Another day has past and Aston Villa has continued to show improvements. Villa took on Feyenoord today in the Guadiana Cup and we looked very sharp. 

By far the player that stood out the most was Albrighton. His first goal was a screamer from 20 yard out that beat the goalkeepers top left. To this point I’ve read nothing but good things about this lad so far and I finally got to see him in action today. I really hope he gets some playing time this season as he needs to go from just getting his feet wet from going in waist deep in the water of the Premier League. Get him in a rotation with our boys and watch him flourish!

There is a new rule in the league stipulating that a roster cannot be above 25 players and of that 8 must be from England. Interesting rule to be put it but it makes complete sense. 

For one it cuts back on teams such as the current Manc Sheiky from coming in and buying up all the best mid fielders and having a surplus of players in the position. Helps level the playing field out though it still doesn’t fully prevent a team from buying up the 25 best talents. The one big problem is the English players rule as this will now increase the prices of players.  It’s no secret that England talent has been few and far between as of late as many teams look elsewhere in the world to sign players and now this will only increase the financial obligation of clubs to these players.  The best bit in my eyes, clubs need to trim out players now if over the 25 mark and that allows some great bargains to start coming out.  Villa can benefit from this once the new figures start coming out for players.  MON’s strategy of waiting may have paid off this season.  Of course now we just need to see it all put into action and someone get signed.

I would go on to talk about the transfers and such but it is no secret that Villa has been quiet in this department.  Lots of players being linked away from the club but besides Sidwell the rest are remaining put.  Hard to say but I have a strange feeling that Milner may not be heading anywhere after all.  Though will all the media bits floating around we will never know what is happening to either he’s sold or the window is shut.  The buzz seems to have died down around it the last few days though as if its old news so now maybe some business can actually be done. 

As a side note last week I and my mate from Brighton went to a match of the local team Thunder Bay Chill SC, which by the way won their division tonight and are heading to the semis of the League next weekend!  While there I bumped into a guy wearing an Aston Villa shirt as well.  A former resident of Birmingham who now lives here in Thunder Bay, I mentioned Avillafan to him and maybe he will end up joining us on here.  He wanted me to pass along a message though,

UP THE VILLA!

I also want to leave you the readers with this video that popped up on my youtube the other day and I am sure everyone will appreciate it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgMCKkaCgcg&NR=1

Benfica v Aston Villa tomorrow looking forward to the match and can’t wait to cheer on the lads.

Be loud be proud be…VILLA

As if losing out in the Champions League race, falling at Wembley twice because of silly referee decision’s, losing on penalty’s in the Reserves Final, we now fall at the last hurdle in the Youth Cup Final.

The season as become a season of ‘oh so nearly, but not nearly enough’.

A absolute scorcher from Conor Cliffard won the cup for Chelsea last night in a game where if we are honest they played us of the field and deserved the victory.

Just like the first leg, Villa took the lead against the run of play when Kofi Poyser headed past Chelsea keeper Sam Walker.

Chelsea simply turned up the pressure and if they didn’t win this game they would of kicked themselves.

The Blues were soon back on level terms midway through the second half thanks to Marko Mitrovic, and then late on that strike from Cliffard, that was worthy of winning any Cup Final.

Hopefully the lads will now go away and enjoy there summer holidays before coming back rejuvenated and ready to go again, and even force there ways into the first team.

There is already so much talk about next season and how we can progress from this season. There’s people who are saying that we can’t compete with Manchester City’s millions and Tottenham if they make the Champions League.

The thing is, I have a different outlook on next season and I firmly believe for the first time in years that Villa are about to release a few youth players on the Premier League next season who have success running through there bodies and this will help our already strong squad.

I know what your thinking already, we have heard all this before but this time I think the class of 2010 has much more prospect than many before, let me explain.

Both the Youth and Reserve set-ups have had very good season’s yet again, with the Youth in the Fa Youth Cup Final against Chelsea and the Reserves only losing on penalties to the Manchester United Reserve side yesterday.

We have players like Ciaran Clarke, Barry Bannan, Marc Albrighton and Nathan Delfouneso just to name a few coming through. All have experience of first team football, and all have had the taste for success. Let’s not forget these players were involved in the Peace Cup success last summer that involved strong Juventus and Real Madrid sides.

Fabian Delph is another, once fit again, he started to really settle in the Premier League this season, after all who can forget his performance against Manchester United this season and I believe he could really make a impact on our side.

Ciaran Clarke made his debut against Fulham this season in a 2-0 win and he very nearly got on the score sheet aswell. BBC’s Garth Crooks named the defender in his team of the week that week. He has captained the reserve side this season and he looks to have a real good head on his shoulders.

Nathan Delfouneso has made a real impact when he’s featured in the first team this season, and has already become a real fans favourite with most. He looks to be a very intelligent lad and he also scored the winning goal at Fratten Park this season in a 2-1 victory.

Barry Bannan has had a very good season on loan at Blackpool and even helped them to make the play-offs in the Championship this season.

You see there’s always promise about players in the Youth setup but as I already said I firmly believe these will take there chance when it is given and they will make a very good impact which could be worth million’s to the football club.

The Aston Villa Academy staged another great comeback this season to overcome Portsmouth Academy at Bodymoor Heath yesterday afternoon.

Nadir Ciftci put the visitors ahead just before half time.

However, after the break things changed. On 55 minutes, defender come striker Arsenio Halfhuid scored for the ninth time this season to put Villa pack on level terms.

And then just past the hour mark Villa went in front when Sam Currethers hit the net and prooved to be the winning goal.

Coach McAndrew admitted his side started sloppy but showed there true character with the comeback:

“We didn’t play very well first-half, it was a bit of a jaded performance and we managed to concede a real sloppy goal,” said McAndrew.

“It summed up the whole first-half performance really – we were just a little bit below par.

“In the second-half we sorted it out and played much better.

“We worked in groups and closed down, we started winning some tackles and we started winning the balls back in good areas for us to counter-attack so the whole package came together in the second-half.

“The last couple of weeks when we have been behind in games, it shows you the character and the spirit of the group.

“Again, they had to dig in and fight from a goal down. You can’t fault their attitude and commitment to the club.”

With two FA Cup goals to his name, people are starting to sit up and take notice of Nathan Delfouneso, and ask the question, is he the next graduate from Villa’s Youth setup?

His name has been around for the past 2-3 seasons now, and weve all heard about him breaking youth and reserve scoring records but so did Luke Moore and Darrius Vassell and look where they both are now.

The 18 year old has represented England at U-16, U-17 and U-19 levels scoring a combined total of 18 goals in 32 appearances.

Delfouneso, wears the number 14 shirt, something he was given in 2008 when he signed his first professional contract and a French Magazine claimed it was due for the strikers admiration for then Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

He then became the youngest player to represent Aston Villa in europe at the age of 17 years and 195 days when he came of the bench in a Uefa Cup second round match against FH Hafnarfjörður of Iceland.

Nathan went on to make his first first team start on the 4th January 2009, in a FA Cup tie against Gillingham in which Villa won 2-1. He soon scored his first professional goal against Doncaster Rovers, also in the FA Cup that same season.

A lot is expected of this young lad, and a lot of people forget that hes still only 18. At the end of last season he was voted both Aston Villa Players Young Player of the Season and Fans Player of the Season.

The 2009-10 season as sore him score his fifth and sixth goals for the club against Blackburn and Brighton, once again both in the FA Cup.

Nathan Delfouneso, is a player who in my opinion will make a massive impact in the future on the Premier League and with the big English contingent at the club already, there is no reason why one day he can’t be representing his national side at the highest level.

I hear you ask why he wont be just another Luke Moore, well the reason i say this is because he isnt just being thrown into the big time. Martin O’Neill use’s him sporadically and won’t rush him into anything hes not ready for.