Unsworth: U21’s missed an opportunity, there were 100 scouts watching

Everton under 21 manager David Unsworth feels that his players have missed a vital opportunity to secure a loan opportunity with a disappointing performance against Manchester United on Monday.

The blues lost 3-1 infront of over 100 scouts and football league managers and Unsworth feels that his team didn’t hit the standards that they set themselves.

“It is a disappointing night and a frustrating night because there were an awful lot of people watching them and it is a missed opportunity for a lot of the players,”

“What we are trying to do is give these lads is the best opportunity to have careers.

“It is vital that they perform when they have under-21 games so they impress and we can get them out (on loan).

“There were 100 scouts at the game so that is a missed opportunity.

“If we win the under-21 league but don’t produce any players, then we are not doing our jobs.

“We’ve seen at the weekend with Tyias Browning and Brendan Galloway – those two lads had been consistently outstanding in the under-21s.

“Tyias had a little go out on loan but they performed on a regular basis, got in and took their chance.

“Every game is an opportunity to either impress our manager or the manager at a different club, which will further their career and that’s the step we talk about all the time.

“Unfortunately, too many of our players didn’t perform to the levels I know they are capable of.”

“We spoke about it for a long time after the match, that they have to produce in the games.

“We think loan moves furthers their careers and gives them the best opportunity to progress into our first-team.

“We’re disappointed with the first-half performance, albeit against a very good Manchester United team.

“But we will never look to use that as an excuse because our focus is our players.

“I was just disappointed with the manner of our performance.

“We showed a reaction in the second-half but the question I asked the players after the game was ‘Why do you need a half-time chat?’.

“Against good teams, you need to start like that and do it for 90 minutes.

“On the night we only had three or four players playing at anywhere near what they are capable of and you can’t carry that many players.

“We just couldn’t keep the ball for long enough.

“When you turn over possession like we did, they grow and they were dominant.”

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