U21, Youth and Ladies 2013/14

[UK Redsox]

Teams news for the game at West Ham. Interesting that Sylla and Albrighton are in there.

VILLA: Steer, Lyden, Donacien, Bateman, Webb, Gardner, Sylla, Albrighton, Johnson, Robinson, Bowery. Subs: Sellars, Watkins, O’Brien, Wildin, Cowans.

All the subs, plus Lyden, Webb and Johnson played in the Newport game that was covered by Sox Sports News

[peter w]

Well there goes the new seasons optimism. We're doomed.

[Villafirst]

Well for me the best midfield combo is Westwood, Delph & Sylla. KEA gives the ball away too often and certainly can't tackle like Sylla. We need Sylla to combat Arsenal's midfield and give the defence a layer of protection. Sylla was excellent in the last home game against Chelsea and quite rightly earned the Man-of-the-match award. Surprised

[eamonn]

Our young lads rarely get hammered. How did Marc get on? First full game in God knows how long.

[OCD]

Academy chief Jones hopes to see young guns step up progress

Bryan Jones says even greater emphasis will be placed on development over results in Villa's academy this term as the future generation look to kick on to the next level.

Academy chief Jones and his staff hope to push the club's up and coming stars through the ranks quicker by fielding younger sides in U18 and U21 competitions this term.

The policy has been backed by manager Paul Lambert, who wants the academy to play an important part in his Villa vision.

"The policy this year for youth team and U21 selection will be to play very young sides in both competitions to really stretch the players and aid their development," said Jones.

"We don't want to push the players too quickly but with our experience we think we will be able to manage it properly.

"The aim is not to win these competitions, the aim is to develop young players and continue that successful pathway into our first team.

"The manager has already informed us that he wants to develop young players as quickly as possible and the academy has an even more vital role in achieving this target."

The U18s kick off their league campaign against Newcastle at Bodymoor Heath on Saturday with eight first-year scholars hoping to make their mark.

Former Bolton Wanderers schoolboy Dylan Forth and local lad Charlie Bannister will be vying for the goalkeeper's jersey, while ex-Spurs central defender Kodi Lyons-Foster and Oxford-born forward Harry Lewis have stepped up from Mark Delaney's U16 squad.

Central midfielders Harry McKirdy and Ryan Strain, who have both been at the club since the age of 14, hope to continue their progression through the ranks along with right-sided player Rory Hale who was recruited from Cliftonville in Northern Ireland.

Swedish midfielder Khalid Abdo - a star of last season's NextGen Series semi-final win over Sporting Lisbon - also officially begins his scholarship.

Meanwhile, several of Villa's youngsters have received international recognition this month.

Defender Easah Suliman captained England U16 at the Nordic Tournament in Norway, while forward Corey Taylor also featured.

Rushain Hepburn-Murphy and Andre Green have been selected for an England schoolboys training camp at St George's Park and 16-year-old midfielder Hale has earned a call-up to Northern Ireland's U19 squad to face Scotland.

Source

[Miguelito]

NextGen series has been cancelled due to lack of funding/sponsorship

[Mazrim]

Well dayum..

[ADVILLAFAN]

That's a shame, I enjoyed going to those games. At least we're undefeated champions then.

There was a rumour that UEFA were looking to set up their own version, but that only teams qualifying for the Champion's League proper, would be allowed to enter.

[OCD]

That's a shame, I enjoyed going to those games. At least we're undefeated champions then.

There was a rumour that UEFA were looking to set up their own version, but that only teams qualifying for the Champion's League proper, would be allowed to enter.

That would be right. Keep the circle closed and just have the same teams all the time.

[Larry Duff]

It was the opening games of the Academy U 18 League this morning and a very new look Villa team beat Newcastle 3 - 0 with a penalty from Khalid Abdo, a deflected effort from left back Courtney Wilden and a very good individual goal from Thomas Strain.

To be honest 3-0 flattered us a bit. 

[Monty]

It was the opening games of the Academy U 18 League this morning and a very new look Villa team beat Newcastle 3 - 0 with a penalty from Khalid Abdo, a deflected effort from left back Courtney Wilden and a very good individual goal from Thomas Strain.

To be honest 3-0 flattered us a bit. 

How did Abdo play? There's a lot of excited talk about him.

[Larry Duff]

He played very well indeed.  Best player on the park. We might have another good one here.  He is also a stroppy git who had a running battle with the much bigger Newcastle defenders. Tony Mac had to take him off before the end as he was looking like a sending off waiting to happen.

To be fair he always wanted the ball and was very confident in possession.

It was an almost new team from last season.  Jerell Sellars played after Christmas last year and is another good prospect but unfortunately he got injured early on.  Of the new lads, on first look at U18 level I liked Suliman in midfield, looks a classy player.
I also liked the look of sub Harry Lewis as well.  The keeper is a big lad and was pretty impressive too.

The team was :
Aiden Grant in goal.
Zazrivic,l, Dempsey, Lyons-Foster, Wilden.

O'brien, Suliman, Abdo, Green.

Sellars, Strain.

[Legion]

Jack Grealish and Andras Stieber are back in action for Villa U21s tonight as Gordon Cowans' team face Norwich at the Pirelli Stadium.

There are six changes in the Villa starting line-up from last week's 3-0 defeat against West Ham.

Brad Watkins replaces Jed Steer in goal while Grealish, Stieber, Kevin Toner, Henry Cowans and Riccardo Calder come in for Marc Albrighton, Gary Gardner, Liam Bateman, Yacouba Sylla and Jordan Bowery.

The Canaries have handed a start to centre-back Sebastian Bassong.

Tonight's game, which kicks off at 7pm, is the first of four Villa will play at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium this term.

VILLA: Watkins, Lyden, Webb, Donacien, Toner, Cowans, Grealish, Stieber, Robinson, Johnson, Calder. Subs: Lewis, Grant, O'Brien, Wildin, Abdo.

NORWICH: Matthews, McNeil, Toffolo, Hall-Johnson, Bassong, Gafaiti, Murphy, McGeehan, Morris, Loza, Murphy. Subs: Barker, Reading, McFadden, Wyatt, Norman.

[paul_e]

Looking at the comments last week and selection for today I'm fairly confident that last week was used a pre-season game for some of the guys who've been a bit behind.  This looks a lot more like the squad we can expect to see regularly.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

1-0 up now.