Everton U21s secure a score draw at Fulham

They each made their first team debut at 17, 16, 17 and 16 respectively. Ebere is 19 already - two years older than Nwaneri at Arsenal and the same age as Tyler Dibling.

I just checked my records and he'd already played 3 games for the U21s since coming back last month. Injuries are so devastating to these young players.

No doubt you're right about the chances of progression to the first team being slim — I always wonder if managers showed more trust in young players by being more generous in giving them playing time, that they might just grab the opportunity and run with it.

It was clear that wasn't in Dyche's thinking even though you can point to lots of bench time and rare run-outs for Dixon, then Armstrong this season.

But even with us winning at Palace, Moyes wasn't going to risk it by playing any of the four lads on the bench.

If players are really hungry for games they need to drop down or go abroad (like Max Dean who was once on our books and at 21 is now doing well for Ghent).

Realistically we'd need to be relegated at least once, probably twice for more than one or two of our current academy players to get regular first-team games with us.

The England scouts identify the real talent. And only Lukjanciks (U17) and Olayiwola (U16) feature at any level between U21 and U15.

Why not just sign a few unknowns from non-league and see if they might sink or swim?

That seems a little bit too random to me. But we all know that the much vaunted Academy model is really not producing the goods.

Still, Dixon, Heath and Sherif all missing tonight, so I expect them to feature on the bench again tomorrow.

Ps. Good to see you back by the way.

Armstrong has had 5 minutes at Derby when they were 4-0 down at QPR. Some on here think he should be playing Premier League, at least off the bench, but Paul Warne doesn't even play him in the Championship off the bench.
Onyango is 22 next month and has played 7 times for League 1 Stockport. Out of contract in the summer.
Roman Dixon already 20 and languishing in the U21s.

We need to be sending more out to get more experience of playing and maybe in less physical leagues. Osman, Branthwaite and Coleman all benefited from playing regularly at a lower level while they learnt their craft. U21s just lets them drift along until the end of their contract with the hope of being able to sell them for up to £10m. Don't look at U21 players - they are not going to be Premier League unless they have moved up and could still be playing U18s

Branthwaite had a good spell at PSV under Van Nistelrooy gaining Champions League experience. With Brands back at PSV and more than familiar with the player, it was no surprise that PSV making two attempts to sign him permanently.

Osman done well at Derby and became a favourite with their supporters. Seamus came back from Blackpool all the better for the experience.

I am of the opinion that we need to be selective about who we send out on loan, and where we send them.

I have no issue with loaning to Championship clubs, even lower, but I too would like to see us make more use of the continent.

You've got to feel for Armstrong. One week in and Derby part ways with their manager.

I also think it's time to stop bring on Ashley Young and hopefully we have seen the last of Seamus, apart from maybe a 10-minute farewell at Goodison. I do feel the club has been guilty about not using the younger squad better for a while. There is no aim for them.

I was very disappointed that Moyes brought Young on v Man Utd, like he did against Spurs, and in both games clean sheets gone and hanging on.

A number of regular games in a decent team (they won the Championship playoffs when he was 21½) and he came back a better player – played right midfield and learnt about defending.

The problem today is there is so much money at the top of the Championship that clubs have establish players who already know what their role is that it becomes hard for a young player to break in when the manager’s neck is on the block.

I believe the club should do 2 things:

1. Focus on Tranmere, Crewe, Wrexham, Stoke, Macclesfield, TNS. Teams within a hour of Finch Farm. Easy to keep an eye on them.

2. Pay the wages if they play, pay the wages if they are injured, pay 75% if they are not played but then ask why and should the loan be terminated (and then the contract!).

3. Seek out teams in other countries. PL2 finishes middle of April. That means 4 months with no competitive game. Nordic leagues are just starting their seasons. Why not send them on loan until say end June, giving them 2½ months competitive games and having trained all season they will be fit and not need the pre-season.

Just too much inside-the-box thinking and it doesn't seem to be working.

Phil to your point about the English Championship, a couple of years ago, but recently, it was ranked as the 6th richest league in Europe and 14th in the world.

That data included the big North American sports. Take them out and it moves up to 11th globally.

The academy system works very well for those that invest – like Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, and to some extent Man Utd.

Loaning players out – including overseas –0 makes sense but won't turn a player destined for a career at Tier 3 or below into a Premier League player.

Whether a player will make it is probably known by the club (or expected) by the time a player is about 14. A few might buck the trend but not many at all.

Robert, I agree. Those Sky 6 clubs are able to entice players to them and the ones not good enough are sold for a decent amount and the ones good enough are international standard. If nothing else the sales should cover the costs of running the academy.

My feeling is that a player who is going to make it in the premier league should be one of the better players in a lower league team and be a difference at that club, turning them from also rans to promotion hopefuls or relegation certainties to mid-table. That none of our recent loans have made much of a difference to their club says a lot about their career prospects at Everton.

Armstrong's best hope is that they continue to spiral -- they're winless in 12 -- and plummet so deep into the relegation zone that it will give the kid a chance to play.

Can we compete with the Rich 6 (now a rich 8 or 9)?

I think so yes.

We have a hard job on given that we're the poorest of 4 big Premier League clubs in close proximity - but Atalanta in Italy have the same issue being on the doorstep of AC, Inter and Juve (and Torino) but having possibly the best academy in Italy.

Our (non) representation at England u15, u17, u18, u19, u20 and u21 level suggests we're not just behind the rich 6 (or 8 or 9). But also struggling to match Brighton, Saints, Palace, Wolves, Forest, Fulham, Stoke, West Brom, Sheff Utd, Norwich and Reading.