Well, it’s not quite bright, it’s certainly not sunny or warm, but it is a Monday morning and it feels like it’s shaping up to be a beautiful week after Aston Villa’s exploits on Sunday afternoon.
But we are of course, now in November, and only something short of under 50 odd days until a fat man tries to break your chimney and that does mean as the January transfer window begins to near, new gaffer Unai Emery has some other decisions to take. Not only will he already be mulling new potential signings and analysing which of the existing group should be moved on, but he will be turning his eye to those out on loan and although we can expect a more patient approach to our Academy graduates, there are some who were not fancied by the previous chump, and if Emery doesn’t fancy them either – it’s better they are off our books completely so he can better strengthen as he desires to actually move the club forward again after our total stall over the past 12 months.
So here’s how they are getting on.
Following a very successful spell out last season with League Two side Newport County, 22-year-old Finn Azaz stepped up a level this time around and made the move to League One side Plymouth Argyle for the remainder of the campaign. It’s turning into another good season for the lad as well. He has made 13 starts and five substitute appearances, and he’s already returned six goals for them.
21-year-old goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo made the switch out to League One, and local side, Burton Albion as he looks set to spend the rest of the year building on his own successful loan spell out with Scottish Championship side Ayr back in the 2020/21 campaign. He has made seven starts for them so far, with two clean sheets to his name.
Having had a mixed first half of the season with Ipswich Town, 19-year-old Louie Barry got himself back on track after a January switch to League Two side Swindon Town. He has also stepped up a level this year, making a season long loan out to League One MK Dons. Barry now has ten starts, with nine additional showings from the substitutes bench.
Following on from Ben Mee’s horror challenge, 25-year-old Wesley had a very mixed 2021/22 campaign, first heading to Club Brugge, before moving on to Internacional in January. This term he’s headed to Spanish Segunda Division side Levante as he looks to prove his fitness and form, and ultimately get his career back on track. He’s made eight starts and five substitute appearance for them so far.
Having had a reasonable spell out in the second half of the year with Stoke City, 20-year-old Jaden Philogene-Bidace gets a second bite at the Championship cherry as he’s set to spend the season with Cardiff City. Eight starts and seven substitute showings later, he’s already returned two goals.
A goal worthy of winning any match!
Step forward, 𝐉𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞. #avfc pic.twitter.com/pBTFMGR0TU
— The Villa Academy (@academyavfc) October 29, 2022
Following Jacob’s rise through the ranks in recent seasons, former gaffer Dean Smith is attempting to repeat the trick with 19-year-old brother, Aaron. Having had a reasonable second half of the season loan spell out with League One side Cheltenham Town, Aaron Ramsey will now spend the season with Championship side Norwich City. After a slowish start as he adjusted, he now has 13 starts and six substitute showings to his name, providing three assists and now three goals.
Not 1️⃣ but 2️⃣.
Congratulations on your second Championship goal. ✌️ @AaronRamseyx #AVFC https://t.co/xfeHpgefpl pic.twitter.com/UnyXR6A3AL
— The Villa Academy (@academyavfc) October 29, 2022
19-year-old Kaine Kesler Hayden had a fantastic 2021/22 campaign. He spent the first half of the year with League Two Swindon Town, before stepping up to League One MK Dons during the January window. This season he again steps up another level as he’s headed out to Championship side Huddersfield Town. He now has four starts and three substitute showings under his belt.
The conundrum that is 27-year-old Bertie Traore, will spend the 2022/23 with Turkish Super Lig side Istanbul Basaksehir. Making the move later on during the window, he now has nine starts and five substitute showings to his name. He’s also scored twice.
In one of the stranger decisions of the summer given we already knew about the injury to Diego Carlos, 27-year-old Kortney Hause headed out to the Championship to spend the year with Watford. He now has two starts and one substitute appearance to his name.
24-year-old Keinan Davis had previously headed out to Vicarage Road for the campaign and he has seven starts and four substitute showings to his name so far. He has returned four goals.
Having received a bit of game time whilst he was with Exeter City before making the move to our Academy, 18-year-old defender Ben Chrisene made the move north of the border to join Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock for the season. He’s now made eight starts for the side, with two more showings from the bench.
There were also a few late deadline day departures.
21-year-old Tyreik Wright has again headed out for a spell in League Two, but this time the Republic of Ireland Under 21 international heads for Bradford City for the rest of the year. He has eight starts, two substitute appearances and three goals to his name.
19-year-old striker Brad Young will build on his loan spell with Carlisle United last year, as he’s now set to spend the rest of the season with Scottish Championship side Ayr United. Young scored on his debut against Raith Rovers and now has seven starts and two substitute showings under his belt. He has scored twice in total.
With plenty of Villans wanting to see slightly more of 19-year-old Tim Iroegbunam, he very sensibly has been given a loan spell out with Michael Beale’s Queens Park Rangers side. It’s his maiden loan spell since joining us and clearly going straight into the Championship shows how highly we rate him. He has nine starts and three substitute appearances to his name.
Fellow 20-year-old midfielder Hayden Lindley has also departed for a League Two experience, and he heads to Newport County for the rest of the 2022/23 campaign. He now has three starts and two substitute appearances under his belt.
Caleb Chukwuemeka headed out to League Two side Crawley Town. The loan includes an obligation to buy. He has three starts and five substitute showings so far.
Bit of a mixed bag really, but good to see some youngsters really starting to shine now.
