Reserves and Academy 2022/23

[Drummond]

I see we've let a few go... Shakpoke, Raikhy and Brad Young were the ones surprising me.

[dicedlam]

I see we've let a few go... Shakpoke, Raikhy and Brad Young were the ones surprising me.

Especially Raikhy. Always seemed tidy on the ball whenever I have watched him.

[Drummond]

Yep absolutely, he's always seemed one of the better ones. Perhaps we just couldn't agree terms.

[pablo_picasso]

Declan Frith, Hayden Lindley, Arjan Raikhy, Ruben Shakpoke, Myles Sohna, Jed Steer, Ashley Young and Brad Young have all been released.

Im not surprised by any of them being gone tbh.

Raikhy looked decidedly shaky when he was on loan at both Grimsby & Stockport whenever I saw him. He looked good in the youth cup final, but the step up to mens football seemed difficult for him.

Brad Young was always going to struggle. He is nothing more than a straight line pace merchant & you can get away with that in reserve football, but you need more than that for proper mens football. His pace might make him useful in non league football.

The rest are nothing more than practice squad quality players for the reserves.

[Smithy]

Didn't we pay money for Shakpoke when he came from the Norwich academy? I could be wrong, it was a couple of years ago now.

it's a shame to see some of the better-known youth cup winner released, but this was always going to be the case.  If only two players from each age group were good enough for the first team, you'd never have to buy a player ever.  The reality is that getting one first-team player per year from the youth scheme would be punching WAY above the average.

Good luck to them at whatever clubs they find themselves, and hopefully their time here will give them enough to forge a reasonable career elsewhere.

[paul_e]

Didn't we pay money for Shakpoke when he came from the Norwich academy? I could be wrong, it was a couple of years ago now.

it's a shame to see some of the better-known youth cup winner released, but this was always going to be the case.  If only two players from each age group were good enough for the first team, you'd never have to buy a player ever.  The reality is that getting one first-team player per year from the youth scheme would be punching WAY above the average.

Good luck to them at whatever clubs they find themselves, and hopefully their time here will give them enough to forge a reasonable career elsewhere.

came in with a good reputation but got injured very early on (from what I remember) and never seemed to settle once he got fit.

[OCD]

Yeah, it was a cruciate I think. It cost him his first season with us.

[Rotterdam]

I believe the PL2 is changing for 23/24 season. One 'big' league with all PL2 teams ranked by an algorithm to decide fixtures. Top 8 qualify for Europe.

www.trainingground.guru/articles/premier-league-2-to-switch-to-swiss-style-format-from-next-season

[PeterWithesShin]

Aston Villa Under-21s have found out their opponents in the 2023/24 EFL Trophy.

Tony Carss’ team were drawn in the Southern Group of the competition, landing in the same Group B alongside Charlton Athletic, Crawley Town and Sutton United.

Dates and times for EFL Trophy fixtures will be confirmed in due course.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the Young Lions took on AFC Wimbledon, Portsmouth and Crawley Town.

While they were eliminated in the group stage last term, Villa won their group in 2021/22 and advanced to the knockout stages.

[OCD]

Talk we're trying to nab another Albion kid, Rico Richards - https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/06/24/aston-villa-in-talks-to-seal-the-signing-of-19-year-old-midfielder/.

At 19, you would think he should be quite far down the development track. Maybe ready for his first loan move even. Rotterdam should have a good insight on him and the other Albion lad we signed.

[OCD]

2 more young talents signed - https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/linfield-set-to-receive-significant-fee-as-talented-young-pair-net-premier-league-move/a1349695014.html.

[Rotterdam]

Talk we're trying to nab another Albion kid, Rico Richards - https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/06/24/aston-villa-in-talks-to-seal-the-signing-of-19-year-old-midfielder/.

At 19, you would think he should be quite far down the development track. Maybe ready for his first loan move even. Rotterdam should have a good insight on him and the other Albion lad we signed.

I can add to this after July 1st OCD...

[OCD]

Talk we're trying to nab another Albion kid, Rico Richards - https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/06/24/aston-villa-in-talks-to-seal-the-signing-of-19-year-old-midfielder/.

At 19, you would think he should be quite far down the development track. Maybe ready for his first loan move even. Rotterdam should have a good insight on him and the other Albion lad we signed.

I can add to this after July 1st OCD...

👍🏼

[eamonn]

I wonder would Emery have kept on Mark Delaney and George Boateng rather than have them sacked like Gerrard did.

[Risso]

I wonder would Emery have kept on Mark Delaney and George Boateng rather than have them sacked like Gerrard did.

Well he got rid of everybody else, so my gut feeling is 'no'.