alreadyexists Posted September 30, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted September 30, 2020 A little write up on the recent business 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Highly-rated young Dundee United defender Kerr Smith is set to sign for Aston Villa, Telegraph Sport can reveal. The 16-year-old centre-back has been attracting interest from a host of big English Premiership clubs in recent weeks – Manchester United and Everton among them. But Villa appear to have won the race and Smith, currently in Birmingham, is expected to agree his first professional contract with them. Previously a central midfielder, he was converted into a central defender by United’s senior academy head coach Adam Asghar. It turned out to be a wise move, with first team manager Micky Mellon quickly identifying his talent in the summer and giving him a game in the August friendly against Sheffield United, when Smith, then 15, was up against veteran striker Billy Sharp. United will obviously be disappointed to lose such a promising talent at a young age but, with the likes of Lewis Neilson and Logan Chalmers making headlines as well, it is another feather in the cap of academy director Andy Goldie and his staff and further enhances the growing reputation of the Tannadice youth set-up. Evening Telegraph 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted September 30, 2020 Moderator Share Posted September 30, 2020 Kerr Smith pretty much done apparently, very highly rated. Never heard of him personally but love that we keep recruiting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewiek2 Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 (edited) Here we go.... So Gareth, rumours of more transfer activity at your former club Aston Villa set to sign another quality youth player, this time from Dundee United. As former England U21 manager, is it encouraging to see great talented youngsters at such an academy? "Well, firstly, Mason and Phil are young boys who'll learn from their mistakes..." Edited September 30, 2020 by stewiek2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nepal_villan Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Seeing that the top sides have a fairly good track record of graduating academy talents to their first team, I'm curious what our recruiting pitch is. Are other academy sides bloated, so we offer more immediate playing time? Are there financial incentives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nepal_villan Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 On 26/09/2020 at 21:54, VillanousOne said: is Shakpoke definitely our player? It went quiet on that transfer/him joining us, he sounds a real talent if so He is now. Official announcement: https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2020/october/Shakpoke-signs-for-Villa/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted October 1, 2020 Moderator Share Posted October 1, 2020 2 hours ago, nepal_villan said: He is now. Official announcement: https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2020/october/Shakpoke-signs-for-Villa/ Yep we're waaaaay ahead of the OS on that one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayk Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Just on Kerr Smith, and I guess Ben Chrisene too, we’re going to have to be careful how we manage their careers. It’ll be odd for them having been on the cusp of regular men’s football to find them just in an academy structure. It maybe right for them for this season at the age of 16 but next season they have to be part of the U23s and loaned back out to lower league clubs when they are 18/19. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayk Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Funnily enough the Shakpoke signing - even though it seems to have taken the longest time - is probably the most underwhelming signing we’ve made at the academy level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 1 hour ago, rayk said: Funnily enough the Shakpoke signing - even though it seems to have taken the longest time - is probably the most underwhelming signing we’ve made at the academy level. Why is it underwhelming? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayk Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 6 hours ago, sir_gary_cahill said: Why is it underwhelming? Because the other players signed seem a level higher! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 27 minutes ago, rayk said: Because the other players signed seem a level higher! How can you tell? Have you seen them play? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenfly Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 (edited) 31 minutes ago, rayk said: Because the other players signed seem a level higher! It's virtually impossible to judge who's a higher level than who at academy level. All we need to know is they're all exciting prospects, every one of them. Edited October 2, 2020 by Greenfly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayk Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 10 minutes ago, Greenfly said: It's virtually impossible to judge who's a higher level than who at academy level. All we need to know is they're all exciting prospects, every one of them. I know, you’re right - just my impression. And besides it’s a testament to just how good our signings have been this summer that I’m saying this about Shakpoke. Most other summers he’d be our major signing and I’d be delighted 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted October 2, 2020 Moderator Share Posted October 2, 2020 Shakpoke confirmed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Revan, Ramsey, Barry and chukwemeka* in the u18s Kesler in the u19s Ramsey in the u20s * he needs a nickname cos he's going to blow Clarke out of the water 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyp102 Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 8 hours ago, rayk said: Because the other players signed seem a level higher! And yet a lot of people involved in youth football have said Shakpoke is one of the best signings we’ve made. Very very highly rated, scored 11 goals in one match and is an England youth international Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted October 2, 2020 Moderator Share Posted October 2, 2020 6 hours ago, villa4europe said: Revan, Ramsey, Barry and chukwemeka* in the u18s * he needs a nickname cos he's going to blow Clarke out of the water *Chukwuemeka. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbcuk Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Last minute winner against palace under 23s tonight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted October 2, 2020 Moderator Share Posted October 2, 2020 9 minutes ago, rbcuk said: Last minute winner against palace under 23s tonight Under 23's has it's own thread. Team played very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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