Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Legion on June 08, 2025, 11:30:20 PM
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We go again.
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https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/june/12/jimmy-shan-appointed-u21-head-coach/
Nothing about where Gombau is going?
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Sacked I suppose. Shan has done a great job and clearly fits with the programme
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Yeah, only one other academy has done that treble before. He’s done a fantastic job.
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Kadan Young has just set up the first England goal for the U19's
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Rowe is getting a hard time at England right back: caught outv of position for Norway's equaliser
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Rowe is getting a hard time at England right back: caught outv of position for Norway's equaliser
... and, substituted at half time ...
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Young was badly served by last season's loan move -he hardly played.
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Young was badly served by last season's loan move -he hardly played.
He played very well for England last night; and still plenty of time to grow his undoubted talents.
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Young was badly served by last season's loan move -he hardly played.
Was that his first loan move though? It seems like the first 1-2 loan moves often don't go well in terms of the number of appearances but it must help having that experience of having to be self-sufficient for probably the first time. The likes of Louie Barry and KKH struggled in their first loan moves.
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I hope you're right.
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The first loan move is usually to expose to full mens football but more about them growing up as men…be interesting with Young, Munroe & Wright whether they kick on after having a spell abroad….likewise a season of struggling at Shrewsbury for Feeney will hopefully have toughened him up a bit for maybe having a championship loan
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It also helps highlight how fortunate they are with support, facilities and everything else done for them.
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There is a bit about Feeney and Swinkels and what they learned getting relegated this season;
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6355616/2025/06/16/villa-josh-feeney-sil-swinkels-league-one/ (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6355616/2025/06/16/villa-josh-feeney-sil-swinkels-league-one/)
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Relegation learnings rule!
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Speaking of young Josh. He's just joined Huddersfield on a season-long loan.
https://www.htafc.com/news/2025/june/16/loan--josh-feeney-joins-town/ (https://www.htafc.com/news/2025/june/16/loan--josh-feeney-joins-town/)
Good luck, Josh!
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Ornstein
🚨 Man City set to sign Freddie Lawrie when scholarship expires at Aston Villa this summer. #AVFC made strong offer but England U16 int’l (mainly centre-mid but also plays centre-back) on course for #MCFC - who would need to pay compensation @TheAthleticFC
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Fuck him, then.
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Obviously his advisors just seeing the £ signs.🤔
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Obviously his advisors just seeing the £ signs.🤔
Which is the same thing that will be said of players of a similar age moving to us from other clubs.
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Obviously his advisors just seeing the £ signs.🤔
Which is the same thing that will be said of players of a similar age moving to us from other clubs.
They might , but some will take a decision on where they feel they have the best chance of progressing in the game, if they are well advised of course.
The problem is that advice is pretty rare at academy level and Money becomes the big / only determinant.
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Ornstein
🚨 Man City set to sign Freddie Lawrie when scholarship expires at Aston Villa this summer. #AVFC made strong offer but England U16 int’l (mainly centre-mid but also plays centre-back) on course for #MCFC - who would need to pay compensation @TheAthleticFC
Not quiet correct.
He'll be on schoolboy forms currently and have been offered a scholarship by Villa, The offer ups the compo slightly.
He's obviously rejected the scholarship but Citeh are willing to pay a fee to register him as a scholar. As he hasn't been at Villa long, that compensation won't be massive. £500-750k?
It's a gamble refusing a scholarship as the assumption is 'someone will come and get me'...if they are willing to pay.
The offer from Citeh would be something like a guaranteed pro contract on his 17th birthday, two to three years on 5, then 10, then £15k per week. Plus a signing on fee. An extra year in the clubs favour. He'd be a millionaire at 20yo.
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We’re in the Southern Section of the EFL Trophy again and will be drawn into one of these groups tomorrow afternoon.
Southern section
Group A: Cardiff City, Exeter City, Newport County
Group B: Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Plymouth Argyle
Group C: Northampton Town, Shrewsbury Town, Walsall
Group D: Milton Keynes Dons, Reading, Swindon Town
Group E: AFC Wimbledon, Bromley, Stevenage
Group F: Crawley Town, Leyton Orient, Peterborough United
Group G: Colchester United, Gillingham, Wycombe Wanderers
Group H: Barnet, Cambridge United, Luton Town
All three will be away, so a chance to hopefully go somewhere new - in my case if we can avoid groups B, C & D.
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Boooo.
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I did the Fleetwood and Blackpool games last season so I'll try and get to a game or two.
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Group C would save a bit of petrol money.
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From The Athletic
THE ASTON VILLA COACHING SYLLABUS, WHO IMPLEMENTED IT AND HOW IT WORKS
“He may be Villa’s best-kept secret because he keeps himself to himself and is not involved in a club’s politics,” says one Aston Villa academy staff member.
“Ryan’s very good at what he does. A lot of people don’t know that his work with the FA was instrumental. What he did at West Brom and then at Villa goes unnoticed, but it’s really important.”
Ryan Maye is Villa’s head of coaching and development, an all-encompassing post he has held since September 2019.
Maye does not directly coach, but he writes and implements the coaching syllabus and oversees every session put on by every age-group coach at the club, from under-nines to the under-21s.
Born in Portsmouth on England’s south coast, Maye is a little-noticed cog at Villa as far as the outside world is concerned — but within football, he is highly regarded, to the extent that clubs in the divisions below the Premier League have expressed an interest in the 44-year-old becoming their manager.
Maye’s career started as a football development officer at Chelsea nearly a quarter of a century ago. It was there he learnt how to build an effective culture and curriculum under their long-time academy manager, Neil Bath. He spent four years at Chelsea before stepping up to the role of senior development officer at leading Scottish side Rangers.
Two stints with West Bromwich Albion were sandwiched by four years at the English Football Association as a youth-coach educator, tasked with teaching professional coaches as well as assisting England youth-team get-togethers.
“His FA background has helped,” says one Villa employee. “He helped write the coaching A and B licence courses.”
Maye returned to West Brom, a Premier League side for much of the previous decade but in the second tier one for most of the current one, in 2017 but was among the steady stream of players and coaches who defected to top-flight neighbours Villa two years later, led by academy director Mark Harrison.
Harrison had developed West Brom’s coaching philosophy, with Maye successfully implementing it. In a competitive catchment area in England’s West Midlands, the club began to be its dominant talent producer. Tim Iroegbunam, Finn Azaz, Saido Berahino and Izzy Brown advanced there under Harrison’s watch. As did Villa’s biggest asset at present, Morgan Rogers.
“Morgan came through the programme we’ve now got at Villa but it’s been taken to another level here,” adds the Villa worker. “If people joined up the dots, they’d probably realise these guys (Harrison and Maye) are good.”
Rogers’ growth has provided immense satisfaction, so it was fitting he watched from the stands as Villa Under-18s won the FA Youth Cup final against Manchester City last month. Rogers congratulated the players on the pitch, as well as their coach, Jimmy Shan, who worked at West Brom for 13 years in a variety of roles before coming to Villa last July.
That Youth Cup win was an illustration of Villa’s coaching template. This was affirmed by the under-18s going on to become the second team to complete the youth treble two weeks later, winning the league’s southern division title and then, again by beating their City counterparts, the national final.
The academy’s cohesion is aided by the tried and trusted formula transplanted from West Brom that has reunited Shan, Maye, Harrison and head of player talent identification Steve Hopcroft. “There is a lot of water under the iceberg,” says a senior source.
Maye will spend weekends at academy matches and watching players Villa have sent out on loan. There will be no more than 10 days over the summer when none of the club’s age groups are in training, so moments of pause are scant.
“The structure he implements includes coaching analysis,” explains an experienced Villa coach. “All sessions get filmed and analysed. You’ll then get reports generated. Ryan will watch every session. He’ll tell you what areas to think about. Other clubs do it, but not to the level he does.
“We have a philosophy document he wrote. It’s more than 100 slides, but it’s easy reading and you’ve always got that to refer to.”
A vacuum was created in West Brom’s academy system upon the mass of departures that strengthened Villa’s own.
Maye and Shan are among the clearest examples. As an executive coach, Maye had supported Shan’s natural coaching intuition under Harrison’s framework. Shan reached a point where he was appointed first-team coach in 2018, tasked with doing a lot of the coaching under manager Darren Moore, before becoming caretaker manager when Moore was fired late in the 2018-19 Championship season.
After that spell in the hotseat at The Hawthorns, Shan began making his first forays into management. He was in interim charge at Kidderminster Harriers for three months the following season before spending just over a year with Solihull Moors, another non-League side in the Midlands, from February 2020.
They were career mistakes in hindsight, not befitting his expertise. Accepting two jobs in the fifth-tier National League was, according to an employee who works closely with Shan, “too low”, with his ideas belonging at higher levels of the game with players who can follow his coaching in greater detail.
Shan is well-liked among peers, players and senior figures. It was decided at the end of last season, following the under-18s’ treble, that the 46-year-old would be promoted to under-21s head coach, replacing first-team manager Unai Emery’s close friend, Josep Gombau.
“The way football is going, players need more head coaches than managers,” says one senior source. “Shan is overflowing with knowledge. He is oven-ready to step up, because of the detail, small tweaks and how he can instil methodology into players.”
Maye’s remit can be delicate. Though every team at the club must play in Villa’s image, coaches have to be careful about how much information they give to youngsters and be age-appropriate. His job is not to control the content of their training sessions, but to ensure every coach is following Villa’s overarching philosophy.
Broadly speaking, there are three ways in possession and three without the ball. Details include the formation of every age group and how each Villa junior side should look on the pitch, be it from goal kicks, in general shape and the various methods of build-up play, while reminding players to remain expressive and instinctive.
Those final points are pertinent. Villa’s academy staff are mindful that they do not want to produce robotic players, instead seeking to strike a balance of imparting tactical understanding while allowing those with instinct to thrive.
Villa’s methods can be boiled down to wanting to be dominant on the ball, to create central overloads and for the players to solve issues when on the field.
“Players must recognise triggers but have freedom to make decisions on the ball,” adds one academy staff member. “Formations don’t take onus; you rarely see the on-paper formation during games, aside from goal kicks and at kick-off.”
Villa’s coaching syllabus is important in teaching players how to recognise space and, in turn, adapt in-game. For instance, if there is a three versus two in defence, the Villa side will have an extra player to build from the back. Or if the opposition are pressing centrally, players must realise the best way to counteract this is possibly by passing either wide or over the top into the ‘No 10s’ (attacking midfielders).
In the league-decider rematch against City a fortnight after the FA Youth Cup final, Shan’s under-18s had to solve a different puzzle.
City were playing with three No 10s, creating a midfield overload, and Villa were struggling to apply pressure. The onus on the players on the field was to figure out what needed to change. The solution was central defender Leon Routh stepping up into midfield and getting tight on one of City’s attacking midfielders.
Whether through fortune or design, the academy blueprint aligns with Emery’s philosophy. The similarities in players’ responsibilities and decision-making are striking. The academy is not there to copy the first team as such, but for young players at the club to know the expectations of Emery’s environment. This is critical, with young players needing to gain the manager’s trust.
There is an acceptance that making the leap from age-group football to the senior game has grown vast in recent years. Now, players must be operating at Champions League level to get into the first team, focusing on reliable decision-making and supreme athleticism.
The next step for Emery is to integrate an academy graduate into his plans. How that happens, though, is uncertain. Luck may be needed, be it through taking opportunities as a result of injuries.
Villa’s academy coaches view their role as serving Emery, who concentrates solely on first-team matters. Young players only become relevant to him when he sees them benefiting his senior squad.
Maye is the one tasked with bringing together Harrison’s academy philosophy. They are among the impressive academy figures who provide the foundation for Villa’s youngsters to flourish.
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Thanks for sharing. Another piece in the academy set up jigsaw for me. I knew about Harrison and Shan but not about Ryan Maye. They’re doing a great job, let’s hope we can benefit from these youngsters in the first team. There’s usually a high attrition rate when moving from academy to first team but we should see some of them coming through. Borland comes to mind and Young maybe on his way. Obviously it’s a big bonus that we nicked them all off the Baggies too!
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We’re in the Southern Section of the EFL Trophy again and will be drawn into one of these groups tomorrow afternoon.
Southern section
Group A: Cardiff City, Exeter City, Newport County
Group B: Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Plymouth Argyle
Group C: Northampton Town, Shrewsbury Town, Walsall
Group D: Milton Keynes Dons, Reading, Swindon Town
Group E: AFC Wimbledon, Bromley, Stevenage
Group F: Crawley Town, Leyton Orient, Peterborough United
Group G: Colchester United, Gillingham, Wycombe Wanderers
Group H: Barnet, Cambridge United, Luton Town
All three will be away, so a chance to hopefully go somewhere new - in my case if we can avoid groups B, C & D.
We are in Group F - so away games at Crawley, Leyton Orient and Peterborough
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Crawley is at Horsham ground.
Orient at Whitbread Sports Ground.
Peterborough at Nene Park Academy.
(assuming no moves to main ground for any reason).
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Crawley is at Horsham ground.
Orient at Whitbread Sports Ground.
Peterborough at Nene Park Academy.
(assuming no moves to main ground for any reason).
Whaaaat?
I was hoping to knock off 3 new away grounds.
Bugger.
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I think these grounds are where the respective clubs play their Academy games.
In last season's EFL Trophy Posh played at London Road and Orient at Broadfield Stadium.
Crawley don't seem to have entered the competition.
You'd imagine they'd all want to play at home to maximise home advantage - after all, it is their first team we"ll be playing.
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2 of those sides beat our 1st team fairly recently.
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EFL Cup
27 Aug 2014
Villa 0-1 Orient
FA Cup
6 Jan 2018
Villa 1-3 Posh
11yrs and 7 yrs ago.
Hardly recent?
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I still think of 1957 as recent.
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There's no way either of those games actually happened. Zero recollection.
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The latest intake of scholars to join the U18s. https://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=66003.30
Jahmi Kellyman, Omari's younger brother is one of them. I wasn't aware that he was at the club.
We'll have to see if there's any correlation between wearing a flash watch and/or trainers with a suit, and making it.
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I'm guessing linking back to this thread wasn't the intention there.
https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/04/villa-welcome-new-scholars-to-under-18s/ (https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/04/villa-welcome-new-scholars-to-under-18s/)
I assume this was what you were meaning to post.
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I'm guessing linking back to this thread wasn't the intention there.
https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/04/villa-welcome-new-scholars-to-under-18s/ (https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/04/villa-welcome-new-scholars-to-under-18s/)
I assume this was what you were meaning to post.
straight from their prom , good luck boys
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I'm guessing linking back to this thread wasn't the intention there.
https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/04/villa-welcome-new-scholars-to-under-18s/ (https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/04/villa-welcome-new-scholars-to-under-18s/)
Cheers, was heading out the door and copied the wrong tab.
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straight from their prom , good luck boys
Markie Meade's tux made me smile, as did the fact that Harry Pinnell looks like he's just signed for KPMG.
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I play sport with Theo Houston’s Dad. Top family, I hope he does brilliantly.
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Not for me, get him sold. Can't be arsed with people saying "we have a problem" every time he has a bad game.
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Can’t see this has been mentioned anywhere. Are we non-plussed or is it because he doesn’t physically arrive until next season?
https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/19/villa-announce-cisse-signing/
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There's the fact that he's gone straight back on loan but also there wasn't much said about it in the lead-up to it. I don't think much was said about Ozcan either...not sure whether he has his own thread yet.
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VERTU Trophy fixtures confirmed
Crawley United v Villa U21s
Tues 16th Sept 1930
Broadfield Stadium
Winfield Way
Crawley
Peterborough United v Villa U21s
Tues 30th Sept 1900
Weston Homes Stadium
London Road
Peterborough
Leyton Orient v Villa U21s
Tues 28th Oct 1900
BetWright Stadium
Brisbane Road
London
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BOOOOOO.
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BOOOOOO.
Bit unfair on the kids!
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U21 fixtures
https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/august/05/premier-league-2-fixtures-released/
I didn't realise Albion played at Solihull and Blues at Stratford.
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From The Athletic
PICKING ASTON VILLA’S BREAKTHROUGH PLAYER FOR 2025-26: GEORGE HEMMINGS
Young players typically acquire first-team minutes in pre-season.
The reasons are threefold. A manager may not have his senior players available due to truncated return dates or a need to manage minutes carefully. In that respect, young players enable rotation.
Third — and most desirable for any youngster — is that the manager wants to take a closer look, with an eye to the player stepping into his environment for the season ahead.
It is not yet known what end of the scale 18-year-old George Hemmings sits, but early impressions have been compelling.
Aston Villa’s first-team players have been struck by Hemmings’ ability this summer. He is described as a highly technical, composed midfielder who has a game understanding beyond his years.
He possesses the attributes Unai Emery wants in a midfielder — press resistance, malleability, and reliable decision-making — with senior team-mates impressed by how quickly he has adapted to the increase in intensity and quality. He was introduced at half-time in Villa’s first two pre-season fixtures against Walsall and Hansa Rostock, before playing the final half an hour against Roma and starting away at Marseille.
As The Athletic covered in March, Hemmings’ burgeoning reputation at senior level is not a surprise to those in the academy. The England youth international has long been name-checked by multiple sources — scouts, coaches, recruitment staff and agents — as a leading talent and, arguably, Villa’s most promising.
Hemmings officially arrived in January 2024 from Nottingham Forest. Forest did not want him to leave, so negotiations were far from easy. Villa’s academy recruitment staff worked to finalise an agreement and training compensation fee, bearing in mind the player was 16 and unable to sign a professional contract until his next birthday.
Villa knew their efforts and patience would be vindicated. They had the connections and resources to convince Hemmings to choose them and had been captured by his natural stylings as a player; silky in how he moves, effortless when carrying the ball, with a poise that few at that age share.
Hemmings waited while Villa and Forest negotiated. The broader issue was that, approaching the mid-point of the season, Hemmings did not have a club to train at. He was not allowed to train at Villa or Forest, so he was left to do his own work at his family home in Derby for four months.
This invariably disturbed his start at Villa once a deal was finalised, having to get up to speed and settle in a new environment.
Landing Hemmings provided Villa staff with immense pride. They share a similar viewpoint to wider scouting circles, where people believe he can play for England Under-21s in the not-too-distant future, even if he only turned 18 in March.
Hemmings is quiet and naturally introverted, but he plays with a high degree of confidence, even if there has been a feeling that he can take greater control of midfield battles and dominate. Coaches have tasked him with showing more personality on the pitch and becoming a leader.
He needed to catch up physically after joining Villa and this was tested further last season, when Hemmings was promoted to Villa’s under-21s while still playing a starring role in the under-18s treble-winning success. They became only the second team to win the FA Youth Cup, the league’s southern division title, and the national final.
His midfield partner, Aidan Borland, is similarly well-regarded, with their partnership demonstrating a maturity and balance ordinarily expected from players far older.
Hemmings trained with the first team last season, yet mostly on the days after their matches, where substitutes and unused players participated in practice games.
This summer was an opportunity to take the next step. Entering his second pre-season, the 18-year-old wanted to show that his age should not belie the fact that he could compete and was buoyed by signing a new five-year contract at Villa.
Emery has not yet fully integrated an academy player into his squad — Lamare Bogarde was on loan in League One and Jacob Ramsey was established when he arrived. Often, graduates train and form a part of some cup competitions and are widely there to offer depth. There has not been a player who has competed or surpassed a senior member in a position.
Academy players must not only be Premier League standard, but Emery expects they can play at a Champions League level, given his ambitions are for Villa to qualify regularly for the competition. It is then that he will put trust in them. Yet Hemmings was viewed as someone who could draw the manager’s attention.
Operating centrally, the teenager can play in multiple positions: a deep-lying No 6, a box-to-box runner, or a No 10 at different points.
Academy staff have been reticent to pigeonhole Hemmings, though his best traits are when he receives in deep positions before driving through midfield. Watch him closely and his head is on a constant swivel, scanning for space and looking where pressure is coming from. Playing in a position where he is more involved in Villa’s build-up is favoured.
“He is very smooth with the ball and is two-footed,” said one observer this year, speaking to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships. “He can evade pressure and break lines with his dribbling and forward passing.”
Pre-season has encouraged Hemmings’ prospects of being the one to break through under Emery. Will he get a chance alongside Boubacar Kamara or Youri Tielemans in the engine room this term?
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https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/august/15/kerr-smith-joins-barrow-on-loan
Kerr Smith off for a season long loan st Barrow.
Barrow recruits mainly in the NW and train at FC United and travel up on Fridays to fine tune beforehand. It enables them to get players from a wider talent pool.
Might make it a bit trickier for a loanee to settle in and bond with team mates?
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Not a great start to the season for the Babbies.
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Didn't play that badly, but we lacked a cutting edge after Cotcher had to go off.
Burrowes could do with practising his crossing!
A shame that Hemmings, Jimoh and Rowe weren't available for this, but we may see some of them on the bench tomorrow.
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A shame that Hemmings, Jimoh and Rowe weren't available for this, but we may see some of them on the bench tomorrow.
Jimoh-Aloba.
Wonder who else will go out on loan.
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Yes, lots of decisions to be made.
Surprised that Hemmings didn't even make the bench today.
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Two Villa lads in the England under-16s squad v Italy. Well done Oscar Johnson, Alvin Brown.
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u21 lads v Albion at Soilhull Moors on Monday at 1400.
I think its £5 entry.
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Two Villa lads in the England under-16s squad v Italy. Well done Oscar Johnson, Alvin Brown.
Let's hope a Man City don't come along and take them.
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Draw for UEFA Youth League rounds 1-3 on 1st September. Villa enter in Round 2. Should we get through Rounds 2 and 3 we would join the best twenty-two teams from the league section in the Round of 32.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_UEFA_Youth_League
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1-0 to West Brom. Never a penalty.
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1-1. Stonewall penalty.
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Winning 2-1 now, missed the goal while putting the hammock up.
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3-1 Fortes.
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Won 3-1. Should have been more.
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This is terrible news. Who are we going to poach from West Brom now?
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No Hemmings in the team or on the bench, but Mohamed Kone looked good. I hope he’s on a long Kone-tract.
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Will accept, on this occasion, on the basis that it's a Patridge reference.
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U-18s with a good win at Liverpool today.
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Lennon Moss called up to the Cymru U-17 squad. https://faw.cymru/news/mu17-squad-confirmed-for-estonia-friendlies/
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U-18s with a good win at Liverpool today.
Tip for the top Markie Meade scored and Kellyman Jnr came on in the second half.
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What's happened to Ben Broggio?
Haven't seen him in either the U18s or U21s in early season games, presume he's crocked?.
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Losing to Chelsea at Bodymoor.
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Equaliser for Villa and it’s comes down our right with McWilliams releasing Pavey who finds an excellent ball and Mulley completes the move with a low finish.
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What's happened to Ben Broggio?
Haven't seen him in either the U18s or U21s in early season games, presume he's crocked?.
I think I read something about him being injured right at the start of pre-season but I can't find where I saw it now. He's one of a handful of youngsters who seem to be between the U21s and the first team though so I'm not sure how many U21 games he'll be involved with.
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lost in the 96th minute, seems like we teaching them the villa way early.
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What's happened to Ben Broggio?
Haven't seen him in either the U18s or U21s in early season games, presume he's crocked?.
I think I read something about him being injured right at the start of pre-season but I can't find where I saw it now. He's one of a handful of youngsters who seem to be between the U21s and the first team though so I'm not sure how many U21 games he'll be involved with.
Cheers P.
Hope to see him really kicking on this season.
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https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/news/029c-1e8875281e55-90c164c88957-1000--uefa-youth-league-domestic-champions-path-draws/
I think we could draw Lincoln Red Imps, or Hibs.
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https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/news/029c-1e8875281e55-90c164c88957-1000--uefa-youth-league-domestic-champions-path-draws/
We drew the winner of the First Round tie between Inter Club d'Escaldes of Andorra and Albanians KF Skënderbeu.
Scheduled for 22nd October (away, I think) and 5th November (home)
Should we progress to the Third Round we would face AZ Alkmaar unless they are upset by Maltesers the Naxxar Lions or the previously-mentioned Lincoln Red Imps.
Scheduled for 26th November (away) and 10th December (home).
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AZ run a very successful youth academy. Could be a good test.
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Tristan Rowe off on loan to Ligue 2 side FC Annecy. https://x.com/FCAnnecy/status/1962923480921321873
Seems a bit of a strange one. Maybe he wants to learn French.
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Didn't Emery say he would get games this season?
Wouldn't be surprised if he plays Konsa at right back so that we can go to a back 3 when in possession.
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Has anyone heard if the U21s Vertu Trophy game A to Crawley is still happening Tue 16th, given that that is when the Carabao tie away to Brentford is now happening?
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Still seems to be, accordingly to Crawley site. But tickets went on sale yesterday, before the Brentford date was announced so maybe it will be moved.
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I bought two tickets for the Crawley game thinking that there is no way that the League Cup game will happen the same night...😫
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Maybe they'll refund you if you ask. Would give it a couple of days in case they announce a further move. League Cup was only announced today.
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Ben Broggio back in training, I read somewhere.
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...and spotted on a training video this week.
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The stupidity of both the first team and the reserves playing the same night. Let this never happen again...
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Maybe they'll refund you if you ask. Would give it a couple of days in case they announce a further move. League Cup was only announced today.
They wouldn't x2
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Crystal Palace also doing the same tonight; playing Millwall in the League Cup and Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy
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It ay fair
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Maybe they'll refund you if you ask. Would give it a couple of days in case they announce a further move. League Cup was only announced today.
They wouldn't x2
That's bollocks. Write to Football Supporters Association, ludicrous they don't give money back in those circumstances.
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Rory Wilson on bench for 21’s tonight… think right in saying it’s his first involvement since early in year
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2-0 to Crawley after 23mins
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Now even dropped off the BBC scores page
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Still there...its below the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying round and before Highland/Lowland league scores
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My bad, I thought the beeb had officially cancelled us for lack of goals
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2-1...Fortes with the goal (45+2mins)
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57mins and Ben Broggio equaliser
58mins Crawley 3-2
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64mins 4-2 Crawley
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Finished 4-2 to Crawley
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From what I saw Kone looked good.
Brannigan struggled a bit.
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Haven't seen it mentioned yet so we beat Everton 2-3 yesterday in the U21s with Burrowes getting 2. Apparently we were really good in the first half but never really came out after half time and ended up hanging on a bit.
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Think Fletcher Boyd made his debut in the 2nd half and Rory Wilson returned from injury.
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Haven't seen it mentioned yet so we beat Everton 2-3 yesterday in the U21s with Burrowes getting 2. Apparently we were really good in the first half but never really came out after half time and ended up hanging on a bit.
Excellent first half, 2 and a quality assist for Burrowes.
2nd half they were largely on top but at 3-2 the last 20 could have as easily gone 4-2 as 3-3
Good to see Wilson get minutes as well as Boyd
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U21s are 0-3 up away to forest. An own goal and 1 each for Broggio and Cotcher.
About 25 mins left.
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U21s are 0-3 up away to forest. An own goal and 1 each for Broggio and Cotcher.
About 25 mins left.
https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1971649328306704402
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3-1 and Jimoh-Aloba sent off for two yellows.
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U21s are 0-3 up away to forest. An own goal and 1 each for Broggio and Cotcher.
About 25 mins left.
https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1971649328306704402
Fucking hell, that's a weirdly similar goal to the 1 SIJ got tonight as well.
It's a massive shame Broggio was injured this summer, I reckon he'd be up there with Jimoh, Hemmings and Burrowes getting time on the bench and with the first team squad, he's a top prospect.
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Ended 3-2 to Villa.
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U21s are 0-3 up away to forest. An own goal and 1 each for Broggio and Cotcher.
About 25 mins left.
https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1971649328306704402
Fucking hell, that's a weirdly similar goal to the 1 SIJ got tonight as well.
It's a massive shame Broggio was injured this summer, I reckon he'd be up there with Jimoh, Hemmings and Burrowes getting time on the bench and with the first team squad, he's a top prospect.
Agreed, and you'd rather hope that Wilson and Cotcher might also be pushing for first-team involvement.
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U18s won 3-1 earlier...
Against Palace!!
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https://x.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1972002775077650508?s=08
Boooooooooooom!
Fletcher Boyd from 50yds.
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https://x.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1972002775077650508?s=08
Boooooooooooom!
Fletcher Boyd from 50yds.
Brilliant!
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U21's at Peterborough in the EFL Trophy on Sky Sports+ tonight.
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Leading 1-0, Mo Kone.
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Nice finish.
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He doesn't look a bad player either.
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Leading 2-1 after an hour. Lynskey with the second, but then Posh pulled one back.
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Posh equalise, 2-2.
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4-2 down now
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They bought their big guns on in the 2bd half and we definitely tired.
Some good individual performances, but overall a bit disjointed - passes going astray, players losing challenges/tackles (very reminiscent of the first team).
Rory Wilson made plenty of runs but got very little service. Borland kept things ticking over in midfield - always available and constantly organising players around him.
I sat in the main stand and the home fans I was chatting to said that we were one of the better U21s they'd seen- and that included the likes of Spuds and Palace.
Attendance: 1959
Away fans: 149 in the away section, plus 1 elsewhere.
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&t=1s
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Markie Meade scores for the under-18s v Newcastle. Highly rated, this fella. McGrath also playing - one of our own. There’s a Ramsey on the bench, presumably Cole?
Edit: Cole it is. On after 12 minutes due to injury.
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One of our lads having a bit of a paddy over taking a free-kick… and rightly so:
https://x.com/pharaohsxi/status/1974292729841713548?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
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Markie Meade scores for the under-18s v Newcastle. Highly rated, this fella. McGrath also playing - one of our own. There’s a Ramsey on the bench, presumably Cole?
Edit: Cole it is. On after 12 minutes due to injury.
Wow! Won 7-1. Hat-trick for Meade, 2 for McGrath. Hopefully his dad posts clips on Facebook later if there are any.
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One of our lads having a bit of a paddy over taking a free-kick… and rightly so:
https://x.com/pharaohsxi/status/1974292729841713548?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
He also assisted the first goal as well.
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Under 21s drew 3-3 with Sunderland. We were 3-1 up and our keeper saved 2 pens.
Wilson, Kone, Burrowes for us.
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https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1974742701334835306?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
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https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1974753865619935630?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
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Kachinga Siame, a 14 year-old in our academy, has been called up to play for Zambia’s under 17s.
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Jack McGrath one of the picks in the Guardian’s long running ‘Next Gen’ feature about up and coming talent, although their hit rate isn’t that great.
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Jack McGrath one of the picks in the Guardian’s long running ‘Next Gen’ feature about up and coming talent, although their hit rate isn’t that great.
One of our own. That is to say, a Villa fan.
I think the Guardian have got it right with this one.
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First pro contract for Super Jack Junior/God the younger. No pressure.
https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1978839737822564361?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
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After your earlier post, you are clearly a serious ITK Perce!!
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After your earlier post, you are clearly a serious ITK Perce!!
Not at all.
A) I listen to that Lion’s Den podcast about the academy.
B) I’ve got his dad on Facebook and have been watching spectacular clips for a little while now.
C) I’ll have to look up the earlier post to see what you mean. 😊
Edit: looked it up - I get it now.
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Really good news this, he looks a bit special. I reckon we'll see him on the bench before the end of the season.
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You must really rate him to have him on the bench before the season is out, Paul e.
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You must really rate him to have him on the bench before the season is out, Paul e.
From what I've seen he's got everything to be a genuinely special player. We've given a place on the bench to Burrowes and Young at a similar age and I reckon he's better than both of them.
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What position is he?
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Attacking midfield or a 10 from what I've seen.
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Just as well, Emery likes his 10's.
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With a name like that, he's gotta be a Villa legend, will be following his progress.
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Just as well, Emery likes his 10's.
Don't we all.
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Heaven Kilwa scored 2 for U16s, then scored another for U18s in the same day.
Both opponents were West Ham.
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Heaven Kilwa scored 2 for U16s, then scored another for U18s in the same day.
Both opponents were West Ham.
fair play to him, that's not something that happens often. Does it count as a hattrick?
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We lost the u18 one 2-1, not sure about the U16 match.
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We lost the u18 one 2-1, not sure about the U16 match.
Think won it 7-2. Believe he came off bench for U18s.
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Team against KF Skënderbeu in the UYL
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G3yEu4FWAAAFvlf?format=png&name=small)
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Has Fletcher Boyd played yet? Haven't heard him mentioned since he signed.
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I think the game is live on the Villa site for those with subs
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Has Fletcher Boyd played yet? Haven't heard him mentioned since he signed.
Yeah, 1 game for the U18s and 2 for the U21s so far. Think he dropped down to the U18s though so not sure if he's not as far along as expected.
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This is an U19 fixture, just to confuse things more.
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Has Fletcher Boyd played yet? Haven't heard him mentioned since he signed.
Yeah, 1 game for the U18s and 2 for the U21s so far. Think he dropped down to the U18s though so not sure if he's not as far along as expected.
Ta.
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1-0 Wilson after 37mins. Not watching but have alerts set on sofascore.
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1-1.
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had the lead for 3minutes.
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Broggio missed a pen a few mins before he setup the goal. Ended 1-1.
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Has Fletcher Boyd played yet? Haven't heard him mentioned since he signed.
Yes. Scored a brilliant goal in one of his games, smashed it in from his own half. It’s posted on this thread (I think). It’s definitely posted somewhere on H&V.
AcademyAVFC on X is a good source for this stuff, and he’s also on Bluesky for better people than I.
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Thanks. I remember that now you say it.
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Broggio missed a pen a few mins before he setup the goal. Ended 1-1.
Definite first team player in the making if he's missing pens.
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(https://scontent.fbhx4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/571255573_1421560679335244_7978318912957744311_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s640x640_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=I9YBMbpToWkQ7kNvwEsV6jr&_nc_oc=AdllDCajeue9t-GpvvZ28RxOmsTs-_N8GXvohi3bWpUjRGr55rfH_HSc2t40O77MVGo&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fbhx4-1.fna&_nc_gid=j_U-_nVkcaRLCZnwEVG2wg&oh=00_Afc3laiDJaThm5jtdFFzXwTJsdKXfhaQ7h2kBCfro4u5XA&oe=690186A6)
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I can’t watch Villa TV apparently, despite having watched it before this season. I thought it was part of my membership.
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Seems to be here. Albeit with West Ham commentary, presumably.
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Thanks!
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Losing 1-0. Playing well since we went behind though.
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I sort of watch a bit and we put in a couple of good crosses.
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You’d expect a few of ours to tire towards the end after most of them playing on Albania on Tuesday
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A couple of chances in added time but that was about it in the second half.
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According to the match report, we had a shot at the end of the match that was going in but stayed out of the net because it hit our own player! Shades of Snodgrass and Hogan in 2017!
In happier news, the U-18s beat Southampton 5-2 at BH.
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From The Athletic
ASTON VILLA REACH AGREEMENT WITH IVORIAN CLUB FOR TEENAGE STRIKER TO JOIN IN 2027
Aston Villa have an agreement in place to sign teenage striker Ibrahim Dosso from Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas
The 16-year-old will join the Premier League club and sign a professional contract when he turns 18 on January 1, 2027.
Dosso has made four senior league appearances for ASEC this season, having been promoted to the first team in the summer. Villa, however, have had a deal agreed for the Ivory Coast youth international for some time, owing to the close relationship they have with ASEC.
Villa’s academy staff have formed a partnership with the most successful side in the Ivory Coast. This summer, Villa signed highly-rated midfielder Mohamed Kone from ASEC after tracking the 18-year-old closely for a year. Kone has impressed staff, though is still attuning to life in England and within a Premier League academy.
ASEC’s youth team has visited Bodymoor Heath and spent some time in England, playing against both the Villa academy and other English clubs.
Villa share a similar working relationship with other clubs across the world, including in North America and elsewhere in Europe. This includes a cross-pollination of coaching ideas, information in methodology and, as shown in the acquisitions of Dosso and Kone, an ability to closely track emerging talent.
ASEC are considered to be producing excellent prospects, who are technically sound and physically strong.
Villa are keen to continue developing their academy recruitment, having had recent success. This was underlined in winning the FA Youth Cup last season, which was partly built on shrewd acquisitions, including Leon Routh, who came from Luton Town, Aiden Borland from Celtic and Geoerge Hemmings, who signed from Nottingham Forest.
Villa also signed Fletcher Boyd from Aberdeen over the summer, with midfielder having made severadl appearances for the Scottish outfit’s first team.
Dosso will stay at ASEC until his 18th birthday, when Villa will decide his next steps.
Evann Guessand is from the Ivory Coast
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From The Athletic
ASTON VILLA REACH AGREEMENT WITH IVORIAN CLUB FOR TEENAGE STRIKER TO JOIN IN 2027
...
Evann Guessand is from the Ivory Coast
Wow, interesting stuff.
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ASTON VILLA REACH AGREEMENT WITH IVORIAN CLUB FOR TEENAGE STRIKER TO JOIN IN 2027
Aston Villa have an agreement in place to sign teenage striker Ibrahim Dosso from Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas
The 16-year-old will join the Premier League club and sign a professional contract when he turns 18 on January 1, 2027.
Brilliant news, he's been in sparkling form recently.
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Certainly planning ahead.
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From The Athletic
ASTON VILLA REACH AGREEMENT WITH IVORIAN CLUB FOR TEENAGE STRIKER TO JOIN IN 2027
Aston Villa have an agreement in place to sign teenage striker Ibrahim Dosso from Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas
The 16-year-old will join the Premier League club and sign a professional contract when he turns 18 on January 1, 2027.
Dosso has made four senior league appearances for ASEC this season, having been promoted to the first team in the summer. Villa, however, have had a deal agreed for the Ivory Coast youth international for some time, owing to the close relationship they have with ASEC.
Villa’s academy staff have formed a partnership with the most successful side in the Ivory Coast. This summer, Villa signed highly-rated midfielder Mohamed Kone from ASEC after tracking the 18-year-old closely for a year. Kone has impressed staff, though is still attuning to life in England and within a Premier League academy.
ASEC’s youth team has visited Bodymoor Heath and spent some time in England, playing against both the Villa academy and other English clubs.
Villa share a similar working relationship with other clubs across the world, including in North America and elsewhere in Europe. This includes a cross-pollination of coaching ideas, information in methodology and, as shown in the acquisitions of Dosso and Kone, an ability to closely track emerging talent.
ASEC are considered to be producing excellent prospects, who are technically sound and physically strong.
Villa are keen to continue developing their academy recruitment, having had recent success. This was underlined in winning the FA Youth Cup last season, which was partly built on shrewd acquisitions, including Leon Routh, who came from Luton Town, Aiden Borland from Celtic and Geoerge Hemmings, who signed from Nottingham Forest.
Villa also signed Fletcher Boyd from Aberdeen over the summer, with midfielder having made severadl appearances for the Scottish outfit’s first team.
Dosso will stay at ASEC until his 18th birthday, when Villa will decide his next steps.
Evann Guessand is from the Ivory Coast
Looking great for his age
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The U21 game at Orient in the EFL Trophy tonight is on Sky Sports.
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Needs to improve his end product over the next couple of years, especially his heading.
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Needs to improve his end product over the next couple of years, especially his heading.
Yeah, you’d think at age 16 he’d have all those things sorted and look like an established pro.
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Yeah, that's why he can work on them in the time before he joins us.
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That video reminds me of the one that was posted about Duran when we were first linked to him.
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Dosso looks great for his age.
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G4XLlUlWsAAxL03?format=jpg&name=small)
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Don’t know if it’s anything out of the ordinary but it seems like a lot of the treble winners are being fast-tracked through the age groups. I suppose it makes sense as their manager has moved with them.
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Asemota seems to be a very goalkeeper.
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Asemota seems to be a very goalkeeper.
Good?
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Asemota seems to be a very goalkeeper.
Good?
That's the one!
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Lads have played well so far but I think we are going to lose this one. Getting slightly tired.
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Number 98 comes on for Villa and Leyton Orient take the lead.
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Bad miss by Jimoh.
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Don’t know if it’s anything out of the ordinary but it seems like a lot of the treble winners are being fast-tracked through the age groups. I suppose it makes sense as their manager has moved with them.
Hasn't the philosophy since the owners took over to get the kids playing against older age groups?
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I went last night to watch our U21's never been to Leyton Orient not a bad ground.
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That’s the third game in a week for a lot of them, particularly throwing in a trip to Albania also they played ok.
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I really felt for Fortes. He looked really upset with that challenge that saw him subbed. He looked like he needed his mum bless him and that's no surprise as he's only 17.
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I really felt for Fortes. He looked really upset with that challenge that saw him subbed. He looked like he needed his mum bless him and that's no surprise as he's only 17.
I saw that.
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Losing to Crystal Palace seems like ideal training to win a first team place. Well done, lads.
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Losing to Crystal Palace seems like ideal training to win a first team place. Well done, lads.
sooo fucking annoying! 2-0.
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It is worth noting that our team was significantly younger than theirs (and is one of the youngest squads in the league) so we are sometimes going to be bullied a little.
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The U18s won 6-2 away at Arsenal with goals from Jack McGrath, Alfie Lynskey (2), Markie Meade, Vinnie Hayward, and a first-half own goal.
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The U18s won 6-2 away at Arsenal with goals from Jack McGrath, Alfie Lynskey (2), Markie Meade, Vinnie Hayward, and a first-half own goal.
https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1985036106513977499?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
The OG is quite funny.
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Brad Burrowes starts for England versus Venezuela in their U17 World Cup opener. Game is live on ITV4 at 3.15pm.
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Brad Burrowes starts for England versus Venezuela in their U17 World Cup opener. Game is live on ITV4 at 3.15pm.
Just popped it on in background whilst working. Is this off a VHS tape?
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Brad Burrowes starts for England versus Venezuela in their U17 World Cup opener. Game is live on ITV4 at 3.15pm.
Just popped it on in background whilst working. Is this off a VHS tape?
For the benefit of our younger viewars, VHS doesn't stand for Venezuela High Scorers.
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For the benefit of everyone - do you know you get Teletext off on old VHS tape.
I run a meetup group talking on digital / Tech / Deisgn issue - and that was easily my favourite talk of all time.
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Lost 3-0. What do they expect when they choose the majority of the team from losers Citeh and play the best attacking midfielder at right back.
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They've played Burrowes as a right-back before.
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They've played Burrowes as a right-back before.
I know. Just peed off that he is removed from his better position to allow all the citeh kids to play. (cue someone telling me we now play Burrowes at RB ourselves now Rowe is out on loan).
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Rory Wilson with the first goal in the kids game vs Skënderbeu in the UYL. Arsenal are playing a 15 year old on the CL. Given our lack of goals I wouldn’t mind seeing the likes of Wilson playing in our first team.
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Villa 4 up against Skenderbeu in the second leg. Believe we are playing a Dutch team in the next round (maybe AZ?).
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Won six-nil. Wilson hat-trick, one for Carroll and two for Jack McGrath. Through to play AZ Alkmaar in round three. That'll probably be a lot tougher, they won it in 2023.
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Jack McGrath:
https://x.com/KeslersznV2/status/1986081032295325800 (https://x.com/KeslersznV2/status/1986081032295325800)
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Haha, came here to post that!
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Jack McGrath:
https://x.com/KeslersznV2/status/1986081032295325800 (https://x.com/KeslersznV2/status/1986081032295325800)
Beautiful skill
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Think he's one of the younger players in that team too, only turned 17 last month.
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I said a few pages back I can see him being around the first team before long and that goal showed exactly why, seemed to have all the time in the world.
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I said a few pages back I can see him being around the first team before long and that goal showed exactly why, seemed to have all the time in the world.
Or be sold for £20m to someone. Boo.
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I think the idea behind bringing Olabe in is to change that.
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U18s lost 3-0 to Albion at BMH.
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Congratulations to the Baggies under-18s on their impending transfers to Villa.
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Congratulations to the Baggies under-18s on their impending transfers to Villa.
I said to Dad that their goalscorer who got the brace has already packed his bags.
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U21s beat Wolves 2-0 with goals from Rory Wilson and Jamal Jimoh-Aloba.
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Fantastic assist from Brad Burrowes for England. The other bloke couldn’t really miss.
https://x.com/england/status/1987942997711880537?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
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Our 6 goals in the euro league thingy:
https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1986187957544333427?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
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Markie Meade is one to watch over the next few years.
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Markie Meade is one to watch over the next few years.
Yes, the ITKs have been raving about him since he was 15. He’s probably only 16/17 now.
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There's 7-8 kids in the 16-18 range that seem to be really highly rated, hopefully we can get a couple of them through into the first team over the next few years and save ourselves a lot of money.
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Given we won the triple last year, we appear to be under-represented at England U21 and U17 levels. Are these specific age groups missing our sweet spot(s) or is the bar higher for international recognition?
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Given we won the triple last year, we appear to be under-represented at England U21 and U17 levels. Are these specific age groups missing our sweet spot(s) or is the bar higher for international recognition?
I think at least part of it is that certain teams get watched more and their players tend to get age group call ups easier. It changes at U21 but before that you often see big groups from a handful of clubs and then only truly exceptional players from elsewhere.
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The other thing is that a lot of our players are younger than their representative age group when playing for us so still have time.
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The other thing is that a lot of our players are younger than their representative age group when playing for us so still have time.
Absolutely, loads of the U21 squad are still young enough to play U18s.
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Put these here rather than in ‘other games.
Obviously, ITV don’t mention the great cross for the assist, but I will:
https://x.com/itvfootball/status/1989682217409187893?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
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Only goal of the game for our boy Alfie Lynskey:
https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1989762024109207936?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
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Put these here rather than in ‘other games.
Obviously, ITV don’t mention the great cross for the assist, but I will:
https://x.com/itvfootball/status/1989682217409187893?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
Apart from "its a great delivery" and "it was great work as well from Burrowes, perfect weight on the cross"
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Put these here rather than in ‘other games.
Obviously, ITV don’t mention the great cross for the assist, but I will:
https://x.com/itvfootball/status/1989682217409187893?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
Apart from "its a great delivery" and "it was great work as well from Burrowes, perfect weight on the cross"
Oh yeah haha! He did say ‘great delivery’ and I didn’t watch the replay. Anchored in paranoia I am!
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There's 7-8 kids in the 16-18 range that seem to be really highly rated, hopefully we can get a couple of them through into the first team over the next few years and save ourselves a lot of money.
Where is the youngest Ramsey brother these days? Cole I think? He was very highly thought of a few years ago back when Arron was starring in the youth team and Jacob in the first team (but he was obviously VERY young back then, still at school I think). I would have thought he'd be youth team age now?
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There's 7-8 kids in the 16-18 range that seem to be really highly rated, hopefully we can get a couple of them through into the first team over the next few years and save ourselves a lot of money.
Where is the youngest Ramsey brother these days? Cole I think? He was very highly thought of a few years ago back when Arron was starring in the youth team and Jacob in the first team (but he was obviously VERY young back then, still at school I think). I would have thought he'd be youth team age now?
He's still with the U18s right now and seems to be getting a decent amount of games but not many starts. We have a lot of very good midfielders in that squad though so he's competing with Jack Mcgrath for game time and the latter is, from what I've been told, the most exciting kid we have right now. The other ones at that level my mate likes are Markie Meade, Leon Routh and Farid Addey.
From the next 'set' I've been told we have a young striker called Oscar Johnson who could be worth keeping an eye on, he's only just turned 15 in the summer so he's a way off yet.
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It seems to me that - looking short-term - we need to find out whether Wilson and Cotcher have got what it takes to score goals in the Premier League. Both have been feted for their potential but neither have been really tested yet.
It's wishful thinking on my part, of course: I'd love to see an 18-19 yr-old come through into the first team and score goals! Fulham, Geordies, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Wham - all have promoted youngsters in this season and seen the benefits.
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An interesting piece by Jacob Tanswell in The Athletic about the wider philosophy behind our loans
SCOUTING, LOAN DEALS AND ANALYTICS: ASTON VILLA’S WORK WITH SEVERAL SMALLER CLUBS IS OF MUTUAL BENEFIT
Developing multi-club networks is common practice in modern football.
Aston Villa’s ownership group, V Sports, have established several formal relationships with other teams.
Real Union, clearly, is the most obvious of all. It is the club of manager Unai Emery’s childhood roots and he purchased a controlling stake in it during the summer of 2021. Unsurprisingly, the Spanish fourth-division outfit were then incorporated into V Sports.
Six Villa players have been loaned to Real Union in the previous three years, but the partnership offers other, possibly wider, benefits. Real Union have enhanced their footballing structure through increased analytics and technology, made accessible by Villa. They have enjoyed the upsides of the multi-club network with another V Sports setup, Vissel Kobe, taking concepts, best practice and players from the Japanese side when training.
To encourage a cross-pollination of ideas, Villa staff often travel to Irun, where Real Union is situated, to monitor current loanees.
There is an acceptance, however, that the relationship between Real Union and Villa is not exactly two-way. The differing standings of both, not only in calibre but in recruitment quality, facilities and methods, mean the Basque-based club benefits far more.
Yet it placates Emery and his brother, Igor, who is Real Union’s president, and offers first senior loan moves to Villa’s young professionals. As for Vissel Kobe, Villa have sent staff out to Japan to engage in regular discussions.
In all likelihood, Villa would have found other sides in V Sports’ stable more advantageous. Villa’s owners, Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris, acquired a 46 per cent stake in Vitoria SC of Portugal in 2023, but regrettably had to relinquish their share to 17 per cent months later, because they and Villa had both qualified for European competitions. This is prohibited under UEFA’s article 5 regulations, which state no ownership can have the “controlling decisions” on more than one club competing in Europe.
Still, Villa’s staff know the importance and value of collaborating with other clubs, sometimes irrespective of their resources. Foreign teams can provide different perspectives and cultures. Sharing opinions on methodologies, be it recruitment or coaching, can enable Villa to assess if certain aspects could be incorporated into their modus operandi.
Villa have been cultivating informal partnerships with other teams for some time, and not necessarily within the V Sports network. They span continents and leagues and, according to several sources The Athletic has spoken to for this article, provide expertise and enhance their own procedures.
One example is FC Annecy. Villa have forged a bond with the French second-division side. They exchange details on players, as well as various methods. Villa have leaned on the V Sports group, though, such as its director of global football development, Matthew Kidson, to integrate Annecy as part of the umbrella, even if the partnership is presently informal.
Their growing relationship with Villa was evident this summer. The final transfer of the window was the loan of 19-year-old right back Triston Rowe, who joined on a season-long deal (although, like every temporary move, there is a break clause in January, where his future will be considered).
Rowe had attracted both loan and permanent interest from Championship sides towards the back end of the window. Over a Zoom call with Villa and Rowe’s representatives, Annecy’s sporting director, Jean-Philippe Nallet, outlined their plans for the full-back. Villa were keen on Rowe moving to France because of the knowledge they had accrued of Annecy’s technical coaching programme and felt he would benefit.
Villa have sent staff who specialise in their loans programme to France to watch Rowe and hold conversations with Annecy figures.
Intriguingly, another club Villa staff have struck a relationship with is Columbus Crew. During the pre-season tour of the United States in 2024, the MLS side hosted and defeated Villa in a 4-1 victory.
From a sporting standpoint, ideas are exchanged regarding scouting systems, coaching methods and how to determine the most productive ways of recruiting. This includes open communication across the Atlantic as well as travelling between clubs. In recent months, Columbus Crew’s technical director, Marc Nicholls, visited Birmingham as another indication of the willingness to cooperate.
Last month, The Athletic revealed Villa had an agreement in place to sign teenage striker Ibrahim Dosso from Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas.
The 16-year-old, who has made four senior league appearances for ASEC this season, will join and sign a professional contract when he turns 18 on January 1, 2027.
In truth, Villa’s deal for the Ivory Coast youth international had been agreed for some time, owing to the close relationship they have with ASEC.
The groundwork was laid through academy staff establishing a partnership with the most successful side in the Ivory Coast. Kidson is credited with growing Villa’s presence in Africa because of the strong contacts he amassed through previously working at the Right to Dream academy based in Ghana. Villa staff have spent time in Africa over the past year, travelling to promising footballing academies.
Dosso’s acquisition serves as one tangible case. The forward was part of ASEC’s youth team that visited Bodymoor Heath and spent time in England, playing against both Villa’s academy and another English team. ASEC stayed at The Belfry Hotel and Resort, less than a mile from the training ground, and were given access to the facilities for more than a week.
ASEC are considered to be producing technically sound and physically strong prospects. They comfortably beat the other English side on their travels. Villa staff believe they can utilise these types of markets to good effect, with Dosso and another ASEC player, Mohamed Kone, reflective of this school of thought.
Kone joined in the summer after Villa tracked the 18-year-old for a year. Although still acclimatising to life in Birmingham and within a Premier League academy, the midfielder has impressed staff, with his signing regarded as a coup. Villa noted his potential at The Gothia Cup in July 2024, before discussing how and when to bring him in across relevant departments.
In this respect, alignment across academy and youth level staff is paramount; there is little point in signing a player, either domestically or from overseas, if key figures believe there is someone else already within the setup who is better.
Villa are mindful of stockpiling talent and, consequently, stifling pathways. Having too many players on the books invariably limits game time and blocks development, so broad agreement for every signing under senior level is a prerequisite. Maintaining contact and conversation with clubs such as ASEC means that, when the time is right, Villa will be at the front of the queue to sign their leading talents.
The upshot of a proactive policy is that recruitment and coaching either improves and directly impacts Emery’s first team, or young players are sold on at a later date. In the previous three seasons, the sales of youngsters and academy graduates has generated £60million ($78.48m), which has proven integral in Villa’s compliance with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
By looking to the outside to strengthen the structures within, Villa hope the relationships forged can bear fruit over time, whether that is through the V Sports network or the more informal ones across the globe.
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Dobbin started for PNE tonight.
Dobbed off on 56 minutes; no great shakes.
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Dobbin started for PNE tonight.
Dobbed off on 56 minutes; no great shakes.
Got an assist though.
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Dobbin started for PNE tonight.
Dobbed off on 56 minutes; no great shakes.
Got an assist though.
Yeah, that was good work.
I don't think he was up for the physical battle, tbh.
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Nice double over Leicester today. Our under-18s won 3-2 (Jack McGrath scored again), under-16s won 10 (ten)-0. 4 goals and 2 assists for Heaven Kilwa.
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Nice double over Leicester today. Our under-18s won 3-2 (Jack McGrath scored again), under-16s won 10 (ten)-0. 4 goals and 2 assists for Heaven Kilwa.
He just needed one more goal or assist for the headline writers.
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Nice double over Leicester today. Our under-18s won 3-2 (Jack McGrath scored again), under-16s won 10 (ten)-0. 4 goals and 2 assists for Heaven Kilwa.
Isn't he a full back? Sounds like he should be playing a level or 2 higher already.
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Nice double over Leicester today. Our under-18s won 3-2 (Jack McGrath scored again), under-16s won 10 (ten)-0. 4 goals and 2 assists for Heaven Kilwa.
Isn't he a full back? Sounds like he should be playing a level or 2 higher already.
Striker.
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Nice double over Leicester today. Our under-18s won 3-2 (Jack McGrath scored again), under-16s won 10 (ten)-0. 4 goals and 2 assists for Heaven Kilwa.
Isn't he a full back? Sounds like he should be playing a level or 2 higher already.
Striker.
Ah, makes more sense then, I'm sure I saw something saying he was a right back.
EDIT - yeah - https://britanniasport.com/2025/05/england-u15-squad-announced-for-may-international-break - clearly listed as a defender just last season so we've obviously decided to swap his position over the summer and it seems to be working out well.
Where did you see the details of results yesterday by the way? I can't find anything online for either game.
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Nice double over Leicester today. Our under-18s won 3-2 (Jack McGrath scored again), under-16s won 10 (ten)-0. 4 goals and 2 assists for Heaven Kilwa.
Isn't he a full back? Sounds like he should be playing a level or 2 higher already.
Striker.
Ah, makes more sense then, I'm sure I saw something saying he was a right back.
EDIT - yeah - https://britanniasport.com/2025/05/england-u15-squad-announced-for-may-international-break - clearly listed as a defender just last season so we've obviously decided to swap his position over the summer and it seems to be working out well.
Where did you see the details of results yesterday by the way? I can't find anything online for either game.
Are you X?
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I don't use it but I did spot the villa academy account after I asked so I'll try to keep an eye on there.
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I don't use it but I did spot the villa academy account after I asked so I'll try to keep an eye on there.
He’s on Bluesky and the gram as well. Also does a regular update on the Villa Park Podcast as well. Very informative.
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Villa vs AZ Alkmaar tomorrow at 1pm at Bodymoor in the UEFA Youth League.
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1-1 at half time, took the lead through Wilson but conceded a few minutes later.
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Here’s the team:
Asemota (GK);
Burrowes, Carroll, Routh, Moreland;
Borland (C), Hemmings, Jimoh; Broggio, Young;
Wilson.
Subs: Oakley (GK), McWilliams, Kone, Fortes, Lynskey, Quinn, Burgess, McGrath, Meade.
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2-1, Burrowes.
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2-2. 89th min equaliser for them.
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FFS!
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Finished 2-2.
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Best I've seen from Wilson; some good touches and he spread the play well at times.
Lovely touch and turn for the second goal.
Still trying to figure out how we didn't win it.
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Wrong thread
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Under18s won 5-2 at Fulham today.
Alfie Lynskey 2 (a stunning brace apparently), Oscar Johnson, Fin Barnard and Markie Meade with the goals.
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Isn't Oscar Johnson the 15-year-old that Paul_e mentioned in an earlier post?
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Isn't Oscar Johnson the 15-year-old that Paul_e mentioned in an earlier post?
Yep, my mate reckons he's got everything to become a top player.
Said mate works closely with the club and sees a lot of school age players so he regularly drops hints about kids to watch out for. Obviously loads don't make it but it's still nice to get a bit of a feel for what's happening.
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Can't wait to sell him to Chelsea as a PSR scam.
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Not great footage but still…
https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1994883067329032418?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA
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Half time in the Bham Senior Cup against Cov Sphinx (a) 1-3 to Villa
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Lost 4-3 in the Bham Senior Cup
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We were two up before the bastards turned the floodlights off!
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Shame they couldn't seal the win -fewer game opportunities for some of the kids.
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On the plus side, Lino Sousa scored twice. Remember him?
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On the plus side, Lino Sousa scored twice. Remember him?
Correction of the Scorers from @academyavfc - now two for Rodrigo Fortes & one for Omar Khedr
https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1996479778216628226?t=TP9Eg7iiPml4DxoR0k__Fw&s=19