Aston Villa Reserves/Academy games & information

[Legion]

They are changed around every now and again, particularly at the start of the season.

A welcome change in coaching staff today.

Game 1: W 6-0
Game 2: W 4-2

Info texted to me whilst I was enduring a Christening.

[spangley1812]

Team news - Manchester United U21 v Villa U21 - kick-off 7pm.
 
MAN UTD: Sutherland, Veseli, James, Ekagamene, McCullough, Fornasier, Bebe, Hendrie, Henriquez, Januzaj, Lawrence. Subs: Barmby, Gollini, Daehli, Grimshaw, Love.
 
VILLA: Hill, Barton, Webb, Ward, Donacien, Williams, Graham, Carruthers, Drennan, Burke, Grealish. Subs: Watkins-Clark, Barrett, Melvin, Kinsella.

[Larry Duff]

United have the very talented Adnan Januzaj playing tonight. Remember that name.  He could be quite a player in the future.  Jack Barmby (son of Nicky) is also a good prospect.

We have some good ball players in our side with Graham, Grealish and Burke all very comfortable on the ball.

Nice to see Josh Webb and Lewis Kinsella back after long injury breaks.  They both played a half in the U18s on saturday.

[PeterWithesShin]

HT - Man Utd U21 0-0 Villa U21 - All square after a quiet first-half at Altrincham. Both keepers made a couple of great saves. Villa's Craig Hill kept up his superb form by thwarting Tom Lawrence on two occasions. United's Jonathan Sutherland tipped a Michael Drennan free-kick around the post before holding a Jack Grealish header. Bebe also had a decent opportunity for the home side but dragged his left-foot shot into the side-netting.

[Steve R]

Thanks for the updates chaps. After the heavy defeat to them at reserve level last year it'll be interesting to see how our youngsters fare against them without the disadvantage of facing a clutch of full international ringers.

[PeterWithesShin]

Man Utd U21 0-1 Villa U21 - GOAL - Jordan Graham has broken the deadlock from the penalty spot. The winger made a terrific run into the box before being chopped down by Reece James on the byline. He stepped up and sent keeper Jonathan Sutherland the wrong way.

[PeterWithesShin]

FT - Man Utd U21 0-1 Villa U21 - Villa earn a deserved victory at Moss Lane. This result takes them up to second in Group 2 of the Barclays U21 Premier League. Jordan Graham's penalty proved to be the match-winning strike. United had a chance late on with Frederic Veseli volleying over from just inside the box but Gordon Cowans' team were good value for the three points.

[OCD]

Looks good on the face of it. Unfortunately it sounds like half of the United side are playing for the seniors tomorrow night.

[Mazrim]

We were missing some big players too. Gary Gardner, Dan Johnson... etc

[Percy McCarthy]

Fuck me, we can't do fuck all right for some people.

[OCD]

The comment was made after reading the match report on the OS where they had said that United were fielding an inexperienced side as most of their U21 side has gone over to Turkey. It wasn't meant as a dig - you still have to beat whatever's put in front of you and I'm sure United could have re-arranged if they had wanted to. And now we've won that gives us a great chance of qualifying above the line when the league splits at Christmas.

[Percy McCarthy]

Ok, fair enough.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

We put out a team containing 7 U18's and never looked like losing!

[Dante Lavelli]

Can I just say that I like this new format.  It stops players getting too clogged up waiting for games and encourages players to go on loan.  With this end I think Villa need to arrange some sort of tie in with some teams to ensure everyone is playing the right number and correct level of competitive games.

[PeterWithesShin]

Sean Verity insists Villa's youngsters have no reason to fear Sporting Clube de Portugal as they prepare for tonight's crucial NextGen Series clash.

The boys in claret and blue go into the final Group 4 fixture in Lisbon knowing a victory would guarantee qualification for the knockout stages.

A draw or a defeat could open the door for PSV Eindhoven and Celtic, who face each other at the Philips Stadion this evening.

Villa currently occupy second place in Group 4.

The top two sides in each group are guaranteed a spot in the last 16, with the four best third placed teams also qualifying.

Verity believes Villa showed against PSV earlier this month that they are capable of matching the best sides in the competition.

But he knows the young lions face a formidable task against one of the tournament favourites.

"We have put ourselves right in the hunt with the PSV result," said coach Verity.

"Sporting are a good team. They are probably the best we have played out of the six or seven opponents we've had including last year.

"But we are more than capable of matching anybody if we do the stuff we did against PSV.

"If we are keep the ball and create as well as did against a disciplined PSV then we can do that to anybody.

"We have got the belief that we can do it to anyone."

Villa began this season's NextGen Series with defeats against Sporting and PSV.

However, they kickstarted their campaign by beating Celtic at Villa Park before earning a draw in the return fixture.

The 2-0 success over PSV put them firmly in the shake-up for qualificiation.

Tonight's game kicks off at 6.30pm.