Pre-season Friendly v Walsall

[KRS]

Thanks morrissey...but I live in Walsall so would rather not drive to Birmingham then get the train to Walsall and back again! lol

edit:
...and no, its too far to walk! 

[curiousorange]

I run the Wharf Bar in the town centre and I'm told we don't do too bad of a job....for Walsall anyway so anyone going into town for a drink do pop in and have a beer.  We have got real ales, very reasonable prices and we are next to the canal so again for Walsall isn't too bad aesthetically speaking.  We have a car park and are next to the Art Gallery.
We have our own cab firm too so can arrange a convoy of taxis to Bescot for £4 per cab.
Thanks for reading.

I come in mainly for the barmaids.

[Greg N'Ash]

As has been said, we won't see much of the 1st team i reckon. 2-1 to villa

[dave.woodhall]

Where's the best/safest place to park at Bescot Stadium these days?

The shopping car park next to the ground has always been free and unlocked before.

[Concrete John]

What sort of team do you reckon we'll put out? I'd say the likes of Bent will only play 45 minutes max.

Last season we played Carew, Wiemann, Albrighton, Clark, Bannan and Lichaj, so we're talking reserves usually. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see a front line with Delfouneso in it, and Gary Gardner in there somewhere.

I think it'll be a mix.

A few kids thrown in with one or two seniors Mcleish will want a look at, such as Warnock and Makoun.  Will he play Given to get him used to a couple of defenders?  Maybe something like

Given

Lichaj
Collins
Clark
Warnock

Albrighton
Makoun
Delph
Gardner

Delfouneso
Bent/Gabby - half each!

Prediction wise fuck knows, but I'll say 1-2 to Villa.

[Legion]

Outside the local Secondary school, just round the corner from the ground.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I'm 50/50 to go depending how my work day is...Can I pay at the gate on the night ?

[VillaAlways]

Pressure's on Wolves beat them 3-2 last night 

[curiousorange]

I'd be surprised to see Bent play.

[Legion]

Boldmere St Michaels 3-2 Villa XI

Villa's second string began preparations for the 2011-12 campaign with a defeat at Boldmere St Michaels, despite leading twice through Graham Burke and Janoi Donacien.

Kevin MacDonald took a young team to Church Road, with all of the 19-man squad getting vital match action under their belts.

It didn't take long for the claret and blues to find their groove as skipper Gary Gardner and academy star Darious Darkin threatened with early efforts.

And although MacDonald's side went away on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline, the contest was a valuable exercise ahead of another potentially exciting season for the club's reserve and youth sides.

This time last year Irish forward Burke earned the distinction of netting Villa's pre-season goal in a 2-1 defeat at Basingstoke - and he repeated the feat here against the Mikes.

On 14 minutes, Burke received possession on the left flank, skipped past his marker and powered an angled left-foot drive across Boldmere keeper Chris Gibson to put the visitors in front.

Two further Villa attempts followed in quick succession - Daniel Johnson's low drive creeping just wide, while a 30-yard piledriver from Gardner cannoned off the goal frame.

The non-league outfit, who went close early on when Donacien and Benjamin Siegrist combined to thwart Tom Overfield from six yards, levelled on 28 minutes through the first of two goals from striker Jozef Jakab.

Jakab reacted quickest to pounce on Overfield's flick-on and slot past Swiss keeper Siegrist.

But 10 minutes later Villa regained the initiative when Donacien supplied the final touch at the back post after teenage defender Richard Bryan steered Darious Darkin's cross back towards goal.

Reserve team manager MacDonald shuffled his pack in the second half in order to give his starlets the opportunity to step up their match fitness.

Replacement keeper Elliot Parish was called into action soon after the restart, showing tremendous agility to palm away Overfield's header.

However, Parish was beaten on 53 minutes as Jakab pounced on a loose ball before lifting his shot over the former England U20 custodian from a tight angle.

On 68 minutes, Overfield scored what proved to be the winning strike, beating the offside trap before keeping his cool to lob Parish from the edge of the penalty area.

The away side's best chances of the second period came courtesy of wing duo Josh Barton and Courtney Cameron.

Northern Irishman Barton cleverly weaved his way inside from the right touchline and drilled his shot wide across goal, while Cameron was inches away with an audacious 20-yard chip.

Villa's second string are in action again next Tuesday when they face Chasetown at the Scholars Ground [ko 7.30pm].

VILLA: Siegrist; Nelson-Addy, Bryan, Donacien, Caira; Lampkin, Gardner, Darkin, Cameron; Burke, Taylor. Subs: Jenkins [for Nelson-Addy, HT], Parish [for Siegrist, HT], Barton [for Gardner, HT], Johnson [for Lampkin, 18], Webb [for Donacien, 87], Melvin [for Barton, 78], Ward [for Darkin, 84], Eminoglu [for Taylor, 78].

[UK Redsox]

It's Walsall on Thursday. 1-3 to us.

Bent 16
Agbonlahor 24
Petrov 67

Macken 85

What ? Not 2-0 Villa ?

Are you trying a new tactic for 2011-12 Leeg ?

[Legion]

A new strategy during pre-season. Suck it and see...

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Darious Darkin. What a fantastic name, could be straight out of a Victorian thriller.

[tom jennings IV]

I think Villa will squeeze this one and we'll all leave vaguely under-whelmed. 1-2 to the Villans.

What's the parking like around there, anywhere to avoid?

[pooligan]

With our new hard to beat 4-5-1 formation i am going for a 1-1 draw Delfonso scoring