Dowell and Virginia make loan moves

The best thing about them going out on loan is that it's done early. Dowell wasted the first half of last season so hopefully he can really kick on. Then maybe follow in Osmans footsteps and try to break into the first team.

Virginia is a different story. He will probably be on loan for another year or two before challenging Pickford. He's the right size and looks to have a big future. As do Everton.

OK, you two young fellas... kick on, kick in and come back to us ready to kick ass!!

Go get 'em. It's all out there for ya.

Good deals for all concerned. I hope they both do well and come back hungry.

Good move for Dowell. It's now or never.

Don't agree with Virginia. He should be our third choice and within our first team.

We know he's good enough for the Championship already. We should have loaned him to Sheffield United and hopefully discovered whether or not he's good enough for the Premier League.

Good that Dowell has gone out on loan early to have a full pre-season with his new team, even going on tour with them.

With the Cocu-Brands connection we will be kept well-abreast of his form. This has to be his make or break season to convince he has any sort of future with Everton, or be cut loose.

If Virginia is going to get game time at Reading, I'm more than happy for him and his development. If he has gone as just back up, then I wonder at the validity of the loan.

Lee #5, Dowell was usually on the bench for Blades on their run-in to promotion. Played only about a quarter of the available minutes over the last dozen games or so. Definitely not first choice when the chips were down.

I see your point, but presumably Cocu has promised his buddy Brands that the kid will get starter's minutes at Derby, and that may be more valuable to his development than being a second-stringer in the Prem.

Jay #6, Reading currently has no incumbent starting keeper. Their only holdover from last season is a third-stringer from the lower leagues who played only 7 games.

They both need regular first team football so I can only presume that's why they find themselves in the championship but still no guarantee they will be starters.

I would like to have seen Dowell in the Premier league back with Sheff Utd. Good manager and set up. It would have been a different and tougher challenge for him.

Maybe he's not ready, maybe Cocu has the better development of technically gifted midfielders, maybe its about game time but good luck to them.

Stek will be gone at the end of this season so Virginia can be 3rd choice next year

Fair point, Mike. I was under the impression he'd played far more than that.

My best mate is a Forest fan. He won't be too pleased with Dowell's choice!

He had, Lee, early in the season. His playing time ebbed away as the season went on.

My mate here at work just let me know that Everton have signed up a Florida keeper. Hadn't seen this anywhere, so thought I'd share.

Mate is from Florida, so he saw this on their local rag.

Link

Christopher, he's already on our books. He's been with us for at least 2 years. He was the main u18s keeper last season.

It does say that in the article, Steve.