JoeTerp wrote:stmichael wrote:We still have problems in that Rafa once again isrefusing to work with the Academy director (he has a problem with Piet Hamberg, I don't know what it is), and his own 'academy' at Melwood is growing to the point where it's becoming very, very difficult for players from the 18s to get games with the reserves now. Only two players were moved up a year early this time, McKay-Steven and Steven Irwin, and neither of those will be first choice for the reserves and will struggle to get many games.
At the moment, Everton have a 16 and a 17 year old in their FIRST TEAM. Ok I realise that's because they are desperate, but a 16 or 17 year old scouse lad at Liverpool is only going to play Academy football.
I am currently very concerned about the log jam at some positions in the reservers and U18s. I have been impressed by the talent of almost every player that I have seen in attacking positions for both teams, but it is so hard to develop without consistently playing or by starting off at a very young age with so much pressure to perform or else you will lose your spot.
The reserve strikers this year are: Pacheco, Nemeth, Saric, with Eccleston probably getting some games. Don't forget Simon and Weijl who will probably have to move to the wings or play as second strikers. Nemeth and Simon (who misses the cut off by 6 months) are the only one of that bunch who isn't elligible for U18 action this season.
Then in the U18s there is Pourie (goal scoring machine despite bad rep for poor attitude), Dalle Valle (really highly rated, looks very talented), Adam Pepper who is also held in very high regard and scored a lot of goals for the U16s is now playing CM instead of striker so he can get on the pitch, Thomas Ince is moving out to the wings so he can play, and James Ellison even though he has actually looked decent, is clearly a class behind everybody else.
Then on the wings as mentioned there is Gary Mackay-Steven on the left along with VERY VERY highly rated Gerardo Bruna, and Kacaniklic has been the most impressive U18 so far to me, and he has played in a few ressie pre-season matches, and when Ince has been deployed out there for the U18s he has put in some very nice crosses. And it looks like Weijl will be deployed on the left sometimes for the ressies as well. Oh yea and we have Ray Putterrill still here and Hammill and Leto out on loan. And that is just people who can play on the left. Also Butchman has looked impressive for the U18s, but hopefully he might be able to get game time at left back (which is where I thought he played in the Germany youth set up)
On the right there is El Zhar who seems to be coming along nicely, Anderson on loan, Amoo the striker turned right winger, Ryan Crowther (doesn't look good enough imo), and sometimes Flynn plays out there.
Don't even get me started with our Gk situation which has lots of young players: Bouzanis, Gulacsi, Hansen, Martin on loan, and the U18s have Duyan, Chamberlain, and Oldfield. FFS we still haven't gotten rid of Itandje yet.
.
he sucks, and with all this new attacking talent he needs to make way. I think that Saric and Nemeth both have knocks right now, but no reason why Simon or Eccleston can't start. Where the hell are Insua and Plessis?
