Djemba_Villan Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 I had a peruse through a Southampton forum and couldn't help but notice that this year we haven't entered a team into the U-21 European Cup. (See http://dailym.ai/1kj4WND) The Premier League is set to unveil a new European cup competition which will see English Under-21 teams take on continental opposition this season. Sportsmail can exclusively reveal that the top eight clubs from the U21 Premier League — including Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea — and eight including Celtic from other countries will make up the 16-team tournament. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2716105/Premier-League-announce-new-European-cup-competition-U21-sides.html#ixzz39dz0huuO Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook Now one thing noone can dispute with Randy is his prior commitment to investing in infrastructure and youth. We've competed in the non UEFA variant Nextgen numerous years but this year haven't. Am I looking into this too much or is this quantifiable evidence that the interest even at this sort of level has dwindled and should only assume it's being reflected in the facility/coach quality and budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshVilla Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 (edited) The core of our youth side will probably be too busy propping up our first team to be in a position to play in a different league next season Edited August 6, 2014 by AshVilla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dn1982 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 The European Youth Comps are a joke. Nextgen started out with a good idea which was taking off using the best academies then UEFA decided it was a good idea and wrecked it by using a CL shadow comp it seems now it's the Premier. Leagues turn to have a go!! I wouldn't read to much into it as our academy is still ranked in the top few around Europe we just need to turn out some world class players instead of just decent premier league players. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feidhlim Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 we just need to turn out some world class players instead of just decent premier league players. Is that all? Someone should tell Lambo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smetrov Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 The European Youth Comps are a joke. Nextgen started out with a good idea which was taking off using the best academies then UEFA decided it was a good idea and wrecked it by using a CL shadow comp it seems now it's the Premier. Leagues turn to have a go!! I wouldn't read to much into it as our academy is still ranked in the top few around Europe we just need to turn out some world class players instead of just decent premier league players. Can I ask by whom and where our academy is ranked amongst the best in Europe ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 The European Youth Comps are a joke. Nextgen started out with a good idea which was taking off using the best academies then UEFA decided it was a good idea and wrecked it by using a CL shadow comp it seems now it's the Premier. Leagues turn to have a go!! I wouldn't read to much into it as our academy is still ranked in the top few around Europe we just need to turn out some world class players instead of just decent premier league players. Can I ask by whom and where our academy is ranked amongst the best in Europe ? Fans who need to take their c&b specs off. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dn1982 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 When the academy statuses were given out in this country we was ranked in the top couple independantly. We was invited into the inaugural Nextgen as it was based on the best youth academies not just clubs affiliated to CL clubs. We also have one of the best ratios of players becoming pro's. Our academy is good at creating decent players what's lacking is what Southampton seem to be able to do and have players with that world class ability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 (edited) The European Youth Comps are a joke. Nextgen started out with a good idea which was taking off using the best academies then UEFA decided it was a good idea and wrecked it by using a CL shadow comp it seems now it's the Premier. Leagues turn to have a go!! I wouldn't read to much into it as our academy is still ranked in the top few around Europe we just need to turn out some world class players instead of just decent premier league players. Can I ask by whom and where our academy is ranked amongst the best in Europe ? Fans who need to take their c&b specs off. or they could keep them on and see that when the FA overhauled the yoof system in this country and did the EPPP a few years back we got the very top grade, they graded each team based on facilities, coaching, competitions and number of players that break through to the 1st team, im sure id read we actually came out with the highest grade in the country, but thats hard to find, we were certainly right up there and as we all know, best in england = best in europe = best in the world obviously any system where you can outscore chelsea because herd and baker playing counts towards the points total might be seen as flawed but thats because any analysis of youth teams would look at it in terms of quantity rather than trying to quantify quality Edited August 6, 2014 by villa4europe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smetrov Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 When the academy statuses were given out in this country we was ranked in the top couple independantly. We was invited into the inaugural Nextgen as it was based on the best youth academies not just clubs affiliated to CL clubs. We also have one of the best ratios of players becoming pro's. Our academy is good at creating decent players what's lacking is what Southampton seem to be able to do and have players with that world class ability. that's quite a big drawback Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyp102 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 The European Youth Comps are a joke. Nextgen started out with a good idea which was taking off using the best academies then UEFA decided it was a good idea and wrecked it by using a CL shadow comp it seems now it's the Premier. Leagues turn to have a go!! I wouldn't read to much into it as our academy is still ranked in the top few around Europe we just need to turn out some world class players instead of just decent premier league players. Can I ask by whom and where our academy is ranked amongst the best in Europe ? Fans who need to take their c&b specs off. Off the villa site but I'd say it's genuine..http://mobile.avfc.co.uk/default.aspx?s=news-display&aid=2978609 And from an independent site..http://www.espnfc.com/story/1224295/aston-villa-secure-category-one-status-for-academy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 We were 15th in the U-21 PL so did not qualify for the new PL European competition and were in fact relegated to the 2nd Division. We did not qualify for the UEFA Youth Cup as our first team did not qualify for the CL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 The European Youth Comps are a joke. Nextgen started out with a good idea which was taking off using the best academies then UEFA decided it was a good idea and wrecked it by using a CL shadow comp it seems now it's the Premier. Leagues turn to have a go!! I wouldn't read to much into it as our academy is still ranked in the top few around Europe we just need to turn out some world class players instead of just decent premier league players. Can I ask by whom and where our academy is ranked amongst the best in Europe ?Fans who need to take their c&b specs off. Off the villa site but I'd say it's genuine..http://mobile.avfc.co.uk/default.aspx?s=news-display&aid=2978609 And from an independent site..http://www.espnfc.com/story/1224295/aston-villa-secure-category-one-status-for-academy Look at the date. A lot can change in 2 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 the academy structure is awful in England and is another great idea by FA to grade them. some lower league teams have closed their academies think Yeovil and Wycombe have and more will follow as clubs getting short changed for developing talent. Read that Hull are grade 3 so lost players to Swansea for peanuts when only 2 or 3 places separate them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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