Everton U23s hold on for fine win over Spurs

A strong team tonight, Patterson, Branthwaite, Simms, Dobbin…. Sorry it's on Twitter, Adam Jones, but I can't cut paste it.

Phill

So we spent 15 million for an Under 23 addition? This is like back in the glory days of Steve Walsh when Unsie had his "under 23 budget" for the likes of Bowler and Gibson.

Type it in long hand:
Tyrer,
Patterson, Astley, Welch, Branthwaite, John

Price, Warrington

Mills, Simms, Dobbin,

Tyrer. Patterson. John. Welch. Astley. Branthwaite. Mills. Warrington Simms. Price Dobbin.

Kieran, he's not going to get game time for a few weeks otherwise. Seems logical to me.

Phill

Hopefully he looks out of place and head and shoulders above the rest.

YouTube Link.

Everton U-23 v Spurs U-23

Duncan here tonight.

Thanks Jay, slow day and what the fuck else am I going to do? Keep up with the latest on the managerial carousel? UTFT!! Hate Spurs.

Patterson in the U23s is interesting.

Branthwaite looking very shaky tonight

Great ball from Price to Simms. The big lad did well but good save by the Spurs goalie.

Simms looking strong, still seems rusty, last season he'd have scored that.

Lukaku-esque there from Simms, apart from the finish that is …he did the hard part !

Michael , Yes cracking vision and pass from Price

Dane Scarlett (9) and Alfie Devine have both been around their first team. Scarlett highly rated.

Good block there, whew!

Two very strong blocking saves from Tyrer, thought Tottenham would score both times.

Goal against the run of play.

Patterson - Dobbin, great goal

Great team attack that, Patterson at the heart of it nice header from Dobbin

I've liked the look of Patterson. Very confident, very strong, wants the ball. And that was a perfect cross.

Good play Mills, great cross from Patterson, pace accuracy, good clean finish Dobbin. Great goal.

Nice overlapping run from Patterson. Even if he hadn't have been used, he done enough to stretch the defence and create space.

As it happened, nice delivery to provide the striker the chance.

Kieran #6, well there's your answer, Patterson looking very classy so far.

Patterson started the move too with a nice ball out of defence.

Cracking challenge in midfield by him too just after the goal.

Looks a good player based on the 45 mins so far and has really grown into the game.

Patterson has a good burst of pace about him. He could link up well with Anthony Gordon and cause a few problems.

Yes lads, Patterson looks the real deal. Strong, covers the ground well, moves well, absolute peach of a cross, very encouraging, we have ourselves a player.

Rob, he looks pretty quick and aggressive in the tackle. It would be good to see him and Gordon in the right (as you say) against Brentford.

Patterson looks very solid. Simms reminds me of Lookman.

Duncan is in attendance at the game, so hopefully he's taking it all in, Neil.

Patterson straight in the team. Jarrad looks very comfortable too. Time to go with some of the kids, Dunc.

Good half. Got through a strong start by Spurs and then pressed them back. Spurs came back into it approaching half time, but good defending and good goalkeeping keeping them out.

Branthwaite sloopy on too many occassions. Price the pick in midfield. Warrington a tad off-colour.

Patterson did very well for the goal. Winning the ball well on the half way line and turning it on to Mills. Good overlap offered by Patterson begging Mills to play him in. Lovely first time cross by the Scot. All Dobbin had to do was get his head on the ball.

Enjoying this.

So does Patterson get the nod for the Brentford game? I bet Big Dunc loves him, a young Scottish powerhouse who gives everything.

Sorry lads. Obviously rose tinted glases for Jarred. 😶😶

Keith #34, have to say that's the poorest I've seen Branthwaite play at this level, he'll be better this half 🤞

I thought Tyrer had a very good first half too, a couple of excellent saves to keep it at 0-0.

Some effort that from Dobbin, great run.

It won't go in, damnit! Good pressure though. After a good route one run from Dobbin.

Patterson and Branthwaite off... back four now, I guess.

Branthwaite and Patterson off, which looks good for Brentford.

Looks like Dunc doesn't want to risk injuries to Patterson and Branthwaite - bodes well I hope.

edit - sorry Dale, beat me to it!

Still a back 5, straight swop position wise, Anderson for Branthwaite, Quirk for Patterson.

Patterson, Gordon and Dobbin all down that right hand side could be a lethal combination. Okay, U23 level to Premier League level is one hell of a jump, but in a couple of years??

That's assuming Dobbin signs a new contract, of course!

Rob. Any chance in a couple of weeks?

I'd rather have the U23 midfield than our first team midfield at the moment.

Brian, against Brentford in the cup, why not?

Warrington off the post after a slight deflection. More good stuff from these lads.

Good game. Impressed with Kyle John and Joe Andersen amongst others.

Michael #45 the big difference is Unsworth plays with 3 in midfield, Warrington deepest, Mills right, Price left and with the wing backs we don't get overwhelmed in midfield. They're also very disciplined and cover for each other if one goes forward. Credit to Unsworth for that, but once again Lewis Warrington proving he's the glue who holds them together, another fine game from him, with actually a number of good performances tonight.

Yes that's true Phill. And how much better balanced the U23 team look with a three in midfield.

Good game, great move for the goal, commitment and effort from the U23s.

I hope Duncan can get the first team to the same for 96 minutes v Brentford.

Sometimes I think our first team are only two good players, and a little change of formation, away from having a very competitive team Phill.

Tightening up the middle of the pitch is imperative, and having two central midfielders who can hold their position, to help us play with a midfield three ahead of them, with Gordon, Gray and Richarlison, interchanging positions, with DCL playing centre-forward, and I'm sure we could be a match for most teams, on any given day?

I thought Mrs Mills boy was unusually quiet tonight but my fav Warrington did the business again. As others have said, what a beautifully balanced and disciplined midfield. And young Isaac full of running as ever; I think he's deceptively skillful - looks a wee bit ungainly but he's really good on the ball and a great eye for a pass.

Interesting Brent, I only watched the last twenty minutes, and was impressed by Price's ability to get about the pitch. It wouldn't surprise me if he's got a lot more in his locker, with regards skill, because he keeps it simple, and moves it on quite quickly, but maybe if we played with a bit more adventure, this might be something that might actually suit his game?

Tony, I've commented before on Price's engine - right up until the last minute he's putting in fast yards over an impressive distance to close down the keeper or defender; and then in a flash is back deep in midfield. Unsie must love him.

Warrington is a good player and would like to see him and Paterson in the first team against Brentford.

He reminds me of Ian Snodin, when he first came to Everton, Brent, before he got his injuries and started to put on to much weight!

Tony, Price will hardly suffer from problems of being overweight! A pencil with a bit of butcher's meat on it.

Snodin was the same though, very slight, loads of energy, and very quick across the ground, and after watching tonight, I think Price might be the one who could benefit the most, from playing in a quicker game, and also with better forward thinking players, Brent.

Who knows, but energy is definitely one of the main ingredients needed for modern football, and Everton are definitely crying out for more energy in the middle of the park, right now?

Maybe he's not ready physically just yet, but energy is such an effective commodity, when a team and it's fans are struggling, and in need of a little lift.

Would be great to see him progress further, Tony!

Brent (53) - Comments on Warrington's foot quickness and acceleration?

James, yes he's very nimble on his feet. Shakes off an opponent with a few twists and turns. And I think his acceleration is also pretty decent in shaking off an opponent. He likes a long raking pass as well.

With you Brent on Lewis Warrington. A favourite of mine since I've been watching him. Every time I watch, I am impressed.

I saw more of the second half than the first and agree on the point made; play 3 in the middle with the squad we have. Tony, we've been saying that for 2 years!

Warrington showed his usual composure and range of passing. Keeps it simple when he needs to, not afraid to spray them when he sees it. The glue as mentioned above. An orchestrator in the making? And tonight he showed me he's got a shot on him too! Very unlucky not to score with a shot from outside the box.

Mills impressed me again and I thought that Patterson grew into it. I hope his confidence isn't shattered and he grows into Everton and the Premier League. I only say that because a young lad leaving home on a big money move only to be thrown into the kids could potentially have had an impact. But he showed good attitude tonight. Hopefully he understands he's stepped up a level.

Final word for Anderson. I think it was him, but please correct if I'm wrong as I had no sound. That bit of play towards the end when he jinked and turned in our own box, very close to our own goal. No panic, total composure and brought the ball out under pressure from the opposition forwards without even thinking about hoofing it.

John Stones like. He'd have given the Park End panic attacks, but calm and cool as a cucumber. Well done son.

Danny, yes Anderson is one cool dude. Funny how we see the same game differently, though as I thought Mills was a lot quieter than usual. Though if I watched it again, I might see it differently - wouldn't be the first time.

Brent, is that pitch as bad as it comes across on the stream? I know it's Southport's ground but we must pay them something in rent, we should pay them a bit more and tell them to sort the pitch out.

Phill, the pitch has been fine in previous winters but for some reason this winter seems to have taken its toll. Too much rain and poor drainage??

Love Stanley Mills, got that little bit of nastiness in him that most of the first team lack. Never stops, must be a pain to play against. More than a little skill as well.

Stanley Mills. Proper football name that as well Steve.

When I hear them say his full name, I just think laced collars and Billy's Boots!

Both Warrington and Mills had quieter games than normal for me. Curiously, Branthwaite was the poorest of all the centre backs tonight.

Patterson got better as the game progressed. Good play in the early build and his cross from which Dobbin scored the goal.

Astley, John and Price were the standouts for me, but nobody had a bad game.

Enjoyable watch.

Only got to watch it from 30 minutes in but very impressed with the spirit and determination of the lads. I aprticularly thought Patterson looked very solid and put a few decent crosses in. Hopefully he will get a chance against Brentford.

I was also impressed with the Spurs lad that looked like Nathan Ake's twin.

The overall quality of the game, both teams, was quite impressive.

Remembering what Patterson is capable of playing like for Scotland there's definitely an athlete and good footballer in there.

Just his actual defending that could be suspect. A mix of Coleman and Bale. Not a true defender but wing back yes.

Branthwaite always looks better in the first team. Maybe a mental / attitude thing?

Did we play a back 5 with wing backs?

What would be the point of that unless we're going for that in the first team?

The U23s post-match thread is usually more fun to read than the reactions after one of our senior's game. I would absolutely love it if Dunc went with a good balance of youth and experience for the FA Cup:

Pickford
Patterson Mina Branthwaite Mykolenko
Gbamin Allan Onyango
Dobbin Richarlison Gordon

With Calvert-Lewin, Gray, Simms, Warrington, Godfrey, Gomes, Keane, etc on the bench.

Well that's a positive change anyway, over 70 posts for an Under 23 game. I always believe and hope that we will produce and develop our own players, but they must have support and patience if they are to succeed.

Great to see Duncan at this game, let's hope that he too saw plenty of potential and one or two options for the first team.

I can never understand why players such as Gbamin are not given game time for the under 23s, surely he and others like him would prefer to play in a competitive match rather than a season sitting of on the bench.

However, last night the lads and their manager gave us something to cheer and a brief respite from gloom which encompasses the rest of the Club.

Ernie #73,

Yes, a back 5. It's always hard to know what's going into the thinking. We got hammered by Spurs U23s 4-0 in November so we knew their strengths and maybe changed to cope.

Big Dunc may have said play Branthwaite and Patterson, leaving Unsworth also wanting to play young Reece Welch and his captain Astley, hence a back five.

Either way, despite some horrible matches previously with a back 3/5 Unsworth has made it work with 3 solid centre backs and three busy midfielders ahead of them.

Isn't Branthwaite just back after catching covid?

Perhaps he hasn't fully recovered yet?

Is Stanley Mills Danny Mills's lad?

Yes Steve. He is a ringer for him as well, just skinnier with more hair on his head.

Realy enjoyed the game. My thoughts on sertain players are firstly our young keeper Tyrer impresses me everytime I watch him. His reflexes are lightning, his agility is good always looking for quick distribution, maybe needs to improve in the air.

I was looking forward to watching Branthwaite and although he started of slow improved as the match went on. Walsh next to him cough my eye with his pace, looked quicker than his partner.

Next I enjoyed Warrigton in the middle, apart from one poor pass he looked some player with skill and comitment but maybe needs a bit more growing.

I thought Dobbin was OK and liked the finish for the goal but maybe needs a bit more growing also.

Patterson started a little slow but also grew into the game and all round did very well. Made some good runs down the wing and blocked some important shots on goal.

My only negative was Simms. His passing was poor and although did well to make his chance and hit the target I don't think he will be a premier player (hope I am proved wrong).