30 Dec 2020 16:21:33
Does anyone know if biddance will be offered a new contract surely we can't let another promising youngster go.
30 Dec 2020 16:28:28
Not saying play him, but at least call him up for match squad, just to give him a taster, Let him feel the togetherness of the team, better still get him signed .
Onwards&Upwards Villaforever.
30 Dec 2020 16:50:18
Something needs to be done ASAP, otherwise the kids head is going to get turned, not a good thing at his age.
We are improving at all levels within the club, we must not let things like this creep in, get it sorted.
30 Dec 2020 17:04:22
“Another†JH? What other promising youngsters have we let go?
30 Dec 2020 17:07:26
Callum O'Hare for one.
30 Dec 2020 18:35:23
22 years of age, multiple chances in the first team, never did enough to get a regular spot, despite being in the second tier. Had a successful loan in league one, found his level, now at the same team fighting relegation in the second tier.
Next?
30 Dec 2020 18:36:45
Ohare, Robinson,
30 Dec 2020 19:18:27
Took Callum Robinson 4 years to find his way to the premier league after we let him go, he’s now on a one way ticket back out of it getting splinters on his arse in the process because he isn’t deemed good enough for the fight, whilst we are currently fighting for a top 6 finish.
Next?
30 Dec 2020 20:00:50
I guess the answer depends on what criteria you use to determine promising youngsters and how far back you want to go but here are three names for you.
Gary Cahill, Steven Davis, Brian McClair.
30 Dec 2020 20:35:18
Sturridge.
30 Dec 2020 20:41:32
Apply the same criteria to the this players John that I did for O’Hare and Robinson.
The only youngster in the last two ownerships that we have let go and they have gone on to supersede what we were achieving at the same time, is Cahill.
I get why fans clamour for our youngsters to do well but the truth of the matter is the majority of players a club produces aren’t going to get to the level said club requires. It would be immorale and irresponsible to hold on to them and ruin their careers wasting away in reserves. Letting them go, learn their trade, make a living, it’s the right thing to do.
Outside of Cahill we haven’t let go of anyone in our recent history that has come back to bite us on our arse. The new youth set up is perfect, look at the ages in our U23’s. All the signs are positive, enjoy it.
30 Dec 2020 20:45:40
I thought O'Hare did well with his very rare opportunities to play and looked really promising. I was shocked when we let him go. Its ok to disagree Chris.
30 Dec 2020 20:55:12
Chris I agree by and large with what you say but it is interesting to see particularly German clubs identifying young talent not only from this country buying cheap and then selling on for a profit what are there scouts picking up on that our coaches are missing?
30 Dec 2020 20:59:39
Not saying it’s not ok to disagree Dave but who does he replace in our current first 11?
30 Dec 2020 21:05:00
I’m with you on that one Dave, 4 league and 4 cup appearances over 4 years is hardly multiple chances. Also, many of those were only 10- 15 minute cameos.
He’s improved since he left us and at 22 there’s still plenty of time to develop into a player that might come back to bite us in the arse. So for me the jury is very much still out on Callum O’hare.
30 Dec 2020 22:02:53
Same age as Douglas Luiz, a year younger than Konsa and Cash. We brought those players and they went straight into the first team. We can’t stockpile players not able to give them game time in the hope they develop into a good enough player.
30 Dec 2020 23:01:50
Luiz did go straight into the first team and I can’t remember him being anything other than very average until play resumed after the lockdown. Smith persisted with him though and he now looks a different class. Who’s to say that O’hare couldn’t have achieved the same had he been given the same number of games Luiz has had to establish himself. Luiz also cost 15 million, O’hare was home produced and might just have saved us a few bob, had he been given adequate opportunity, which is the only way he could of developed into a good enough player.
30 Dec 2020 23:11:03
He was given opportunity though, and he was training with the first team day in day out for over two years. It wasn’t just one manager who didn’t fancy him, it was multiple. So far he is no where near showing the levels we require.
We had the option at a 12 months extension on his deal, we didn’t use it, because it would of been irresponsible. Led the lad learn, let the lad play, the same way Daniel Johnson, Robinson, Bannan, Lichaj and plenty of others have done. They all find their level eventually and can’t speak higher of Villa and our involvement in their development.
31 Dec 2020 00:44:48
Good debate on letting young players go and fair points on both sides. I think we probably need to start thinking and acting like a big club and get some of these players signed up and out on loan. Chelsea, City, Liverpool etc have been doing it for years. As a club we've been in a bad place for nearly a decade but we're on the up so hopefully its a direction we'll move in. if for no other reason than to generate income if they get sold woth one out of every 10 turning into a Grealish.
We've had a lot of good young players in recent seasons but unfortunately we've mainly been fighting relegation or under pressure to get back up which isn't great for nurturing talent. Players like O'Hare and Bannan could have progressed to who knows what level in a better environment. From a sports psychology point of view, some players can drop down a level and rise back up (Cahill), some get lost with poor coaching or poor teams (Bannan), its impossible to predict. Villa are moving in the right direction and seem to have started gathering some high potential youngsters, the key is now nurturing them and giving them the right levels of exposure to stop them being poached and reach their potential.
31 Dec 2020 10:01:16
Good point DBS, imo Liverpool are the model for this, how much did they make on Solanke, Brewster, Ibe etc? Three well experienced youth players who have been sent out on loan and eventually proved themselves in the second tier, can fund a 40 million + signing!
Next year is the year for me, the 17 year olds who are in the U23 side should be offered out to steady league one sides, or maybe a club who have just been promoted to the champ, similar to Wycombe this year. They have a good 6 months/ a year and they either come back and have their chance with us, or back out on loan at a higher level, with the hope they prove themselves and we can get a decent fee for an experienced 18/ 19 year old.