Ups and downs are just part of life as a young player looking to make your way in the harsh and occasionally brutal world of senior football.
And after the ‘up’ that was his performance in Saturday’s 3-2 comeback win over Everton came the first ‘down’ of Lamare Bogarde’s embryonic Aston Villa career.
The Netherlands Under 20 international was handed a third straight start by Unai Emery during Aston Villa’s first-ever Champions League fixture on Tuesday night.
Bogarde would only last 45 minutes, however.
With hosts BSC Young Boys flying out of the blocks and seemingly targeting the youngster’s inexperience down the right-hand side, Emery removed 20-year-old Bogarde from the frame at half-time in favour of the grizzled Diego Carlos; an Amadou Onana-inspired Villa starting slowly before making their quality count and winning 3-0.
But you would be hard pressed finding a single young footballer who had not suffered an afternoon like this during their breakout season.
Bogarde has already proven himself capable of handling the Premier League – albeit against poor opposition in Leicester City and Everton – and it would be no surprise to see him on the team sheet again during Saturday’s Midlands derby clash with Wolves.
Lamare Bogarde makes Aston Villa breakthrough
The Rotterdam-born defender has had to be patient in the Midlands.
Three years since arriving from hometown club Feyenoord, Bogarde had only featured once until this season. And that came in an infamous 4-1 FA Cup defeat to Liverpool back in 2021, a COVID-afflicted Villa forced to field a fleet of kids.
But, after honing his talents and gaining some much-needed first-team experience on loan at Bristol Rovers, a hamstring injury suffered by Matty Cash opened up a door.
And Bogarde did not need to be asked twice, strolling through it and nailing down, if not a regular starting place, then certainly a senior role.
For Marciano Vink, the former Netherlands midfielder who represented Eredivisie giants Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Bogarde’s decision to swap Feyenoord for Aston Villa suddenly looks like a very good one indeed.
“He went to England at the age of 17. We often have the discussion about whether players go abroad too early,” Vink tells ESPN’s Voetbalpraat podcast. “Every player has the situation of whether he stays with a club or leaves.
“For him, England was a very good option, and he did (took that chance). So it is possible that he will succeed there.”
Bogarde, who showcased his ‘immense potential’ during 46 appearances over two seasons at Bristol Rovers, is just one of many young Dutchmen who have thrived in an English-based academy system.
And Aston Villa will be delighted if he can emulate the success of their very own Ian Maatsen – a £37 million signing from Chelsea – or Manchester City’s four-time Premier League winner Nathan Ake.
Following Ian Maatsen and Man City ace Nathan Ake
“You see that the training in England is really very good,” Vink adds. “Nathan Ake, Bogarde now, Ian Maatsen, (ex-Chelsea starlet) Jeffrey Bruma… Those are the guys who have made it.
“Bogarde is really mature. I saw him last weekend (against Everton). You have to be really good for a coach in England to put an international on the bench for you, so I think it’s really great that this guy is holding his own in the violence of the Premier League.”
It remains to be seen whether Bogarde keeps his place when Cash returns. The Poland right-back is expected to return, if not at the end of this month, then early in October.
But, even if Bogarde does return to a back-up role, he can sleep easy knowing he has earned himself the approval of his boss.
“Lamare is a young player. When we arrived here, we played a (friendly) match in Cardiff,” Emery tells the Birmingham Mail, casting his mind back to 2022. “He was playing right full-back.
“We can remember in that moment how we was playing and how he’s now playing. We need the process and to understand tactically everything we need and want to play in our demands.
“Another step is for them to play, feel comfortable, get experiences and get minutes. Positive minutes. We are always supporting and being demanding in the process I have. I like to support young players, giving them chances but also getting the performances we need with players like Lamare.
“The idea is to keep going.”
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