Aston Villa Reserves/Academy games & information

[Mazrim]

To be honest, whilst a lot of plans were laid a long time ago, we were sort of paying at it until the last 5 or 6 years where we've really stepped it up. The standards and facilities have gone through the roof.

[Steve R]

Thanks for the replies, it's good to see it is a result of positive action we have taken. It means there is every chance it will continue.

[Mazrim]

No doubt in my mind. We're committed to it and to be honest, it's our best bet for future success.
We don't buy superstars, we make them. I guess that's the mantra.

[jcsutv]

Get in Stoke

[The Left Side]

Get in Stoke

wrong thread johnno

[jcsutv]

Sorry about that!

[paul_e]

To be honest, whilst a lot of plans were laid a long time ago, we were sort of paying at it until the last 5 or 6 years where we've really stepped it up. The standards and facilities have gone through the roof.

What we need to get better at though is the step after this.  We're good at getting the kids in and getting them playing well above average 1 level below the first team but we've had problems with getting them over that gap and  have lost a few very highly rated youngsters along the way.  If we can start really converting the potential into premier league performances then we'll be in a great place to really move up the league.  There's probably 7-8 of the current youngsters who are in with a real chance of making it in the next 2 years, added to the academy graduates already in the squad that'ss a fairly massive sign that we will do right by our own.  If we can't use that as a selling point to the likes of Crowley, etc then we're in trouble.

[peter w]

Although you're right paul the current pull of an Arsenal, man U, Chelsea etc in today's Branded Sky football world turns heads of young kids more than a great possibility of making it with Aston Villa. You'd hope the parents can see it though.

[Mazrim]

The pull of fast tracking kids to a first them is probably stronger than the fortunes of a clubs first team.
Yes, the odd player might be seduced by it but in terms of academy reputation, facilities and so on Villa are very much one of the big guns. We can lose players to other clubs and we can also take them from them.

[OCD]

A big pull that clubs like Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea etc have is that they're happy to give a kids' parents a house or a £100k job for throwing paper aeroplanes around the office. I don't know whether we stoop to those depths but it is a challenge we face.

[Percy McCarthy]

A big pull that clubs like Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea etc have is that they're happy to give a kids' parents a house or a £100k job for throwing paper aeroplanes around the office. I don't know whether we stoop to those depths but it is a challenge we face.

Walter Cowans - kit-man supreme.

[PeterWithesShin]

Shame they couldn't show off the NextGen trophy today.

[Lastfootstamper]

Shame they couldn't show off the NextGen trophy today.

Two games in a row I'd been looking forward to that. How come it didn't happen again?

[Legion]

A prior commitment of a football match.

[eastie]

Villa ladies are playing at villa park tomorrow night against coventry - free admission for all / though i guess most of us will be busy watching events in north London.