Former Everton midfielder Barry Horne has criticised the club’s youngsters after their Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Blackpool.
Writing a column for the Liverpool Echo, former Everton midfielder Barry Horne explained why his ex-club’s under-21 side’s defeat to Blackpool in the Checkatrade Trophy highlights a massive problem at the club.
The Toffees’ youngsters were dumped out of the competition in the week after losing to League Two outfit Blackpool on penalties.
Horne, who made 123 league appearances for the Blues during a four-year spell with the club, wrote in his column for the Liverpool Echo how disappointed he was with the result, and not just because of his allegiance to Everton:
Barry Horne
“I honestly believe that it has something to do with motivation. It must be because technically they’re fabulous. Have they been coached in the wrong way for competitive football? Have they not been exposed to competitive football early enough?”
Horne’s words will be concerning for Everton fans, whose club have been renowned down the years for regularly providing their youngsters with an opportunity for first-team action.
Ross Barkley is a prime example of the talent that the Merseyside outfit are capable of helping develop and mature into world-class stars.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman with Everton’s Ross Barkley
Horne then went on to suggest the reason’s behind the Everton youth side’s poor showing must be to do more with the mentality of the players, rather than their technical ability:
“There has something wrong – It’s not technical, it’s not to do with their fitness. So what’s missing? It must be something within the player.”
Although they are harsh words, Horne may be on to something, and it is an issue that the club should look to address sooner rather than later.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman
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