala, Dobbin and Onyango coming on in the second half.

But they list "John Anderson" among the subs. Up until now, it has been Joe Anderson in most games (que the obligatory Mayor jokes). But previously, it was written Jonathan Anderson, never John Anderson. Can you shed any light on that?

Michael, Joe Anderson has featured often for the U23s. There is a Jonathan Anderson in U18s but I don't know if he was the Anderson on the bench.

I wasn't at Southport but at Stamford Bridge.

Michael, Joe Anderson has featured often for the U23s

I didn't know the mayor could still play, I'll get my coat...

Fantastic result.

Everton U23s midfield were nearly as old as Chelsea's first team, but it was nice to see some 16- and 17-year-olds playing even if it was only for a short while.<->All players who are 20 and above should be nowhere near this level. They should be loaned, sold or released. That would free up space for younger players.

Now that's what you call youth development. And if staff at Everton don't know if a player is any good at 20, then they need to be taken out of that decision process.

Yes, Joseph and Jonathan are both pictured on the U18 squad page. Something tells me they are likely not related.

Then there's John, who is listed (without photo) on the U23 squad page. First time I've had any awareness of him. I thought it was a mistake.

Michael, "Something tells me they are likely not related". Very good!

John Anderson on the U23 site I'm not familiar with.

I usually go to watch the U23s but work gets in the way> I like to see the young ones coming through – tto hey have done quite well in the last few seasons.

If I'm off but unable to travel, I usually like to watch via stream – benefits of a membership... except this season there hasn't been any as far as I'm aware. For some strange reason there's not much if any news on upcoming games - the site has the fixtures but no notice of any changes.

I've actually gone one game at Goodison Park only to find on arrival it had been switched to Southport – but that's bloody typical of the club of late. Happy to take your 㿊 membership and give as little as they can!

Mike!!! I've twice in the last two seasons turned up at Southport for U23s games only to find they'd been switched to Goodison Park!

Brent that's even worse!!! No respect for fans whatsoever – my other beef is they've now put up barriers and a fence across the players' car park with massive lamps which stops fans from getting their autographs and photos which I used to do.

They allow the youngsters to access at the front of the Park End where ambulances park, so I gave up but have always got U23s' easily enough - something to look back on in my twilight years!!

Mike. Southport ground not far from me so not as bad as it sounds. But my wife gets suspicious if I say I'm going out to a match. Even more suspicious if I come home almost immediately after I've gone out! Extremely suspicious if I come home from a match happy, saying we won. “Won?! Everton?!”

Brent - brilliant! Who says being an Everton fan was easy? 🤔

Michael, the only team sheet I saw listed Joe Anderson as a sub. But we have been known to make mistakes and then lift those mistakes to the official site!

My favourite was the U18 team sheet that misspelt Rhys Hughes as “Ritus Wudches”. If you look at the U18 list you'll see the name Ritus Wudches, no pic though. John Anderson is just another such mistake, it's bizarre that someone appears to update the O/S on almost a whim without knowing the real names. Everton that.

There's a lovely shot about 2 mins in of Kyle John clipping a pass forward to Lewis Dobbin who curls a lovely shot that just goes over. Pure class from both youngsters.

Phill, "Ritus Wudches" is also listed as an Everton player on www.worldfootball.net and on us.soccerway.com!!!

This could run and run! Do you think we might be able to get the England U18 coach to come and have a look at the up-and-coming Ritus Wudches.

We might even have some on TW soon calling for him to get a start with the first team!

Brent, I think we're onto something with young Ritus, we need to start dropping his name into online conversations “Cracking player, never seen him have a bad game yet or hit a bad pass, ghosts through defences, needs to score more goals though and can become anonymous at times”.

Edit: Having done an internet search on Ritus Wudches I'm shocked by the number of hits linking him with us. I'm still pretty sure he doesn't exist .....

.i think ;-)

Very good. Phill. Can you imagine that sort of talent playing for the first team?

Position? False number 9 maybe? Shadowing Calvert-Lewin for a while.

Dave, I didn't see any of the game but I can shrug my shoulders and not worry at that result, we're still such a young team, and it looked like we were playing 4-4-2, like the first team, with Dobbin & Cannon up front.