It's only because Watford youngster Harry Forrester has signed that we're even looking at the Academy and for that I won't apologise but will stick my hands up and say I know very little about them.

Fortunately I've got a pal that saw a couple of games last season who told me not very much but could name names. After all; the kids are the future and based on recent seasons you'd expect a few of these to break through.

First to 15 year old Forrester. He has signed a three year deal which will basically take him to him signing a professional contract or not with Villa. Has he got it? Manchester United and Spurs were chasing him and Watford were very very keen to keep him.

We won't know for sure as there are so many variables but we've got Shane Lowry, Marc Albrighton, Zoltan Stieber, Nathan Delfouneso and atleast one of the Bellon brothers are all expected to go all the way.

Some, if not all of the players mentioned above and others are fully expected to be playing reserve team football this season, (some already have) and don't be surprised if some make the first team bench.

I should just say, the players above are the only ones mentioned because they're the only names the person who watched a couple of games last season could remember for sure. He did say watch out for Albrighton, Stieber and Delfouneso who he said should all be playing regular reserve team football next season.

I'm actually a little embarrassed about my lack of knowledge on the academy front so if anyone is interested in providing more information please get in contact with me or leave a comment below and I'll contact you.

If anyone attends regular academy football and is willing to send us a small write up on the matches next season, we might also be able to stretch to offering you something in return.

Okay, I'm off, but these kids really are the children of the Randylution or to be more precise; Bryan Jones, Steve Burns, Tony McAndrew, Sir Gordon Cowans, Paul Brackwell, Alan Miller, Paul Rastrick, Chris Malkin. Gentlemen, all go ask for a pay rise.

Comments (36)

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will said:

i play acadamy football for watford, he is a great player, and wish him luck.

July 12, 2007

Bill said:

The academy are doing a fantastic job, watch out for Barry Bannan, left sided Scottish International

July 12, 2007

Clive Thompson said:

Spot on Damien. If I tell you I saw Gordon Cowans' first game for Villa you'll know I'm probably among the older generation of Villa fans. Cowans, Shaw and others from the Youth Team became members of Villa's Golden squad which won the League and TWO European titles. Let's not forget that they won the European Super Cup in a two legged final against Barcelona after beating Bayern for the European Cup. Cowans got booted by the Barcelona keeper after scoring from the spot in a very rough game. Martin O'Neill is savvy in building his squad for the next Golden age around young British players. I am sure that one thing which persuaded him to join Villa - apart from assurances that Ellis was leaving - was the knowledge that Gordon Cowans will continue to do a fantastic job with the youngsters. Provided we don't lose MON to the England job after Euro 2008 and Gordon Cowans doesn't get snaffled up for a managerial job elsewhere, the future for Villa does indeed look bright. I reckon the addition of one goal grabber plus a few older heads in defensive positions will set us up for a good season.

July 12, 2007

Luke said:

Marc Albrighton and Zoltan Stieber are massive prospects. Marc Albrighton has been awesome for the Reserves since he moved up. Zoltan is going to move to the first team pretty soon, if not this season.

July 12, 2007

Jasper said:

I’m just looking forward to the day the holte end can stand in unison and shout Zoltan with the linked hand gestures(dude where's my car fame) AND WILL RANDY HAND OUT FREE BUBBLE WRAP SUITS FOR THE OCCASION

July 12, 2007

Dexx said:

I have been involved with junior league football for many years. Marc Albrighton played in the same team as my eldest son so I watched him regularly for a few years and have followed his progress since joining the academy (his Dad is a friend and thoroughly good bloke - Hi Terry). He is the most naturally gifted footballer at pace that I have ever seen.

July 12, 2007

Brett said:

Watch out for McGurk and lund as well, we have loads of talented youngsters coming through that said olejnik, shane paul, o'halloren, sam williams even as far back as rob edwards and steffan moore all looked like they would be amazing when they were in the youth team but havent set the world alight (hopefully willaims still might)

July 12, 2007

Jaz Cooper said:

Can't you find your own talent! What Villa have done to Watford is nothing more than theft. WFC produce a great prospect, he gets rave reviews whilst on England under 15 duty, hits 16 and Villa knick him. There is obviuously no talent in Brummie land that you have to steal ours. Watford have invested years developing this lad only to be conned by illegal tactics by Villa. Villa aren't even a big club anymore. Ps. thanks for the 10 million for Youngey, good player but 10 million!

July 12, 2007

Damian said:

due respect Jaz Cooper but if a player is to develop he cant stay at watford. villa have, quite possibly, the best academy set up in england and we produce a consistently high number of professionals. players leave watford if they want to develop; not to make it.

July 12, 2007

chris kane holteender said:

barry bannon is the one you should all be looking out for he went to st edmund campion just like agbonlahor and he is a magnivicent player. He was a bit of a twat doh.

July 12, 2007

Jedi said:

So bitter, Jaz Cooper, surely the emphasis is is youth development and this young man along with whoever is advising him see's Mr Cowans and co as the kind of mentors he needs to progress in the world of football, which lets face it can be very harsh, give a thought to the youngsters of a similar age to Harry who have been kicked out of Watford and many other teams across the country, they have been living the dream and now there maybe looking at sunday football if they hav'nt already lost there faith in the game. Anyway dont worry about young Mr Forrester we'll look after him and as for Ashley we'll see what his value is at the end of this season.

July 12, 2007

smeg said:

As I Watford fan I am upset that this is allowed to happed. I don't begrudge Villa, we do the same to smaller clubs than us, but a hefty sell on should be part of the compensation deal as standard. Can't compain though, £10 mill for Ashley, Good player but you was robbed. Swings and roundabouts.

July 12, 2007

Martin O Neill_New villa said:

Jaz Cooper awwwwwwww upset are ya lol never mind next decent player u produce we will come and take him aswell cause little little watford aint good enough for star star players

July 12, 2007

steve m said:

Whislt I think the attitude of Jaz Coopers post was a little unfair I have to agree with the thoughts behind his text. How would we feel if Chelski arrived last year and nicked agbonlahor off of us before he signed a proffesional contract. Unfortunately, that is the nature of today's game. But you cannot blame the kid as the training facilities at Villa are second only to chelski.

July 12, 2007

steve m said:

That said, maybe Watford need to look at how they structure their contracts to stop clubs like us taking their talent without some level of compensation. Oh, and 9 million may sound a lot for Ashley Young but we are paying for potential. If he lives upto expectations and looking at today's market he will double his value.

July 12, 2007

jaf said:

10 milliion for young.. we was robbed, yeah right..! Chelsea payed 25 million for SWP, Now that robbery..

July 12, 2007

AV4EVER said:

£10 mill for Ashley, Good player but you was robbed. Swings and roundabouts Smeg, that to me says it all, i believe £10 mill for Ashley Young will turn out to be very good business, he will come on better at Villa, better than he ever would at Watford (no disrespect). I believe a lot of teams would have liked £10 mill to spend on a young english player but didn't have the bottle, they would rather add a few more million and buy a established player (safety), but if Young turns out to be a England regular hats off to villa.

July 12, 2007

Martin O Neill_New villa said:

I must addmit im very very suprised nothing has happend with the french goalkeeper yet especialy as M.O.N said he would have a look at him for a couple of days it has now been a one week and still nothing said about him and this is what i mean about us being a snail in the transfer market im not complaining or moaning about the fact that we are a snail cause im used to it now just saying how it is and im sure most would aggree if you do no of any other premership club that is slower than us pls say and shut me up lol cause i cant think of anyone slower than us

July 12, 2007

AV4EVER said:

Blackburn & Man City spring to mind, but then again Man City have a good excuse, we don't. Hope we have a couple of mega stars lined up, if not then maybe we better get used to the fact that villa arent a pulling club anymore, can't believe the likes of Fulham & Portsmouth are out spending us, perhaps Randys saving his money for a rainy day, but if that were the case we would have about signed every player in the premiership, ha ha. COME ON VILLA FEED US SOMETHING!

July 12, 2007

brett said:

liverpool have brought about 6 youth team players this summer including 2 bulgarians and a spaniard, chelsea paid over the odds for a sheff utd younster and 16 yr old nathan porritt at boro could move to just about any club in the country if he wants stealing kids is as part and parcel of the game as the bosman is now and btw youngs performances in the last couple of games last year plus the under 21 champs he looks a steal for 10mil

July 12, 2007

J.P said:

Gabes was never good at football at school, I say this because I played with him and against him. Everyone will agree that went to campion. Although, with the right coaching it seems that he will become a great player for years to come. Personally, the coaching staff at the villa are great, some talent and determination showed by them. To be fair, this comment is one sided because I work for villa myself.

July 12, 2007

alwaysvilla said:

i agree young looks like a real bargain lets hope he runs premier league defenders ragged next season

July 12, 2007

johnpaul200 said:

whats happened to all the transfer news. were not gonna sign anyone

July 12, 2007

AV4EVER said:

Hi J.P, If you work at Villa then maybe you know more about what's going on regarding transfers at villa park!

July 12, 2007

BOZZ said:

The coaches do a great job, but don't forget us scouts who go out in all weathers, get verbally abused by anyone who does'nt support Villa and moaned at by the wife.

July 12, 2007

Dizzy Mugs said:

You forgot to mention Tobias Mikaelsson who just got a new contract for until 2010 so he looks set to hit the big-times, he's 17 soon to be 18 and joined the yr we won the youth cup.

July 12, 2007

J.P said:

Ha ha ha...... I have a few little rumours. But to be honest I dont listen to half of them, because they mainly come from security!Although I am 80% sure of a named player in talks with Villa. If signed everyone will be happy. And NO im not just making things up on here. And also the villa kit that has been leaked on the net...... well lets just say I have seen a few at villa park, and the one being released on tuesday, is a little different from the one on the crate

July 12, 2007

Martin O Neill_New villa said:

First freindly just round the corner and just under a month till the start of the season i think if come monday and still no one has signed there will be a lot of worried and angry fans on here. M.O.N is leaving it very late indeed and also keeping us glued to tvs radios and the internet. AND TO JP ARE U GOING TO TELL US WHO THIS PLAYER IS THAT U THINK IS COMMING AND DONT TELL US ITS A FRENCH U21 GOALKEEPER PLS

July 12, 2007

Martin O Neill_New villa said:

Ok heres somethink u would all like to look at make what u want off it i just found it on the viall website blog transfers and rumours just thought u would all like to take a look its about defoe http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A24711572

July 12, 2007

Martin O Neill_New villa said:

Hers somethink else aswell once again i dont no how true these storys are but its somethink for us to speculate about and read about................. Villa are set to trump their rivals in a swoop for 6 of the best youth players in Britain. Martin O'Neill has been tracking two Scottish brothers, Steven and Jamie Pugh from Aberdeen, midfield maestro Barney McGrew from Rangers. He will also attempt to tie up deals for goalkeeper Lesley Cuthbert, strikers Mark Dibble from Tottenhams Academy and Andrew Grub from Leeds. Whilst his efforts are focused on the first team at the moment, this will show that the club have a long term strategy to develop more of their own players.

July 12, 2007

Martin O Neill_New villa said:

This is another link ivolving a interview with reo coker where he claims M.O.N told him that there would be upto five new signings once again just somethink for us to read

July 12, 2007

villa youth said:

i dont pay much attention when people say a youngsters got a lot of potential because i remember hearing loads of good stuff about shane paul and cristian kabeya and i dont no who there at these days does anyone know where there at now?

July 12, 2007

Jane said:

Barry Bannan will make the 1st team within 2 years. Everyone should be looking forward to this, he is a fantastic prospect.

July 13, 2007

Janie said:

I think that Barry Bannan will make the 1st team within the next two years, this boy's vision is exceptional, a very exciting prospect.

July 14, 2007

dave b said:

There is a load of rubbish talked about the villa academy(and others ie manu ,arsenel, chelsea) and how good they are....depends how u define good,..if u think that sending a load of scouts out round europe and the uk and poaching other clubs best kids at age 16 yrs is good...fair enough,but thats all they do,how many "home grown" players have come thru? gabby,darius, luke moore,..pushed to remember too many more in the past 10/15 yrs that have made it big....with the catchment area we have in the west mids,ougt be a fair few more local lads coming thru,the talents there,just easier to poach other peoples hard work? and then take the credit for "developing" them, Also in the end this policy is detremental to villa,and england,our local kids dont get the coaching, the standard drops, therefore More kids from europe...it goes on....should be a rule or some sorta quota system for foreigns at youth level...otherwise our game will slowly die,Only decent club developing local kids round here is walsall....utv.

July 15, 2007

brett said:

dave b, i know its not local but how much did arsenals back 4 of eboue, toure, senderos and clichy cost? and how much do west brom want to charge them for davies? taking kids makes sense cos english footballs transfer markets gone crazy and out of all those walsall players to come through how many would have made it at the villa rather than a fizzy pop league team

July 16, 2007

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