Don’t you think it’s a bit damming that he couldn’t force his way in a third tier club?
U23 & U18 Premier League Preview - Episode 3: Aston Villa
Liverpool twice learned that this Aston Villa academy is nothing to be sneered at. The U23 side pushed Liverpool’s first XI hard and although the result was a 4-1 defeat, the teenagers came out of the game rightly proud of their performance on the night. Later that season, Aston Villa’s U18s overcame Liverpool in the FA Youth Cup final with an excellent showing at Villa Park.
As those performances perfectly displayed, Aston Villa have a strong batch of young players with a real shot of coming through into the first team of a solidly mid-table Premier League club. It is an exciting time to be at Aston Villa. The last time Villa had a successful youth team was in 2013 when their U19 team won the NextGen Series (a short lived and vastly superior tournament to UEFA’s Youth Champions League)… they got Jack Grealish out of that team and would love a similar result once again.
| U23 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Viljami Sinisalo |
| CB | Dominic Revan |
| CB | Mungo Bridge |
| RB | Mamadou Sylla |
| LB | Ben Chrisene |
| CM | Aaron Ramsey |
| CM | Carney Chukwuemeka |
| CM | Lamare Bogarde |
| RW | Tyreik Wright |
| LW | Jaden Philogene-Bidace |
| CF | Louie Barry |
| U18 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Oliwier Zych |
| CB | Sil Swinkels |
| CB | Aaron O’Riley |
| RB | Frankie Ealing |
| LB | Jayden Barber |
| CM | Tommi O’Riley |
| CM | Taylor-Jay Hart |
| CM | Finley Munroe |
| RW | Kahrel Reddin |
| LW | Dewain Sewell |
| CF | Chisom Afoka |
Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022
Jacob Ramsey
- Position: CM
- Age: 20
- Nationality: English
An athletic ‘do-it-all’ midfielder, Ramsey is slowly growing his way into a regular role with the Aston Villa first team, managing 846 minutes last season building on a short (but strong) loan spell with Doncaster Rovers at the back end of the 19/20 season. After contributing three goals for Doncaster in seven appearances he was brought back to Villa and stayed in and around the first team squad becoming a regular substitute by the run-in. Ramsey is probably one those young players who will benefit from the five substitution rule allowing him to get minutes he otherwise may not have managed. Ramsey looks like a prototypical modern midfielder and should be able to build on a good end to last season.
Louie Barry (on loan to Ipswich Town)
- Position: LW
- Age: 18
- Nationality: English
This comparison felt so lazy and I tried really hard to avoid making it, I really did, but it’s inescapable that Barry looks and plays in a very similar style to his star teammate, Jack Grealish. Having first made national headlines as a fifteen-year-old leaving West Brom for Barcelona, the England U18 international quietly returned to the Midlands just six months later with a variety of issues mostly out of his control - not least coaching changes at Barcelona - spoiling his chances of success with the Catalan giants. Aston Villa swooped and Barry hasn’t looked back, although as he has matured and developed he has moved from a free scoring central striker to a tricky winger who loves to drive into the penalty area - a transition perhaps aided by working closely with Grealish regularly. It’s a smart move allowing for more first team chances by being versatile enough to play multiple roles - Barry will be pushing hard for first team action this season.
Edit: Has now joined Ipswich Town on loan for the 2021/22 season
Carney Chukwuemeka
- Position: CM
- Age: 17
- Nationality: English
England U18 international is a long-legged, ultra talented midfielder who is a dominant player on every pitch he touches. Strong, quick and capable of driving through midfield, he is a nightmare to stop and seeing him barely break stride as desperate opposition defenders are dragged along behind him is not a rare occurrence. Being just seventeen he was also able to step down and play in the Youth Cup where he registered a ridiculous return of seven goals and two assists from six appearances. His talent was rewarded at the end of last season with two appearances in the Premier League, including an impressive seventeen minute cameo against Chelsea. Chukwuemeka is a star in the making and I would not be surprised if he is a regular in the match day squad this season even at his tender age.
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Long legged? Who does he remind you of? Yaya, Vieira or more Carlton Palmer or Paulo Wanchope?!
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Yaya Toure is my comp for him.
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He’s a beast, would love us to sign him.
Yeah if I was given the choice of any youth player in the country he would probably be my pick.
Mine would be Bellingham then Chukwuemeka, but that is really splitting hairs… Both huge talents.
He’s not in the country 
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Wow, and by the sounds of it he doesn’t coast as some youth players are inclined to do when physically they’re so much more dominant than their peers? He probably needs to be pushed to make sure he doesn’t become complacent - challenged with more senior football where he won’t be able to rely on physical advantages to the same extent.
More Yaya than Pogba, Sweeting?
I certainly haven’t seen him coast - he’s a bit like Balagizi (although he’s better than Balagizi at the moment) in that despite being bigger than everyone his main talent is his technical ability. I’d honestly be disappointed if he doesn’t get a fair amount of first team football this season and he’ll be training with the first team everyday.
Man City and Man Utd are have been looking at signing him. For his sake I hope he stays at Villa. Man City in particular would be a total waste of time for him.
Edit: And yes more Yaya than Pogba. Although it’s a similar comparison but I think he’s a bit more energetic than Pogba.
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Damning in what sense? For his Liverpool career yeah sure but we already know he’s not making it with us.
For his overall prospect!!!
Like I said I think he’s the type of player who could start in League Two next year and has a ceiling of the Championship. I think that’s not unreasonable.
U23 & U18 Premier League Preview - Episode 4: West Ham United
Another famous academy that has underperformed in recent years. Declan Rice and Ben Johnson were the only U23s to play over one thousand minutes last season - with Aji Alese coming third clocking in at a meager ninety minutes across the season.
Both of their youth sides have similarly struggled, winning just twelve games between them in fourty-eight games. However, there are talented players in the system even if the general level of the academy is not at the standard expected.
The Hammers, despite a strong season in the Premier League, are light in squad depth and this could be the season that a range of youth prospects get the opportunity to move into the reckoning.
Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022
Conor Coventry
- Position: CM
- Age: 21
- Nationality: Irish
Irish U21 international Conor Coventry was the standout performer for the U23s in 20/21 and has continued that fine run of form into West Ham’s pre-season. Coventry spent time on loan at Lincoln two seasons ago and the experience kicked him on to another level, dominating the U23 level with five goals and two assists in seventeen appearances from a defensive midfield position. Possessing a diverse passing range and a thunderbolt shot, the dynamic midfielder has made a strong case for himself to become a first team regular this season behind Pavel Soucek and Declan Rice, while a call up to the full Irish national side is surely just a matter of time.
Ademipo Odubeko
- Position: CF
- Age: 18
- Nationality: Irish
Odubeko is a natural goalscorer who scored twelve times in his first season at U23 level playing just 908 minutes to do so. The former Man City and Man Utd striker was often deployed from the left wing but he is a natural born striker and will expect to occupy that role this season. Tall and quick, Odubeko has a striking resemblance to Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham and the physicality to cope with Premier League football should he earn the opportunity this season. Capable of scoring goals from all over the pitch - including a beautifully taken long range strike against Southampton - this Irish U21 international, much like his teammate Conor Coventry, can expect first team and international recognition this season with options limited for both club and country.
Jamal Baptiste
- Position: CB
- Age: 17
- Nationality: English
England U17 international Jamal Baptiste is probably the best prospect at the academy and another in the long line of quality central defenders to be churned out by West Ham. Last season he turned in a string of high quality performances and earned himself a spot on the first team bench while aged just sixteen. In pre-season, Baptiste has continued the good form, impressing in his early outings and making a genuine case for himself to be a regular in David Moyes’ squad. He does have competition from the youth system; Frederik Alves and Aji Alese are both fine players themselves but Baptiste is the youngest and most polished of all three, his ceiling is almost limitless at this stage.
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Liverpool U18s vs Connah’s Quay
Involved: Davies, Mrozek, Jonas, Chambers, Bajcetic, Miles, Balagizi, McConnell, Frauendorf, Cannonier + U16 players
8-0 win. Against their U18s I should have mentioned so not a surprise
U23 & U18 Premier League Preview - Episode 5: Birmingham City
Birmingham City announced in December 2020 that they were planning on rebuilding their academy to reduce their financial investment on junior age groups and establish a B + C team system instead, citing a lack of competitive football in The Professional Development League. The Premier League responded by promoting them to a Category 1 Academy, meaning this is now their first season in Premier League 2 and the U18 Premier League.
Gathering information on the lower levels of youth football is a bit more difficult so I don’t have a full profile on them. However, Birmingham have indicated they are willing to sell any of their U18s with a few of them attracting interest across Europe including the intriguing prospect of Jobe Bellingham - the young brother of England international Jude.
Having already sold Amari Miller, who had just cracked the first team, to Leeds and Calum Scanlon last season to Liverpool the sales look set to continue at St Andrews with clubs sniffing around everyone with a bit of talent about them.
| U23 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Oliver Basey |
| CB | Mitchell Roberts |
| CB | Nico Gordon |
| RB | Marcel Oakley |
| LB | Kyle Hurst |
| CM | Oriol Soldevila |
| CM | Remi Walker |
| CM | Tate Campbell |
| RW | Caolan Boyd-Munce |
| LW | Josh Andrews |
| CF | Adan George |
| U18 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Alfie Brooks |
| CB | Conor Barrett |
| CB | Tom Fogarty |
| RB | Rico Browne |
| LB | Harley Hamilton |
| CM | Jordan James |
| CM | Harry Manton |
| CM | Cianole Nguepissi |
| RW | Rico Patterson |
| LW | Jobe Bellingham |
| CF | Kieran Wakefield |
Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022
Jobe Bellingham
- Position: RW
- Age: 15
- Nationality: English
Not just listed here for his familial links, Jobe is an England U15 international currently being linked with a move to Manchester United. Jude’s younger brother could be set for a similar meteoric rise through the ranks. Already a regular in the U18 set up (he made his debut at 14) Jobe is an offensively minded player often deployed on the right of midfield or as a central striker. Borussia Dortmund have expressed an interest in pairing the brothers again and although there is no guarantee he can replicate Jude’s success all indications seem to be that he is on a similar path. Watch this space.
Rico Browne
- Position: CB
- Age: 17
- Nationality: English
Browne is another Birmingham prospect who has been playing well ahead of his age group. He appeared at just fifteen in the FA Youth Cup, quite literally doing his homework on the way to the game which he then dominated in a 4-1 win. He’s tall and excellent aerially, contributing consistently with set piece goals, but more impressive is his ability on the ball. The definition of a modern defender, Browne happily steps out into midfield and can play raking long range passes to really speed up attacks. Unusually for a CB he loves diving into a tackle, which is the habit that drew me to the Tyrone Mings comparison. Unsurprisingly, he has a host of Premier League teams trying to take him away from the Brummies - West Ham and Tottenham both had him on trial in March and Everton are also credited with an interest. If he chooses to stay at Birmingham, expect him to be accelerated into the first team fold.
Nico Gordon
- Position: CB
- Age: 19
- Nationality: English
Having broken into the Birmingham City team towards the end of the season, and being the only youth team player Birmingham took on their pre-season tour, Gordon looks set to increase his gametime in 2021/22. Similarly to Rico Browne, Gordon is a technically good CB with a strong passing range and ability to step into midfield. He is strong in the air and fairly quick, he is competent enough at nineteen for Championship football. Like his player comparison he has been utilised as a RB despite not looking totally comfortable there however that flexibility should allow him more first team opportunities. Gordon perhaps lacks the top-end potential of Browne but is more game-ready for Birmingham right now.
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Thanks @Sweeting for continuing to do these. Always fun to see the potential stars of tomorrow. Although, I can’t wait to see what you think of our squads this year.
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Reiterating Redfanman’s comments thank you for taking the time to do this. Your passion for this level of football is clear to see and informative to all of us.
I have mentioned this before, I live in Birmingham and there is a lot of talk that Bellingham’s younger brother has an equal/higher potential.
Birmingham’s owners literally have no care for the club, they have recently sold off the ground to a sister arm of their business in order to “appease” FFP. I know we got Scanlon from Birmingham and also signed players of similar potential ie Gordon, but Bellingham (younger) is a player we should be buying.
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That would likely help the elder Bellingham settle at Liverpool once he decides to up roots at Dortmund.
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