Dowell looking for his chance at Everton

Dowell has looked a useful prospect on loan at Nottingham Forest and he's shown he can do it at that level to some extent, although Forest fans have said he needs to go looking for the ball more often; maybe he might have another spell there next season and improve again?

I'm all for the lads going out on loan, be it the Championship or elsewhere ,as we can see if they have what it takes mentally to cut it in a cut-throat league.

And second, Davies's struggles are irrelevant to Dowell. Every player progresses differently, and these two players couldn't be more different. One is artisan, the other artist. Davies is all about aggression. Dowell, as you noted, lets the game come to him.

I would expect Dowell to get a chance to impress in summer training and the early-season friendlies. We can only hope that it's a new manager who makes the decision on his future.

He seems a natural fit for the Number 10 role but as we know he has Klaassen and Sigurdsson in front of him. I hope he gets a chance in pre-season but perhaps he is being realistic that his best opportunity to progress next season might be at Forest.

With Lingard, Man Utd have had patience and got a decent squad player – don't see why we can't do the same with young players like Dowell.

Forest fans are currently unhappy that he gives the ball away too much. Yosemite Sam won't like that but he and Lookman would make a dangerous combination.

He has a blessing of natural ability and he can strike the ball with his left foot sublimely. If he can contribute more to the team, his goals can make the difference in tight games. Forest fans say he can go missing in games, but really it isn't surprising considering his youth and inexperience.

I see him in our first team in 2 to 3 years time, if we improve in stalemate games against the top 6, Kieran's goals will win important matches.

Another player from the Ormskirk/Southport area who has been through our and international junior ranks. Both attract words like "classy" all the time and I love this kind of player and think they should have a place in an Everton side.

So what's the problem?

With little research, two things jump to mind.

Are they just a bit too nice? Not just on match day but perhaps behind the scenes. Have they been looked after so well as they rose through ranks that their skills have developed but they haven't? Have they been over-protected as they were seen by club and country as "assets"? Have they now reached a level where they are now up against lads from much harder paths with more steely fight in them and same skills?

Then I flip to the idea that they have been under the wrong managers or at the wrong club and we haven't been able to afford such "luxury". But with this and Rodwell I scream back at myself "what about Man City".

So I am not claiming any idea has merit alone or mixed together but that is what my gut, if not my head, mumbles. Any views?

The relentless pressure put upon these 'stars of the future' often ends badly, by no means a comparison but wasn't Ol' Harry Kane loaned out 11 times at various levels before making the 1st team? They have to learn the hard way to stand a chance I believe otherwise you end up with an ego-tastic jumped up 'star' who already believes his own hype without having proved himself.

Guidance is required and if it fails we've produced a player probably capable of a decent career in football.

Sam will not be here even if we wanted him; he wants out.

The sooner the likes of Seamus is able to deliver lectures to all and sundry at Finch Farm as to what the term "hard-boiled but open-eyed professional" means the better.

What stopped him from continuing his great, first form at Nottm Forest? Because the Championship is a tough league and caught up to him. Part of a 20-year-old's schooling, you say? Fair enough.

But he's not physical or pacy. A lot has to happen in a game for Kieran to put that educated left foot of his into play. And he's having problems doing so the Championship level.

Speaking of which, his own words, “Obviously, if I'm in Everton's plans then I'd love it, but if not I wouldn't rule out [returning to Nottingham Forest].”

Because his contract is about up, perhaps? He'd still be making a Championship wage, which is a really good one.

Good luck to him. He's not an Premier League player.

As stated above (Mike Gaynes #3) pre-season training and friendlies might be a better indication leading, hopefully, to some time off the bench or in League Cup games.

I just find the whole Academy system and the use of bought younger players like Lookman so frustrating especially when you look at the likes of Dele Alli, Lingard and Kane amongst others.

Patience, patience... calm, calm...

This would obviously be better in a team doing well and if he had been introduced in this season, the impact on him may have been detrimental (eg, Lookman, Vlasic).

He just needs to improve, as all young guys do.

It would be too risky to rely on a youngster to play big minutes. Giving him 10 minutes here and there won't do him any good either.

I was thinking at the end of season that I should be disappearing for a while to avoid the waste-of-time transfer sagas. I think I might start because Big Sam and Little Sam are already on holiday and nothing is going to happen to change the status quo anyway.

What do you base that summation on?

If he's serious about breaking into our first team, then he should push for a loan move to a Premier League club, although I think realistically he would probably get little game time. He seems happy at Forest but, if his form since the turn of the year continues, they may not want him.

It looks like he hasn't improved in this part of his game while at Nottm Forest. Without this fight in him, he will stay on the outside looking in.

He's a number 10 and in my opinion has the ability to be the best we have seen in many years. Cut the guy some slack and play him.

What you need to remember is the Championship is a different level and players of Dowell's ilk don't necessarily get afforded the same level of protection as some Premier League referees seem to.

Play him, chance him, watch him shine.

The play served up this season, I don't see how he could have done worse than others. Its doubtful he could do it on a consistent basis but something unpredictable from the bench may have helped at times.

This really shows the level we are at that we are considering if he is worth a place, no disrespect intended.

The future "could" be brighter after all... just gotta keep the faith, Blues.

Fact is, players need games, time, training and good management. Dowell's performances have dropped as they have the Spanish Allardyce managing them.

He is young and has great ability, maybe he can become.a top player, maybe he can become a decent player.

Since Rooney, we have expected/demanded all young prospects to be wunderkids. If not soon to be world class players, get rid we shout. But we have young players who can give us a good solid squad, give us options, and some who may be top quality.

I see no reason for Dowell not to be given an opportunity as a left-sided forward, or No 10.

People say he is inconsistent and gives the ball away. Who in our team isn't?

Also, people.mention Rodwell. He made a disastrous career move. He was injury prone, and overly hyped. He could well have become a top player but, with his fitness, he was never gonna get the games he needed at Man City. So injuries and bad advice are what did it for him.

Let's hope Dowell is back with us next season and under a manager that can coach him to be better.

Today, you need to have more than one set of skills to be considered a top player in the Premier League. I have followed some of the news on Dowell, and I know the Nottingham fans are questioning his ability to aid in a defensive capacity.

But, as I see it, if you have someone with a very good offensive, or defensive potential, you should develop that first to make sure that potential doesn't stall! Then start to add those other needed qualities, be they offensive or defensive.

So I expect no miracles from those players under 22-25 but, once they've developed their primary talent to its early maximum, then start to demand of them to add more to their game! From that first peak, only playing time can then hone them into more efficient parts of a top team.

Dowell might very well make it at Everton, but he'd have to learn by coming off the bench, mostly. I think he should be kept and, depending on pre-season and the overall needs for the next season, maybe he might need another loan-stint. If that is at Nottingham Forest under the current manager, or at another club with a different approach to his role, is not for me to guess at.

But at 20, you can dismiss no-one! Harry Kane broke through at 21 (I think), after many loans prior to that, and there are not many clubs having a Harry Kane on their books...

However, some strange new 'rules' coming out on this thread: "But at 20, you can dismiss no-one!" – That's definitely one the club do not follow. As a practical matter, I'm sure they have to cull a substantial number of the youngsters coming through well before they reach the age of 20.

In fact, there's a tweet from Tom Scully, a young Everton U18s player who had been getting games this season, indicating he left the club about a week or 10 days ago – and another suggesting he was one of FOURTEEN youngsters that have been released!!!

I cannot corroborate this but would appreciate any enlightenment.

I agree I should not have made the statement so abbreviated!

Lots fall by the wayside, their early promise not blossoming into what a top team needs. Some may develop that talent/promise a lot better away from a Premier League academy, playing regular football at a much lower level, and then see some positive interest from Championship sides, and maybe later even with Premier League clubs.

But in this case I was more specifically thinking about players seen as very good talents once they'd passed the tests of the U18s, then got into the U23s at an early-ish age due to their talent/performances, and being seen as good prospects for eventually heading further up into the first team.

And yet, we can seldom give them the playing time they need to hone those skills at top level these days. So loans may be our bread and butter for making these promising youngsters blossom into first team players. It's all up to them now.

The trouble we have is that we don't have a clue how we set up as a team from game to game. Too many square pegs this season has impacted everyone's form – not just the youngsters. It says a lot when Niasse is one of our better performers purely on effort alone.

Probably best for him to stay on at Forest for another season whilst we still have Big Sam as the gaffer.

For me, Dowell has far more natural talent than Sigurdsson. Providing he applies himself correctly and is given the opportunities, there is every reason to believe he will reach the level required in due course. Sheedy was 22 when he arrived at Everton, far from the finished article after four years with the RS stiffs. Lingard has really only established himself this season as a regular for his club at the age of 25.

The boy has had a new manager who moved him into a different position in which he's clearly not comfortable and most on here have already labelled him the next Brett Angell.

Seriously, the negativity against youngsters, who've not even had a glimpse yet, is just depressing.

This is why I hope he can get another year on loan somewhere he'll be required to develop that broader skill through (hopefully!) playing almost every game.

He's already done the easy stuff for someone with a good talent, getting accolades for what he's a natural at doing! So now is the time for him to adapt to the fact that the opposition has finally learned what he's a natural at doing...