Former Everton striker Francis Jeffers has just slammed Everton’s academy, which Braiden Graham will surely have something to say about.
The days of producing talents like Wayne Rooney may be history on Merseyside, but there are some exciting prospects at Everton.
Jeffers was once one of those promising youngsters to come out of Finch Farm, but recent years have even seen David Moyes demand more from Everton’s academy.
Where do you stand on Braiden Graham… would you give him his debut? 🎯
TalkingPoints user on Braiden Graham.
Graham is perhaps the most exciting player in the current academy set-up and he is an example that Jeffers may not be correct in his evaluation.
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton - Premier League 2
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
What Francis Jeffers said about Everton’s academy
Rooney admitted Jeffers’ Everton exit broke him as it highlighted the departure of an academy graduate that paved the way for other players from the area.
Which player do you think could be next to shine in Everton’s first team? 🤩
There's some really exciting youngsters currently at Finch Farm 🔥
Everton's Braiden Graham inspecting the pitch before the match during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Everton. Everton midfielder Malik Olayiwola. Justin Clarke of Everton looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Accrington Stanley and Everton.
Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Kearns – CameraSport/Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto/Matt McNulty.
“You look at Everton strikers now it’s Beto and Barry where’s the ones coming below them? Like we we used to produce at Everton, striker after striker after striker,” Jeffers said on The Wayne Rooney podcast.
MORE EVERTON STORIES
“And listen, not all of them went on to have careers like him (Wayne Rooney), but you go back through the archives, Michael Branch, Phil Jevons, Danny Cadamarteri, myself, Nick Chadwick, James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe, it’s not happening anymore.”
Braiden Graham is Everton’s shining light in the academy
Time will ultimately tell whether Graham goes on to become a success on Merseyside, but the 18-year-old forward is showing a lot of potential.
Everton’s U21s manager Paul Tait is extremely excited about Graham’s potential, as the forward has scored 17 goals in 26 games across the Everton youth levels.
There have been some concerns surrounding Graham when it comes to his size.
The Northern Irishman remains in development and Moyes has admitted Graham’s physicality needs to improve before he can be promoted to the senior side.
It would seemingly take something unexpected for Graham to feature under Moyes this season, but the potential is there.
Graham has impressed Everton’s senior coaches after being called up to training at Finch Farm earlier in the season.
There is clearly a lot of talent in Graham, as he alone demonstrates that Jeffers could be wrong about the current crop of academy players.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox