Daniel Johnson is the latest academy player to leave Aston Villa. Johnson has joined Preston on a two-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee. Johnson was part of the Villa youth team that won the NextGen cup, and was hailed by Gerard Houllier as ‘a future Aston Villa captain’.
Unfortunately his Villa career has taken off under Lambert and failed to make any appearances for Villa, but did sit on the bench for 6 games 2011-12. Since then Johnson went out on loan to Yeovil, Chesterfield and Oldham. From reports, it sounded as though Johnson was developing into a talented footballer. He was a talented dribbler, able to make a key pass and good on both feet.
Lilywhites manager Simon Grayson said: “We first came across Daniel over a year ago and we thought about signing him last January and have kept our eyes on him ever since.
“We had him watched numerous times when he was on loan at Chesterfield and Oldham and decided we wanted to bring him here and we were delighted he was desperate to come to us.
“There were lots of other clubs who wanted to sign him, but we had the backing of the owner to go out and spend money to secure his services. We feel he is a player who can only get better and will add something different in our midfield options.
I’m a little disappointed that Johnson wasn’t even given a chance to start a single cup or league game. But that seems to be the recent story behind Villa’s youth players, many aren’t even given the chance at first team football.
I ask myself what’s the point of having an academy when basically the club has no intention whatsoever of giving them a proper run out in the first team.waste of money imo,says alot when the likes of the mighty Preston come knocking.
Samir Carruthers has left, same as Jordan Graham. None of these players were even given a chance!
It speaks volume that even McLeish utilised our academy more than Lambert. I don’t think that Lambert has actually promoted any of our youth players to the first team.
Sad isn’t it? Just had to look at the academy to find players we need, or at least the type of player we need and Lambert supposedly claims he wants. Yet they’re all being let go. A talented academy is getting destroyed by the biggest idiot in football today.
I think I read somewhere Gardner wants to turn his loan move into a permanent one,sounds like the kids don’t want to come home.can you really blame them?????
At Forest? Probably because Piece has faith and belief in the kid and knows what he’s capable from his England under 21 days.
Bottom line is if you don’t give the kids a run in the team, you’ll never know.
The difference between a quality manager who can bring through upcoming youth and get the best out of their potential. Houlier would have been good for VIlla in my opinion. Its easy for fans to say, but they havn’t looked up to it. This flock of villa players didn’t win the next gen cup with no talent while other talented youngsters from other clubs who havn’t got such an accolade under their belt will make it. Lambert has no idea how to bring youth through and the club is looking more of a shambles every day. Dissapointed yet again. When will it stop? Hopefully in the championship.
Lambert has no knowledge of what’s what, he’s under Lerner’s instruction, football playing is not his game, a man that’s a puppet to owners games. He’s got to go, full stop.
See Bents scored that’s one more than all our strikers put together
Typical Bent goal. Would be no point playing him under Lambert, as we’re not set up to get the ball into the box!
Fairplay to Bradford
Thats more to do with chelsea not geing bothered. At 2.2 they eouldnt want a repkay and eould rather lose it than draw as they want thr prem and cl. Mourinho was very gracious in defeat which he never is normally. None if the sky 4 exceot utd care about fa cup. Utd coz they are not in CL and did t win a troohy kast tear
Think you’re going a bit overboard. There isn’t a trophy Mourinho doesn’t want to win.
And claiming it’s a disgrace to lose to Bradford and the team should feel the same is gracious in defeat? He wasn’t gracious at all.
They all want to win the FA Cup.
Absolute joke. Shame Houlier was in such ill health. At least he had a clue about football!
“Young and hungry” policy my arse! How many young and hungry homegrown players have we never given a chance to?!