Dowell signs new three-year deal

For most of them, the new contract means they are on their way to Brentford or the like and then gradual obscurity.

Currently, only Ross has come right through the system to claim a regular place. Hardly a supply line.

I wonder if the likes of Walsh, Davies, Dowell and Ledson will have to prove themselves on loan to the championship before they get a real shot at it? I hope not.

It's obviously about balance and as I think Koeman is a good appointment I am generally optimistic.

Talking about about giving the kids a chance, I was pretty impressed with Duffy's performance against Italy.

So pleased Kieran has signed a new contract he oozes class.

I'm fine with that but when you look at the likes of Kane, who in truth only got a look in because Soldado and Adebayor where awful and Rashford due to injuries to numerous players, it doesn't bode well.

In my amateur career, I got in the 1st team due to injuries to 3 players ahead of me in the pecking order and my game improved tenfold playing with better players alongside me. I think that will still be the case. Young players need a run of games and they don't usually get that.

That said, expectations at Everton are huge, look at the flack the likes of Barkley and Stones have received, despite consistently being two of our best players.

A season at a decent Championship club could stand the likes of Dowell in good stead.

5-10 starts and a similar number of games from the bench is something that would benifit a youngster coming though tremendously, but if we cant find them type of numbers, then a loan deal would be the best for all concerned.

Dowell, Kenny, Galloway, Rodriguez, Davies, Walsh, Henen, Browning, Holgate, Connolly etc can't all be thrown in together, so for some, loan deals are a must.

Brewster is one to keep an eye on too: every time he plays he scores, long may it continue.

Man United prospered under their golden generation of youth and there is no reason why Everton should not capitalise on the talent that we evidently have. My big hope is Tom Davies, from what I've seen so far is a young man with bags of potential.

For him and us, I hope his career is fucking fantastic.

No idea if the lad reads (or is aware of) TW, but if he does, I'd like to point out the following.

During games, I (involuntarily) tend to quietly tut and mutter ('for fuck's sake') when I see bad passes, mis-controlled balls or shots that end up in the doorway of The Supper bar.

However I will never scream abuse at an Everton player unless he decides he can't be arsed and/or that giving it 30% will do just fine.

So give it everything you've got, in every game you play and you won't go far wrong.

Up the Toffees!

It's not always about spending money or should I say wasting money. Got to assess what we have and then add to positions where we are weak. Right now I think goalie and striker are the main two positions.

We seem to have lots of cover and a few who we possible need to let go in midfield and defence, so unless someone who Koeman sees as exceptional comes available why just go out and spend for the sake of it.

The only problem is the chasm between reserve and Premiership football. That is why it is usually prudent to send the lads out on loan like we did with Seamus.

Be patient with the kids and the manager and look for top class graduates in a few years time.

"His first touch can often let him down, and on occasion, he can turn in entirely anonymous performances."

Iain, during the signing of (and wait for) Koeman I went on a Saints web site to see what they were saying about him. Some said that he had little faith in the young players at Southampton and had a reluctance to put his trust in Academy products, but more said that there were no players ready for a sustained run in the team and Koeman had said that none of the youngsters were of sufficient quality to warrant consideration. It will be interesting to see if he gives youth a chance, I certainly hope so, especially after the efforts the lads put in during the last match v Norwich.

Tom Davies certainly surprised me with his performance against Norwich, alright it was a low key game with nothing at stake, but he never end wavered for a second, always on hand to receive the ball, strong in the tackle and lasted and finished the game strongly. If he he is used more in the first team even coming off the bench he will be hard to keep out of the starting squad.

Whilst most managers tend to go with experience, I think managers who have really played the game, tend to give more young kids a chance to prove themselves.

The best advice you can give to any young kid is Eugene's final paragraph, WORK HARD. although I was tempted to put them words the other way round for a laugh!

Just wondering if he's on the overpaid ladder to the National team.

£5 - 8k per week? Maybe more? Enough that he could ride out these three years and never have to worry about money again.

Surely that's a massive problem facing the English game.

It's easy to jump to conclusions on why England constantly fail but this might be one.

I'd have guessed more than your guess but 'twould only be a guess.