Michael Kenrick 19/07/2023 11comments  |  Jump to last
Forest Green Rovers 1 - 0 Everton U21s

Everton U21s pre-season friendly at Forest Green Rovers ended in a 1-0 defeat this evening.

Mason Holgate skippered the Blues line-up, which was made up predominantly of Academy players, and played the first 45 minutes against the League Two outfit.

Forest Green started with seven trialists in their team and so keen were they to protect their identity, they were identified as ‘Trialist A’ through 'Trialist G'.

Rovers' fast start to the second half saw them take the lead just a minute after the restart when Trialist G’s attempted cross deceived Zan-Luk Leban, in the Everton goal and looped into the far corner of the net for the only goal of the game. 

Article continues below video content


Everton U21s: Leban, Maher, Butler, Holgate, Moonan, Metcalfe, Beaumont-Clark, Bates, Sherif, Apter, Heath. 

Subs: Barrett, Higgins, Davis, O Samuels-Smith, Patterson, Armstrong, Finney, Thomas, Van Schoor, Foster.

 

Reader Comments (11)

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Rob Halligan
1 Posted 19/07/2023 at 21:28:16
Mason Holgate puts himself in the shop window, playing for the U21s in their defeat to Forest Green Rovers tonight.

Oliver Molloy
2 Posted 19/07/2023 at 22:38:03
I don't think Holgate will get us anywhere near what some on here think - more between £4 to 7 million if even - unless one the Saudis come calling!

We are obviously looking to offload his wages and Southampton or any Championship side are not going to pay him anywhere close to what is on currently with us - £50 -70k seems to be figure. More legs in trying to do a deal with Leeds for me.

Regards their star player - they value him at £40 million so the chances of him leaving for half that amount (especially to West Ham) is a non-starter.

Hope some of our young players can make the grade, for we ain't going to be signing too many!

Peter Gorman
3 Posted 21/07/2023 at 21:11:29
I hate Forest Green Rovers.
Gary Brown
4 Posted 21/07/2023 at 21:34:57
Reckon Dyche has removed the jokers (Davies and Holgate) from squad directly. You turn up, be professional, make right decisions or do one. That alone is positive step.
Graham Haines
5 Posted 21/07/2023 at 22:50:46
I went to this game, Isaac Heath looked a very good player, great dribbler and quick feet. One to keep an eye on.

Holgate played first half only, played a few good balls but otherwise didn't really stand out in what was a pretty good game.

Michael Kenrick
6 Posted 22/07/2023 at 10:27:38
Hi Graham,

Don't suppose you kept track of the subs in the second half?

The official site says something about Paul Tait making wholesale changes on the hour, while another source claimed the whole team was subbed out and replaced. The teamsheet I listed above is one short for that.

Dermot O'Brien
7 Posted 22/07/2023 at 12:31:46
Did we have two Samuels-Smiths?
Michael Kenrick
8 Posted 22/07/2023 at 13:41:16
Yes, Dermot… but we only have one now.

Odin is the twin brother of Ishé – the one who left us for the bright lights and big bucks of Chelsea.

Dermot O'Brien
9 Posted 22/07/2023 at 14:05:00
Thanks Michael
Graham Haines
10 Posted 23/07/2023 at 14:20:39
Hi Michael, couldn't keep track unfortunately, it was about 9 changes around the hour. The FGR announcer joked Everton had changed the whole team.

One centre-back and an attacking midfielder were I think the only ones who stayed on but the centre-back went off with a head injury later in the half. I just wasn't up to speed with all the names and they weren't displayed on shirts which didn't help.

Michael Kenrick
11 Posted 23/07/2023 at 15:19:13
Thanks, Graham.

I was surprised when I saw they were numbered 1 to 11 on the field and no names. Saves on unnecessary costs, no doubt, and we are skint. Maybe a nod to the old ways for the traditionalists and the days of yore?

But in this era of personal identity, when all the Academy players have individually assigned squad numbers, right down (up?) to Francis Okoronkwo at 88, wouldn't it be a nice statement to show there really is a pathway for them to one day get into the first team?

Or it's a subliminal message of the exact opposite: "We won't bother putting your names on the shirts above your squad numbers because we all know you ain't got a rat's chance in hell of amounting to anything of note with this club."

Oh dear... just fell headlong into the Pit of Negativity there... I think it's the rain depressing me.

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