Everton reportedly preparing new deal for Davies

On the other hand, his performances in those two games were great and are the only measure we have of assessing his potential. Definitely worth a new contract!

If the lad applies himself like he did against Norwich he is already good enough to be in and around our first team.

Why not replace Gibson (out of contract) with Davies.

I'd imagine next season is likely to be Barry's last too and I cannot see him playing every game.

I'd keep Davies as a first-team player now. He'll gain more in that role than playing in a league he is not likely to play in again...

Ditto Dowell. Why loan him out? Can he not be Pienaar's replacement (out of contract)...id still buy a quality left-sided midfielder/winger too, but Dowell can replace an exiting player...again he'd gain more being in our first team squad than being out on loan...

I was amazed Bobby didn't play some of the younger players in the last 2 games and decided he didn't want to saddle them with being the reason for defeat. But perhaps I am too kind and he was so desperate for a win he turned his back on his often voiced enthusiasm for youth.

Tom should and must be a large part of Everton's future just as his uncle, Alan Whittle, was a large part of our past when his goals late on in the season took us to the League One Championship.

He looks ready for our first team squad now.

Bring them through, sink or swim, backed up by a handful of quality seasoned professionals signed over the summer.

Signings these youngsters can look up to and learn from, the future could be bright for them.

Ok Les (5) I think you've watched one too many Roberto Martinez interviews.

Top quality youngster with bags of potential. Let's not burden the lad with this OTT flattery.

Same goes for Joe Williams - he has flourished with Walsh and Ledson out on loan, just as John said.

Best of all, the whole bunch of them seem to be full of confidence and self-belief, so lacking in the first team; credit to Rhino and the academy staff, they really are doing something right.

The championship is bit more cultured than you give it credit for. You need to watch some more if you've not noticed it.

League 1 and 2 is also a whole lot better than 10 years ago. I'm not saying the likes of Ledson and Walsh will make it but Kenny has spent 4 months with Oxford and it's done him no harm.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/Everton-youngster-tom-davies-trains-10213378

The kid really has come on leaps and bounds.

If Someone has to be chosen to make up the numbers then it's most probably the player most likely to join the 1st team.... Good for him let's hope it truly works out

He looks ready to become part of the first team squad now though, if his full debut is anything to go on. As good a performance as I have seen from one so young, (excluding Rooney against Bolton, which was the finest performance I have ever witnessed live) this kid looks to have a good amount of everything. So much energy, and loads of awareness. Likes a tackle and can also play a bIt.

The best thing to me about the kids you have mentioned Peter, is that they are all Scouse kids. same with Jonjoe Kenny, big heart, stopped loads of crosses. Is there anymore?

Ledson and Kenny we've known about since their triumph with England in the U17s Euros (they were truly exceptional), Walsh and the others are more recent revelations.

In all honesty, the way Davies has progressed I wouldn't rule out any single player from the academy making it, as usual it will depend on so many factors, but what is encouraging is the positive environment they are learning in.

However, one other I would tip to watch is Anthony Evans, also still 17. A goal scoring midfielder, what is not to like. I think Martinez once went on about there being 'the perfect number 10' within the academy but wouldn't elaborate - most thought it was Dowell but I've got a hunch he meant Evans.

These particular players we are talking about haven't just gone out on loan and done well, they have flourished. Walsh, Ledson and Kenny became mainstays for their adoptive clubs and the managers sang their praises. It brought to mind young John Lundstram's experiences over the last few years, starting well on various loan spells before warming the bench – or even dropping down a division on another loan.

Lundstram was a former youth international with no shortage of skill but nowadays he is warming the bench at Oxford permanently and I wish him all the best but if anything it goes to show that these current kids are just cut from a different cloth. I think their maturity even comes over in their interviews.

I totally heed the advice about not burdening them with expectation but it is so evident that they are not lacking determination or confidence and for that reason alone I do feel greatly optimistic.

Unsworth said after the Norwich game there were 7 or 8 who are either ready now or will be in 12 months. We've got the best crop of youngsters for decades. I would say he was talking about: Davies, Dowell, Connolly, Williams, Ledson, Walsh, Pennington, Kenny.

Bit overburdened with central midfielders but good times ahead if we can get the right manager to blend them with some quality signings. I also think there's more to come in a few years time as well. The academy staff and Unsworth are doing a great job.

Chris, I see your point, and when Peter talks about environment, I think people sometimes forget, that it's your fellow team-mates, that make up one of the biggest parts of this factor.

I would keep sending them out on loan, because competitive football, is what is going to toughen them up. Two at a time, and keep bringing them back, let them try and out-do each other, and keep forging this real spirit, and competitiveness.

Peter, I also need to watch Liam Walsh, because he's the one who my dad always goes on about. I also heard a little story, which I could never repeat, but I know that some of these kids are also prepared to back each other up in a fight. What is there not to like?

Of course they should go out on loan, these young players need to develop as players and learn character. They won't learn it on spasmodic bench warming at Goodison, and too much play in the first team would put the pressure on.

I want all the young players loaned out, then let them learn their craft and hone their skills, they are young and have lots of time in the future for the first team.

I'm fairly sure that the No 10 that Martinez referred to is Dowell. Martinez was interviewed on the Everton show and quizzed on this and said that Dowell was very unusual for a British player to be able to play in that No 10 role in between the lines and that he hadn't come across other British players who understood that role as he did.

Evans is also talented but is more of a striker who plays alongside another striker.

Dowell is a more classic No 10 in the Ozil, Silva sort of style.

Also right IMO as it may not be much use sending Dowell on loan to watch the ball sailing over his head for 90mins. This lad is a genuine No 10 and needs a team to play to his strengths. There may not be many teams outside premier league who play to this sort of style.

If you're a Kenny, Ledson, Walsh type of player then this debate isn't necessary as their style and position is also used below premier league level.

Dowell and Davies should be regarded as 1st team squad members anyway. The only development they need is games in the premier league.

I am very pleasantly surprised at the progress they have made, it could have been Williams who came in against Norwich, only for a bad injury which will keep him sidelined well into next season, this gave Tom Davies his chance, but Williams will get his soon.

Kieran Dowell has great skill and is easy on the eye but needs to toughen up, doesn't fight or go looking for the ball, this has to be installed in him.

Because Liam Walsh fights and tackles for every ball don't let that mislead you, he has tons of skill and will make sure everyone around him plays for the team, as will Ledson and Kenny. There are some very good players coming through but every single one of them needs that extra ingredient ---- luck.

I was reading about a player yesterday that I had never heard of Adrian Doherty, who came through the youth system at Man. United at the same time as Ryan Giggs and a few more, he was rated better than Giggs and compared to George Best, by Alec Ferguson, should have made his debut against Everton but was injured, he was sixteen at the time, got a few more injuries and drifted out of football and tragically died aged twenty six.,

There is a book coming out very soon about this lad, looks like it will be a good read,I have gone off the point a bit, but all he needed was the final ingrediant

Re: Kieran Dowell needing to toughen up and go looking for the ball. With respect and I know what you're getting at, but would you make that observation about an Ozil, Silva or Erikssen. These are the types of player you are looking at or comparing to as theses guys don't go charging about the field looking for the ball.
These sort of players exist to provide the game changing quality that they can provide. None of these guys are physically very strong but are all technically excellent and they all play in advanced midfield positions. Not all midfield players are the same.
If Kieran Dowell does make the grade and I think he will it will be because he provides these game changing moments not due to being physically the strongest or the most hard working. You could also throw this accusation at guys like Osman and Pienaar who have had 15 year careers at the top level. There are others like Tom Davies who can provide this more durable quality.

He had great skill and the harder you tackled him he got up and asked for more, he was into poetry and was gifted in a lot of ways apart from football.

Alex Ferguson offered him a five year contract, Adrian said one year will be enough to be going on with, after his football career finished he worked in various dead end jobs, he was from Colraine in Northern Ireland and went back home where he became a busker singing in pubs around Ireland.

He eventually went to busk in Amsterdam and making his way home to his flat in Amsrterdam he fell into a canal and drowned, he had a phobia about water, was terrified of it and couldn't swim.

His life story, in print,is coming out shortly and as I said it should make a very interesting and sad story, I'll let you buy it for my birthday.

Let's see how Kieran progresses, he has great skill that's for sure and I can see Goodison Park erupting in pleasure when he scores with his excellent free kicks, Finally John, it's great to give credit to our young players, A little criticism will not do any harm, especially when it is given with good intentions, i.e. to try and improve players.

The lads who really stood out that game were the ones we all hear about Ledson, Dowell and Walsh. To me that day, ability wise Tom looked pretty average/mediocre, however what did impress me about him that day was his fitness. He must have covered every blade of grass on the racecourse ground twice over. He was in midfield, back helping in defence and also up front. I don't think I've ever seen a player work so hard.

He's obviously improved his all round game greatly during the season and good luck to the lad. He's obviously got the love of the Blues and the desire to get there, lets hope he does.

He said this was a trait with Alan Ball, throughout his career, and was wondering why every player couldn't work this hard?

I don't think I have ever heard Parry talk that much sense before, and I started to think about it. The answer was simple really, it's a special gift for a footballer, especially when they also have a good brain. I think stamina is something that will set Tom Davies apart from most other players.

Easily the best young midfielder we've had since Billy Kenny.

Davies, if you're reading this, make football your life and your only priority. Right now you have an amazing future ahead - don't let anyone, or anything, change that.

Look forward to seeing him in the starting lineup on day one.

Alan Ball was good young player who became the brilliant player he was by his constant endeavour to train and learn all the time, he was helped by his dad but strove to improve his all round game any way he could, he definitely earned the great career he had, mostly by his own effort.