Reserves - now the Fonz debate

[TheSandman]

Which will probably give him just as good an insight as watching him in a few dozen reserve games.

Come on Maz, I know you are a great believer in our yoof, and so am I, but Delfouneso hasn't done anything in his first team appearances (apart from maybe a couple of decent UEFA cup games) to show he's the future of our strikeforce. And it seems Hotlips agrees. Maybe Heskey's injury will give him the chance to prove me wrong.

Apart from score goals... Not that many on paper if you see appearance stats but when you consider how many are really short sub appearances his record more than speaks for itself. For me has that knack of scoring and if he can keep that up and work hard then he will be more than good enough at premier league level.

He is also as has been off stated just 19... Far, far too early to write him off as some seem to be doing. If he hasn't progressed in 3, 4, 5 years time then yes but now is just daft.

[Mazrim]

His record at all levels is excellent. Club and international. Although he is yet to be played consistently in the first team at Villa, true.
Whatever makes people believe he wont make it, its not based on his ability. I cant accept that argument anyway, sorry.

I am a believer in youth but not blind. There are four players I have championed for some time. Clark, Albrighton, Gardner and Delfouneso. Nothing I have seen has changed my mind yet. I dont know why he isnt being used more but whatever the reason, I think he's capable and ready.
If he doesnt make it, its not because he isnt good enough and I've seen nothing to suggest a bad attitude.

He's quick, tall, increasingly powerful, clever, enigmatic, brings others in, holds it up and is a natural finisher. He's also very, very young.
I find the notion of writing him off already as a complete joke to be honest.

[Matt Collins]

I don't know if he'll make it, I was initially impressed, but in games over the summer I thought he was crap for us.

This could be nothing more than a bad bit of form or lacking confidence though.

I think people are reading too much into GH 'deciding he's not good enough'. We play one striker. It's a lot to ask a 19 yr old with less than 5 starts to play the lone striker role and become the focal point for the team.

I certainly haven't given up on him. I've seen flashes of real class, but also occasions where he looks very lost, disinterested, and where his touch and awareness has been much worse than others' comments would have led me to believe.

But he's still a better footballer than Gabby was at that age. Gabby was clueless, with poor movement and touch,  but just very very fast.

[Dave Cooper please]

There are four players I have championed for some time. Clark, Albrighton, Gardner and Delfouneso.

And the others you have championed who have since fell away? I'm not going to trawl back through the archives, but we've all championed our yoofs, it's what we do, we love our local lads!
If you name every promising youngster you are bound to get a few hits!

[Mazrim]

There are four players I have championed for some time. Clark, Albrighton, Gardner and Delfouneso.

And the others you have championed who have since fell away? I'm not going to trawl back through the archives, but we've all championed our yoofs, it's what we do, we love our local lads!
If you name every promising youngster you are bound to get a few hits!

Cheers Dave. Trawl away.
And I haven't done anything like name every promising youngster.

I've never claimed to get everything right or to be some sort of prophet, but those players I mentioned I am still consistent with in terms of my opinion of them. This batch of players in particular, of the last 4 or 5 years say, I am most familiar with. Therefore I feel more inclined to predict.

This is all getting a bit tedious now. There is only one way of telling who will be right regarding Delfouneso. Time. And nothing but.

[eamonn]

Gabby at his age was going nowhere fast on-loan at Watford (and/or Sheff Wed?), plenty of time for Fonz to form one part of super duo Delf & Delph.

[JD]

I think that the Fonz hasn't really been given a regular opportunity to settle at first team level. He plays part of the odd game and then he doesn't appear for a few months. Would like to see him get more regular opportunities to build his level of play. I, like Maz, think he's got it. 

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I used to get hell's stick for saying Stephen Cooke wouldn't make the grade, everybody used to rave about him.

[pablopicasso_10]

His record at all levels is excellent. Club and international. Although he is yet to be played consistently in the first team at Villa, true.
Whatever makes people believe he wont make it, its not based on his ability. I cant accept that argument anyway, sorry.

I am a believer in youth but not blind. There are four players I have championed for some time. Clark, Albrighton, Gardner and Delfouneso. Nothing I have seen has changed my mind yet. I dont know why he isnt being used more but whatever the reason, I think he's capable and ready.
If he doesnt make it, its not because he isnt good enough and I've seen nothing to suggest a bad attitude.

He's quick, tall, increasingly powerful, clever, enigmatic, brings others in, holds it up and is a natural finisher. He's also very, very young.
I find the notion of writing him off already as a complete joke to be honest.

sums up my thoughts on the kid...

[pablopicasso_10]

Gabby at his age was going nowhere fast on-loan at Watford (and/or Sheff Wed?), plenty of time for Fonz to form one part of super duo Delf & Delph.

i remember watford and sheff weds fans thinking that gabby was a huge bag of shite and that he was nothing other than a sprinter wearing football boots...

[Dave Cooper please]

I used to get hell's stick for saying Stephen Cooke wouldn't make the grade, everybody used to rave about him.

I did the same with John McGrath, but in my defence he was excellent at Tamworth!

[Dante Lavelli]

I was convinced Scimeca would captain England.

I also remember Gareth Barry coming through when he played as part of a back three.  He was only 17 and different gravy - a class above any other youngster I have seen.

[oldtimernow]

I agree with Maz on this...get behind the lad and he may come good in a time of need...dont rubbish him before he's had a real chance to show what he's made of.

And I would rather have home grown talent than a here today gone tomorrow jonnie

[hawkeye]

His record at all levels is excellent. Club and international. Although he is yet to be played consistently in the first team at Villa, true.
Whatever makes people believe he wont make it, its not based on his ability. I cant accept that argument anyway, sorry.

I am a believer in youth but not blind. There are four players I have championed for some time. Clark, Albrighton, Gardner and Delfouneso. Nothing I have seen has changed my mind yet. I dont know why he isnt being used more but whatever the reason, I think he's capable and ready.
If he doesnt make it, its not because he isnt good enough and I've seen nothing to suggest a bad attitude.

He's quick, tall, increasingly powerful, clever, enigmatic, brings others in, holds it up and is a natural finisher. He's also very, very young.
I find the notion of writing him off already as a complete joke to be honest.

of those f Maz do you think they will all establish themselves in the first x1, i have not seen Gardener at all

[ChrissyPrice]

Not an easy game for him yesterday up front on his own.
But it seemed his confidence was low-particularly that chance in the 2nd half.