Dowell extends Wigan loan till end of season

Another waste of time of a player, let's be honest, doesn't seem too have the backbone for the fight to make it as a Premier League player and I'd be astonished to see him play for Everton again.

He's a very talented player and I wish he would have stayed at Shef U for another season loan rather than changing to Derby I think it was initially. Who knows what could have been.

Once again an injury during the important maturity period of his footballing education, missing out on the chance to play weekly football at a good standard where he would have learnt a lot.

Positives are passing, crossing, vision, touch and control.

Sadly he's a little slow and not strong enough on the ball. His work rate and desire to win the ball needs to improve.

A Gomes type player, looks good when the team are playing well and given time on the ball but average when we need to be organised and get stuck in.

I'm a fan but would need a team to play to his style. I'd keep him as understudy to Gomes.

If in context of fate, faith and fortune, Kieran is the luckiest player in the club.

Time for him to get stuck in for 97 minutes or drift on but not at Everton.

Great opportunity waisted in my view and I believe in my view not helped by the coaching system and the coaching managers.

How many players do we yield?

Rooney, Osman and Hibbert, that's my rough summary of players who made a mark through the ranks since 1998, not including Anthony Gordon... too early to judge.

Paul, how do you judge the subjective notion of making a mark? One indisputable method is those who receive an England cap. So here's the list of academy players:

Ross Barkley (2013-2016), 22 Caps
Leon Osman (2012-2013), 2 Caps
Jack Rodwell (2011), 2 Caps
Wayne Rooney (2003-2004), 17 Caps
Michael Ball (2001), 1 Cap
Francis Jeffers, capped after having left for Arsenal.

There's also Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka who were in our academy, released, re-signed and then played for England.

Justin @ 2; pretty much agree, except I'd want Gomes as the understudy and get somebody in better than both.

Steve Ferns,

That's six players. in 22 years. That's not exactly a great return.

Regarding Dowell, I remember when he was about 15, Tim Cahill saying he was the best player he'd seen. Granted, Cahill also said Jermaine Beckford was Everton number 9 material — according to David Moyes.

But maybe Dowell is like that kid Sonny Pike who was on Blue Peter as a teen in the 90s and heralded as our Pre Freddy Adu, Freddy Adu when joined Ajax. Sonny developed into a big old fat pot head forner footballer before he was old enough to drink.

Don't forget Gavin McCann!

James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe, Jonjoe Kenny, Richard Dunne, John Lundstram and Antonee Robinson also. So we've done okay by Premier League standards.

But my personal view is that the academy should be the bedrock of the club yielding premier quality players each season. And never again pad out the squad with shite like Martina, Niasse etc. If we're going to have shit players, I'd rather they came through the youth system.

Considering the paucity of options, and the fact that Davies has almost 100 games to his belt, you'd think he'd be worth a place on the bench. Shame really.

23 later this year, fits the description, "He should be good but he ain't." Needs to be moved on or be part of our Out-of-Contract 2021 "Graduating" class.

Unlike some of the "grads", though, he appeared worth the risk when we gave him that 3-year contract.

For whatever reason, which only Kieran knows, it's not worked out for him.

I think if you are not in our first team squad by the age of 23 it is time to say goodbye to Kieran, I hope he does not spend next season on another loan, either the management think he is worth consideration for the first team or he is moved on.