Everton U18s draw with Man City

1-0 that man Lewis Dobbin.

He doesn't stop does he. Came on as sub for U23s last week. A bit fast!

1-1 City scored a penalty.

Realistically, how far is dobbin off a first team debut. Are we talking off the bench in League Cup / dead rubber Europa league if we get there next season. Or will that still be too soon?

Finished 1-1

Match Stats:
53% Possession to Everton (was around 65% at half-time)
4 Shots on Target (was 1 at HT) v 7
6 Total Shots (was 1 at HT) v 12 (City had 7 of them in last 30 mins)
62 Touches v 66
1 Clearance v 2
4 Corners v 4
3 offsides v 1

Eveton Team:
Leban (gk)
Hosie Astley Hagan Anderson
Hughes Onyango
Higgins Quirk Dobbin
Cannon

Subs: Lowey for Anderson on '45
Whitaker for Higgins on '83

Robert - it's always difficult to say. To me he looks ready for u23s, but he's back with the 18s, as indeed was Tyler Onyango. We were missing Bobby Carroll (AMC), McKenzie Hunt (MC) and Tom Warrington (RW), but other than that, this was our strongest side. Not including Rafael Garcia who has been out injured all season. Higgins I think usually plays left wing when Dobbin is out.

Robert still way too soon. He needs much more time in U23s.

Goes to show how freakish Rooney was physically and intelligent too at 16.

That's a good result against a decent City team and we obviously prepared for it with our strongest team.
Dobbin is in a similar situation as Gordon two years ago, although they have different styles. He's got pace, skill and talent and will push for an U23s spot this season, hopefully make that step up next season, prove himself at U23s the season after and we've then maybe got an 18 year old on the verge of first team football. No need to rush him unless something exceptional happens and we suddenly need or have chance to play a bunch of youngsters.

Any news on Tom Cannon's contract?

Tom was 17 at the end of December. Meanwhile, Lewis Dobbin was 17 at the start of January. Dobbin was immediately tied down to a professional contract.

There seems to be no news on Cannon. Don't worry about Onyanyo, he's not 17 for a couple of months yet.

Steve, we're not very consistent in these things, we give contracts early to those with potential but not everyone - it was last May when he was 18 that Simms got his contract despite rumours that the usual suspects Bayern Munich and Arsenal were going to lure him away.We'll tie young Tom down eventually I'm sure.