Who will be the best player?

[Monty]

I liked this tweet from Henry Winter:

There's quiet buzz at Bodymoor Heath. #avfc kids will have good principles as players/people drummed into them by Houllier/McAllister/Cowans

The kids are alright.

Good to see. Winter is a bit of a "big clubs and nothing else" polemicist sometimes, but it's good to see him taking an interest. I suppose he's in the area for tomorrow's game.

[Larry Duff]

I will go with Barry Bannan.  I reckon he has been the best player in 75% of the reserve games I have seen over the last three years and is the major reason we have won the reserve league the last three years.

I have seen him get the better of players like Micheal Essein and Jack Willshire in the ressies and even this season he scored an unbeleavably good hat trick at United and tore wolves reserves apart in the second half a couple of weeks ago.

We have some great kids coming through the youth team but this 15 year old winger Jordan Graham looks like he could be the real deal.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Voted Albrighton, already made a great impact on the team in a handful of games. Can go past players with ease, pops up in goal scoring positions and has a great cross on him that he will still have if his pace goes.

Having said that they all look handy, The Fonz gets stick but everytime he pulls on that shits he gets chances to score and more often than not does, thats a great trait to have for someone so young.

Bannan always wants the ball and is always looking to thread a ball through and Clark has been at ease even in an unfamiliar position so bodes well when he gets a game in defence.

What's the score with Gardner with regards to his contract? I read that it was ending soon and he hadn't been tied down to a long term deal, is that correct?

[Matt Collins]

I think people are being a bit harsh on Nathan. He's only 19, and his scoring record is extremely good for us already. Hesalready done enough to show he's way above Stefan Moore. I agree Luke had a similar start to his career though.

I really don't yet know if he'll make it, but writing off a 19 year old who must have scored in something like 60% of the games he's started seems harsh!

Have always had a nagging doubt that Albrighton will get found out as other direct young wingers do, but I'm feeling more positive all the time. His quality on the ball including crossing is very good.

Would love Bannan to make it, but I think there's probably still a high chance he won't. If he's going to play centre mid, he's going to have to be absolutely outstanding technically and tactically.

I'd still say Delph is possibly going to be the best of the lot, but I voted for Clark based on his assurance, reputation, and a feeling I have that defenders have a higher 'conversion rate' from promising youngster to established pro than other positoins. Not sure if that's in any way backed up by the evidence

[Dante Lavelli]

Here is an article (from the guardian) on Chelsea's academy where Arnesen claims that Chelsea's academy is in the world's top ten and also that they are already breaking even based on fees received and loan payments.

How do you think we compare?

I'd say we're not far behind them but our "scholars" will have more chance of playing for villa than theirs will for Chelsea.  I also think we have received more in transfer fees than Chelsea have in recent year for youth players which must mean that we're in the black.

The article can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/nov/12/chelsea-academy-frank-arnesen

[eamonn]

Gary Gardner.

But from the list Ciarán Clarke. His versatility will come in handy. A cultured central defender, like Barry before him he will more than show his worth in midfield too.

The other three have a lot going for them but Clark is the one with fewest flaws. He also seems a dedicated, down-to-earth lad with a great attitude. Thank fook we're not gonna swap him for Michael Owen and 5.3m.

[Matt C]

Henry Winter's full blog here: http://tgr.ph/9QZzW2

Worth a read.

[brontebilly]

Great thread this.

Clark for me is a good bit ahead of the rest. With teams moving to lone strikers more and more, centre halves will have to be comfortable on the ball. He is left sided too which will aid his development. He needs to bulk up though and be more commanding in the air if he is to be a top centre half.  He really impressed me at Fulham in midfield though and I feel this is where his best position may be in future.

Next up - Id put Delfouneso. The kid just has something. He wasnt even great the last two games but could well have had 5 goals. I thought he showed great character midweek too, other young players would have dropped their heads with the chances missed against Fulham. Yet he comes out and never looked like missing that chance against Blackpool - opened his body up superbly and nailed it. Nice header too that was stupidly disallowed. He isnt a lone centre forward but his first touch is superb. I think he has a host of attributes.

Albrighton is progressing nicely, just hope he has more than one trick.

Bannan was superb at Fulham but has a long way to go too.

It has been a good time at the Villa academy - even if players dont make it here they are going on to have good EPL careers. Ridgewell, Gardner, Cahill, Hitzelsberger - even Davis at Rangers who I rate highly and Whittingham at Cardiff.

[pablopicasso_10]

funny thing is, nathan baker was probably ahead of clark in terms of development a couple years ago... another left footed centre back, while not as composed on the ball, he is a monster of a man, has good pace, and a looked to have a good mental attitude to not let mistakes faze him...

but somewhere along the line, baker hasnt progressed as he could, and clark has surpassed my expectations...

[Concrete John]

Henry Winter's full blog here: http://tgr.ph/9QZzW2

Worth a read.

Good article and some wise words by Gezza.

However, it was noticable that he mentioned Albrighton, Clark and Bannan by name, but not Delfouneso.

[pablopicasso_10]

yea, i thought that.. he has mentioned delfouneso recently elsewhere though...

he also mentioned a while back that delfouneso was about a year away, and i think he hinted at him going on loan... cant remember exactly what he said, but it was along those lines.. if the injury crisis hadnt happened, i would imagine he would have gone out on loan somewhere in the championship...

personally, injuries and players coming in permitting, i would send him out on loan to leeds, leicester or derby in january, and get him used to playing in front of big crowds, in reasonable sides... worked wonders for barry bananaman and helped toughen him up..

[Blackcountry Villa]

Clark will be the pick of them imo. He looks a cultured footballer and very classy on the ball, he's one of those players that never looks rushed on the ball.

I'm not a massive Delfouneso fan i have to say, i think he'll end up in the Championship or something like that.

[JUAN PABLO]

clark   ..  I think 3 will make it..

[LeeB]

Fonz will be fine. He's popped up in more goalscoring positions in two games than Carew and Heskey have managed in the last two years.

[Lambert and Payne]

How assured did the kids look against one of the best teams in the world today! Alrbrighton made a mug of Evra and Bannan ran the show in the middle. Hogg was awesome considering it was his debut!