Pre-season 2024/25 - Borussia Dortmund

[Somniloquism]

The last two pre-season matches should be the barometer when we have others due back in. However these game do seem to show that for all our purchases, we don't have seem to have the squad depth we thought we might have. CB, RB, Forward. All areas which have been shown up at the moment.

[Brazilian Villain]

After driving 1,782 miles since Friday, that's us done following the Villa US tour for this year so we'll hand over the torch (and the coach keys) to some other intrepid Villan. Good luck, you're going to need it

Good effort, shame you didn't get to see better games. We'll probably win 3 or 4-0 in Chicago now.

[Somniloquism]

Chelsea just beat them 3-0. (Although two were penalties).

[chrisw1]

Didn't see the game, but have seen the second yellow.  There was absolutely nothing to it - a ridiculous decision.  But what I can't understand is why the Leipzig player would go down like that in a friendly, he's ruined a useful workout for both teams.  If I was his manager I'd be fuming.

[john e]

Is this going to be typical villa in as much a there is so much hope and anticipation in light of new signings etc only to fall away.

With the world looking to see if we are a flash in the pan, I really hope not.

Obviously we're missing Martinez, Konsa and Watkins though, the spine of our team and our three best players. But it does show that we need another forward, because this is what life with an injured or tired Ollie would look like.

Jhon Duran mate
Don’t forget that little gem

[Dogtanian]

Didn't see the game, but have seen the second yellow.  There was absolutely nothing to it - a ridiculous decision.  But what I can't understand is why the Leipzig player would go down like that in a friendly, he's ruined a useful workout for both teams.  If I was his manager I'd be fuming.

Because the two of them had been at each other all game. That’s why he shouted abuse at him after the goal and Carlos played into his hands.

[Dogtanian]

Just back from NJ and thank McGrath preseason is meaningless because that was absolute garbage (again). A big shout out to the RB Arena staff for not opening the gates until 7pm (for an 8pm ko) and then not allowing anybody to go down by the tunnel to get autographs pre-match. The less said about the game the better, although I do know the 4th official and will ask him to tell the ref that he was shit too. Quite a lot of Villa fans around and a few wearing the lovely new home shirt. The pre-match 'party' outside the stadium was pretty crap and set the scene for the rest of the night.

After driving 1,782 miles since Friday, that's us done following the Villa US tour for this year so we'll hand over the torch (and the coach keys) to some other intrepid Villan. Good luck, you're going to need it

There’s times when me and my mate think we’re mad fir driving up and down the country just for an absolute shit show of a match. But your trek for two awful games takes the biscuit!

Hats off to you!

[eamonn]

The bar for red cards in friendly games should be higher than competitive matches as they totally ruin the game for no reason - there's nothing at stake and the player isn't going to be suspended.

[Somniloquism]

Unofficially it normally is. However I disagree as the players shouldn't get complacent because they can foul more in a friendly.

[VillaTim]

No point reading much into results in friendlies . They are mainly about fitness .

[Drummond]

If you think that we're currently playing without our first choice CB pair, our first choice keeper, our first choice central midfielder and our first choice centre forward, and with a set of new midfielders, it's not a surprise we don't look as good as we might.

Emery is trying different players in different positions, and this is all about getting fit.

[gpbarr]

I thought there were some good signs in the game - we cut them apart a few times with slick and fast breaks but the absence of a first team striker was clear.

Defence remains a concern - putting aside Carlos (just stupid all round), Cash & Digne showed all the issues we had last year - I don’t think either will start at WHU.

All will be well come the Ammers.

UTV

[Astnor]

The last two pre-season matches should be the barometer when we have others due back in. However these game do seem to show that for all our purchases, we don't have seem to have the squad depth we thought we might have. CB, RB, Forward. All areas which have been shown up at the moment.

This areas; RB, substitute /stand in/ alternative for Watkins, stand in CB for Carlos/Pau (when Konsa at RB) and let me add reliable stand in for Martinez have been main problems for a year or more, why dont they do anything about it? (then we have three very capable specialist LB s and a relative big group of players that can play left midfield). Its two and a half week before PL kick off with our aim to be top four.

[eamonn]

Unofficially it normally is. However I disagree as the players shouldn't get complacent because they can foul more in a friendly.

Agreed that fouling more shouldn't be encouraged, but so many reds are really subjective these days. The referee could have shown a bit of cop-on and told Carlos and that dick who wound him up, to shake hands and get on with it.

[Kimaster1976]

If that 60 odd minutes is anything to go by Zych should be absolutely nowhere near the first team squad.

We cannot go into another season with Olsen as the no.2 again surely? Martinez gets injured or suspended at any point and we are screwed.