no idea why you hate to say it, i have mentioned before (as others have) that he has the potential and the skills to progress but he has to learn how to be more involved in games...he will pull off an excellent pass then go missing for ages and that is not what you want from a man in the middle.
i also think it is very much an 'age' thing as you rarely see the younger lads come through and stamp their authority in the center of the pitch, it tends to come a little later in their careers once they learn a little more, the problem is with the 'home grown' lads people do not want to sound as if they are having a go at them as some fans will stick up for them come what may...the simple fact is, the lad has talent and he has skills and the potential to be a very good footballer but he is still on a learning curve and is a wee way off the finished article.
hopefully we can keep hold of him and develop him, he will get game time here but if he gets tempted by some big money move he could easily end up like another rodwell or barkley and never quite hit the heights he could do.