Everton U21s well beaten by Leeds Utd

Could be a lot more already. Leeds just walking through them.

Hopefully the new owners will have a look at the coaches in the Acadamy, oh sorry on of them has just been promoted to the first team!

Under-21s Head Coach, Paul Tait, told evertonfc.com: "They’ve just learned a harsh lesson there. They didn’t start the game so they’ve got to learn from it – professionalism, being ready for the start.

"We've just had a chat, and some home truths about moving forward and where they’ve got to be. We’ve lost a lot of big characters out of the squad, that’s the life of U21 squads. We've lost boys on loan and they've moved on.

"Now the younger ones come through but they have to step up and show the right character, be proper professionals. (It's) not just turning up for games, it has to be every minute of every day at Finch Farm. That’s what we'll do, that's where we’ll get them to.

"There’s a lot of hard work ahead in terms of the training sessions and the games but we need to see a reaction next week in training and certainly next week at Newcastle.

"There were some positives in the second half, we were better, we got more control, we created chances. The big plus point was Martin Sherif, he stood out a mile in terms of individuals, and it’s brilliant to get Stan 90 minutes. They are the real two plus points.

"The plan was (for Mills to play) 75 minutes and see how he was doing. He popped the penalty in and he got a little spring in his step, so we thought we’d leave him on. The quicker he gets up to 90 minutes the better and he’s got through that tonight."

Put that season ticket of yours to some good use and get yerself down to Goodison Park on Tuesday night — Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup: U18s against Wolverhampton Wanderers… for what could be the very last time.

Just watch out for that gang of scallies Danny had a brush with: "All of these moaners should go and find another club". That wouldn't be you, would it, Dave?

Dixon has incredible pace but his use of the ball leaves a lot to be desired. I know many argue he should be tried in the first team but for me he looks well short of the standard. That isn't to say he won't get there. He has time on his side.

I grew up watching Everton Reserves so I know what moaning really means, those auld fellas at those games knew the score, well a lot of them did, the real moaners knew next to nothing about football but were brilliant at moaning, the others would point the faults of the players out, constructive criticism.

I’ve been having a go at Academy coaches for a long time and I’ve been bored stiff watching the U18s and U 21s for a long time. I've seen Paul Tait get promoted from one to the other because those who interviewed him said he was the best of those interviewed. They never mentioned who the other candidates were…

Now Moyes has come in and four days later promoted Baines from the U18s to first team coach — on what criteria has he been promoted? Leighton has struggled coaching the U18s since he got the job.

I’ll have a good go at being at the Youth team game on Tuesday, hoping to see some of the new lads bought into the club like Justin Clarke and Braiden Graham if he is playing. I haven’t heard anything about him for a few weeks. I also hope Armstrong continues to play in this competition.

He should get a decent contract with a Championship or League 1 side when his contract expires in June – giving him the chance to "do a Broadhead". The absolute key thing to his career development now is games – which he won't get at Everton.

The U21s is no place for a player with any real ability. The standard is very, very low – and a poor place to develop. For kids like Dixon to really have a chance, they need to develop on loan in the Eredivisie or Championship or Scottish Premier where the standard of football is higher.

On the issue of coaching, Dave, I saw the recent U18s game against Forest where we won 7-0 and Harrison Armstrong starred. Although we won handsomely, the thing that surprised and disappointed me was our style of play under Baines.

Lots of aimless balls into the corners, a number of goals from set pieces, a number of goals from forcing mistakes; very few constructive passages of play.

This is very different to the way the academies producing a much higher volume of quality players are doing it. Very different indeed.

Paul Tait is clearly not up for the role, his team regularly get taught football lessons from the likes of Leeds the other night. I don't see an attempt to play from the back, nor quick, feet-to-feet football, just long punts for a big lad upfront to chase.

We are fed hugely ambitious statements that we've got a talent in the likes of Okoronkwo, Ebere, Benjamin, Sherif, and many more, yet most don't even get a game at 2 or 3 levels below the Premier League once, if they ever do go out on loan.

Either the selection/ and recruitment is very very poor, or our current group of coaches are just poor coaches.

I heard we are struggling with the number of scouts we have even scouting locally in Liverpool, with requests to view an 8-, 9-, or 10-year-old never materialising, yet at a recent U10s game, a lad (Everton mad) mentioned to Everton was viewed by Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd and his parent approached by all. He after 3-4 weeks of promises, was still waiting for the Everton scout to turn up.

Whether it's just another sign of no money at the club or just poor recruitment…

You've nailed it. It was shockingly bad.

Every single spare penny has been channelled towards PSR compliance and anything left to try and keep us in the Premier Leauge. The academy has obviously taken a hit in terms of investment, long-term strategy, and talent intake or production.

Was it such a good idea to bring Baines from there when he was highly regarded for the work he's been doing? Wouldn't it have made sense to have him overseeing the whole academy, continuing his progression and path to the first team?

Gordon has gone on and progressed, so we are capable of producing top players; it's not long ago we got >£40M for him and the fringe first teamers sold to balance the books also, so hasn't been all bad.

And will Moyes be there to have his first look at his youngsters in action?

Glad that Mills came through with valuable game time. I've liked him whenever I've managed to watch him.

How did Dixon play? Any closer to being around the senior squad?

I had hoped his prior loan was to get him up to spec.

Young Mills has lost over a year at the most crucial juncture of a developing career. No telling how long it might take him to catch up.

I've seen him play some very good stuff for the u21s - and his stats there are much better (18 goals and 5 assists in 49 games). But so too were performances for players like Warrington, and the stats for the likes of Simms - and many many others.

If you look across academies generally, the reality is that there are a couple of key indicators as to whether a player is going to have a Premier League career - they are:

- a decent number of England youth caps (or equivalent) through the age groups from u15s to u21s; and

- first team debut by about age 19 (or debuting for a good Championship side or foreign equivalent by about that age).

If you have one or both of these you stand a chance but nothing is guaranteed. Lots of players fall into both categories and still don't make it - the standard is just so high. The rich 6 release a load of players of this level to the lower leagues and foreign clubs each year for free or fairly modest fees. There are loads of players across all of the academies with such credentials.

If you have neither of these then it's almost certain you have to drop down the divisions, play a lot of games and build your career from there. You can still become a Premier League player, but it's going to take time - as per Forshaw, Lundstram, Broadhead and others.

What time is the kick-off for the Everton v Wolves youth game on Tuesday night — 7:00 pm? You never mentioned it.