U23s thrash Bradford on Wednesday evening

Is this game being played?

Did the game start?

Tonight Dave, not last night mate!

For some reason Bradford have now announced that the Live Stream is now cancelled.

Teamsheet includes some interesting names:

Everton U23s: Barrett, Beningame, Campbell, Lawrence, Hagan, Heath, Price, Metcalfe, John, Dobbin, Higgins.
Subs: Leban, Butterfield, Sherif, Welch, Hughes, Astley, McAllister, Kristensen, Cannon.

I'll freely admit, I had no idea who Chris Perkins was and didn't even know he'd joined Everton.

Chris Perkins, who was only appointed to the role in March of last year, is leaving his position in the Blues' recruitment department to take up a role with Spurs.

Perkins, who forged his reputation during five-and-a-half years at Derby County's Academy, is said to be on gardening leave as his move to Tottenham goes through.

And Everton, who have performed a major shake-up of the club's recruitment department in the last 18 months, are now searching for Perkins' replacement.

The decision by Perkins to quit for Tottenham will come as a blow to director of football Marcel Brands and head of recruitment and development Gretar Steinsson.

Chris Perkins to Spurs

Is Perkins Serbo Croat for Who

Seems Everton went behind early on but then recovered to end the first half 3-1 up with goals from Lewis Dobbin, Tom Cannon and Kyle John.

Cannon got another after the break before a 15-year-old Martin Sherif then came on and scored in his first exposure at this level. Remember the name!!!

6-1 up according to Twitter. Michael, that team sheet looks like “the squad” not the starters as Cannon scored first half, difficult to tell though.
The other 15 year old who came on is Emilio Lawrence. He’s actually played at u18 for us last season, and is widely regarded as one of the best young attackers of his age in the country, a regular England u16 international. The RS quote as one they really wanted but that got away from them when he was 13. He’s definitely one to watch out for. If he’s as good as people are hoping I think he’ll be fast tracked through the U18s to the U23s this season. Can’t say I know anything about Sherif except he ‘s an attacker.

Barry #6. There was a lot of excitement when Chris Perkins joined us last year as he’d done a great job at Derby, finding them a raft of first team players. He has been very much below the radar, virtually no news on him but still a surprise he’s leaving.

Let me ask who has seen Dobbin a couple or three times? I know his basic info, watched highlights. Haven't watch any games yet.

No senior team predictions. He'll make it or he won't, just like the rest.

I'm looking for opinions on how he looks as an athlete and skill-wise. And your general impression.

I hope Stephen Kenny caps Cannon soon before he gets too good.

James #11.

I'll try not to repeat what you already know, but first thing to say is that Dobbin had cruel luck with injuries last season or undoubtedly you'd have seen more of him. You ask an interesting question.

The first time I saw him was extended highlights of an England U16 game where he scored two goals, playing with No 10 on his back in an “inside-left” position. He moved then like he moves now, glides through defences with pace and skill and makes scoring look simple.

Athletically, he's grown in size the last year, probably not as big as Cannon, will never be the size of Simms, but physically at 18 and still developing, there's no issues that I can see.

This time last year, in a pre-season friendly, Unsworth played him further back as a No 7 in what was described as a playmaking position. I'm not sure that was repeated because of injuries but it highlights the range of skills he has. He is for me better in a No 10 type role with a striker alongside him to play off, and a better player than Cannon, I'd say.

He has something that marks him out as a natural footballer and goalscorer. It'll be good to see more of him in the U23s, and then we'll have a clearer picture of how much he's developed this year as he barely featured last season for the U23s.

Phil (13) - Thanks for the info and taking the time. Much appreciated.

He sure is finding the net.

Phil, Dobbin is a very technically gifted player. He reminds me of a young James Vaughan in that he is quick over the ground with and without the ball. He is not one of those wingers who slows down and does 15 step overs, he simply changes direction at speed and deceives the fullback in doing so. Like Vaughan, he is capable as a striker, but less so with his back to goal.

I have never seen him play deeper as a playmaker, and have not seen him attempt any ambitious passes, it was always "give and go". He seems best as a wide-player simply because he can use that searing pace to get away from defenders in space, whereas centrally he can go all game without stretching his legs. His shooting is decent. He's too small to be a threat aerially, but I have seen him score a header.

I expected big things from Lewis last seaosn, but his season was derailed, as you rightly said, when he suffered that nasty injury which kept him out for most of the season. He turns 19 in January, so a crucial season for him. He played in the Accrington match (wore DCL's 9 jersey for that one) but did nothing of note on the limited highlights. But clearly shows Benitez has had a look at him. He also has had Cannon and Whittaker in the first team pre-season squad and played all three. But of note, the younger Whittaker (17) was the only one who went to America and he was on the bench for the game against the Colombians.

To go back to Dobbin's style of play though, I very much see him in the Richarlison mould, but without the aerial ability. Take that away from richarlison and he's a lot less prolific and that's what Dobbin is like. Great at cutting inside, skinning the fullback and getting shots off. Less of a penalty box player like Cannon.