Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[mallo]

We do appear to be sniffing around for loan deals so I think if the right one comes along we'll take it. City can't name all their players in the 25 so there'll be something there, just a question of who.

[ROBBO]

When do they have to name the twenty five?

[maidstonevillain]

Not really a transfer etc post, but not worthy of another thread.

Just been on the BBC site checking out the ages of these "kids" we are supposedly nurturing, bringing thru', and it seems relying on for the future. Most of them are already well into their twenties, and similar ages to, for example, Bale, Ramsey, and Walcott. Surely if they were going to make it, they would already be more than bit part players.

Are we kidding ourselves.

[Concrete John]

Not really a transfer etc post, but not worthy of another thread.

Just been on the BBC site checking out the ages of these "kids" we are supposedly nurturing, bringing thru', and it seems relying on for the future. Most of them are already well into their twenties, and similar ages to, for example, Bale, Ramsey, and Walcott. Surely if they were going to make it, they would already be more than bit part players.

Are we kidding ourselves.

I guess the question is were they not breaking through at the same time the players you mentioned did due to lack of ability or MON's reluctance to play them?

We'll find out this season, but I'm pretty confident on Albrighton, Clark, Bannan and Delph to be PL standard.

[Mazrim]

The hope for our youth players doesn't begin and end with the current 21-22 year olds, even though some of them are very promising indeed.
There are a number of potential wonderkids further down the scale.

[maidstonevillain]

The hope for our youth players doesn't begin and end with the current 21-22 year olds, even though some of them are very promising indeed.
There are a number of potential wonderkids further down the scale.

But were not our current crop of 20-22 year olds, and there are about ten of them, potential wonderkids 3 years ago.

[garyshawsknee]

Albrighton,Clark,Delph and Bannan are just under 22. These are the ones who stand the best chance of becoming regulars,least we should know by the end of the season. Personally I think at least two of them will.

Then we have Johnson and Gardner a year behind them. It would be good if one of them could be a regular at 20,but ones like Bale and Wilkshire are pretty rare.

[Greg N'Ash]

The hope for our youth players doesn't begin and end with the current 21-22 year olds, even though some of them are very promising indeed.
There are a number of potential wonderkids further down the scale.

But were not our current crop of 20-22 year olds, and there are about ten of them, potential wonderkids 3 years ago.

yep. Since this site has been going there's always been this superb crop of youngsters coming through according to those that take an interest and they never materialise unfortunately. Now we've had a better youth set-up than most but in the last 10 years or so you'd struggle to put together a decent premierside side from the ones that have made a career for themselves. I have my doubts we can rely on them to the extent we're going to have to

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

The hope for our youth players doesn't begin and end with the current 21-22 year olds, even though some of them are very promising indeed.
There are a number of potential wonderkids further down the scale.

But were not our current crop of 20-22 year olds, and there are about ten of them, potential wonderkids 3 years ago.

yep. Since this site has been going there's always been this superb crop of youngsters coming through according to those that take an interest and they never materialise unfortunately. Now we've had a better youth set-up than most but in the last 10 years or so but you'd struggle to put together a decent premierside side from the ones that have made a career for themselves. I have my doubts we can rely on them to the extent we're going to have to

They don't materilaise IMO because we don't have a policy that says: "play them". ManUre, Arsenal do it and Everton to a degree. Wilshere is special but some of our youngsters (Gardner and Johnson at present) could be special too given more opportunities. Fonz has been given a few goes over the last few years but we didn't really see Albrighton, Clark and Bannan until last season and they are already 21/22 and not really kids anymore. If the system (and the financial commitment) is going to work Gardner and Johnson for instance should be involved this year, so that they gain the experience to become regulars (hopefully) the season after. Cahill, C Gardner etc have been "lost" to us over the last few years but done well when played regularly at other clubs.

[Mazrim]

The hope for our youth players doesn't begin and end with the current 21-22 year olds, even though some of them are very promising indeed.
There are a number of potential wonderkids further down the scale.

But were not our current crop of 20-22 year olds, and there are about ten of them, potential wonderkids 3 years ago.

Well a few maybe, yes. I'm not sure I like the term wonderkid even though I used it (for dramatic effect).
But it depends on your expectations. Very few so called wonderkids actually ever happen. They are really once in a generation players like Rooney.
I also think using those kinds of terms makes people expect the world of them by the time they are 21-22 which is bollocks. If you have anything like a reasonable competent squad its very hard for players that age to make a name for themselves at that age.

Are we saying that the likes of Albrighton, Clark, Delfouneso, Bannan and so on are to be written off already though? I'm nor prepared to do that. Most of them have had just a taste of first team football and I think some of them have done very well. 10 years ago we wouldn't be so hypercritical of players just coming into their 20s. I dont see why that would have changed much but its seems so in some cases.

Basically this is the most competitive league in the world and its hard for youngsters to explode onto the scene.
Be patient with them and we'll see how they go.
Also, get used to it. Its not only the way we should be going but the way we will be going.
Are any other clubs in this league churning out better youngsters than we are at the moment and from what Ive seen, the next few years? I dont think so.

And if you're expecting guaranteed superstars every year, forget it. There are no guarantees, just best guesses. Still, our youth system is in fantastic shape, thank christ. Because its going to need to be.

[Greg N'Ash]

The hope for our youth players doesn't begin and end with the current 21-22 year olds, even though some of them are very promising indeed.
There are a number of potential wonderkids further down the scale.

But were not our current crop of 20-22 year olds, and there are about ten of them, potential wonderkids 3 years ago.

yep. Since this site has been going there's always been this superb crop of youngsters coming through according to those that take an interest and they never materialise unfortunately. Now we've had a better youth set-up than most but in the last 10 years or so but you'd struggle to put together a decent premierside side from the ones that have made a career for themselves. I have my doubts we can rely on them to the extent we're going to have to

They don't materilaise IMO because we don't have a policy that says: "play them". ManUre, Arsenal do it and Everton to a degree. Wilshere is special but some of our youngsters (Gardner and Johnson at present) could be special too given more opportunities. Fonz has been given a few goes over the last few years but we didn't really see Albrighton, Clark and Bannan until last season and they are already 21/22 and not really kids anymore. If the system (and the financial commitment) is going to work Gardner and Johnson for instance should be involved this year, so that they gain the experience to become regulars (hopefully) the season after. Cahill, C Gardner etc have been "lost" to us over the last few years but done well when played regularly at other clubs.

Well i agree that Cahill is probably the biggest transfer mistake of the last 30 years by a Villa manager, but the rest? There's a few that have made a career at lower premiership level like Gadner (so far) and Ridgewell, a splattering who are decent championship or lowers players but thats about it really. The problem is, the best young players do generally get hoovered up by the big clubs. Even the mancs with their feted youth team of beckham giggs etc.. stole most of them .The world and his wife knew about these players before they were at ManU so rather than them being proof of some great youth set-up by Ferguson, its more a gauge of how big the brown envelope he left at their parents was.

[dave.woodhall]

Even the mancs with their feted youth team of beckham giggs etc.. stole most of them .The world and his wife knew about these players before they were at ManU so rather than them being proof of some great youth set-up by Ferguson, its more a gauge of how big the brown envelope he left at their parents was.

They didn't, but let's not have the truth getting in the way of some more Nashonian idiocy.

[Greg N'Ash]

Even the mancs with their feted youth team of beckham giggs etc.. stole most of them .The world and his wife knew about these players before they were at ManU so rather than them being proof of some great youth set-up by Ferguson, its more a gauge of how big the brown envelope he left at their parents was.

They didn't, but let's not have the truth getting in the way of some more Nashonian idiocy.

depends on your definition of stole. giggs was at citeh until his mum suddenly got a new washing machine. Bechkam, all the london clubs knew about him. the nevilles were at bury and Lancashire i think with one of them classed  as future england cricketer according to dickie bird. Even the likes of John Terry got an invitation to meet the mancs 1st team just before he was due to sign his first professional contract with chelsea

[Concrete John]

Well i agree that Cahill is probably the biggest transfer mistake of the last 30 years by a Villa manager, but the rest? There's a few that have made a career at lower premiership level like Gadner (so far) and Ridgewell, a splattering who are decent championship or lowers players but thats about it really. The problem is, the best young players do generally get hoovered up by the big clubs. Even the mancs with their feted youth team of beckham giggs etc.. stole most of them .The world and his wife knew about these players before they were at ManU so rather than them being proof of some great youth set-up by Ferguson, its more a gauge of how big the brown envelope he left at their parents was.

You've come up with some classics before, but this one is right up there.  The world and his wife knew about the likes of Beckham and Giggs before Man Utd signed them, which happened when they were 15 tops?  In the mid to late 80s before Sky TV and the internet??   

[Greg N'Ash]

Well i agree that Cahill is probably the biggest transfer mistake of the last 30 years by a Villa manager, but the rest? There's a few that have made a career at lower premiership level like Gadner (so far) and Ridgewell, a splattering who are decent championship or lowers players but thats about it really. The problem is, the best young players do generally get hoovered up by the big clubs. Even the mancs with their feted youth team of beckham giggs etc.. stole most of them .The world and his wife knew about these players before they were at ManU so rather than them being proof of some great youth set-up by Ferguson, its more a gauge of how big the brown envelope he left at their parents was.

You've come up with some classics before, but this one is right up there.  The world and his wife knew about the likes of Beckham and Giggs before Man Utd signed them, which happened when they were 15 tops?  In the mid to late 80s before Sky TV and the internet??   

you underestimate how good clubs youth set-ups are. They KNOW who are the most talented kids. I'd be gobsmacked if Villa weren't aware of him.