It's started already...Villa lead the race to land Lazarus!

<h1> VILLA LEADING REUBEN RACE </h1> <h2> Barnsley kid Noble-Lazarus makes history </h2> <div class="article-right-column"> <div class="image-holder"> </div> <div class="image-holder"> </div> <div class="caption-container"> <div class="caption"> OUT IN FRONT - Martin O'Neill </div> </div> </div> <p class="byline"> 04/10/2008 </p> <div><h3> ASTON VILLA chief Martin O'Neill lead the race to land wonderkid Reuben Noble-Lazarus. </h3>

The Barnsley striker was just 15 years and 45 days when he faced Ipswich in midweek to seize the title of the youngest player in Football League history. </p>

Noble-Lazarus has not yet signed professional terms at Oakwell but the club will still demand &pound;2million in compensation if he goes. </p></div>

 

This has been what putting him in the side has been all about. I think we are resigned to losing him to one of the big clubs fairly soon and are busy raising his profile and compensation level by making him a first teamer. Jamil Adam is more ready for the first team than Lazarus.

 

is it a smart moving, putting him in the shp window like they have? nt

 

I think the problem with Jamil is that he's too slight - needs to bulk up a bit before he can be thrown in regularly.

 

I think it is...

I think the big clubs would have already been well aware of him - they don't miss much, and he's been playing against their academies.</p>

I think it's a smart move, because not only has his profile been raised, but with it his compensation value.
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was told a while ago that he was offered to Spurs last season

They came to watch him, but apparently he had a stinker and they lost interest. This has come from the mother of a former Academy player.

 

RE: was told a while ago that he was offered to Spurs last season

Remember Jermaine Pennant went from Notts County to Arsenal at 15 years old for £2M and he hadn't even played for the Notts County first team.

 

Bound to happen but later rather than sooner

 

We will have scout flocking

soon as they heard a 15 year old made his league debut, all top prem clubs will come watching him.

 

Get him sold, hes for the future (in a few yrs) £2million now! would do nicely down Oakwell way, maybe they could spend it wisely and Loan a couple of half decent Players what Wages could be payed out of the windfall only my way a thinking mind....

 

sell him and we may as well close the academy down

.

 

How do you work that out

if academys producing players that we can sell on and help us financially thats what its all about, cardiff have made millions from there academy over last few years thats probably kept them in buisness

 

Thats right. Ramsey went for £5m and only at 16, so why not? For too long we've produced chuff all through the youth structure, I mean, when was last product of acadamy (or youth in general) that went for any sort of cash? Carl Tiler?

 

Scott Flinders? nt