Everton FC News: I’m asking too much of my youngsters, David Moyes

Nov 9 2009 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Everton FC News: DAVID MOYES admits he is asking too much of Everton’s fledgling stars – but believes they can emerge stronger for the experience.

Both Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling were once again in the starting line-up when Moyes’s side travelled to West Ham United yesterday.

Gosling scored what ultimately turned out to be the winner as Everton ended a seven-game run without a victory by sealing a hard-earned 2-1 triumph at Upton Park.

Rodwell has appeared in all bar one of the Goodison outfit’s games this season with Gosling becoming a more regular first-team starter in recent weeks as injuries have continued to eat away at Moyes’s squad.

And while expressing reservations at the amount of football his teenage duo are being asked to play, the Everton manager reckons the evidence suggests they are gaining from the experience.

“We are coming to West Ham and having to win with Jack Rodwell who is 18 and Dan Gosling who is 19,” said Moyes.

“But it’s not just one game, we’ve had to do that in three or four games. It’s a lot to ask of the young payers.

“Jack has played an awful lot of football and while Dan is no doubt delighted to be playing, there are right moments when you should be playing youngsters and maybe we are having to play them at the wrong moments.

“On the evidence today you’d have to say both are mature players, and that can make them better and stronger. Then you can look at them not as young players, but players.

“We don’t have enough in the team at the moment to help them as much as we should.”

Meanwhile, West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola found it difficult to accept his side had not taken at least a point from yesterday’s game.

Louis Saha gave Everton a 27th-minute lead with their first effort on goal, an advantage that was doubled by Gosling’s 64th-minute strike.

But Tony Hibbert’s own goal barely a minute later brought the Hammers back into the game and the hosts laid siege on the Everton goal.

Young forward Zavon Hines spurned two gilt-edged chances to equalise as West Ham were left to rue the absence of injured striker Carlton Cole.

And Zola said: “It’s very difficult for me to comment on a game like that. We had lots of chances and Everton had only two. That was a big question mark for me. How can we lose a game like that?

“The players gave everything. Their attitude and commitment was very good. We have to find another way because this isn’t working well. It’s not doing us any favours, it’s as simple as that.

“Carlton Cole is a big player for us, but what can we do? We have to cope with that. The other day we played well without him, but unfortunately it wasn’t the same today.”

Zola added: “I thought we started well. We had a couple of chances in the first 10 minutes, Everton had only one shot in the first half and scored from it.

“We kept on trying until the end. Physically we were very good. The attitude, which is often the most important thing, was there.

“It feels bad to be back in the bottom three. But the team are fighting and want to change things. We deserved more from this game.”

The Hammers manager added: “I am not worried because I think we can certainly improve the situation.

“We are going to fight until the end and we will find the solutions and we will finds them as quickly as possible.

“I am confident and I trust the players.

“We are determined to make things different, and that is what matters.”

Zola, meanwhile, has not yet given up hope of seeing striker Dean Ashton back playing again.

The 25-year-old is battling to recover full fitness from an ankle problem, the origins of which stem back to an injury while on England duty after his appearance in the 2006 FA Cup final.

Reports have suggested the former Norwich striker, signed for £7million in January 2006, was set to retire, and seek compensation from the Football Association.

Zola said: “Until someone tells me he is not going to make it, I am still confident he is going to come back.”