Pre-season 2023/24

[tomd2103]

What stands out more than anything, is that Emery has players we've written off (for fairly good reason), looking like proper top level competitors.

Only a friendly of course but our system was so overwhelming tonight against a team that finished 2nd in the league. The lazio starting 11 was basically their main team.

We changed 6 players and our tactics and shape remained the same, that's elite level management

I'm excited lads

Fill in a couple of gaps in the squad that remain and I think you'll be right to be excited!

[AlexAlexCropley]

Tielemans is a level above Luiz / Kamara but they will benefit and learn from his class

Luiz? He'd be the first name I'd put down on the team sheet. He was at half pace today and was still the best player on the pitch by a country mile. Kamara needs to get up to speed or he could be the one to lose his place to Tielemans.

I thought Tielemans was a cut above anyone else . He's a notch above Luiz.

He's a good player and had a good game in a friendly.

He's done nothing yet to suggest he's a notch above Luiz.  Doug is probably our best player now and if Youri gets his peak form back and pushes him then great.  But suggesting he's a notch above Luiz is a bit daft in my opinion.

I read that first sentence in the style of Michael Caine in Get Carter

[dave shelley]

Dean Jones, who's that

Wasn't he the bloke that used to drive Herbie the VW Beetle?

[The Edge]

Have to admit I really like the all claret version of our kit

Same here. Looks class.

[cdward]

The Chambers looped ball over the defence for Buendia, who then shaped to complete an overhead kick, but instead controlled it, brought it down, turned away from his defender and just curled his shot wide was a great move.
As has been said there were some great displays all through the team.
This Unai guy isn't bad is he.

[Neil Hawkes]

Longer match highlights - Olsen did well on that showing:

[AV84]

Not the best quality but someone's made highlights of Coutinho last night.

[simboy]

We looked quite good I thought. The pace of the game was more Isthmian than Premiership level, which is to be expected - but there was some lovely football. Of the three supporting Watkins in the first half [Buendia, Diaby and Bailey] I would not be surprised if it was Buendia who spends more time out of the team, despite one of the best "kill, turn and shot" moves I have seen from a Villa player. He really has a temper, would have been off in a Premiership game, not sure that's so good.

Until Mings came on, in the second half we were really quiet as a team.

All the kids impressed with the possible exception of Archer although he was up against a pretty strong central defensive pairing for Lazio.  Kellyman when he came on, getting hacked down as a "welcome" but got on and looked dangerous. Philogene was sharp.

I thought we changed formations throughout the game and never looked like a player didnt understand his role in any system. McGinn for example dropped further back as we went from a 3 supporting Archer to a 4-4-2 later on.   

I think that the Conference league means we have to have a certain number of ex academy and some U23 players as well as English players? For that reason I suspect Archer Philogene and possibly Revan will be in and around the first team this season as will Chambers. No Carlos though? Has he got another injury?

[The Edge]

What stands out more than anything, is that Emery has players we've written off (for fairly good reason), looking like proper top level competitors.

Only a friendly of course but our system was so overwhelming tonight against a team that finished 2nd in the league. The lazio starting 11 was basically their main team.

We changed 6 players and our tactics and shape remained the same, that's elite level management

I'm excited lads

Fill in a couple of gaps in the squad that remain and I think you'll be right to be excited!

Bring in a top goalscorer and we've cracked it. That's it imo.

[chrisw1]

Not the best quality but someone's made highlights of Coutinho last night.

He's so good to watch when he's on form.  I'm not getting my hopes up, but if he gets fit and firing it would be fantastic.

[AV84]

Not the best quality but someone's made highlights of Coutinho last night.

He's so good to watch when he's on form.  I'm not getting my hopes up, but if he gets fit and firing it would be fantastic.

Wouldn't it though. I said last night I'm not sure he could do 90 minutes for us, but having him, on form, as an option for even 45-60 minutes would be amazing. (I could be wrong on the 90 minutes too!)

I just hope nobody in Saudi is paying too close attention.

[papa lazarou]

Tielemans is a level above Luiz / Kamara but they will benefit and learn from his class

He's a good player and had a good game in a friendly.

I read that first sentence in the style of Michael Caine in Get Carter

Own up - how many of us have just tried this.

[simboy]

Not the best quality but someone's made highlights of Coutinho last night.

He's so good to watch when he's on form.  I'm not getting my hopes up, but if he gets fit and firing it would be fantastic.

Wouldn't it though. I said last night I'm not sure he could do 90 minutes for us, but having him, on form, as an option for even 45-60 minutes would be amazing. (I could be wrong on the 90 minutes too!)

I just hope nobody in Saudi is paying too close attention.

We said the same, a 20/30 minute cameo as the play slows. I cannot see him starting too many games in the league. 

[tomd2103]

Not the best quality but someone's made highlights of Coutinho last night.

He's so good to watch when he's on form.  I'm not getting my hopes up, but if he gets fit and firing it would be fantastic.

Looked like he was really enjoying himself last night. 

[chrisw1]

At his age I'd like to think he could get fit enough to start and play a whole match.  But I'm not holding my breath.  I'd probably still take the money from Saudi if it was offered, but there's just that small chance he could be great for us.