Unsworth made up for Academy graduates

I know I sound harsh but that is the real proof for me that these players are good enough. At this stage of any season, injuries and dead rubber games give younger players their chance. The question is whether they will do enough in these games, and pre-season in July, to warrant being kept in the team for August.

He's gathering experience and by the time the latest hired hand rides off into the sunset with his saddle bags bursting. Our boy could well be ready to make the step up.

We have historically done better when "one of our own" is at the helm. I want to believe our academy is not just for the players

Holgate - Pennington - Jagielka - Baines

When it could have been:

Browning - Holgate - Jagielka - Baines, or;
Holgate - Jagielka - Galloway - Baines

No doubt we would have been better off with some of them, as well as Geri sat on the bench. I won't count McGeady or Niasse as some others would as they were never in our plans for the year. Add Grant in to the midfield options (Barry one booking short of another suspension) we could be short in a couple of weeks!

The litmus test will be where Koeman spends his funds close season, because that's were he's still to be convinced by the graduates.

Have the team got any pride to go and finish the season with a bang, I certainly hope so, Ronnie should be telling every one of them your fighting for you shirt for next season now – not in the summer pre-season games.

We need more quality signings to boost the squad as no doubt Ronnie will have already have an idea who he will let go.

Also nothing about Garbutt anywhere, he is back at EFC but not getting a look in anywhere it seems.

Pennington is only playing because of Coleman's and Funes Mori's injuries. We don't have another CB Koeman can pick. Personally if there are any experienced CB's out of contract I would sign them on a short contract till the end of the season.

What I want to know is why £11 million Lookman is sitting on the bench instead of running around on the pitch.

I think Barkley was brilliant before he went off on the International Break by the way.

I would love to see Dowell develop but he blows hot and cold like Barkley so I doubt Koeman or the fans could stomach both.

I have been more surprised at Holgate and Pennington playing outside their normal position at right-back when we have Jonjoe Kenny about ready to step up.

We also have Gethin Jones, who I didn't rate as highly, doing a pretty decent job in the Championship with Barnsley. Recalling him is another option.

I hope I'm wrong but I suspect many of these vaunted youngsters will find themselves in championship teams or lower Premier League teams (which is still quite the achievement).

I'm pleased the U23s are doing so well but in some ways i'd rather see them struggling in their league but with one or two exceptional talents in the Rooney, Barkley mold. Those talents don't come around very often though there are high hopes I believe for Liam Walsh.

Koeman has shown a huge turnaround from not wanting to play any of the young lads earlier in the season to almost playing too many of them at any one time.

It's always a huge step up and whilst Davis and Lookman did well when they initially came into the team, it was only natural that their impact would diminish. Actually, have we seen Lookman in the last month?

Whilst most of us would like to see our young players develop well and get into the first team, I think we also would like to see us bring in some great summer signings if we are going to be realistic about competing with the top 6 with an aim to break into the top 4.

We are now able to see whether our academy graduates can cut it at this level, if they can't, they'll be shipped off to their appropriate levels and replaced by new prospects.

With the number of players coming through the academy, whether forced through injury or not, it would only increase the appeal of our club to players in that 16-20-year-old range with Premier League aspirations.

I am loving the way the club is being run under Farhad Moshiri, big things are coming.

If we don't play them, they can't gain experience. Play them too much and they are Darren Gibson's at the age of 25.

I'm still very encouraged by Barkley's progress this season. As I've said before, he's leaner, he's meaner and he's keener.

Rhino? Very impressive coaching. He worked bloody hard at gathering wider experience long before Everton correctly hired him. Wasn't it following a very praiseworthy article in The Times or Telegraph or Guardian that days later saw Everton hiring him?

I reckon you could be right there with the idea they are a team rather than great individuals. I certainly hope they all progress but I'm doubting it from what I've seen.

Davies & Holgate – no doubts.

Browning, Pennington & Galloway - possibly like Shane Duffy will be more suited a level down.

Galloway & Jones – they'll play a decent level though not near the first team at Everton.

Walsh – possible. Decent little player who needs a career defining loan to the championship next season.

Dowell – too much of a luxury player for the first team. He has talent can produce but in his position for the top level he needs to be outstanding. I expect a decent career though. He sort of reminds me of Chris Eagles. Maybe not fully in his play but that ability to produce the sublime with periods of non effectiveness.

Joe Williams – he has some limited qualities but lots of desire and graft. He has a chance but slim.

Henen – sorry no chance.

Garbutt – disappointing how he has stalled. For those wanting him around the first team, this is a player who has barely played for Wigan on loan at 23 due to being behind Stephen Warnock in his mid 30s.

Personally I'd like to see Kenny involved more as Coleman's understudy and Charsley just keeps on developing year after year.

Whoever manages to break into the first team is fantastic for the club. However if a better player is available from outside at the right price then that theoretically at least, improves the bottom line. No disrespect for the players, just the facts of life.

But the Academy is a great part of the club and should be encouraged as much as possible.

Kenny – needs to play this season and lets see what he's got. Holgate inside and him at RB. A leader and tenacious but has moved round positions in the academy a bit before settling back at RB. Not the marauding type preferred these days but a steady performer.

Charsley – one who has had a decent U23s season by accounts but I've not really seen him enough. Other players have stood out on the games I've seen.

Calvert-Lewin – amazing season for a lad signed for £1m in August. If he can keep developing who knows but lets give him time and accept the times he'll be average he could get that improvement and consistency.

The numbers being pushed through and playing league football is as much as any club. It's just unearthing the absolute gems we need which would save us a fortune and could be the answer to get us in that top 4 in time.

Also agree that young Jonjoe Kenny needs to be given a chance, because I'm sure he's ready to play, and it's really the only way, we are ever going to find out if he's good enough for Everton's first team?

Tom Davies stood out regarding fitness & attitude rather than footballing ability. Tom Davieshas obviously progressed significantly since then.
Haven't seen Wash since.

I have seen Robinson once since against Blackpool this season in that obscure cup (can't remember it's name) when he again was a stand out performer

I can't believe Robinson is not closer to the first teammates this team. While I think Leighton is good for now, I think to Robinson would be a more than adequate replacement..

I can't seem to find any info out on the OS and the net is a bit sparse with info.

Go to Everton U23 soccerway from google.

It's a very comprehensive site for the club and league.

Puts the OS to shame.

So nothing has really changed from the days when Moyes was forced to have teenagers on the bench.

Many players look great in the early years but won't have what it takes to be a first team regular, hence loads ending up in leagues 1 & 2, some in the championship.

If Unsworth manages to deliver one regular first team member every two years, he would have done a great job imo.

Davies has been a real success so far so full credit there. He can only take a little credit for the likes of Calvert-Lewin, Holgate and Lookman as we bought them so didn't exactly bring them through ourselves. Personally I don't think Calvert-Lewin has what it takes to be a regular (yet anyway) and would hope Holgate will be in the first team squad next year as he did a decent job last season. Lookman needs a bit of time too.

I also have my doubts on Pennington, he looked like a fish out of water in the derby (harsh first league start admittedly) and at 22, you have to wonder why it's taken so long for him to make his first league start, he's got 50 odd appearances on loan in League 1 already. Can only tell once he gets more games under his belt, maybe he'll be a late bloomer. I think he has another year on his contract so would seem next year is make or break for him at Everton. If we buy another centre-back (or two) then I don't see him getting regular game time, especially with Holgate and Browning both available as well. He'll be at best 5th, if not 6th, in the centre-back pecking order.

Hope to be proven wrong but I don't think Calvert-Lewin and Pennington will be playing regularly in blue in the coming years.

That is a much more informative site. CAnt understand why the OS is not giving the lads more coverage.

It looks like we are 2 points clear with Spurs(H) Chelsea (a) and the other lot (H) to come while City have The RS (A) and Southampton (H).

We need at least 4 points from 3 games to be sure if City win their last 2.