SOMETIMES, the kids are all right. Just all right. No better than all right.
Nothing whips up the imagination more than the "next big thing" coming through the Academy.
But history tell us for every Ryan Giggs there is a Russell Beardsmore. For every Wayne Rooney there is a Danny Cadamarteri. For every Ashley Cole, a David Bentley.
So many players are introduced amid volumes of hype, only to turn up in the obscurity of the Beazer Homes League several years later.
We're partially to blame, of course. Nothing excites a fan or journalist more than identifying a talent you believe is certain to make the breakthrough.
To this day the name Anthony Le Tallec makes me shudder. Le Tallec eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2001 FIFA Under-17 World Championships. One went to Liverpool, the other to Manchester United, and 10 years later those of us predicting great things from both were made to look very foolish.
Whatever happened to that Ronaldo fella, by the way?
The damning, unapologetic conclusions of hindsight make it a risky business jumping on the wrong bandwagon. On my own patch, the lists of recent undistinguished prodigies who moved on after little or no impact serves as a warning to any teenager basking in the glow of a positive match report or two.
Michael Branch, Jon Otsemobor, Steve Simonsen, Richie Partridge are a few who shone at youth level on Merseyside, enjoyed favourable early reviews, but couldn't make the step up.
The question at Goodison today is which list Everton's Jack Rodwell will be on in 10 years' time? Recognised as a world-class player or one of those featured on "Where are they now?" compilations?
Rodwell looked to be as sure a thing as you get when he made his senior debut three years ago.
He is still linked with a £20million-plus move to Manchester United every transfer window, even though there is precious little explanation as to why, other than a solid reputation and clever marketing.
Potentially, Rodwell is a great player. The trouble is that word "potential". He is still only 20 and injuries have delayed his progress (an issue in itself), but there is also a visible lack of drive and aggression in his game which is raising doubts about how good he will become. He has no fixed position yet, which may be part of the problem.
Seen as a future England centre-half at 17, he's now a central midfielder who struggles to dominate games, even against lowly opposition.
Whether the problem is mental or physical, or simply inexperiences, there are now misgivings among those (of which I include me) who were certain 18 months ago that if he wasn't in the Euro 2012 squad, he'd definitely be at the next World Cup.
When Everton have a fully fit squad, Rodwell is on the bench. He's not even on Fabio Capello's flight path, never mind showing up on his radar.
David Moyes has been preaching patience with Rodwell since day one. No question to him about the player is answered without the stress on how much improving needs to be done.
Moyes knows only too well about the perils when a prodigious talent starts to absorb the hype before justifying it.
Soon after their 17th birthday they're deciding that the familiar local agent who looked after them since they were nine doesn't cut it any more, and they sign up to one of the bigger boys.
The first car of a Volkswagon Golf is instantly replaced by an Audi TT. They become the young face of Umbro or Adidas before they're the face of their own club.
The speculation about United and Chelsea begins after a few first-team appearances and contract extensions arrive with regularity. They are dressed up as expressions of loyalty, but in reality are a product of niggly negotiations where the new agent is demanding mega pay hikes.
Everton suffered with the virtual instant loss of Wayne Rooney. Go further back and Francis Jeffers (left) and Michael Ball moved on too quickly and never fulfilled their exciting early potential.
It is a demonstration of how Rodwell's development has stalled that it is unclear whether he will be a Rooney or a Jeffers.
For Rooney, the move to United was the catalyst for greater success. For Jeffers, the switch to Arsenal hastened an alarming decline.
When Rooney was sold, amid the fury there was heartbreak. If Everton get £20m for Rodwell, some fans might give a gentle tut-tut, but it is telling that most will gratefullly take the cash (as long as it goes on new players rather than paying off overdrafts).
This was meant to be the season Rodwell stepped up and stood alongside Jack Wilshere as the future of England's midfield.
He is a long way behind the Arsenal man today. He is currently just another all right young player.
That is not enough for someone who has the ability, and carries the expectation, to be far more.
