In the summer we wrote our preview of the Everton u21 season featuring every player we expected to play for the team.
With some fun young players stepping up from the u18s and huge games on the horizon against the likes of Real Madrid and Monaco it is an exciting time for Everton u21s. But how have the team performed so far and who are the stand out players this season?
How have Everton u21s performed?
Paul Tait is one of the few surviving staff members from the Farhad Moshiri era so there has been less overhaul than other areas of the academy. There remains some confusion over his assistant – Everton hired Peter Cavanagh in February on a temporary basis but have since advertised for his replacement.
On the pitch it has been a mixed bag for the u21s. Tait has frequently played unusual formations and most recently has settled on five at the back. The team, like last season, concedes a lot of goals and often baffling substitutions mean they often lose focus and fall apart in tough games.
The team was poor in the EFL Trophy, where even cameos from the likes of Dwight McNeil, Nathan Patterson and Adam Aznou failed to prevent heavy defeats to Bradford (5-1) and Grimsby (5-3).
In the league things are slightly better. The team sits in 15th place in a 29-team combined league with four wins and five defeats. Everton’s Jekyll and Hyde nature means they are one of just two teams to not draw a game this season so far.
It must be said inconsistency is expected this year. Everton have one of the youngest u21 teams in the league and Tait must be praised for giving minutes to several 16 and 17 year olds as the next generation emerges.
The winners of Everton’s u21 season so far
George Pickford – 18 – GK
Fraser Barnsley, Everton’s Northern Ireland u21 international goalkeeper, is away treading the well worn path of goalkeepers starting out in the lower leagues of English football. The club has benefited from Marine’s rise to National League North, where Barnsley and defender Odin Samuel-Smith are able to go on loan but remain in training with Everton during non-match days.
Barnsley has been superb for Marine and his arrival signalled a turn in form that saw plenty of clean sheets and a rise up the table to play off contention.
In Barnsley’s absence 18-year-old Preston-born George Pickford has stepped up. Despite the heavy EFL Trophy defeats Pickford has had an excellent start to the season. A superb shot-stopper, he has played all nine PL2 games and his strong displays have earned him an England u20 call up.
A loan next season would be ideal for his development.
Will Tamen – 19 – Defender
Will Tamen arrived from Burton Albion last season he came with plenty of praise having made his first team debut in League One.
Tall and imposing, Tamen is a throwback central defender who can outmuscle strikers and dominate with his physical ability. Unfortunately he missed a lot of football last year through injury and at 19 this is a big season for him.
Our frustration with the five at the back formation played by Tait does come with a benefit; Tamen sits centrally between Eli Campbell and Reece Welch. While many will argue the older defenders should not still be around the u21s but while they are here their experience is invaluable in developing Tamen.
The results are plain to see. Tamen is quickly becoming Everton’s best u21 defender and he is beginning to dominate games at the back, while also providing a goal threat up front. He scored against Grimsby in the EFL Trophy and was unlucky not to double his tally in the 3-0 win over West Brom last time out.
Tamen does still have the odd lapse in concentration but these are becoming rarer. His physicality means he has a chance to catch Moyes eye and he spent the most recent international break training with the first team.
A loan to the Championship is a must if he wants to come back and challenge for the first team in future.
Francis Gomez Tambadou – 19 – Midfielder
We have been watching u21 football for over a decade and there has rarely been a player showing the sort of improvement Gomez demonstrated in just six short months last season.
Signed from Gambia and instantly loaned to Lyon, Gomez returned in January and looked out of his depth. He is quite lightweight and he had a penchant for wild tackles and red cards.
However, within months he was transformed into a lively box to box midfielder who was capable of breaking up play and creating chances for the team’s attackers. He even won his first international cap in the summer as his development accelerated.
This year he has played all nine league games and scored one goal. There have been a couple of standout performances where he has dominated the midfield alongside ore inexperienced teammates and he has been integral to helping young Jack Patterson step up and look so comfortable.
If Gomez continues on this trajectory there is a player in there. His sleight frame works against him but if he continues to develop he will have a good career in the game.
Jacob Beaumont-Clark – 20 – Winger
The choice of winger could have been young Joel Catesby, who broke into the u21s and looked lively until a horrific leg injury curtailed his promising start. We hope he returns fully fit sooner rather than later.
Jacob Beaumont-Clark has been around the u21s for a while now but has often taken a back seat to the more headline-grabbing Justin Clarke, Omari Benjamin and Coby Ebere.
Beaumont-Clark is a technically gifted winger with the composure to finish from a variety of attacking situations. His calmness in front of goal means he often pops up with key contributions when the u21s need him.
He has three goals in 11 games including a superb counter attack finish in a surprise 1-0 win over Chelsea.
While he may lack searing pace, Beaumont-Clark is a clever, technical player and will have a good career in the game. A loan is essential to guage where he is at the moment.
Braiden Graham – 18 – Striker
Braiden Graham is Linfield’s youngest ever player and scorer at just 15. He was a real coup when Everton beat Brighton to his signature a year ago and since then the cat is out of the bag about the talent Everton have on their hands.
After hitting the ground running for the u18s he was quickly promoted to the u21s squad at just 17. As he now turns 18 he is arguably the side’s most important player.
Graham has scored four goals in nine games for the u21s, often starting out on the left or as a number 10 behind a more recognised striker. His low centre of gravity and ability to drive up the pitch is reminiscent in style to Wayne Rooney – although he is some way off hitting those heights yet.
Graham is also an excellent poacher and many of his goals are due to good movement and calm finishing in the box, as demonstrated when he scored the winner for Northern Ireland u19s this weekend in a 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan.
David Moyes gave first team debuts to James Vaughan and Jose Baxter at just 16. Is Braiden Graham next in line to catch the eye of the first team coaches?
Honourable mentions
Demi Akarakiri is a surprise addition to the u21 squad this season. At the age of just 17 he was a regular for the u18s team but Tait has trusted him to make the step up.
An all-rounder comfortable playing in the eight position, Akarakiri has two short but impressive cameos for the u21s where he shored up the midfield and helped to get Everton over the line against Chelsea and West Brom.
George Finney is a tall, physical right back with a great engine. He can get up and down the pitch and has stepped up from the u18s without any fuss. He has been one of the u21 team’s best performers at right back and his impressive season is only marred by a rash red card in the first half of the mini derby that cost his side. With the club’s dearth of right backs he could have an interesting future at the club.
Elsewhere Josh van Schoor has started to earn some u21 minutes at left back and as a left wing back. An attacking defender with the ability to get up and down the wing, van Schoor is another to step up after appearing for the u18s last season.
Who has struggled?
Omari Benjamin was the team’s top scorer last season and his ability to play up front or down the wings helped him become one of the u21’s most important players last season. This year injury has limited his involvement to just four games.
He has scored two and assisted one in those games and if he can get fit it will be exciting to see his link up with Graham.
Kingsford Boakye and Coby Ebere have also been struggling for game time and need a more consistent run, while George Morgan has six appearance up front but has yet to score a PL2 goal. At 19, this is a make or break season for the young Welsh striker.
What about the loanees?
Isaac Heath raised a few eyebrows when he moved on loan to League Two side Accrington Stanley. The Academy Player of the Year is clearly too good for the division but he is at least getting plenty of minutes and thriving in the side.
He has scored twice and set up three goals in 11 games in League Two and the EFL Trophy, and he has been a standout for Stanley thanks to his direct dribbling from the left wing.
Elsewhere, Martin Sherif is regularly praised by his manager at Rotherham in League One. He has two goals to his name but has suffered from a few niggly injuries. Meanwhile Francis Okoronkwo has found minutes hard to come by at Lincoln City but did score the winner as they moved to top of the league this weekend.