Firstly, I want to take you back to the weekend and the Under 18s’ 1-1 with Sunderland.

These were the first points we have dropped at home this season and this result knocked us off top position in our section. It’s a shame because it was a position we liked to be in – and one we want to get back.

I saw the second half as I was watching the first half of the Under-16s, and from what I saw the boys were on top and unfortunate not to have won it.

Speaking to the other coaches, they all agreed that Sunderland had the better of the first half and so, on reflection, a draw was probably the right result.

Last week was also good for the Academy as some of the Under-18s were on international duty.

Lars Stubhaug played for Norway, George Krenn was away with Austria, Nathan Craig was selected as an Under-17 to represent Wales’ Under-19s in the European Championship qualifiers and Jose Baxter was selected for England but, because of first-team commitments, did not travel.

Furthermore Jack Rodwell is set to be involved yet again with England’s Under-19s, Shane Duffy is a regular with Northern Ireland and Ross Barkley will make an appearance in the Victory Shield for England a week on Friday.

That maintains our level of international recognition.

Tough decisions

This week I had to do the most difficult part of my job.

Myself and three other members of the academy staff had to decide which players will be offered scholarships for the 2009/10 season.

Conversely it meant deciding which young lads we are going to let go.

I had the difficult task of breaking the news to the boys and their parents on Monday evening. It’s easy if it’s a ‘yes’, but spare a thought for the boys who receive a ‘no’.

These are boys who have been with Everton for six or seven years, who have dreams of running out at Goodison Park and, for the time being, their dreams are being put on hold.

If any parents or relatives are reading this I’d like to thank them for their input in our academy, and it is thanks to them that we are recognised as one of the best around.

Many boys will be fixed up with other clubs and history suggests that there is life after Everton.

It’s not one of those things that you look forward to though and it gets more and more difficult.

This is my 18th season and the boys are here for such a long time; it’s like saying goodbye to one of your family.

So, I’d like to say good luck to them. For the boys who got a yes, congratulations to them. They have joined an elite band of players who form the full-time programme.

They have gone from a schoolboy programme into a programme which is, in effect, their work from now on. I will speak about these boys more at a later date.

To finish, I want to look forward to the coming weekend.

I mentioned earlier that we were at the top of the section in the north west. Well, Manchester City were third but they have overtaken us and it is them we play this Friday.

If there is such a thing as a top of the table clash this is it! I’m looking forward to it as I have a lot of friends at Man City. It will likely be our toughest game of the season and our performance is crucial.  If the performance is good, I’m sure the result will follow.