Loanwatch 2025-26

[cdbearsfan]

EFL Final at Wembley tomorrow for Stockport. Seen a fan site claiming that Barry's ban doesn't apply to that game but can't see it anywhere official.

[eamonn]

Bunny Broggio slaying the forces of evil (Rangers) for Falkirk.

[Dante Lavelli]

Bunny Broggio slaying the forces of evil (Rangers) for Falkirk.

Decent scoring record up there. What position, and Is he highly rated?

[Percy McCarthy]

^^ He plays on the right-wing, cutting in on his stronger (left) foot as is the way now, he’s scored four goals and is highly-rated (AFAIK) at Villa.

[eamonn]

Sadly, Falkirk have collapsed.

[cdbearsfan]

EFL Final at Wembley tomorrow for Stockport. Seen a fan site claiming that Barry's ban doesn't apply to that game but can't see it anywhere official.

On the bench.

[Mister E]

Broggio, Burrowes, Rowe (Triston), McGrath and KY: in theory, we're well served on our right side for next season, which should mean offloading Bailey and sending Sancho back to the RedMancs.
Now need to assess, Hemmings, Borland, O'Reilly and JJA for MF options and Routh, Mosquera, Oczan and RJ Carroll in defence.

That should reduce the average age of the squad!

[eamonn]

How many of them are ready to play first team football for the tenth best team in Europe though?

[Smithy]

How many of them are ready to play first team football for the tenth best team in Europe though?

That's the crux of it. 

To play in our first team you need to be seriously good, or have serious potential.  If we can get 1 or 2 out of that group into our first team squad over the next couple of years, we'll have done incredibly well.  1 per year is way above average.

More realistically (and very unfortunately), none of them will likely become first-team regulars for us, and instead they'll be sold, where four or five sales will pay for a first-team player. 

That's not to say these players aren't talented, or won't have good careers even in the top flight - but this is the Aston Villa of 2026. Unai's Aston Villa. Regular European competitors, Aston Villa.  So you can be a decent enough Premier League player and STILL not be good enough for us.  Which is a huge shame, and I say this as someone who absolutely loves the prospect of a youth player making it into our side and doing well.