Michael Kenrick 21/02/2025 5comments  |  Jump to last
Fulham U21s 2 - 2 Everton U21s

Everton U21s were pegged back after taking a second-half lead at Motspur Park in this Premier League 2 fixture against Fulham on Friday evening.

The young Blues fell behind after just 6 minutes but were back on level terms through Coby Ebere before the half-hour mark. The forward who has only recently returned from injury was rewarded with getting Everton's first shot on target after a torrid start.

Omari Benjamin put the Blues into the lead before the half-time break but they could not protect it and the home side tied the game before the hour mark. 

Everton U21s: Barnsley, Samules-Smith (86' Foster), Thomas, Tamen, Welch, J Patterson, Barker (62' Gomez), Bates, (75' Van Schoor), Benjamin, Graham, Ebere (86' Morgan). 
Subs not Used: Gospel-Eze.

 

Reader Comments (5)

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Robert Tressell
1 Posted 21/02/2025 at 21:43:27
Good news about Ebere coming back from injury. We've got some attacking talent now but they need to kick on really quickly if they're to follow the likes of Cadamarteri, Jeffers, Anichebe and Gordon etc into the First Team.

They each made their first team debut at 17, 16, 17 and 16 respectively. Ebere is 19 already - two years older than Nwaneri at Arsenal and the same age as Tyler Dibling.

Michael Kenrick
2 Posted 21/02/2025 at 22:00:08
Yes, Robert, I was going to comment on Coby Ebere coming back from injury — he was on the subs bench at Palace.

I just checked my records and he'd already played 3 games for the U21s since coming back last month. Injuries are so devastating to these young players.

No doubt you're right about the chances of progression to the first team being slim — I always wonder if managers showed more trust in young players by being more generous in giving them playing time, that they might just grab the opportunity and run with it.

It was clear that wasn't in Dyche's thinking even though you can point to lots of bench time and rare run-outs for Dixon, then Armstrong this season.

But even with us winning at Palace, Moyes wasn't going to risk it by playing any of the four lads on the bench.

Robert Tressell
3 Posted 21/02/2025 at 22:27:49
Michael, it is possible that some young players might benefit from being chucked in at the deep end – but equally why not just sign a few unknowns from non-league and see if they might sink or swim? The conference is a higher standard than U21s after all.

If players are really hungry for games they need to drop down or go abroad (like Max Dean who was once on our books and at 21 is now doing well for Ghent).

Realistically we'd need to be relegated at least once, probably twice for more than one or two of our current academy players to get regular first-team games with us.

The England scouts identify the real talent. And only Lukjanciks (U17) and Olayiwola (U16) feature at any level between U21 and U15.

Michael Kenrick
4 Posted 21/02/2025 at 22:47:18
Robert:

Why not just sign a few unknowns from non-league and see if they might sink or swim?

That seems a little bit too random to me. But we all know that the much vaunted Academy model is really not producing the goods.

Still, Dixon, Heath and Sherif all missing tonight, so I expect them to feature on the bench again tomorrow.

Robert Tressell
5 Posted 22/02/2025 at 07:58:14
Michael, my point is that throwing kids with no credentials in at the deep end is as unlikely as scouting for first team players in the conference (at least as high a standard as u21 football).

Ps. Good to see you back by the way.

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