Italian impressed with talented teenagers at Brighton & Hove Albion and ready to give them more opportunities
Leyton Orient manager Alberto Cavasin admits the youth team players at the club have demonstrated they are deserving of more first-team chances following last night’s 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion under-23s in Southern Group G of the EFL Trophy.
An early goal by Richie Towell proved the difference at Falmer Stadium, but the likes of Aron Pollock, Josh Koroma and Sandro Semedo all impressed after starting.
Myles Judd made a big impression off the bench with Victor Adeboyejo and Henry Ochieng also showing their worth.
Cavasin said after Sunday’s 6-0 defeat at Sheffield United in the first round of the FA Cup he didn’t think the youth could help O’s current situation, but has now changed his mind.
“My evaluation now is totally different to the one of a few days ago,” said the Italian via a translator.
“I think at Brighton we’ve seen some youngsters who are ready to play in the first line-up of the team. I said being youngsters like 16 and 17-years-old means they wouldn’t be competitive with the first-team professionals.
“Now I give a different evaluation because our performance against Brighton was very good. The players were very secure so we now know they are ready and have a value because they have demonstrated that and in previous important matches.”
The 60-year-old insisted he was always set to offer the academy players an opportunity at Brighton and it wasn’t dictated by Sunday’s thrashing.
Cavasin actually suggested he would have played even more had competition rules not prevented him playing at least five of the people who lined up at Sheffield United.
He added: “My selection wasn’t dictated by our performance on Sunday. It was a chance because we had two matches in 48 hours to see the youngsters on the pitch.
“I would have put others on if we didn’t have the rule that means we must play five players from the last game.”
Pollock looked very assured at the heart of O’s defence alongside Alan Dunne and caught the eye after a slow start to the season.
Judd, just 17, was introduced early in the second half and also caught the Orient managers eye, he said: “I agree Aron and Myles did well. They produced two very good performances.”
The former Sampdoria boss was asked what he thinks of the revamped EFL Trophy, which has received stinging criticism from fans up and down the country.
Although the O’s finished bottom of Southern Group G with three points from their three games, Cavasin believes the competition is good for the youngsters in England.
“I’m in favour of this type of competition because in Italy there is nothing like this,” said the Orient manager.
“You have teams that don’t want it and some that do, but me as a manager I think the opportunity to make youngsters play in a league like this with bigger teams is a very good chance and very useful for the youngsters.”
There is no doubt the youth team players given a platform to shine at Brighton last night did not disappoint.
It now provides Cavasin with a headache selection ahead of Saturday’s crucial League Two match at Colchester United.
After impressing at Falmer Stadium, the hope will be at least a couple of the youngsters will get another chance this weekend.
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