Reserves and Academy 2023/24

[Smithy]

I'd imagine most youth cup winning sides rarely see one or more make it into their first team to any notable degree.

Our last FA Youth Cup winning side saw quite a few of them appear in our first team, with varying degrees of longevity.  Whittingham, Ridgewell, Davis, Moore S and Moore L.  I'm sure that's WELL above the average.

I would imagine of our 2021 winning side four or five will have decent careers in the top couple of divisions - though at this rate, I'm not sure any of them will have significant careers with us (short of activating a buy-back clause).

[Yeltzbagger]

Yes of course you're right about the £35m. We certainly did very well with Chukwuemeka. I just hope one them makes it with the Villa!

[Percy McCarthy]

Somebody put up a team sheet from an old reserve game on Facebook the other day. There were a few who had/have decent careers - Weimann and Bannan were playing, Albrighton would normally have been but was injured, and Joe was on the bench. There were more than that but I can’t mind the others now.

[Smithy]

The challenge we have now, is that a youth prospect breaking into a side that is challenging for the top 6 has a much harder time than one trying to break into the side in the mid-table or below, or even in the Championship. The very best will still make it, but players who are still more than capable of having reasonable premier league careers might never get a chance with us.

I do sometimes wonder if Ramsey senior would have had the career he's had to date had he been two years younger and 'come of age' while we were upwardly mobile in the premier league.  His breakthrough season, our second in the premier league, he appeared 20+ times, but was competing for a place on the pitch with the likes of Trez, Barkley, Marv, Anwar.  Would he have got much of a look in if he was competing as an inexperienced 19-year-old with the likes of Bouba, Buendia, Diaby, Zaniolo, Traore, Bailey?  Maybe, maybe not.

Timing is obviously important, and carries a certain amount of luck, but I do think our youth products coming through today will face a MUCH bigger challenge even compared to those who cam through four or five years ago.

[OCD]

JJ had one loan move at Doncaster Rovers, in I think, Division one. He would have certainly had another season on loan in the Championship. Then it's a question of how you get someone like that Premier League experience. Maybe he would have been having cameos from the bench and starts in the cup games. The difference is that his style is ideal for the way Emery wants to play. He looked like he stepped up another level towards the end of the season. Brilliant against Newcastle and Brighton. Then even though his had limited time this season, it looked like it hadn't affected his progress.

[OCD]

Another hat-trick for Wilson. Article written from Norwich's point of view as it's from their website.

Under-18s beaten at home to Aston Villa

Norwich City Under-18s were beaten 7-0 at home to Aston Villa in the Under-18s Premier League South.

Aston Villa took an early lead through Rory Wilson. The away side countered quickly and Charlie Pavey played Wilson through, and he finished beyond Henry Bullen.

Four minutes later, Aston Villa would double their lead. Ben Broggio assisted Luka Lynch, who found the bottom corner.

There would be a third for Villa after 17 minutes, as Wilson added his second goal of the game from close range.

Wilson completed his hat-trick as Aston Villa added a fourth before half-time. The Aston Villa forward finished from Broggio's corner.

Aston Villa added a fifth goal in the second half, with Broggio finding the top corner after being found by Cole Brannigan.

It would be six late on, as Jamaldeen Jimoh scored for the away side. Before in the fourth minute of injury time, Triston Rowe added a seventh.

Norwich City Under-18s: Bullen, Thompson, Simbai (Ozcan h-t), Keita, Ofori-Manteaw, Pinyoun, Daley (Sealey 61), Djedje, Myles, Mundle-Smith (Roberts 61), Bracking.

Unused subs: Ruddy, Madu.

Bookings: Daley (36), Simbai (45+2), Pinyoun (71)

Aston Villa Under-18s: Lewis, Rowe, Fortes (Asante-Boakye 67), Timson, Katsukunya, Borland, Jimoh, Pavey (Simpson 61), Lynch (Mulley 67), Wilson (Brannigan 61), Broggio,

Unused subs: Proctor.

Bookings: Fortes (63), Simpson (73)

Goals: Wilson (7, 17, 43), Lynch (11), Broggio (64), Jimoh (84), Rowe (90+4)

[pablo_picasso]

Broggio is meant to be a very tidy prospect too...

[Smithy]

Hat-trick and he only played for an hour.  Not bad.

[OCD]

Could have done with him playing for the Under 21's last night.

[dcdavecollett]

Stuck record I know, but it really is time that Wilson was bumped up to the U-21s.

[Dante Lavelli]

The challenge we have now, is that a youth prospect breaking into a side that is challenging for the top 6 has a much harder time than one trying to break into the side in the mid-table or below, or even in the Championship. The very best will still make it, but players who are still more than capable of having reasonable premier league careers might never get a chance with us.

I do sometimes wonder if Ramsey senior would have had the career he's had to date had he been two years younger and 'come of age' while we were upwardly mobile in the premier league.  His breakthrough season, our second in the premier league, he appeared 20+ times, but was competing for a place on the pitch with the likes of Trez, Barkley, Marv, Anwar.  Would he have got much of a look in if he was competing as an inexperienced 19-year-old with the likes of Bouba, Buendia, Diaby, Zaniolo, Traore, Bailey?  Maybe, maybe not.

Timing is obviously important, and carries a certain amount of luck, but I do think our youth products coming through today will face a MUCH bigger challenge even compared to those who cam through four or five years ago.

All valid, except if we qualify for europa/conference.  That’s the perfect transition for young players.

[SaddVillan]

Looks as if we're keen to try and tie Rory Wilson down to a long term contract, with 15 goals in 20 appearances last season and 11 in 7 so far this year, it's easy to see why.

https://x.com/villareport/status/1721121929459802590?t=9bvJaxrynkBr2hSJ9Dq7QQ&s=08

[SaddVillan]

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/international/rory-wilson-scotlands-exciting-forward-has-taken-rangers-form-to-aston-villa-32-goal-season-first-team-aim-4150659

He sounds like a sensible lad, with the right approach and a realistic view of how his career will progress.

[pablo_picasso]

Good to hear that he has already built a little bulk... 👍

[AlexAlexCropley]

U-21s 2-0 down to Crawley atm