U18s win narrowly at Fulham

The Derby broadcast was excellent, football related – not the usual Ian Snodin & Co reading out of bloody hundreds of tweets from Evertonians around the world asking for Snodin & Co to visit them for a lash-up.

I've written to state the facts but no reply as usual.

The squad profile seems younger for some of these other competitions, the side is strictly even called Under-21s and not Under-23s, so perhaps he's being eased in gently when the opportunities arise, as here he is back at U18 level.

He turns 17 on Thursday and I expect a big contract-signing announcement to put paid to those shite tabloid rumours of interest from other clubs. I wouldn't like to see him going anywhere else but it's happened before that agents have managed to gain the attention of young players with promises of riches beyond their wildest dreams...

[Remember Sean Docherty, who was snagged by Fulham at great fanfare some years back? Whatever happened to him?]

Anyway, really posting to support Mike Oates and his annoyance with the lousy coverage of these 'development' games. The updates on the main site are so sporadic, it's hard to track where or when they are playing next. Sometimes, the Echo will send someone who posts live updates but coverage on Twatter has become very limited too this season. And a new website that popped up a few years back, Youthawk, is full of blank holes this season. Maybe they are trying to cover too much?

Ryan Astley is definitely a centre-back for us and Wales U19s, I think he may have played midfield for Wales U15 a few years ago, but going to be a classy centre-back one day. He's also England qualified so, if he lives up to expectations, I'd expect him to be promoted through the Welsh ranks in the next few years to secure his international future.