Villa finished their summer training with a 2-0 victory over Villareal, just more than 24 hours after a heated 1-3 loss to Marseilles. With Unai Emery giving key players more time off than usual, Villa’s 4-0 victory over Roma was probably the best indication of Villa’s upside. In all, Villa packed 8 friendlies into less than a month.
With limited transfer activity so far, Emery had the chance, and need, to give more minutes to young players than we might’ve otherwise expected. And overall, they acquitted themselves well. Hemmings, Rowe, and Jimoh-Aloba did not look out of place and indeed, showed promising glimpses that could be important to Villa’s squad-building finances going forward. One assumes they’ll probably go out on loan, but it could also be the case a couple are kept around the squad. To my mind, Hemmings showed enough pace and aggression that he could be useful in the short term. But I’m guessing they’ll want him to go out and get a lot more minutes under his belt.
The senior core of the side has looked good, too. Ollie has been razor sharp, and Martinez looked to be at the top of his game against Villareal. The usual suspects have all looked like themselves, by and large. Konsa has been shaky, though, and Bailey doesn’t look to have recovered any confidence, compounding that with baffling decisions that needlessly put us under pressure. If we’ve been putting him in the shop window, I can see why no one’s walking in the door.
Maybe more important is that Emi Buendia has been playing with a point to prove and did just about all he could to make his case. Likewise, Lamare Bogarde saw a lot of minutes at RCB and played well, showing more willingness to carry than Konsa. Bizot has looked comfortable, though he hasn’t really been given a chance to show much in the shot-stopping arena.
Beyond the squad, we also saw some tweaks on playing out, including a willingness to go long more often. We also saw some problems with playing out that led to a number of the goals conceded. Sweeping counters and defensive-third turnovers: This is pretty much how we can expect Villa to give up goals. I’ve noticed teams exploiting the right channel (from our perspective) for a ball played into the path of an onrushing attacker in acres of space.
Not sure I’ve got any words of wisdom for Unai here. Known issues, in the end.
On the plus side, Evan Guessand looks a player. Not a lot of minutes (the Marseilles appearance can hardly count given how the game had degenerated), but he looked fast, lively and dangerous in the final 20 or so in Spain. I don’t want to get too excited by such a small sample, but we might have a player on our hands. If Buendia stays and finds his best, we may well have effectively replaced Rashford and Asensio.
Now of course it’s all for real with Newcastle coming to town to kick off the season, apparently without Isak and perhaps even Gordon. They’ll still be handful, but that’s an opportunity we really shouldn’t be passing up.
Over to you.
Villa Preseason Wrap
That was a very comprehensive report of preseason.
I’m most interested in how we sometimes give teams a sudden leg-up by conceding ‘cheap’ goals: long balls over the top have caught us out for 18 months, and Unai doesn’t really change anything. We defended a bit deeper in jan/feb when we were having a wobble, but we quickly went higher once we recovered our confidence.
It seems as if Unai has decided we’ll just cover it up by scoring more often than we concede?
Also, I had hoped Bailey would come back fit and firing, but he hasn’t, and he’s now wearing strapping on his knee. Maybe a spell of being a sub will do the trick. If he gets back to what he was, we’ll be flush with options in attack.
I’m glad Buendia has burst back into the picture. I always rated him, and his competitive attitude.
Yeah, been very vexing, HD. Seems like we went from catching everyone offside to not. To me, it feels like a concentration issue…things are just sort of ticking along, settling in and then one quick chance presents itself, we fluff our lines, and it’s 0-1. Had no business conceding that opener against Marseilles. Villareal the flips side, lots of chances, saves, then a sucker punch that kind of sealed the game.
I’d really like to know what Emery would do at the back if he could spend. I liked what Hemmings offered as he covered ground quickly tracking runners and wasn’t afraid to get close. Kind of profile that helps against counters.
Anyway, it’s how teams want to get at us now. I’m guessing with the emphasis on attackers that Emery wants more consistent threat, feels like the system should be yielding more chances the way teams are pressing us. On the counters, I’m guessing he’d point a lot to decision-making upfield and the turnovers that launch them.
And I guess I should say what I see as opponents’ biggest adaptation is taking advantage of our more positional “press” to get it to someone right around the edge of the middle third who is going to one-time it to someone sprinting from inside the halfway line. They’re off, no offside. That’s just sort of burned into my brain. Don’t know what the numbers are.
Likewise, I mentioned I’m seeing a lot of the winger or LFB getting the ball wide and playing it into the channel, again to an onrushing player who will almost always be onside as Villa are backtracking with the ball making its way forward down the touchline.
Again, can’t say whether it’s instruction or the players, but you see opponents come right up and close that down against us as much as they can. Much more aggressive man-to-man, really getting close and trying to deny the one-twos. We tend to give teams that bit more space and time. We’re at our best when we don’t.
Yeah it’s a REALLY strange one. Emery is anything but flat footed when it comes to tactics, but we have this chronic weakness. Like you said, the oppo either presses high and hard, or sits in waiting for the turnover and dinks it over the top.
That’s a very good question, if money was no object. Maybe the missing piece is athleticism. Bouba and Onana seem to be more box-to-box now, he’s bought Guessand, and was happy with buying Maatsen last year. I think if we were a bit more dynamic and not one-paced, it would force other teams to concentrate on defending, instead of waiting for a transition. But again that leads back to Emery, surely if he wanted blood and thunder tempo he’d be livid with rolling it between the back four and GK?
Regardless, of the achilles heal, i still have us in the 3rd to 7th bracket. And I think Thursday-Sunday will be no problem with this manager and squad depth.
Also, I agree about Hemmings, he looks good to go…where has Barkley been since Walsall? He must be on at least 50k a week plus bonuses, that would be a big saving plus any transfer fee.
” I still have us in the 3rd to 7th bracket”. Me too.
Agreed Henry. We do seem to give teams a helping hand by playing around our own penalty area. If passing was fast and accurate I wouldn’t be half as concerned but I just know Konsa will dawdle with the ball until a challenge comes in and I’ve noticed too that he favours a cross field pass to Pau/Tyro or back to the keeper rather than his RB. Don’t know why but the opposition read him like a book.
The Wai Ayes have a midfield of Joelinton, Gimaraes and Tonali which is exceptional strong. Physically powerful and mobile. They’re a handful for anyone and is where the game will be won or lost. Isak missing has to be a bonus for us.
Yeah. It’s a mystery why we roll it around so consistently. I have no issue with slow build up, but at some point we have to go “BANG” quicken the tempo and hit the oppo with a forwards attack.
And yep I’d like to think our lads will be more “up for a fight” than vs Marseille because their midfield will eat us alive if we let them. Just generally, the home games vs Newcastle seem to be decided by how motivated we are, and I’m confident that we’ll do what we need for 3 points.
It’s good we are approaching the start of the season without any dramas or injuries. Watkins is in a far better place than 12 months ago. Buendia seems to be in the same promising place he was 2 years ago when Emery decided he was better for the team than Coutinho (is he completely off the books?). This preseason has really been a poke in the eye for all the clickbait shites. Absolutely FA of their wibble about Villa has happened.
Hope we can do more than just endlessly awkwardly fumble the ball across the back line and needlessly endanger the goal. It would be great if every now and again we could throw everyone by reversing our well known game plan of going left side and suddenly go right side. Would that screw up the Palaces of this world?
Interesting, jbd, as I read something, player is escaping me, atm, and he was saying Emery doesn’t want it going sideways: either forward or back. Part of that’s avoiding turnovers.
But to me, the problem at the back seems like personnel. How often does Konsa ignore the RB in space and send it back to Ty/Pau? How often does the RB get it and send it back? (Saw a touch more of the RB trying to play progressively to the winger ahead down the line.) I can’t imagine Emery only wants to play out one side. And if he is wanting that, to me it seems like he doesn’t trust the right side, and I can’t say I blame him. They seem shy to do what needs to be done.
It moves a bit differently when Kamara drops into the back line. I could really be wrong, but might hinge on Konsa’s inability/unwillingness to be more progressive. And what you need is someone back there who can ping it diagonally or accurately into space for someone like Guessand or Malen to run onto.
“Hope we can do more than just endlessly awkwardly fumble the ball across the back line and needlessly endanger the goal”. Well the Torygraph today has us reaching a meagre 58 points this season according to their super computer. At the same time, it predicts Spurs will collect 77 points. FFS, they’re having a laugh.
I’m reading that JJ to Newcastle is imminent for £40m. I don’t know how to feel about that. It’s always disappointing when a homegrown star departs, but he has had so many injury issues the last two years that I suspect that the right decision is to take the money and let Guessand have more playing time out there.
I also have mixed feelings about spending big wages to bring Ascencio back, which is getting a lot of press today. He’s a good player, but not as good as he seemed his first few appearances. He also eats up a huge amount of budget even without a transfer fee and, in Emery’s system, moves Rogers out of the middle, which I think he has been at his best.
Yeah, I don’t like strengthening a rival…Be nice if he were going to the continent. But. Injuries, yes, and I read in the write-up he has 17 goals and 19 assists in 167 appearances. Maybe the best is to come, but that’s not a great return and fairly easy to replace. So, curious what Howe thinks is there to be unlocked.
Feel the same way about Asensio. Lot of money for not a whole lot more than Buendia, tbh.
If we do sell JJ, wouldn’t mind getting either a RB or mobile unit to give Konsa competition.
I’m gutted with this news and in denial like I was with Dougie’s PSR transfer rumours. JJ is one of my favourites and even if he isn’t a regular starter, I can’t help but think of him in Unai’s first half season. He was our best player in the final month. Injuries have slowed him down but it’s just frustrating not to see his career play out at Villa due to finances. He looked to be getting back to his best at the back end of the season.
And I definitely don’t want Asensio for all the reasons you and JC have mentioned. Coutinho/Ginola/Joe Cole/Pires – well not as over the hill as Pires😅 but to swap JJ’s ball carrying and defensive cover work for Asensio would be a downgrade.
BBC reporting he wants discussions with AVFC before committing to Newcastle. Sounds like his preferred choice is to stay at Villa. Which in turn means that Unai has given the green light on the sale.
Hmm. That sounds logical. Talks over a new contract had been reported a week or so ago, maybe there’s a gap in salary expectation between the club and JJ. Another thing is our fine/agreement with UEFA. As I understand, for 3 years, we have to have a positive transfer balance (sell more than we buy) in order to register new players for UEFA competitions. I don’t know when the financial periods start and when the registration periods start, but do we have to sell someone in order to register Guessand and Bizot?? Is that why JJ is being offered out? Answers on a postcard…
Unai has been saying for a couple of seasons now that we will need to trade players as a valid form of income. Given the straight-jacket placed on us by UEFA, a Ramsey sale would appear to fall in that category. If the Europa League leaves us approx £30 million down on turnover, then his sale makes up that shortfall. Assuming Newcastle pay via instalments, I’m not sure how that method affects the bottom line with UEFA. I’m also assuming Guessand is the replacement already sourced.
As JC says below, Bailey may be on the move…….as for Dendoncker…….total waste if nobody wants him.
With JJ, I think we’re looking at how Guessand, Rogers, and Malen all get on the pitch, and Guessand and Rogers are both capable of playing from the left (or anywhere, based on history).
I could be very wrong, but from the brief bits I saw, Guessand may well be an upgrade on Ramsey. I don’t like it from a depth perspective, and I was reading that toon’s rationale is making up the numbers in midfield. I wouldn’t think he’s being penciled in as a starter. Which is probably why he wants the talks today with Villa.
If rumors are true, we assume he’s been unhappy with the playing time at Villa, so he’s probably in a funny place, too, with the pros and cons.
Going to say I’ll have to trust Emery here…We did alright without Dougie (who obviously struggled, after). Maybe Ramsey will prove the exception, but our record on letting players leave is pretty good. And the lines that have been drawn (Ollie, Rogers, Bouba) show they’re thinking pretty soberly. Even being open to Martinez leaving, you know there are other keepers out there.
Me, I’d rather have a refocused Martinez than JJ if it really is coming down to one or the other.
I just wish someone would offer us anything to take Bailey off our hands.
Yeah, Emery has everyone’s trust so whatever is good for him is good for me!
I’m still don’t know about JJ as a CM and Newcastle’s first choice wide and central midfielders are quite well established, so he may well be in a worse situation minutes-wise up north. Either way it would just be nice to be able to keep hold of him and see his full potential, and sell off someone who is chronically underperforming. Maybe Palace will sell Eze then offer £20mil for Bailey at the end of the window in desperation…
I’d bite their hand off.
I’ve just seen someone saying Roma are interested in Bailey. There might well be a god.
And then Ramsey labeled as Villa’s “Grealish 2.0”. Talk about ‘journalistic’ malpractice.
Might be an Interesting end to transfer window yet,definitely didn’t think last sunday evening that neither ramsay or Bailey would not in our 20 man match day squad, or that ramsay would have left
All far as Jacob goes last 2 years have been horrendous especially last season when he has been fully fit since Xmas
Othen news it seemingly beundi has played himself back into emery plans ,mind you we haven’t seen emi playing in a good villa side apart end of emery first season
Another bug bearer of mine is lack of cheap talent coming from monchi network of scouts,ned gauci garcia young Turkish lad not exactly setting world on fire,yes we hit jackpot with rogers but when you look at what forest Bournemouth Brighton Palace have picked up on cheap its definitely one area monchi can improve
JC
A question when I log in ,it’s usually to older post on main screen,what am I doing wrong
Cheers james,definitely enjoying the new posters too
I’m not sure, JV. Maybe if you just go to the landing page before logging out it will bring you back there. I’m in and out of various parts so much I’ve not really paid attention to how the sequence is working and I don’t log out all that often.
I’ll tinker around and see if I can figure it out.
I should have said many welcomes to new posters
It’s hard to beat having different views
On Jacob ramsay,he had what millions had dreamed of,pulling on the claret and blue jersey, stepping out on holy ground, scoring a goal at the holte end,was capped by England under 21s,captain at that,probably his injuries stopped him get full cap,was getting a more than decent wage(yes dendonker was getting more ) but Jacob turned down according to reports 3 new offers pretty sure it was well increased and couldn’t wait to jump on plane to Newcastle to probably one of our main rivals,why,it’s only few months since he was on pitch celebrating with U18, I trust emery decisions hope Jacob doesn’t live to regret it
Cheers for the welcome JV
Yeah it will be very difficult to take if he’s a massive success there. They are our most direct rivals atm, so as good as the money is, it’s a high risk decision.
So JJ is definitely off, dagger number 1. It seems Dougie will soon be in Forrest Red, dagger number 2. Bad things usually come in threes, so what will be the third?😅
Looking around the other teams, I’d say our prep is far ahead of most. At least half of the managers are saying they aren’t ready for this weekend and need to sign half a dozen players. Nunu saying “we are very very far away”.
We are operating a full deck of players and anytime one is sold, the replacement is usually already at Bodymoor. It can all change with 2 weeks left, but as it stands most predictions have us right in the middle of the race for 4th place…which is where I see us.
Emery was really chirpy today at press conference, imagine some of other managers having to sell player after player and still being able to produce a competitive team
It’s scandalous. We’ve copped a £125K fine from the EPL for “abusing the multi ball system”. Ball boys chucking balls back to the keeper to save him collecting from the nearest cone, including one occasion where a second ball was thrown onto the pitch to waste time. Well I’ve seen this done at every ground televised last season but our crime was against Spurs. One of the entitled six. One of the Laandan clubs. More evidence of how crooked it all is. Meanwhile, Citeh are untouchable with a sovereign wealth fund force field protecting them.
Just fyi I’ll be away over the weekend, so I’ve got a new post up for the season’s start. Nothing significant, just a fresh page with a couple of thoughts to separate out tomorrow’s match, so carry on as you like.