Everton put up a fight against a talented Real Madrid Castilla side in the opening fixture of the Premier League 2 International Cup.
A lively match saw a penalty saved by Everton goalkeeper George Pickford and a red card for young Northern Irish midfielder Jack Patterson.
Here are four things that caught our attention as Everton fell to defeat at Goodison Park.
1. George Pickford stars as Everton struggle defensively
George Pickford (no relation to Jordan) has stepped up to u21 level with ease. The 18-year-old England u20 international has cemented himself as the club’s number one u21 keeper and his penalty save in the first half hasn’t harmed his cause.
Pickford also made a fine one-handed save low to his left at the end of the first half and he was excellent throughout the game. A superb shot-stopper, Pickford is on the right path to have a good career in the game.
2. Will Tamen has all the ingredients
Will Tamen signed from Burton last year after making his first team debut at the age of just 16. An injury-hit season last year stalled the centre half’s progress but he has established himself at the heart of defence this year.
Early on he showed his physical talents. Big and strong, he dominates most u21 games in the air but he is also deceptively quick, mopping up a Real Madrid counter attack with ease in the first few minutes. He was excellent all game but there is one flaw to his game.
Tamen has an error in him. Whether it’s from lack of experience or lapses in concentration he does tend to make the odd mistake in the middle of a strong performance. His rash tackle in the area gave away the penalty to blot his copy book last night.
Playing with two senior defenders in a strange 5-3-2 formation could actually help Tamen iron out those minor flaws. He certainly has the potential to impress David Moyes long term.
3. Paul Tait’s baffling tactics
Paul Tait may be a fantastic coach and it’s not our style to suggest somebody should lose their job. What we would argue is that his role should not involve leading the u21 side as it stands.
While the lack of players who progress through the u21s is startling – Harrison Armstrong and Anthony Gordon barely played there before they were sent on loans and promoted upwards – some of that blame will lie with the Director of Football and Academy Director. Hopefully Nick Cox is already sorting that out.
But on a tactical level Tait is not impressing. His bizarre five at the back formation seems to be in order to crowbar in Reece Welch and Eli Campbell, who at 22 and 21 respectively have no future at the club. Both have been let down by lack of pathways and poor loans.
Instead it means the team plays with no width at all, with a single tactic of lumping the ball up to George Morgan while talented footballers such as Braiden Graham, Callum Bates and the increasingly marginalised Omari Benjamin drift about trying to get onto loose balls. It’s an archaic style of football in a system that doesn’t match the first team. So who is actually benefitting here?
Academies across England are benefitting from modern, forward-thinking coaches intent on developing and improving youngsters. Everton u21s is a disappointing throw back with no noticeable improvement and a style of football that belongs in the Sean Dyche days.
4. Midfield audition falls flat
Everton u21s usually start with a midfield three of Jack Patterson, Francis Gomez and Callum Bates.
In theory it works. Patterson is a deep lying ball winner, while Gomez is an athletic box-to-box midfielder and Bates is a more technical, forward-thinking attacker. All three may be casting eyes at the first team injury crisis in midfield but on recent showings, all three are some way off.
Bates has experienced the first team bench but he is 20 and probably plays in a position Everton need least. Patterson, who earned himself a red card for a lunge from behind, is also 20 and will be at the club until 2027. While he does not look ready yet he will probably have a good career in the game somewhere.
Gomez is an interesting one. His improvement since arriving from Gambia via Lyon has been exceptional but while he does seem to have the physicality to get up and down the pitch he is lightweight and can drift out of games.
There may be more interesting players coming through. Demi Akarakiri is one of them. But in reality Everton may have to continue their impressive academy recruitment for midfield cover in the 18-20 range if they want to support the first team in times of crisis.