Callum O'Hare and Mitch Clark

[SaddVillan]

Mitch Clark was loaned out by Leicester to Port Vale on 30 January.

He started for Vale last Saturday in a 1-1 draw against Salford.

Wondering why he's gone out on loan again?

[OzVilla]

I’m sure I read that  O’Hare’s contract’s up in the summer. Does this mean we could lose him if he didn’t really-sign or is there an option we have? Seems strange to not have him tied down atleast.

[Luke8]

I think it was a mistake to let O'hare go on loan, I'd rather he came on than Lansbury.

He would have barely played. He needed to go out and play regularly for his development.

The problem is that he should really have been loaned out a lot earlier. Sadly, it didn’t seem like something that Bruce/the club were very good at at the time.

[brontebilly]

I think it was a mistake to let O'hare go on loan, I'd rather he came on than Lansbury.

He would have barely played. He needed to go out and play regularly for his development.

The problem is that he should really have been loaned out a lot earlier. Sadly, it didn’t seem like something that Bruce/the club were very good at at the time.

Yeah he definitely wasted one season under Bruce where he made a few appearances, scored a goal or two but ultimately was never going to get an extended run in the team.

[paul_e]

I think it was a mistake to let O'hare go on loan, I'd rather he came on than Lansbury.

He would have barely played. He needed to go out and play regularly for his development.

The problem is that he should really have been loaned out a lot earlier. Sadly, it didn’t seem like something that Bruce/the club were very good at at the time.

Yeah he definitely wasted one season under Bruce where he made a few appearances, scored a goal or two but ultimately was never going to get an extended run in the team.

That was very frustrating, he was, apparently, all ready to go on loan in Jan 18 before Bruce stepped in and blocked it because he needed him only for him to not make another matchday squad all year. The mismanagement of the youth players like that is one of the biggest problems I've had with the club for years.

[Clampy]

I think it was a mistake to let O'hare go on loan, I'd rather he came on than Lansbury.

Whilst I agree he would probably be a better option than Lansbury, him getting regular first team football won't do him any harm at all.

[SaddVillan]

In recent years too many players languished in the Academy side, where the football is, by and large neither physical or competitive. As a result they failed to develop.

For the good of the players and the club they should have been out on loan learning the physical rough and tumble of first team football in the lower leagues, Whilst at the same time not bring mollycoddled but having to stand on their own two feet.

We should aim to loan them to Divs 3/4 for a season and then let them go out to a 2nd Div club if they show sufficient promise.

Several benefits:
Academy places freed up for youngsters ccoming through
The loanees get to see life outside a big club and hopefully become determined to make It at VP
The club gets to see if they've got what It takes and can then take steps to move out more quickly those that it feels won't make the grade.

It was illuminating to see how the Academy side struggled against Salford City and Tranmere.

At present, apart from O'Hare and possibly Ramsey there doesn't seem to be anybody coming through who might be pushing for a first team place next season, which is an indictment of our recruitment AND development system.

[paul_e]

Not counting Vassilev, Archer, Sarkic or Bridge then?

[SaddVillan]

I'm not discounting them, but they have some way to go.

It would be really good if, say in 3 years time we had a match day squad including:

Grealish
O'Hare
Ramsey
Barry (Louie)
Bridge
Vassilev
Archer
Sarkic

[Drummond]

Isn't Revan supposed to be good too?

[dcdavecollett]

Yes, the waste of talent in our youth system is truly shocking.

[SoccerHQ]

Isn't Revan supposed to be good too?

Loan him out and see. He was making the first team bench last season on occasions so surprised he hasn't gone out yet.

[Fred Crump]

That’s why they have brought Mark Harrison in. It was woefully old school and insignificant within the club hierarchy before he joined , but he’s part of the integrated long term plan that gives me so much hope for the future. At last , we are run and set up like the big club we are.

[fredm]

Said it many years ago. People at the Villa, including some who posted on here, were waxing lyrical about the younger players winning the reserve league (or whatever name it was going under that season) when other teams were sending their players out on loan and getting experience at the mucky end of the league. Then when said players got to the age of 21/22 they had no experience of fully grown adult football and just lost their way.

[paul_e]

Said it many years ago. People at the Villa, including some who posted on here, were waxing lyrical about the younger players winning the reserve league (or whatever name it was going under that season) when other teams were sending their players out on loan and getting experience at the mucky end of the league. Then when said players got to the age of 21/22 they had no experience of fully grown adult football and just lost their way.

Yep, no one from that team has had any impact on us. Oh, except our captain of course.