When the Liverpool U23’s drew with Manchester City after Everton U23’s drew with Chelsea, it was no longer possible for City to catch 1st position, meaning the young toffees were champions of the PL2 2016/17. But being champions comes with much more than just a trophy.
To be league leaders is not an easy task, to be ahead requires the players to develop composure during each game when they know their future’s are in their own hands. To have that experience at such a young age is legitimately invaluable for our youth team, especially core members who have played most matches. They now have the experience of that unique type of pressure, which means they have proved to themselves and to managers up and down the country, that they can execute a game plan without crumbling.
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To be ahead with such ferocious opponents biting at your heels in 2nd position stresses this point, and to stay ahead for an extended period of time like the Everton U23’s did, and then finally win the PL2, will result in the development of a winning mentality. Again, this is invaluable. We see the effect of this at a senior level, most recently when Arsenal signed Cech. Before him, they were a solid team with copious amounts of talent, but few of their players at the time could be considered as winners. When he came in, there was a clear shift. Cech has won the league before, and he knows what is mentally required to have a successful campaign, and this experience gave Arsenal a level of composure and confidence they didn’t have before his transfer.
Our youngsters will now be considered hot property, and will be more likely to be wanted on loan by lower league teams, after seeing them win a competitive league. This can give them a higher calibre of experience, and will also be more appealing to young signings looking to join the senior squad. If a player doesn’t instantly fit in well, then he can always drop down a level to the U23’s, and play with the champions until he is ready to rejoin the main Everton squad.
Well done to our boys, hopefully Unsworth stays for a few more seasons, because his talents of youth development are glaringly obvious, and his tenure here will continue to develop future quality players for the senior squad.
Up the Ev.