I’ve not had a lot to say lately, mainly due to other commitments. There’s also the fact that a World Cup summer makes the usual close season slightly surreal. I’ve held off saying much because I’ve not really known what to make of it all. I’ve caught bits and pieces of the preseason games, need to go back and watch again, but with absentees, familiar faces gone, so many of the youth on the pitch..You’re just not sure what you’re watching.

Having lost Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans, I’ve had a bit of fear for the upcoming season. People offer me congratulations on last season, asking whether we’ll struggle in this one. I’ve not really had a good answer. Well, not one with a lot of conviction either way. I’d throw Onana in, too, but given how patchy his fitness has been, it’s not quite the same. Very useful when fit, not so much when’s away recovering.

On the other hand, we did bank good money, and the club have spent it getting younger and faster. Manzambi? I like what I’ve seen, which is a very limited sample, and if he truly is a direct replacement for Rogers, it might work. Obviously he’s nowhere near a bargain buy, but he is strong and explosive and well regarded. And we can’t forget Rogers was definitely in and out of form. And when he was out of it, it was really poor. If Manzambi is a more consistent player, it might be a net plus.

Youri? For me that’s the tougher one. Calm, composed, and always oozing quality on the ball. Most of the good things went through him, especially when he got between the lines. Is Joao Gomes good enough? Again, I don’t have enough of a sampling to have a meaningful opinion.

Garnacho? Well, Emery loves a project, and from a physical standpoint the kid has all the tools. But he’s obviously not been right in the head. When he’s found in space with a direct line to goal, he’s a serious threat. Has it been coaching and systems? Dunno. I suppose we’ll find out. I wasn’t in love with the rumors, but he’s here now and we know Emery won’t hesitate to make sure clauses aren’t met if he’s not working out.

But then the Super Cup came along. I was kind of dreading this one…The condensed run of games, being in Asia, the usual chopping and changing, the lack of familiar foundations, the youth coming in and out. Had no idea how PSG would approach it, and it became clear they weren’t treating it like a training session. This is a side that likes to win.

And Villa acquitted themselves really well. I was almost shocked, to be honest. Wasn’t perfect, of course, still looking a bit unfamiliar with the various combinations, rust and the like, but they basically went toe to toe with the best side in Europe and probably the world. I’m quite comfortable saying they were unlucky to lose—a draw at the least would’ve been more than fair on the night.

Villa created a number of good chances (five of them ‘big chances’), two of which were good enough to go in with better finishes. Finished on the front foot, broke well, and had some periods of sustained pressure. It reminded of the CL second leg, where PSG were confident and then rattled.

Villa were scrappy enough where it counted, and stayed well organized off the ball. Not much you can do about the first…turnover in a bad spot and nothing you can do about that finish. Their second…well, it’s a shame Matty wasn’t pushing up quite as quickly as the rest. Would’ve been interesting had that stayed 1-1 for longer. But Emery’s structure stayed intact despite the number of ‘new’ faces.

We were younger and quicker than last season and it showed. I thought Hemmings had impressed before, and he looked very comfortable out there. Not shy and very good on the ball. I’d like to see him make the squad. Alysson had a smaller part to play, and it’s a shame he and Tammy couldn’t connect there toward the end. When it comes to Gomes’ sample size, I thought that was a good outing.

Villa also did something which you can’t always say we do. With McGinn wide right, they kept pumping in crosses a la Messi in the WC Semi, and PSG struggled mightily. We found something they didn’t or couldn’t adapt to, and we kept at it. Lovely take from Madjo. Obviously given his size it’s hard to believe he’s just 17, but that was a quality finish that really belied his age.

I didn’t know whether winning that appeal was really going to be of any significance, but the kid certainly seems to have a future. Although he’s started regularly in the preseason with Ollie taking deserved time off, and has been scoring, I’d imagine Emery will bring him on slowly, probably as an impact sub like he did Duran. I can’t imagine him going on loan. He’s had his shot this preseason and he’s taken it. But you never know. While I might discount goals against an Indonesia XI, for example, you can’t dismiss scoring a cracker against PSG. The occasion did not seem too big for him in any way.

On another night, Buendia might’ve had a highlight or two. Maatsen did well enough, I thought, given the task. Overall, no one played poorly. Far from it. There were some nice interchanges and the right ideas, even when they didn’t come off.

So, no one ever likes losing, but given the players we’ve lost and the seemingly perpetual task of finding replacements, I think the performance has given everyone a lot of encouragement and rightly so.

Over to you.