U18s lose at home to Liverpool

Good to see the future players are getting fine-tuned into the Everton Way of playing derby matches.

I didn't see the game, but I did see the televised Dallas Cup games. No, we haven't got a team of 11 brilliant individuals who are all going to take the Premier League by storm in a few years. But what they do have is a team who play together and work hard for each other in a way that often puts the 1st team to shame.

Getting thumped in a derby must be horrendous for a bunch of youngsters who are mainly local. It's a good test of character for them, I think they'll bounce back and even if they don't they don't deserve such negativity given what they've achieved so far this season.

I think a few of us can understand that!

You are correct, I am dreading the derby next week, I always dread it but I'm dreading it next week more than I have for years.

I don't know how we can avoid anything but a sound beating there, the even bigger concern though is if we do get torn a new one, how will it effect the club mentally for the Wembley Semi three days later??

For example, Liam Walsh is out on loan, Callum Connolly and Tom Davies have been playing U21s all year and Kieran Dowell who is perhaps the shining beacon of the group also plays U21s and trains more often than not with the 1st team.