Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: SoccerHQ on August 17, 2010, 11:56:55 AM
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Ain't seen a thread on the young man, how good do people think he can be?
Must say I rate him the most highly of our present young crop, looks classy whenever I see him play.
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He's so remarkably calm, never dives in, and looks so assured when stepping out of defence with the ball. Excellent passer to cap it all off. One criticism of him is that, although he doesn't go to ground, he does have a tendency to go to the ball a bit rather than keeping the line, but that is to be expected of a young defender, and if it's the only criticism then that alone speaks volumes about his promise.
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I think he looks excellent and incredibly assured for someone of his age. It was very impressive how he confidently was instructing other players the other day.
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He rmeinds me massively of a young Gareth Southgate- in agood way. He's very composed, always does the simple things and is preety useful in his distribution from the back too.
I'm going to stick my neck on the block here, but I reckon in a couple of seasons the name 'Gary Cahill' won't be mentioned with such regret round here as it currently is, because of this guy.
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Villa captain in a few years, england captain not long after in my opinion.
He's already a very good central defender and they're normally 23-24 before they start to look the part like he has as so much of playing there is about experience. Another one to treat with the care this year but I think he'll probably be in the first 11 on merit by the middle of next season at the latest.
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He reminds of Cahill but potentially better, I hope he gets a chance
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I really hope he's given an extended run at some stage this year. The longer MacDonald is around, the more likely that is i think.
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same age as the tomkins lad who was playing for west ham and he looked far more self-assured.
i assume he may be eligible to play for ireland with a name like ciaran as well!
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The chap I was sitting next to on Saturday said he thought although he'd not let us down in any first team appearance, the key will come when he makes the inevitable mistake. He could either be Richard Dunne or Titus Shambles, but I think personally we're looking at the former.
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Ive rated him as a dead cert for a couple of years now. Nothing has changed.
He's tall, strong, composed, plays the ball well. I dont want to get too far ahead but he's possibly and potentially the complete centre half. He'll make mistakes and he'll learn the hard way but what a prospect!
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Any idea how long Cuellar / Davies / Collins are out for?
On Saturdays game alone he deserves to keep the shirt - same goes for when Gabby is fit as well - i would not let him just walk back into the team
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The more of him I see the more I like. He looks so assured and calm. It will be interesting to see how he would fare against the cloggers such as Stoke and Blues for instance.
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Composed is the word. I really was amazed at how utterly unfazed he was during the game.
Wasn't afraid to run the ball out of defence and look up for a decent outlet rather than just hoof the ball.
So, that's him and Albrighton that have a very real chance of making it at the top of the game. Weimann and Wee Bananaman weren't on long enough for me to gauge an opinion so I'll rely on others for that.
Maz, aside from Clacker and Albrighton, who else is on the list?
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I said after the match that he reminded me of Barry when he first appeared in our defence. He shows a similar level of calm composure and confidence with the ball at his feet. A genuine prospect, I think.
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To be fair, Carew played well but had a nightmare in front of goal so Gabby goes straight in for my money.
As for Clark, it would be harsh taking him out after playing well. That's the kind of tough decisions a manager has to make though. Clark will be the best we have but at the moment he has some very serious competition.
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Clark has done nothing wrong at all in his 2 Premier League games thus far. He has been very impressive.
I think we need to reserve judgment until he gets a run of 20 or so games under his belt though.
The 2 games he has played have been quite easy by PL standards.
It will be interesting to see how he fares against the likes of Drogba.
Also, he is bound to make an error or two and how he recovers from set-backs will be the real test.
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He looks like he's got an awful lot of potential, a really good player already. It's going to be interesting to see how he develops, and what chances he gets. MacDonald in charge or not, I think we can assume that Clark won't be first choice centre-back. Perhaps he'll play early rounds in Carling and FA Cups, and cover injuries for the Premier League games?
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Composed is the word. I really was amazed at how utterly unfazed he was during the game.
Wasn't afraid to run the ball out of defence and look up for a decent outlet rather than just hoof the ball.
So, that's him and Albrighton that have a very real chance of making it at the top of the game. Weimann and Wee Bananaman weren't on long enough for me to gauge an opinion so I'll rely on others for that.
Maz, aside from Clacker and Albrighton, who else is on the list?
Well, you have Delfouneso of course who I am still certain will make the highest grade at some point.
So that's three I am sure of.
Behind them I am fairly sure Weimann, Gary Gardner, Eric Lichaj and Ben Siegrist have what it takes.
Gary Gardner is particularly impressive and I hope his injury has no lasting effect on him. Siegrist seems to be a top class, even world class keeper in the making but we'll see.
Barry Bannan I'm still unsure of. He is very talented and there's no problem ability wise but he could go either way.
Shane Lowry is a good solid player. Again, I'm split 50/50 on whether he'll make it at Villa but he's mentally and physically strong (typical Aussie) enough to cope. Another year of developing will make his potential clearer.
Nathan Baker, Jonathan Hogg, Chris Herd, Harry Forrester and the like I'm not convinced will make it here but they're decent young players who may suprise or will play at a decent level. There are others too.
The next crops down I have a bit less knowledge of but there are some bright prospects (Williams, Carruthers, Halfhuid, Berry etc..) and others I hear very good things about. These are basically schoolboys to 17/18 year olds though so it a bit early to judge properly.
The most encouraging thing I have heard recently is that we've let some players go that I thought were promising and why? Because more promising ones are coming up behind them raising the standard. Thats very encouraging.
Our youth set up uis really superb and getting better all the time because we've invested a lot of time and resources into it. It's probably our ace card and as I've said for a while now, the only feasible way we're going to get back onto the top table, where we belong.
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Clark appears to read the game and can tackle and pass the ball well. Maybe he good in time into central midfield........... like Barry
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He reminds of Cahill but potentially better, I hope he gets a chance
In my opinon he's comfortably a better defender than Cahill. Much more assured on the ball, and doesn't seem to panic. On Saturday I was wondering which out of him and Dunne was the wiser head. You couldn't tell them apart in how they managed the middle. Now, word of caution, we've only seen him against Fulham and West Ham really, so there are much bigger tasks ahead. He needs to stay calm, learn from the senior players and his time will come. For that reason, I'd like to see us sell Davies as soon as possible to give Ciaran more first opportunities.
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That's a good run down, Maz...cheers.
I wonder what K-Mac will do to bed Clark in further?
Does he take him away when Collins/Cuellar are fit and give him 10-15 mis at the end of a game? Does he give him a good solid run of games and hope to fuck that he doesn't make some monumental fuck up that'll do is head in and set him back 12 months? Having said that, a lad with that kind of composure would likely brush any bad decision off and just get on with it.
I have to say that I'm nothing but impressed with the lad.
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I have been impressed by him everytime i have seen him play good distribution and he can tackle.
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Personally I wouldn't be too upset if one of Collins or Cuellar are sold before the end of the season (preferably the former, as I think he is the weakest of the 4 senior centre backs we have, even though I do rate him) and Clark is given more chance to shine.
Either way, having a choice between Dunne, Cuellar, Clark, Davies and Collins for the two centre back berths, is there a stronger defensive "squad" than these 5 in the Prem? I don't think so.
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I think Davies has a way too high opinion of himself. I'd sooner he moved on than Collins, plus we'd get more for him. Cuellar is also more versatile than the other CB, and in his best position he is very good.
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I thought Clark had a great game against West Ham, but I didn't see him as particularly imposing in the aerial challenges. He lost out quite a few times (though this is a strength of Cole's I suppose), but I compare that to Cahill and even Ridgewell, who seemed to win a lot of headers, cleanly and strongly, very early in their careers.
It's a very minor criticism, obviously, as the rest of his game appears to be top notch, and I particularly like his willingness to retain possession and look for a forward pass to feet whenever the opportunity presents itself.
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Done very well so far.
Would give him the Vienna game, but would bring back Collins/Cuellar for the Newcastle game if they're available...
Firmly ahead of Davies for me though.
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Maz, aside from Clacker and Albrighton, who else is on the list?
not assuming to answer for maz, but i think delfouneso will make it.. he is a fantastic prospect and for me, the pick of the bunch...
as for clark, in the games he has played, he has not put a foot wrong and following on from his reserve days, is vocal and composed on the ball, while being able to read the game well... the big test will come when he faces a top striker, but for now, he has performed very well for the first team in the limited number of games he has under his belt...
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Totally agree - never been convinced with Davies so would definately let him go
Keep Collins / Dunne / Carlos / Clark and yes - i dont think there is a better CM 4 in the league at any club
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Gay Gardner is particularly impressive
That's good to hear ducky.
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:-[
I meant Gary of course, not Gay. Fuck my 'r's.
Actually, better forget that too.
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Well, you have Delfouneso of course who I am still certain will make the highest grade at some point.
So that's three I am sure of.
Behind them I am fairly sure Weimann, Gary Gardner, Eric Lichaj and Ben Siegrist have what it takes.
Gary Gardner is particularly impressive and I hope his injury has no lasting effect on him. Siegrist seems to be a top class, even world class keeper in the making but we'll see.
Barry Bannan I'm still unsure of. He is very talented and there's no problem ability wise but he could go either way.
Shane Lowry is a good solid player. Again, I'm split 50/50 on whether he'll make it at Villa but he's mentally and physically strong (typical Aussie) enough to cope. Another year of developing will make his potential clearer.
Nathan Baker, Jonathan Hogg, Chris Herd, Harry Forrester and the like I'm not convinced will make it here but they're decent young players who may suprise or will play at a decent level. There are others too.
The next crops down I have a bit less knowledge of but there are some bright prospects (Williams, Carruthers, Halfhuid, Berry etc..) and others I hear very good things about. These are basically schoolboys to 17/18 year olds though so it a bit early to judge properly.
The most encouraging thing I have heard recently is that we've let some players go that I thought were promising and why? Because more promising ones are coming up behind them raising the standard. Thats very encouraging.
Our youth set up uis really superb and getting better all the time because we've invested a lot of time and resources into it. It's probably our ace card and as I've said for a while now, the only feasible way we're going to get back onto the top table, where we belong.
i can only see gardner, if he comes back from his injury, and siegrist as the standout players below those mentioned...
not a fan of lichaj or lowry, solid players but nothing spectacular... weimann could go either way.. he has ability but i think he lacks the intelligence and finesse of delfouneso...
forrester has the ability, but lacks the desire to continue learning, and wee bannon has all the desire, but i feel his size will hamper him...
carruthers, simmonds, poyser, etc, are not looking that special to me.. decent enough, but nothing to really stand out like the few we have breaking into the first team at the moment...
halfuid looks decent, however, depends on whether he settles as a defender or a striker...
most disappointing for me, is nathan baker... he really has gone backwards... i rated him a better prospect than clark at one point, but he really hasnt pushed on like clark has...
cant say i know much about the ones below, and as i dont live in birmingham anymore, wont get to see many, if any youth and reserve games, so il keep an eye out for yours, and a few other trusted honest sources in the future...
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I forget who we were playing the first home game Clark played in but others with better memories will tell me. We had a corner to defend and Clark saw a threat and in an instant moved fifteen yards across the penalty box and headed the ball clear. You get this sixth sense about players based on snapshots of their early games. He is very cool and very competent. Like Gareth Barry at the same age but somehow more one of us.
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Fulham.
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Ciaran seemed slightly overwhelmed by signing so many autographs after the WHU match-
I'm sure he will get used to it - has potential to go far and has already captained England u'19
Agree that Curtis Davies could/should be departing VP as we have sufficient quality and cover