Source: Daily_Mail
Everton evolution as David Moyes chooses youth Mersey Beat
Every Friday, Sportsmail'sman on Merseyside, Dominic King, will provide expert analysis and behind-the-scenes insight into the affairs of a footballing heartland.[LNB]This week's focus is the changing face of the Everton side.[LNB] Things are changing at Goodison Park. In a subtle, quiet way - much more evolution than revolution - David Moyes is slowly reshaping the identity of Everton's team.[LNB]To a wider audience, his work might have been going unnoticed but last Saturday at Goodison Park, in the hour before kick-off, Louis Saha's stream of consciousness on Twitter alerted everyone to the fact an overhaul is in progress.[LNB] Benched: Louis Saha (left) has seen his first-team opportunities dwindle[LNB]In normal circumstances, Moyes would have found a place in his squad for the vastly-experienced Saha but, on this occasion, he opted to go with rookie forward Apostolos Vellios and untried loan signing Denis Stracqualursi.[LNB]This, evidently, startled Saha who swiftly left Goodison and, in a series of tweets, let it be known that he was everything from 'absolutely destroyed' to 'gutted' to be missing the Barclays Premier League game with Wigan Athletic and that he was no longer 'good enough'.[LNB] Head boy: Rookie forward Apostolos Vellios has impressed at Goodison Park, scoring a fine goal against Wigan[LNB]But what Saha, 33, could not argue, however, was that Moyes' decision was correct. Vellios - an imposing 19-year-old signed from Iraklis Thessaloniki in January - came up trumps, scoring the crucial second goal in Everton's 3-1 win.[LNB]Saha, though, is not the only senior member of Moyes' squad to have been on the end of a cold, ruthless decision in the formative weeks of this campaign. What's more, there is every reason to believe he won't be the last.[LNB] No guarantees: Phil Neville (centre) has spent his fair share of time on the bench[LNB]Take Phil Neville. Moyes could not hold his captain in any higher esteem but that did not stop the manager omitting the 34-year-old from his starting line-up for the last two Premier League fixtures against Wigan and Aston Villa.[LNB]Tim Cahill, idolised by supporters and scorer of so many important goals for Everton, is another to have learned sentiment and longevity does not guarantee automatic selection. He was left out of the team that scrambled a win at Blackburn on August 27.[LNB]The man who scored the crucial goal at Ewood Park, meanwhile, was sold four days later. No matter that Mikel Arteta had been Everton's heartbeat for so long, Moyes recognised selling to Arsenal for ?10million represented excellent business for a man who will turn 30 next March.[LNB]Now this is not to say that Saha, Neville, Cahill et al no longer have a part to play. Their respective records and contributions for Everton since they arrived at the club means Moyes will absolutely be looking to them again as this season unfolds.[LNB] Midfield maestros: Jack Rodwell (left) and Marouane Fellaini have teamed up well[LNB]Yet, clearly, they will not be around forever and what Moyes has demonstrated during the past couple of months is that he is making plans for the future. He is persisting, for example, with a midfield axis of Marouane Fellaini (23) and Jack Rodwell (20) to see how that will flourish.[LNB]Vellios has shown in three substitute appearances for the first team that he definitely has something about him and with the right polishing, he could flourish. Ditto Seamus Coleman, whose outstanding form last year earned him a nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.[LNB]Then, of course, there is Ross Barkley. Big things are expected of this 17-year-old and one thing of which he can be certain is that Moyes will give him the very best platform to maximise his potential. Feeling that he has to accommodate the old guard does not come into the manager's thinking.[LNB] Youthful energy: David Moyes is quietly changing the look of his Everton side[LNB]'I don't know if this is a group (of youngsters) but I think we've got two or three who might have a chance,' said Moyes. [LNB]'Can they (make it)? It's not like they're an elite group. We've got two or three and we're trying to push them to see if one of them can come up and pop their head up.[LNB]'It's the only way we can do it, to give some of these young boys a chance. That's the best of what we've got at the moment, the best of what's fit or the best to play at the time. That's why the expectations have got to change.'[LNB]As must the team, if Everton are to keep progressing.[LNB][LNB] Everton striker Saha in last chance saloon after crunch talksNeville praised for professionalism despite losing his Everton place Moyes to be offered new deal as Everton boss closes in on decade in chargeEverton 2 West Brom 1 AET: Veteran Neville sends Toffees through after late comebackMersey Beat: Gerrard's back and ready to show what Liverpool have been missingAll the latest Everton news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB]
