InMartinWeTrust

I think I probably overlooked Grocott...he has a chance and wont have done himself a disservice playing a season out of position. I guess Handsome thats the whole joy of watching the Academy games in the hope that you might just get to watch the next big thing come through and you watch these players grow and develop. As for Poyser SGC I just dont see him progressing a great deal. I think he drives the coaching staff to despair with his lack of a grasp of the basics and his general work rate. Anyways roll on Tuesday...anyone else making the trip down to Fulham?

The little bits Ive seen of the under 16s they look a really talented young bunch and I think its admirable that the club decided to chop pretty much all the under16s they started the season with to give this lot a chance. Barrett impressed again and looked solid. Carruthers for me looks a really good player, especially playing in the centre of the park. He looks like Harry Forrester but with a willingness to work and learn. Hes got a decent touch and doesnt always look for a killer pass. I cant imagine they will retain too many of the 2nd years. I dont think the older lads really have anyone to match that Delfouneso, Bannan group of a couple of years ago. I think maybe Simmonds, Blythe will be kept on, and Ellis Deeney has got better as the seasons gone on out of the older ones. With regard to Siegrist not sure how long hes out for. Bit unfortunate that we we've been without our best two players

I'll dig my teamsheet out of the car in the morning...I know Charlie Ward was one of the unused subs. Nelson-Addy has played in the centre of midfield every time Ive seen him come on. Not sure on the under16s scorer - it was a free kick from the edge of the box. I have a feeling it was the little left winger who came on for the second half, looked about 13 years old and quite a tidy player. The Halfhuid point is a strange one. He's scored goals on a regular basis this season but for me has consistently looked our poorest player and the one with least natural talent. It sounds awful to knock a player who scored a hat trick in the last round of the Youth Cup and Im slightly mystified how he kept scoring. But to me he looks so heavy legged and mentally doesnt read a game at all, and thats both up front and at the back. Cant imagine hes one that will progress much further with us. On the flip side of that Ryan Simmonds continues to impress me more and more. Physically he must be about 9 stone but he is so quick and reads the game fantastically well.

3-0 win for the Under 18s this morning against Watford. The under 16s drew 1-1 with their Watford counterparts, conceding a very late penalty. Academy line up was Barrett, Grocott, Deeney, Devine, Williams, Carruthers, Blythe, Lampkin, Roberts, Simmonds and Poyser Subs used Berry, Halfhuid and Nelson-Addy. Decent warm up for Tuesday night with goals from Lampkin, Simmonds and Blythe. Thought the lads showed real signs of maturing and played a bit more football than they have done throughout the season. A comfortable win all round and should give them plenty of confidence for midweek. I thought Richard Blythe had a fantastic game capped off with his goal, lad ran himself into the ground.

I was quite impressed with Nelson-Addy looks like he has a bit about himself. A decent build, very athletic, and can play a bit. Will be interesting to follow him over the next couple of years. At least in the absence of Gardner it will give chances to players like this and Carruthers to show what they can do in their preferred position.

A 1-1 draw for the Under 18s this morning against Bristol City at Bodymoor Heath. Apparently the under16s lost 5-0 although they did have a team containing a number of under 14s playing. The under 18s team was Barrett, Grocott, Deeney, Devine, Williams, Carruthers, Lampkin, Blythe, Roberts, Halfhuid and Simmonds. Subs used were Poyser, Berry and Ebby Newton-Addy. The game started with a cynical foul from Bristol's left back 20 seconds into the game on Ryan Simmonds and carried on pretty much the same vain for the next 90 mins. Was a surprise that both teams finished the match with a full compliment. City took the lead midway through the first half but Villa pulled back right on the stroke of half time through Carruthers. He found himself played through on the left hand side of the box and despite a poor first touch managed to chip the oncoming keeper as he stretched for the ball. The second half was a bit of a non event and the closest Villa came was when a Carruthers cross shot hit the bar. Decent performances by the two Villa centre halfs Williams and Devine. Ellis Deeney looked decent, Simmonds ran himself into the ground and Carruthers looked a decent player in his preferred central role with two decent feet. Unfortunately there was no quality ball into the box and it ended frustratingly.

In relation to the question about Callum Barrett I was really impressed. Not a big lad but commanded his box really well and punched very well. Just a side note from Saturday I see that Emmitt Delfouneso (Nathans younger brother) has been released and has been taken on by Small Heath. He appeared on the team sheet as a sub but was playing in the under 16s game. I was interested to learn that we had pretty much released all our under 16s as it was felt with the exception of around four of them that they werent going to make the grade and Sid Cowans has decided to go with the under 15s who on the evidence of the bits Ive seen look a pretty talented bunch. A real soft spot for that ginger haired left back who looks like Ziggy Stardust, bless him he couldnt resist kissing his Villa badge and shoving it in his opposite numbers face on the final whistle>

The final goal looked like a stopping header by Simmonds to me but may have been wrong. Was going to right a little more but just had a flying visit home before heading off to Villa Park. Team yesterday was Barrett, Grocott, Deeney, Devine, Williams, Gardner, Lampkin, Carruthers, Blythe, Halfuid, Simmonds Subs Roberts for Gardner and ?? for Carruthers (cant recall who) Decent performance by the lads and never looked in any real danger, as routine a victory as you will get. Considering that the academy lads lost to Small Heath a couple of months ago I thought they would have given us more of a game but was mightily unimpressed by them. All the goals were fairly routine, probably the pick of them Will Grocott's after a cracking through ball from Samir Carruthers. Gary Gardner went off after half an hour with a knock on his knee but didnt look anything too serious and should be fine for Friday I would imagine. Thought Jason Lampkin was impressive, Dan Devine looks another good centre half and Simmonds looked quick and nippy and seems to get better and more confident every time Ive seen him. His quite slight but seems to have a decent brain and good movement. Arsenio Halfhuid was playing up front with him as a target man, not his natural position. I cant see that being a successful conversion, he looked slow and lumbering. Very satisfying all round.

Great 5-0 win for the under 18s over Small Heath this morning. Hatrick for Simmonds, one for Gary Gardner and Will Grocott. The under 16s won 1-0 as well. Will post a little more after my second helping of Villa for the day. Brings joy beating that lot at any level

Tranmere for me. Im 37. Still the best game Ive seen at Villa Park in terms of drama and atmosphere. Last night was entertaining for sure but didnt feel like it was in the balance right until the last kick like Tranmere was. The Tranmere game would go down as the best match Ive had on the old Holte. Felt at times like it was going to take off, the atmopshere had to be sampled to be believed.

Not my first but maybe my most memorable was the second division game just before Christmas when we won 2-1 with a brace from Garry Thompson at the Sty. It was the game when someone had broken in the night before and daubed AVFC in tar in front of the dugouts and ripped the nets out. The nets clearly werent put back properly because I remember Andy Kennedys goal for the Dogshit going through the net. Horrible atmosphere and have the Monday night Central highlights on video. All you can hear is a police helicopter hovering over the pitch and Bob Hall commenting that the scenes on the terrace were akin to Beirut. Perfect Christmas present though

Squeeze - Up The Junction