NextGen - Marseille

[hipkiss92]

The one player I'm quite interested in is Carruthers, considering we signed him from Arsenal we must consider him a good prospect, what do we think are his chances are of making the grade? Seemed to have an ability to beat the full back as well as look for a pass against Marseilles.

[Mazrim]

The one player I'm quite interested in is Carruthers, considering we signed him from Arsenal we must consider him a good prospect, what do we think are his chances are of making the grade? Seemed to have an ability to beat the full back as well as look for a pass against Marseilles.

He's very tidy. Uses the ball well, has some skill and control. Quick feet but a bit small.
Reminds me a bit of Nasri come to think of it. He's got a very good chance.

[Larry Duff]

I thought Samir was our best player the other night but I really like Graham Burke who has had a fantastic season and has great natural ability.

Oliver Stevenson is a very good shout. He skippered last seasons outstanding U16s but has been injured all season. Malcolm Melvin and Charlie Ward are two of the younger midfield players who will be in the team next year.

Our problem at youth level is that we don't have a prolific goalscorer.  I watched the youth team play at top of the league Coventry a couple of months ago and we created and missed chance after chance.  Same at Brighton in the youth cup and it was the same story against Marseille.

I have to say that the four games in the next gen have been the most enjoyment I have had at Villa Park this season.
 

[Mazrim]

Robinson, Drennan and Burke will do nicely whilst we find a youth striker or two.
Sometimes you just have to pinch one from somewhere.

[Dante Lavelli]

Although I can't disagree with Maz's opinion that Derrick Williams was the best of our defenders there is a good reason for this.  Derrick is an U19 player who would normally be partnered by another U19 defender Daniel Devine but unfortunately Devine has not kicked a ball all season after sustaining a crusciate ligament injury.
The three lads who made up the back four were all playing U16 football last season and due to their outstanding ability have leapfrogged over older players like Nelson Addy, Brian, Donacien and Jenkins to claim a start, two years above their age group.
Anyone who follows junior football will know that Bradley Lewis, who played for England schools is considered one of the top prospects in the game. Lewis has been injured for most of the season, only making his comeback a few weeks ago and obviously needs to grow a bit.  Josh Webb as a first year YTS is also a reserve regular and England U17 right back.  Both of these lads are considered to have a very good chance of making the grade and two years age difference in youth football is massive and should not be overlooked   

Yeah that's fair enough. I didn't really mean to sound like I'm writing Webb and the likes off. Far from it. They're all good players, I just think we're heavy in midfield and forward quality at the moment. But injuries and other reasons have had an effect for sure.

Devine I'm still not sure of but could come good and plays well with Williams, Donacien looks very good but will he be allowed to stay in the UK? It's the only reason he's not playing at the moment. His form was very good.
Webb is class on his day. Need to see more of him and we will of course.

I'm including Bradley Lewis in a younger group to this Next Gen side but the reports on him are very encouraging. Likewise Oli Stevenson.

Mazrim, do you think we have actively "looked" for midfielders and forward or that they've just come along i.e. a fluke.  My point being if we can control it so specifically them why do we not just increase the spending and increase our chances all over the pitch?

Genuine question but from a position of ignorance.

[Bottom Right 89]

The one player I'm quite interested in is Carruthers, considering we signed him from Arsenal we must consider him a good prospect, what do we think are his chances are of making the grade? Seemed to have an ability to beat the full back as well as look for a pass against Marseilles.

He's very tidy. Uses the ball well, has some skill and control. Quick feet but a bit small.
Reminds me a bit of Nasri come to think of it. He's got a very good chance.

Did you see when he tried to walk it in, Gary Gardner enraged shook him like a rag doll.

Was pleasing to see over the two games I went to, we have 5 or 6 lads that could make the first team. Carruthers great skill and Daniel Johnson has some talent but he needs to stop whinging at officials. I liked the guy on the left wing Cameron, direct with good pace and put in some great crosses, Webb the central defender is another that impressed, as for Gary Gardner the sky is the limit - I think this is definitely the bright future we crave. Looking forward to this again next season.

[darren woolley]

Cheers for that Gervilla first time I've seen it.

[Neil Hawkes]

Did you see when he tried to walk it in, Gary Gardner enraged shook him like a rag doll.

Perfect Captain material.

[Holtemeister]

The difference between making the step up from youth to the first team is in the head and not in the feet ..... We have seen many a prospect fail to make the next grade.

[Mazrim]

Although I can't disagree with Maz's opinion that Derrick Williams was the best of our defenders there is a good reason for this.  Derrick is an U19 player who would normally be partnered by another U19 defender Daniel Devine but unfortunately Devine has not kicked a ball all season after sustaining a crusciate ligament injury.
The three lads who made up the back four were all playing U16 football last season and due to their outstanding ability have leapfrogged over older players like Nelson Addy, Brian, Donacien and Jenkins to claim a start, two years above their age group.
Anyone who follows junior football will know that Bradley Lewis, who played for England schools is considered one of the top prospects in the game. Lewis has been injured for most of the season, only making his comeback a few weeks ago and obviously needs to grow a bit.  Josh Webb as a first year YTS is also a reserve regular and England U17 right back.  Both of these lads are considered to have a very good chance of making the grade and two years age difference in youth football is massive and should not be overlooked   

Yeah that's fair enough. I didn't really mean to sound like I'm writing Webb and the likes off. Far from it. They're all good players, I just think we're heavy in midfield and forward quality at the moment. But injuries and other reasons have had an effect for sure.

Devine I'm still not sure of but could come good and plays well with Williams, Donacien looks very good but will he be allowed to stay in the UK? It's the only reason he's not playing at the moment. His form was very good.
Webb is class on his day. Need to see more of him and we will of course.

I'm including Bradley Lewis in a younger group to this Next Gen side but the reports on him are very encouraging. Likewise Oli Stevenson.

Mazrim, do you think we have actively "looked" for midfielders and forward or that they've just come along i.e. a fluke.  My point being if we can control it so specifically them why do we not just increase the spending and increase our chances all over the pitch?

Genuine question but from a position of ignorance.

Hard to say specifically. I think from a scouts point of view you recommend the best players on show and if they tend to be midfielders or stikers then so be it.
But it's not like we have no quality defenders at youth level.
Baker could make it although my guess is it wont be at Villa. Williams I'm very impressed with and I think he will make it at Villa. Webb's future is at full back. Devine is another like Baker who will do well but I'm not sure if it will be at Villa and I'm guessing not.

Larry Duff made some good points (I must call him on his mobile) about missing a few this season at the U19/U18 level. I think the Donacien situation is disgraceful too. I wonder if it would have happened if the player was at Chelsea or Arsenal. So my comment about lacking quality defenders was perhaps poorly phrased. What I meant was we have stronger suits elsewhere or rather the defensive suit is our weakest taking into account we dont know how Devine will recover or whether Donacien will ever play for us again.

Is Clark a centre half? Yes but he may forge a career in midfield as he's versatile. I actually expect this to happen now.
So the next centre half cab off the rank is Williams (assuming Baker wont make it here) and he's still very young. With the question marks hanging over some of the others and there not really being any quality centre halfs until the potentially top class ones we have at u17 level come through, I'd be happier if we sought out one or two in the U19 age group.

[barrysleftfoot]

  You don't rate Baker then Maz?

  Only seen glimpses of him, but i think he looks quite reasonable.Seems to have a bit of pace, and not bad in the air.Needs to get stonger imho, and then i think he coulsd be a very good partner for Clark.

[Mazrim]

I do rate him but my gut feeling is that he wont be a regular first teamer for us, no. I felt the same way about Lowry. Although if he doesn't make it here he will still do alright.
I could be wrong. It's by no means a certainty in my opinion. Sometimes players just "get it" all of a sudden. They hit a magic age or place and it all slots in.

He's not as promising as Derrick Williams in my opinion and I would say Clark is destined to play in midfield now although he could just as easily play centre half.

[Hoppo]

Maz/Larry so which positions are Stevenson Lewis and Webb best in? Also is Williams best at centre back? Is Siegrist best keeper coming through? Thanks in advance!

[villajk]

Email to season ticket holders from AVFC

Dear Pauline

First of all I would like to thank those of you who came out in force to cheer on the U19 team in the NextGen Series quarter-final against Marseille. The atmosphere created by the 3,500 supporters at Villa Park made the occasion feel even greater for our young players. We are extremely proud of the way the team performed, although we are disappointed not to be progressing to a semi-final against Inter Milan. We created a host of chances but were unable to take them on the night and we were unfortunate to lose 2-1 in extra-time. Nevertheless, the tournament has been a fantastic experience for the players and staff and we look forward to it next year. Just two of this year’s squad – Gary Gardner and Benjamin Siegrist – will be too old to compete in the 2012-13 NextGen Series so most of our players will go into next year’s competition having already gained experience of facing top European opposition. Five members of our NextGen squad – Gary Gardner, Derrick Williams, Daniel Johnson, Samir Carruthers and Graham Burke – now have first team squad numbers, proving that the Aston Villa production line is still rolling.

The NextGen Series has been a real eye-opener in terms of learning about the styles and philosophies of foreign teams and players. Sometimes there is a feeling of trepidation among young English players about facing their counterparts from the continent because it is often drummed into us that the French, German or Spanish youth development models are superior to ours. But people are starting to appreciate how good our system is. I think we are among the best in Europe and the results are there to prove that. It is something that we have to get into the mindsets of players.

The U18 team are currently going through a purple patch in the Barclays Premier Academy League, making an unbeaten start to 2012. Three highly-rated members of that squad also shone on the international stage this week by helping England U17s clinch the Algarve Tournament title. Striker Callum Robinson, winger Jordan Graham and defender Joshua Webb all featured prominently in the four-team tournament, which pitted England against Holland, France and hosts Portugal. It was extremely pleasing to see Callum score the goal that clinched the title in Monday’s decisive clash against France. After winning 2-1 against Portugal in the first match, England drew 2-2 with Holland before being confirmed as champions by beating France 2-1. The reports we have received on Callum, Jordan and Joshua have been very positive. From a development point of view it is great experience for them to go and represent their country in an overseas tournament, while it offers some of our even younger players the opportunity to step up to the U18 squad in their absence. Having so many internationals in the ranks is also a boost for the academy. In addition to the three England boys, winger Jack Grealish and defender Brad Lewis are currently away in Portugal with Republic of Ireland U17s.

As you may have read in the national press, the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) has been approved by the shareholders of the Premier League and will come into effect on July 1. It means academies across the country will be graded into four categories and we hope to achieve elite status by obtaining a Category 1 license.

Finally, I am pleased to confirm that we have been invited back to the Hong Kong International Soccer 7s in May. It will be the 11th time that Aston Villa have taken part in the tournament and we have lifted the trophy on five occasions. We originally started going across to the Far East for the experience of playing in humidity and heat. It is a well-organised tournament and the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor, Nathan Delfouneso, Barry Bannan and Marc Albrighton are among those to have represented Villa at previous Soccer 7s competitions. Our U19 squad will fly out on May 15 with the tournament taking place on the weekend of May 19 and 20.

[Mazrim]

Maz/Larry so which positions are Stevenson Lewis and Webb best in? Also is Williams best at centre back? Is Siegrist best keeper coming through? Thanks in advance!

Sorry for the late reply mate.

Webb is versatile but his future is definitely at full back I think.
From what I've seen Stevenson could play anywhere across the back or defensive midfield but Lewis is a centre half. Williams is definitely best at centre half.

Siegrist is outstanding and yes, the best keeper we have coming through and possibly the best keeper of his age group anybody has coming through.
That said Barrett is making great strides in Siegrist's absence.