Pre-season 2023/24

[Toronto Villa]

For others who threw away a fiver on that shocking Villa TV stream, you can email them to complain and get a refund - villatv@avfc.co.uk. 

The poor bloke's probably gone home now but they got back to me in less than 5 minutes confirming a refund (and blaming the feed they got from Valencia), so presume there's been a loads of complaints.  Yes, I'm tight, but if enough people complain maybe, just maybe, they'll try harder in future.

So the broadcast problems have been in Walsall and Valencia and nothing to do with us filming the game through an iPhone 3 with a cracked screen and a using a dial up internet service provider?

[Brend'Watkins]

Torres isn’t ready for the role he’s been given. In time, maybe, but not yet. He’s not shifting Mings either. He’ll get plenty of game time in the cups though. Kamara first half and Couthino 2nd were the stand out performers. Diaby wasn’t that involved but didn’t get much service. We’ now have options throughout the squad. Archer is ready too.

[Matt C]

It’s very difficult to pick our best eleven, plenty of options and suspect we’ll have one or two more by the end of the month. We’re in good shape.

[pauliewalnuts]

Torres isn’t ready for the role he’s been given. In time, maybe, but not yet. He’s not shifting Mings either. He’ll get plenty of game time in the cups though. Kamara first half and Couthino 2nd were the stand out performers. Diaby wasn’t that involved but didn’t get much service. We’ now have options throughout the squad. Archer is ready too.

Agree with the rest of that - esp Torres, remember how Moreno struggled at first - but not really sure of the evidence that Archer is ready?

[sid1964]

Torres is not a left back - if the idea to sign him was due to his passing from defence into midfield, then he would be wasted at left back

Bailey every time he got the ball he either fell over or lost possession

Last night as a team we gave the ball away too often and our passing was poor, against a better side who had better forwards we may have lost the game

Plenty of mr Emery to work on this week

[Hookeysmith]

Torres is not a left back - if the idea to sign him was due to his passing from defence into midfield, then he would be wasted at left back

Bailey every time he got the ball he either fell over or lost possession

Last night as a team we gave the ball away too often and our passing was poor, against a better side who had better forwards we may have lost the game

Plenty of mr Emery to work on this week

Bloody hell my chips have been well and truly pissed on. In a pretty full stadium, with Valencia putting in some savoury tackles I thought we dominated most of the game. For the first time this pre eason 2nd half changes made us better. How many teams would love to be able to bring on a Tielemans or a Coutiniho

[RamboandBruno]

Torres is not a left back - if the idea to sign him was due to his passing from defence into midfield, then he would be wasted at left back

Bailey every time he got the ball he either fell over or lost possession

Last night as a team we gave the ball away too often and our passing was poor, against a better side who had better forwards we may have lost the game

Plenty of mr Emery to work on this week

Bloody hell my chips have been well and truly pissed on. In a pretty full stadium, with Valencia putting in some savoury tackles I thought we dominated most of the game. For the first time this pre eason 2nd half changes made us better. How many teams would love to be able to bring on a Tielemans or a Coutiniho

I thought we were better 2nd half vrs Lazio…but Im just be pedantic. I get your point.

[Chris Smith]

The Torres thing hasn’t looked quite right but if we know anything about our manager is that he will put in the time and effort to make it work.

[Risso]

The Torres thing hasn’t looked quite right but if we know anything about our manager is that he will put in the time and effort to make it work.

Seems a pointless endeavour though. Why spend all that money on a Spanish international centre back to then try to shoehorn him into a position he clearly isn’t comfortable in? We’ve got two very good left backs as it is, and Torres doesn’t add anything at all playing there.

[Astnor]

We already have a new companion piece

a lovely picture with our first silverware under Emery. Digne should have had his shirt on. Who s the tall one behind on the left , higher than Mings, Torres and Olsen, that is tall tall

[leylandalbion]

Zych I would imagine the back up, back up goalie

[Astnor]

Impressions from second half yesterday;
- Interplay between Couthinho and Buendia and Tielemans - better than Brazil 1970 - the second goal fx
- Digne and Buendia made us solid at our left
- Archer and the young  winger with the long name did them self no harm
I was a bit disappointed after first half and thought that woudnt be good enough for Newcastle. Still the Newcastle game wil be a lot tougher that than friendlies of course and I m not sure we will get anything there but beat Everton in the game after that for sure.

[brontebilly]

The Torres thing hasn’t looked quite right but if we know anything about our manager is that he will put in the time and effort to make it work.

Just hope it isn't one of those cases where a manager doubles down on trying to make it work despite all evidence on the contrary. Torres is an odd signing for me.

[AV84]

The Torres thing hasn’t looked quite right but if we know anything about our manager is that he will put in the time and effort to make it work.

Just hope it isn't one of those cases where a manager doubles down on trying to make it work despite all evidence on the contrary. Torres is an odd signing for me.

It does feel a little bit like he's wanted him since January but in that time Konsa and Mings have become a pretty formidable partnership, but we went ahead and signed Torres anyway. I mean, we definitely need options and cover in all positions, but a player like Torres doesn't feel like one you sign to be the back up guy.

[PaulWinch again]

Why is it odd? We could have 50+ games, we’re going to need quality options in all positions but especially centre back. We’ve got 4/5 options, that’s hardly insane.