After falling 2-0 to Doncaster Rovers in their first group match, Everton Under-21s coach Paul Tait pushed his players to learn from the successes of Tom Cannon and Stanley Mills in last season’s EFL Trophy.
Cannon went on loan to Preston North End before joining Leicester City on transfer deadline day for an unknown amount believed to be in the region of £7.5 million, while Mills has since been loaned out to League One Oxford United.
“Most Under-21s coaches and staff say we love this tournament because of what it does for the young players, it brings them on so much,” Tait remarked. I just used some of last season’s kids as examples for the younger boys tonight, such as Tom Cannon and Stanley Mills, who really grew last season, and it gives them the confidence to go toe-to-toe with older, more-experienced players, and it gives them that belief.
“At times, I thought our style of play was really good.” We had control of parts of the game, which I would have liked to have had more of, and created some decent chances at the end of the first half, but I think that was the difference; once they got the first goal, I think it took the stuffing out of us.
“I was very impressed with your effort, work rate, and desire.” When you play against men’s teams, you have to compete and be ready to go, which I think we were.”
While the EFL Trophy allows Under-21 players from Premier League and Championship clubs such as Everton to compete against senior counterparts from League One and League Two, on this occasion it was the young Blues who were getting stuck in from the start, with both Katia Kouyate and Elijah Campbell being cautioned early on, but Tait admitted that in itself presented a learning curve. “I think we had two bookings within 10 minutes – that wasn’t the plan like!” he stated.
“Once again, they must learn to play on yellow cards.” I believe that at Under-21s level, you can go all night without seeing a yellow card, but it was straight out, and then it’s about playing on a yellow card and doing a job for the team, and if you’re a forward like Kat, tracking back and doing your work out of possession without giving fouls away and getting booked again, which he managed to do.”
