I'd love for him, Davies and Kenny to replace Pienaar, Osman and Hibbert in the squad next season, whoever the manager is. I think they could definitely be relied on as back up at least.
On Sunday they had someone guiding them who knew their strengths, weaknesses and instructed them well on what their role was. All three would be capable squad players next season if needed , as they continue their development. But they all need help to bridge the big gap between U21 and PL, Dowell probabably the most of the three. He is the most outrageously talented of them, but it can often comes in fits and starts and periods out of the game. The other two are high energy players who will look to be involved , but that's why Dowell is do exciting, from a period of quietness suddenly comes an outrageous goal.
How far behind dowell do you think Evans is will he be ready for minutes in the premier league by the end of next season
Evans is a 1st year scholar so has been the youngest "regular" in the U21s this season, I think these Scholar years are an important factor with their full time training, though they are on a good training programme before they join. So he's a scholar year behind Davies/Dowell, despite being in England u18 with Davies. Like Dowell he's got a wee bit of filling out to do yet and that , at 17, might take a couple of years. When Martinez made his Golden Generation statement I had 7 in mind, 4 have had PL exposure , 3 to come Ledson , Walsh and Evans . He had a great pre season with the U21s scoring goals for fun , but he's got a lot more developing to do so I don't think he's anywhere near competing for a PL squad place next season, it really depends on loan deals, injuries end of season games .... new manager, whether his opportunity arises. It'll be interesting too how he plays for England u18s, not conclusive of course but if you're seen to be playing above the standard of other age group internationals it a good pointer to our manager e.g. Davies captaining this level.
Walsh has arguably been the loan success of the season, even Ledson had some muttering about his suitability, it seemed to be universal praise for Walsh at Yeovil. As the youngest of our league loan players he's done remarkably well, it wasn't long ago (October?) that he was scoring that wonder goal for the u18s, and being congratulated by Davies, so things change fast. His small size has always been a concern but that doesn't seem to have troubled him at Yeovil. Although in some ways he s competing with Dowell, Evans, Davies, Ledson, Williams he offers something different from all of them. Winning the PL u18 goal of the season and his performances at Yeovil will have attracted attention, I'm sure he'll be move up to Championship/League1 loan next year.
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