Unsworth predicts five U23 players could be loaned out

Makes sense none of them are anywhere near the first team squad. Some regular decent first-team football will do them good.

They might be top players in the U23s league against kids but they are not top players at all!!! What have they done?

I will be amazed if they get a Championship club and if by a miracle they do they will be dropped within weeks!!

Correct me if I'm wrong but hasn't Callum Connolly already played regularly for a number of Championship clubs (over 80 games), and didn't Josh Bowler play fairly regularly at Hull in the Championship (28 games)???

Unless by 'Championship' we actually mean on par with Calvert-Lewin and Holgate, then I agree, they won't make that Championship standard.

Kevin, the U23s cheerleader!!!

Where was young Connolly's last loan? Fleetwood, I think. Bowler was rubbish at Hull and got chased...

Let's see if your beloved young U23 players make it as top players. I say they are not and never have been or will be.

Our newly appointed Academy Director, Mr Unsworth, says they have proved themselves as top young players; I say they haven't, they will all crash and burn. None of them will be Championship standard never mind good enough for Everton... What do you say? Over to you...

I expect those 5 to have decent careers. One or two might do a Lundstram and get back into the Premier League at some point if they work their socks off.

All very sensible handling of young players by Unsworth so far as I can see. Those lads are helping transition the teenagers into the set-up for the time being. When they leave, those teenagers will be better placed to take responsibility and help the next wave through.

Not sure what the big deal is, Antony.

What bizarre comments, Antony.

The jump to playing top flight is big, the jump to playing week-in & week-out in the Championship, League 2 or any professional league is big – even from Premier League U23 sides... but then that's why they might be going out on loan. Hopefully, as they're our players, they will do well, gain some experience and come through.

The likelihood is of course that most won't. But do you like rocking up to U12s games and shouting at kids that they should give up now because "They are not and never have been or will be [top players]"?

Are you hoping Branthwaite's ankle has complications so you can get excited that it doesn't work out for another young player? Relishing that Tom Davies is sold and has his career ended some how? I can't see why anyone would relish in the failure of people they don't know's career, hopes and dreams – let alone if those people have an affiliation with the club you support.

I get that demanding that they're all given a go in our first team after a few good U23s games makes no sense, but come on, dial it back a bit.

Antony – over to me...

Connolly has already played nearly 100 games in the Championship – despite his last loan being in League One. I think that already qualifies him as being Championship standard.

Bowler didn't get chased out of Hull. He was injured for part of the season and still featured in over 50% of games. He might not get an immediate move to the Championship, but I would say he has already proved he can cope in the Championship.

I'm not sure how serious you are being – but Unsworth stating that they are top young players is more of an indication that they are too good for U23 level – not that they are going to be world beaters.

As someone has alluded to on a different thread, we have a duty of care to find these players the best clubs possible for their careers. By doing this, it ensures that we have a reputation so, when an Under-10 star has the choice of academies, we might be seen more favourably.

As for the cost of Adeniran and Bowler – they are minimal risk and I'm sure the similar risky transfers of Calvert-Lewin and Holgate more than mitigate any potential loss from the transfer fees on these two.

They wear the Everton jersey, and our Academy Director, who has played the game, thinks they have a future. Maybe you should try supporting them instead of being an arse.

Even if they don't make it into our first team, they're still assets that might be sold to a Championship club one day.