The USA Tour Thread

[Dave]

Pre-match, match and post match thread for the games against FC Dallas (23rd July) and Houston Dynamo (July 26th).

New signing Philippe Senderos has spoken of his delight at joining up with Villa for the first time during the tour of Texas.

Senderos is in the 26-man party - along with fellow new recruits Kieran Richardson and Joe Cole - and he's thrilled to be with the claret and blues as they gear up for the 2014-15 campaign.

"It feels great to have joined up with the squad and I'm genuinely looking forward to the challenge ahead," Senderos said.

"Being out here in the United States will definitely benefit us as a group and it will be an opportunity for myself and the two other players who have just come to Villa, Joe Cole and Kieran Richardson, to get to know our new team-mates much better.

"The climate will be warm and conditions perfect for training and the competition from the two MLS teams we're playing will be really good as they're in the middle of their season.

"I've had a break following the World Cup, which was something fantastic to be involved in, and I'm really excited about the season ahead."

In other news, Christian Benteke and Libor Kozak have also joined the squad in the US while continuing their recovery and rehab from an achilles injury and a broken leg respectively.

Texas Tour squad in full: Brad Guzan, Jed Steer, Shay Given, Matt Lowton, Alan Hutton, Jores Okore, Ciaran Clark, Philippe Senderos, Nathan Baker, Chris Herd, Joe Bennett, Kieran Richardson, Enda Stevens, Fabian Delph, Ashley Westwood, Karim El Ahmadi, Leandro Bacuna, Gary Gardner, Charles N'Zogbia, Joe Cole, Jack Grealish, Andi Weimann, Gabby Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke, Darren Bent, Libor Kozak.

[pauliewalnuts]

Does anyone know if Ian Taylor has travelled out there with them?

[Dave Cooper please]

Does anyone know if Ian Taylor has travelled out there with them?

No, Lee Hendrie said that Ian said that he said that his mom smells soh e's not allowed to go.

[eamonn]

 I see Enda is still clinging on to his time at the club. I thought last season was the enda the road for him here.

[paul_e]

Interestingly that's a squad of 26.

Of those 26 3 don't need to be named in the premier league squad (Grealish, Okore and Steer) but we have Vlaar to come in.  That suggests to me that we're seeing, pretty much, the premier league squad there and with 1 spot (potentially earmarked for Ki) available unless there are sales.  The only really odd one is Stevens, I'm not really sure what he brings to things as the 3rd left back.

[SoccerHQ]

Are the kick offs for these two game U.K friendly at all? Spurs for example kicked off against Seattle at 9pm on Saturday for example.

[Hookeysmith]

No Luna

Nice job getting paid a load of money not to play - he must be really shit to have Stevens in front of him

[cdbearsfan]

Are the kick offs for these two game U.K friendly at all? Spurs for example kicked off against Seattle at 9pm on Saturday for example.

Think the first one is at two in the morning, the second one is a more watchable 10pm our time.

[Goldie.7]

Isn't looking good for the watchable factor.

[Damo70]

Interestingly that's a squad of 26.

Of those 26 3 don't need to be named in the premier league squad (Grealish, Okore and Steer) but we have Vlaar to come in.  That suggests to me that we're seeing, pretty much, the premier league squad there and with 1 spot (potentially earmarked for Ki) available unless there are sales.  The only really odd one is Stevens, I'm not really sure what he brings to things as the 3rd left back.

Especially as being third best left back at Villa these days is like being the third best singer in Jedward.

[leylandalbion]

enda stevens back in squad....Roy Keane Ireland coach....

[Toronto Villa]

No Luna

Nice job getting paid a load of money not to play - he must be really shit to have Stevens in front of him

Isn't meant to being sold somewhere? Maybe that's not far off which is why he hassn't gone. Have to say though bit stunned to Stevens there. I guess he could be carrying oranges or something

[Gregorys Boy]

More of a training/bounding trip really.   Interesting to see Given back in the fold.  I would say that his experience around the squad can only help, and it will be good for a youngster like Steer to feed off him.  Don't think the actually matches mean too much.

[silhillvilla]

So Bomb Squad MK II is born - Tonev Luna Carruthers

[paul_e]

So Bomb Squad MK II is born - Tonev Luna Carruthers

Alternatively they're players we think would benefit from a loan and we're in discussions with clubs regarding all of them so staying back makes sense. I'd certainly expect that for Carruthers at least.