Brilliant young players - what does the future look like?

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evilwebby said:
TBH I think we over-rate out youth system. Rooney apart, none of our home grown players in the last 20 years went on to do anything except become journeymen players, and that include Ross's career (so far). Some of them may have got a few caps but I don't think that is anything special. There is a massive gap that must be bridged to turn a young talented player into a rounded senior player. For whatever reason most of the youngsters coming through the doors at Goodison fall short in that developmental phase of their career.

We have a good bunch of youngsters now, but the cynic in me says that if just 1 of those goes on to have a top-class career then it they would be batting above average.
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Erm.... mistafi won the World Cup mate and dier finished 2nd in the league
 

As a point of comparison, the last time England were represented in the Under-20 World Cup in 2013, there were also five Everton players. Two of those, Ross Barkley and John Stones, have "made it" in the Premier League, of the other three, Chris Long never made a first team Everton appearance and he's been on loan to League One clubs, John Lundstram never made a first team appearance and is in League One with Oxford United, and Luke Garbutt is now at a make-or-break stage in his Everton career.

So in short it's hard to guess how the current crop will go.... but history suggests that it's unlikely all of Lookman, DCL, Dowell, Connolly, Kenny, Holgate and Davies will be career PL players/capped by England. One, two or three may find their place in the Championship or League One; at least in the short-term if they are a late developer. Granted though, we have as good a group of young players at Everton as we've had for a very long time.
 
APN_EFC said:
One striking thing about our transfer policy, and the success of the academy is the number of seemingly great young players. We all know about the 5 lads who won the world cup, and Pickford & Holgate, as well as the track record of Barkley in the different age groups. How far do you think our young players will go? Do you think we can really see a front four of DCL, Lookman, Dowell and Davies at Everton and England level in the future, or is our youth policy more likely to be like a Chelsea style investment and resale strategy?
It's really exciting to look at our players across the top 3 tiers - Firsts, U23 and U20 and it is another great reason to be optimistic.

and then it's the Hope that kills us :)
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Hallam Hope?
 
davek said:
He's class. Just because this manager values huff and puff over artistry doesn't make it not the case.
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I kind of wish for his sake he came through at a team in the top 2/3, where he would get time on the ball etc in games, as he has that it factor the very best have, and if nurtured could be top top class IMO, I just hope we can move on quick enough in the clubs development that his time to shine doesn't pass
 

History tells us not a lot make it. Rooney, Rodwell, Barkley and Davies. If we can find 1 or 2 out of the current crop we will have done very well. The rest may go on to have decent careers in various leagues.
 
SiEdmo said:
I kind of wish for his sake he came through at a team in the top 2/3, where he would get time on the ball etc in games, as he has that it factor the very best have, and if nurtured could be top top class IMO, I just hope we can move on quick enough in the clubs development that his time to shine doesn't pass
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Amen to that.
 

Joey66 said:
My brother reckons that Liam Walsh is going to make the grade as a top box to box midfielder!
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Walsh is a seriously good player mate. Think Paul Scholes. May be a little later he breaks through because of his size but he will have a great career, either with us or elsewhere. Kenny, Dowell and Davies could all be top players in their own right but Walsh has more ability.
 

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