Pre-Season Friendlies

[peter w]

disagree about Thor. I thought he linked up play in midfield quite well. Other notable nods to Veretout, Samba, Hourihane, Chester, and O'hare. Amavi looked good as the 2nd half went on.

[Matt Collins]

I thought McCormack looked dangerous but just couldn't quite score - bit like the start of last season

Can't comment either way on the central midfielders

[cdbearsfan]

I found it very difficult to work out who was who. Hopefully they have their names on their back in a very large typeface on Saturday.

[paul_e]

Veretout was my pick today but I did find myself watch ing that game a lot more, I thought the whole team looked good, Lansbury and Gabby started poorly but got into more after about half hour.  Hard to offer much on Adomah or Baker who both went off very early though.

[Matt Collins]

disagree about Thor. I thought he linked up play in midfield quite well. Other notable nods to Veretout, Samba, Hourihane, Chester, and O'hare. Amavi looked good as the 2nd half went on.

He's got good movement and I like the prospect of him playing wide to give us balance (e.g. Hard working and tucked in, say on the opposite side to green in a four). I just wish he didn't give the ball away so much

[Louzie0]

Really great idea to have 2 games on at the same time.

Cracking results! Gosh, to get goals coming in (at a rate of what felt like) constantly.
Excellent decision to field the experience and then, put on the young players.
Thank you, Steve Bruce.

If this is a preview of the coming season, I am a total fan.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Yeah good job all around. FYI if anyone missed the games the full games are now up to watch again. NICE!

[eamonn]

Hmm, life's a bit short for watching them through now even if at the same time. Any highlights around?

[paul_e]

Hmm, life's a bit short for watching them through now even if at the same time. Any highlights around?

If you're just wanting the goals ...

Telford game:
39:50 - Green deflected goal - https://youtu.be/MnhJNgZEyQk?t=39m50s
1:08:30 - First penalty - https://youtu.be/MnhJNgZEyQk?t=1h08m30s
1:12:10 - Gabby goal - https://youtu.be/MnhJNgZEyQk?t=1h12m10s
1:43:20 - Second penalty - https://youtu.be/MnhJNgZEyQk?t=1h43m20s

Kidderminster game:
12:50 - Hourihane goal - https://youtu.be/wyy8SNJrWSM?t=12m50s
33:50 - Chester goal - https://youtu.be/wyy8SNJrWSM?t=33m50s
1:42:00 - McKirdy goal - https://youtu.be/wyy8SNJrWSM?t=1h42m00s


I've tried to have them early enough to show the build up for most, the chester one is from a free kick and there was a fair bit of standing about so that's closer to the goal that the others.


For me the gabby goal is the best of the lot, really good cross from Bree and great build up by him and o'Hare down the right.  The Hourihane one is the sort of messy shit that we've conceded far too often in the last few years.

[tomd2103]

disagree about Thor. I thought he linked up play in midfield quite well. Other notable nods to Veretout, Samba, Hourihane, Chester, and O'hare. Amavi looked good as the 2nd half went on.

Interesting that he was involved and I guess it could either mean that he is in Bruce's plans for next season or he's in the shop window.  I kind of hope that it is the former as I think there is player in there and he could definitely contribute, but I'm guessing he is also one of our few sellable assets so might need to be sold if an offer comes in to raise some funds.     

[maigrait]

thanks posting that paul_e. I watched most of it last night (whilst I was working *cough*) but good to see some highlights again...

[Comrade Blitz]

It was depressing to lots of Villa players dropping like flies on tackles. Is it now a football thing just to feign injury all the time?

Fair play to Trialist No 20 on Kiddie who popped right up one time after a hard tackle at the start of the 2nd half.

[Jimbo]

Did Gerald Appleyard play, and was he any good?

[CT Villan]

How about a caption competition...

Photo from Birmingham Mail.


Holy Shit, Hutton got a cross into the box.

[Clampy]

I watched a half of each game. Amavi and Green looked good down the left hand side and Samba might be an ideal player to bring on in the last 10-15 minutes of games if he get's a contract.

Bjarnnason looked the pick of the bunch for me in the second half of the Kiddy game. I think he'll be an important player if he nails down a starting place.