how good is the AVFC academy really?

[brontebilly]

I know we have produced many EPL quality players from Gary Cahill to Craig Gardner and many more in between.

However looking at our current lot it strikes me how technically and tactically inefficient they are. They arent kids by any stretch either, most of them seem to lack the basic attributes of a decent professional footballer.

Take the ability to play the ball out from the back. Lichaj, Herd and Baker have been with the club years. Yet continuously boot the ball into no mans land under little or no pressure. Have they not been thought to value possession? We wont score without the ball.

The likes of Clark has no idea how to organise a defence around him despite him being a captain of every Villa youth side on his way up. Weimann too lacks basic tactical awareness. A load of them do, Bannan included. Where to position yourself for a pass with the ball, what space to cover when you dont.

I know there are club legends like Sid Cowans involved so people are reluctant to critcise but how good of a coach is he really? Many of our players at the first attempt at pressure retreat to kick and rush rubbish that has plagued English football for years. Surely something is badly wrong somewhere?

[brackley]

Please don't call it the EPL.

[junxs]

Please don't call it the EPL.

You're not one of these people that still call it the premiership are you? even though that name was dropped years and years ago.

[junxs]

If so many of our youngsters didn't all have to play at once, I'm sure there wouldn't be so many mistakes.
Despite our league position I still feel proud we have developed so many of our own.

[Dave]

Please don't call it the EPL.

You're not one of these people that still call it the premiership are you? even though that name was dropped years and years ago.

Whereas it has never been called the EPL.

[Californian Villain]

Please don't call it the EPL.

What do you suggest? Division one ?

[villasjf]

I noticed they got knocked out of the FA Youth cup at the 1st attempt 4 0 against Peterborough last Tuesday

[Californian Villain]

Please don't call it the EPL.

You're not one of these people that still call it the premiership are you? even though that name was dropped years and years ago.

Whereas it has never been called the EPL.

It's been referred to as the EPL since 2005 to my knowledge, and probably before that. Get with the program!

[junxs]

Please don't call it the EPL.

You're not one of these people that still call it the premiership are you? even though that name was dropped years and years ago.

Whereas it has never been called the EPL.

Its an abbreviation for the English Premier League, which is the correct name for the league.
Its like saying please don't call Nigel Reo-Coker NRC

[Californian Villain]

Please don't call it the EPL.

Is the correct answer

You're not one of these people that still call it the premiership are you? even though that name was dropped years and years ago.

Whereas it has never been called the EPL.

Its an abbreviation for the English Premier League, which is the correct name for the league.
Its like saying please don't call Nigel Reo-Coker NRC

[Jarpie]

The problem with our young players (Bannan, Delph, Clark, Baker, Herd, Lichaj, Weimann, Albrighton etc) is that they pratically didn't get any games under MON and were thrown at the very deep end under Houllier due injuries and same again under TSM and now with Lambert they're asked to play together without really any experienced players beside them so no wonder they are playing like shit.

If they would've gotten to play alongside with the likes of Barry, Milner, Young, Petrov, Dunne etc. enough, they would now be more ready to step up and take responsibility.

[MoetVillan]

The issue we have with a lot of our none academy players is that they dont give a shit, play badly and are on high wages (Warnock, Dunne, Mutton).  Our Academy players do care.  Whatever we can throw at them, the effort is always high. 

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Please don't call it the EPL.

Is the correct answer

You're not one of these people that still call it the premiership are you? even though that name was dropped years and years ago.

Whereas it has never been called the EPL.

Its an abbreviation for the English Premier League, which is the correct name for the league.
Its like saying please don't call Nigel Reo-Coker NRC

I think `Division One` sounds good and has a certain retro attraction and feel to it.
They should get the marketing men onto it and have a big rebranding launch.

[PaulWinch again]

The academy has done well at producing some good income for the club from the players we've sold. On the whole though, the ones who have come through recently don't look good enough for week in week out Premier League football.

[David_Nab]

The problem is too many have been chucked in together.As a rule only a few from a youth team will come through yet we can virtually field a whole side of academy graduates.