As well as changing the manager - we need to stop hyping our 'youth' players. Herd, Lichaj, Bannan are all around 23 - Lee Hendrie had played for england by that age - and he wasn't the greatest.
We don't have a set of starlets - just waiting for game time. The vast majority of those young players won't make it in the prem. The last 2 seasons have shown - when we throw the kids in - the results nose dive.
To keep hyping our youth players is IMO almost as destructive as keeping AM in charge next season.
There are a few that will make it my choices being:
Herd, Lichaj, Weimann, Gardner (Albrighton and Bannan are already established)
I think a new manager with some young players could really see Villa playing well. Lambert may be the man for the job.
Thats a troll surley ? - Albrighton and Bannan have had disastrous seasons
Gardner has shown very little at first team level.
Weiman and Herd look good grafters
Lichaj looks steady- nothing more
Come next august I would say only 1 of those players would be starting a prem match for us.
Albrighton and Bannan have had decent seasons before hand - Albrighton had a blazing season a few seasons okay, which makes me think you can't really class him as one of the few 'coming through' at the moment. Gardner has the potential to develop and was quality in the reserves, along with Weimann. Herd has heaps of character and puts in a big challenge when it needs to happen (unlike many in our midfield) and Lichaj has stepped up to the plate and never seems to stop running. All will progress with time.
Players I don't really think will make it are the likes of Clark, Baker etc...