Man City too strong for U18s

City are obviously a decent team, 100% record so far.

This is probably the youngest Everton starting line up at U18 I've seen in recent years with 7 starters 15/16. Three players, Welch, Onyango and Dobbin are with the England U17 squad and Hughes is with Astley in the Wales U19s squad.

Just trying to put a positive spin on this, there's a lot of talent in that team. Nice to see Bobby Carroll coming back from injury too.

Thanks for that perspective, Phill.

I've only really seen these players in the all-too-brief goal highlights that appear on the OS so I was disappointed that the game wasn't on at Man City's excellent Academy Stadium.

Man City have a great set-up for U18s. They then loan the best players out and sell them once they reach 21 or 22 and can't get a game for the 1st team.

Chelsea have been doing the same for years, Man Utd before that. It is always nice to win but it's all about player development. If we get one player progressing each season, then job done.

If that is the case, Justin, then we need someone scouting them for the next Jordan Sancho.

Believe me, if other Premier League teams were willing to sell their best 18- & 19-year-olds to Everton then we would have a fantastic u23 team.

But hold on we already do. The problem is managers and coaches not having the confidence to play them, due to the pressure from the board.

Lampard and Chelsea may not be the force of previous season's but believing in their youth will help them long term. Man Utd and Solsjkear likewise.

The managers may not last but they will not get relegated and at worse the club will earn ten's of millions or identify what they need and buy accordingly.

We are now so concerned with making the top 4 we are overlooking the talent we have developed.

Moshiri rushed the "project". Believing spending big on players was going to provide quick improvements. He learnt nothing from his Arsenal days.

From what I have read and seen Silva is under immense pressure to deliver European football next season as a minimum or he's gone.

I'm not convinced he's any better than Martinez and, like Morhino, needs to buy talent as he can't or won't trust and develop it. Understandable but, if not Silva, who?

Not my first choice manager but better than Sam. Good luck all!

@Justin, where have you seen that about Europe and Silva?