Everton U23s stage great comeback to beat Leeds

A great summary, Michael. It's a bit quirky but Quintyne is now appearing on the official site as Roman Dixon. My assumption is that he's changed his name and that even our site wouldn't get that wrong…

Let me guess Michael, no live feed on the club website for this? Interested to see how Lewis Warrington gets on as I've liked the look of him.

It may take a season or two. And to a point I made elsewhere, it's been interesting to read about Brands trying to bring the U18s and U23s closer together, including moving the coaches around the different groups.

There might be a roving ToffeeWeb reporter at the U23s game tonight.

Tyrer John Campbell Welch Astley Warrington Mills Price Whittaker Onyango Dobbin

Brent (4), thanks for naming the team, is this Onyango’s first game back after injury?

Some potentially decent players in that team, it would be nice to see them stay and play together over the next two or three years.

Brent (4), thanks for naming the team, is this Onyango’s first game back after injury?

Some potentially decent players in that team, it would be nice to see them stay and play together over the next two or three years.

Hope the phone is fully charged Brent for the updates !
Nice to see Onyango back.

Yes dave. First game.

Warrington and Onyango in front of a back four.

Price fluffed a fair chance from Warrington free kick.

Looking at the Leeds team Brent no 8 Lewis Bate and 10 Sam Greenwood are both highly regarded players that Leeds bought in for a lot of money from Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.

Onyango and Dobbin v lively.

Is this available to watch? Pleased to see Warrington feature.

Leeds goal. Astley looking for offside and lost his man.

Keep them updates coming in Brent, much appreciated.

Cheers Brent, this from our official blog :
29'

Amari Miller holds off Ryan Astley before placing a nice finish past Tyrer. Leeds are ahead

Leeds keeper great save from Mills onto the bar for corner.

Greenwood second for Leeds again first to the ball before Astley from short range. On chances we should be level.

Dobbin close to win a corner.

Headed goal by Welch.

Campbell not welsh

1-2 half time.

Thanks for the updates Brent. How’s Onyango playing?, good to see him back.

Great turn and cross by Warrington. Dobbin just over the bar.
Another Dobbin shot saved.

Great goal. Wjttaker to Mills (?) to Dobbin. Goal.

Impressed by Price so far. Butcher’s pencil looking fatter but he has some pace and ball skills and an impressive amount of ground covered.

Just seen ur post Tony. Onyango had a great first 15 then was quiet. Second half he’s more into it.

Dobbin off with cramp. Cannon on.

Pleased with the reports on Warrington - thanks Brent.

Interesting about Dobbin. No criticism, but just shows you sometimes have to remember a couple of things. Firstly, these boys (they are boys) are still developing physically. Secondly, trust the coaching staff to know when they're ready.

All judgement and within reason obviously. But if he's cramping at U23s, I would suggest his fitness levels need working on before he's ready for the senior team / squad???

Mills off Hughes on

Onyango off. Butterfield on.

Whittaker goal after Cannon pass or miss hit

Brent (31), so we are in the lead Brent 3-2?

Hughes goal after we won the ball back. Shot into the far corner.

4-2

That’s 4-2 after the Hughes goal.

Impressive turnaround, Brent.

Do Leeds U-23 play the same high-octane game Bielsa has the first team playing?

FT

Thanks, Brent, for keeping quite a few of us up to date with our U23s game. Was it a team effort or did one or two stand out?

Cheers, Brent, first-class reporting, first-class result!

Jay #36, I couldn't answer for tonight's game but Leeds have an expensively assembled Academy which they claim are being trained in “Bielsaball”.

Danny #28, that seems a harsh assessment on Dobbins fitness. This from Twitter:

"David Unsworth says Lewis Dobbin taken off only as a precaution and is fine. A fine finish was what his performance deserved. Marcel Brands and Duncan Ferguson could well be feeding back positive reports to Rafa Benitez this evening."

Leeds were an impressive side. Yes, Jay, high-octane as with the first team. Going 2 up. But that's the best I've seen our U23s play in a LONG time. All round team performance despite Astley's two slips (am I being too harsh on him?).

Dobbin excellent before his cramp. Warrington superb - the guy doesn't look that big but his strength in protecting the ball is excellent.

Arguably Price even better. Great pace, good skills. Incredible amount of ground he covers. Even in the final minutes he chased forward to close down their keeper and then in a flash was back in our penalty area defending. His thin frame is deceptive.

Thanks for the updates Brent. Really glad to see Onyango back. Hopefully he'll be back in the first team reckoning with Dobbin before long.

Question more than anything Phill. But if he's going off with cramp at this level, it might explain why the staff are reluctant to throw him into the first team mix. Just assuming the coaching staff see something we don't, in his development. Not criticising the lad.

Only going off what Brent reported. Didn't watch it myself.

Phil and Brent. Thanks for the low-down on Leeds.

This sounds like a good test which the boys came through with flying colours.

The 'New Order' Brands is trying to bring to the Academy starting to bear fruit..?

That's a very heartening report, Brent, thanks. It's disappointing they couldn't show the game but a fine piece of reporting by you!

It's still early in the season but they do need results like this. Sometimes when results are not going your way, you just have to trust the process we've put in place, that of pushing through our young players early.

I see - Dobbin putting in 68 minutes actually running! passing!! and (God forbid) scoring!!!, yet he's not yet considered ready to replace a player who's done nowt in 6 games even for just 10 minutes?

The lad needs an incentive so give him some minutes on Saturday please. I'm sick to death of 'experienced' wasters always being given one more chance to prove to the football world just how useless they are. Give the kids a go. They cannot do any worse than Rondon and Iwobi.

Highlights available here on YouTube.

Everton v Leeds U23s

The Leeds defence looked well dodgy on all 3 of our 2nd half goals, but the boys finished them well.

As a matter of interest, was there anybody there from the first-team coaching staff?

One thing I notice with our U23s is that goals are usually forced from mistakes or scored on the counter / set pieces.

In some respects it doesn't matter how you score the goals, because you still win if you score more. But in the clip from Jay I saw Leeds looking to construct goals when in possession. This is much harder to do.

I'd like to see this U23 side develop that this season because there is the talent there to do it.

I'm probably over-analysing your first paragraph there Robert, but I wonder if that could be early signs of Benitez / Brands implementing a playing style throughout the club given how the first team has, by and large, played this season? Playing the same system can only bode well and make the transition to first team easier on the young players.

Talking to myself now after reading my comments from yesterday evening. I didn't mean to sound harsh or dismissive on Dobbin. I was trying to suggest that maybe there's a reason the manager and coaching staff don't want to throw him into Premier League action.

Just yet. His time will come. All down to judgement and they are the ones making that judgement right now. All us fans can do is offer opinion; those who watch the U23s and U18s more so than me. I'm one for patience with the youngsters rather than throwing them in at the deep end because they've been smashing it at Finch Farm. Unless you have a Rooney obviously.

How did young Warrington play?

Danny, re Warrington, I can’t comment on his overall game last night but the clip of our last goal shows him at his best, winning the ball in a defensive tussle, carrying it up the field and releasing a short pass to a forward. We’ve got a lot of good passers of the ball but few who can dominate the midfield and carry the ball forward as Warrington can.

Alan #48, apparently Ferguson and Brands were watching last night.

I've said it before, Brent, that I heard great things about Price when the kid was only 10 years of age, but I'm sure he came from Leeds, so maybe he had an extra bit of incentive last night. If he did, then he's just got to learn how to Chanel the same amount of work rate into his game every week. And if he didn't, then that's even better!

I was listening in last night and reading the comments here.

Good points from Danny (50) re: Dobbin. There will always be fans saying 'get the kids in', especially when first-teamers are not performing. But the coaches see these players in training and at this level and we have to trust their judgement. If they feel he is not quite ready yet, then they are far more experienced and knowledgeable than we are.

Great to see Lewis Warrington making an impact. I have really been impressed with him in the past, a tenacious little beggar, though maybe his final ball is often lacking, which is why he isn't knocking on the door as hard.

This result shows the character of the squad and may be the turning point for them. It has been a tough season so far. Conceding far too many goals, exposing their inexperience, but ultimately could prove a good thing if their overall game develops and a strong mentality is instilled.

Lots of impressive young lads but we know all too well that the vast majority fail to make the final step. This time... maybe a few might just?

There seems to be talent there but it's so hard to know. I thought that more of the Davies, Dowell, Kenny, Lookman etc batch would go on to establish themselves in our first team.

I think it's very hard to judge a player from youth games at club or international level, which is why a good loan can make the difference. This is something that Chelsea in particular seem to get right with lots of their youth players doing well on loan before getting first-team chances or being sold for good money.

This is a very young team with a good proportion of them only 18 or 19 years of age. We all like to win but, at this stage, it's not really about winning but getting them ready for a professional career and learning to fully understand how to play football – not only for yourself but as part of a team.

The longer these young lads stay together, the better they should become and hopefully we will get a bonus of two or three, maybe four players becoming regular performers with the first team, I think we need a young eager ambitious coach to lead them to their goal.

Forgot to add, Tony (52), Charlie Whitaker is from Leeds. Not sure about Price... isn't he from Wales?

Just checked up on Isaac Price, he has represented Northern Ireland and England and is also eligible to play for Germany so he has a few countries to choose from if he makes the grade!!

Danny #50 "How did Warrington play".

Danny, I really like this guy. Not a big guy from what I can see but a good engine in him, a good tackler; has a defensive midfield role but can get forward.

Jeez, I'm still buzzing from last night. Better than anything I've seen from U23s or first team for a long time. More of you might try to get to Southport for these games - a nice swim in the sea beforehand?! And I'll buy you all a drink - with enough straws so you all get a sip.

Good point on Chelsea Sam.

What I'd like to think (**think!!), is we might be seeing the foundations being laid by the Director of Football, that we won't see the benefit of until a few years time.

Interesting on Price Dave. You've intrigued me now. I wonder if the German connection is through being the son or grandson of a former military person who married a German?

Similar to Lewis Holtby, although his dad stayed in Germany hence him coming through Monchengladbach, the Aachen & Schalke before his ill-fated move to Tottenham.

**Edit; Brent thanks. I've only watched him twice but I like the look of him. I do wish that for all our membership and subscription, the club would stream these matches. I would attend if I could, but it's a bit to far a stretch of the imagination, not to mention the marriage!!

Dave (56) I think Price is a Yorkshire lad - we seem to be big in recruitment over there with the likes of Whitaker, Welch and Butterfield being all from there I think.

And Calvert-Lewin before them Trevor.

Good history of Yorkshire Toffees, Danny stretching back to Ted Sagar and beyond.

Trevor (60),

Yes, he could be from Yorkshire, I haven't got a clue. Reading about him, one piece says he was born in Northern Ireland, he has represented them at U17 level, represented England at U15 level, qualifies for Germany. I wouldn't be surprised if he sold lucky heather and told fortunes on his days off!!