Pre-season friendlies 2017

Btw. who the hell is Doyle-Hayes?

Bree, Richards, Samba, Amavi, Bjarnason, Whelan, Lansbury, Grealish, McKirdy, Agbonlahor

Hertha Berlin have scored 21 goals in six friendlies so far, and they'll probably fancy a few more today, with Richards in defence.

Interesting to see McKirdy and Grealish in the same side, I imagine they'll both play just wide of Agbonlahor.

Another good display to win the 'cup of traditions', against Hertha Berlin who finished sixth in the Bundesliga last season.

Amonst some good performances, I liked the look of Whelan, some good crisp passing from him. Hopefully Agbonlahor's goal gives him some confidence as well. Also Grealish is our most comfortable player in possesion, no matter the situation, needs a run in the side.

Loved the reaction of the Villa fans in Germany when this came out for the trophy presentation



To a chorus of...
"What the ****, Whaaat the ****, Whaat the ******* H**L is that?!

Watched the final now. Some of these youths look ok so far this preseason. Lovely to see. I've wanted more youth rotation in the squad for about 15 years now, and I hope it continues.

Great to see Hogan and Gabby get goals.

Fantastic to win the tournament as well. I know it means fuck all, but to have and develop a winning mentality you have to start winning at some point.

I watched all the 1st match and bits of the 2nd.

Seemed to have much more attacking intent. Solid at the back. I still think we need...something going forwards. Another left footed winger maybe?

Is it just the exhubarance of youth but we looked so much more positive especially in the 1st game which I saw. Good to see Hogan show what he is good at, sticking the ball into the back of the net but we played the ball down the channel for his second which is exactly the type of ball he wants and a great cross from Elmo with an equally good finish for Hogan's first.

A special mention to Doyle-Hoyes (who I have never ever heard of before today) and O'Hare, great energy and more than a bit of ability as well!

Got to agree with Achilles on all he said, Hayes looks a great  prospect, But you have to use them

Still pre-season and early days but we looked a little more compact & business like, the new recruits looked OK, Samba IS a beast but he could be good for us, the kids looked good too. Slow & steady does it until 5th August and then BAMMMMMMMM, open the throttles and

Hayes has been playing for the reserves since he was 16. I must say he does look like a major talent tbh. So calm on the ball and broke up play several times. Hope he's involved this season. O'Hare too was good. Overall I was very happy with what I saw. The defence continues to look brilliant and Hogan finally showed us why we paid that money for him. Whelan also impressed. He's a very neat and tidy footballer who's experience and know-how could prove to be vital to us.

Another attacking player would really set us up nicely for next season I think. Someone like a Snodgrass would be great.

Thanks for the reports guys. Not so important to me that we won the trophy; more happy that we didn't NOT win it - that would've been a bit a millstone to carry into the new season.

Goals & no injuries are the plus.

Richards looked shite again tbf. Was a blessing in disguise that he went off injured. Again.

Can't we just give him away?

Saw most of the first games and the goals from the second. The play was at times fairly dire from us and ring rust was still evident but there were some good points.

Elmo can cross to his own players, he actually looks up! How novel?

Hogan when in the box will move into space if you can cross or pass to him? Please see Elmo above.

Defensively we are solid!

So looks like a small number of Villa fans were attacked in a pub by Krauts? Out Eating with their families by the sounds of it. CLICKY

Wankers everywhere - it's bad luck for those families that they had the misfortune to be in the same area as the hoolies.

Feck me it's neanderthal isn't it though, when you can't even have a meal with your folks without getting a kicking.

They just don't get how pathetic they look do they? Mob handed attacking a few fans just having a drink with their families at a pre season friendly.

There's one born every minute and unfortunately 99% of them survive.

I am a strong believer that pre season games mean jack shit but bloody hell its good to celebrate a few goals and z couple of wins.

Next friendly:

Tamworth v Aston Villa XI (Friday 28th July 2017 19:30)

Tonight's friendly with Arminia Bielefeld called off...

https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2017/07/25/game-in-germany-called-off

Tamworth 0 Aston Villa 4: How the under-23s got on at The Lamb

Gregg Evans watched a young AVFC team run out comfortable winners in friendly match
By Gregg Evans

21:28, 28 JUL 2017

How fitting that the best player on the pitch should be involved in two of Aston Villa’s goals as the visitors ran out comfortable winners against Tamworth at The Lamb.

Callum O’Hare, Villa’s man-of-the-moment, scored a stunning goal early in the first half and also played a part in Keinan Davis’ strike after the break.

Harvey Knibbs added a late goal and Neyko Sinclair diverted into his own net after O’Hare had departed but it was the talented teenager who left an impression on the 1,512 who turned up to watch the action.

Villa’s U23s showed their class to see off the National League North side but one disappointment on the night was Rushian Hepburn-Murphy’s early exit with what looked like another injury.

The teenager was playing only his second game after a three-month injury absence and he looked in good form early on.

In total, he had four chances to score but was either denied by goalkeeper Jack Stevens or misfired.

O’Hare was not to be thwarted, though.

He opened the scoring on 18 minutes with a fine solo goal and that was only the start of another dominant display.

For the goal, he won the ball, ploughed forward and then superbly curled past Stevens from the edge of the area.

Minutes later he turned provider, playing in Hepburn-Murphy but the forward shot wide when he should have done better.

Villa were in complete control and looked so confident in attack.

Chance after chance went begging with the forward-thinking trio of O’Hare, Hepburn-Murphy and Davis all causing problems.

The opening goalscorer thought he had another when he fired Davis’ pull-back at goal but centre-half Jack Lane stopped it on the line.

Tamworth had chances through Andy Burns and Reece Styche but it was Villa who looked like adding to the scores.

Hepburn-Murphy set up Davis just before the break only for Burns to slide in at the death and keep it out.

However, after the internal he got what he deserved when he was put through on goal after good work by O’Hare and coolly converted.

Villa made six changes in total and that affected the flow of the game but Knibbs was still able to add to the goals.

And then at the death Jack Clarke’s effort deflected off Necko Sinclair for an own-goal to wrap up the scores.

Villa team: Sarkic, Clark, Toner, Suliman (Pastorek, 70) Borg, Clarke, Doyle-Hayes (Prosser, 78) O’Hare (Knibbs) Cox (Bedeau, 65) Davis (Mooney, 75) Hepburn-Murphy (Blackett-Taylor, 55) Subs not used: Idem.

Do we have a friendly today?

Yes against Watford in memory of Graham Taylor...

Steer, Hutton, Terry, Chester, Taylor, Lansbury, Whelan, Green, Elmohamady, Grealish, Agbonlahor.

Bacuna, Hogan, Hourihane, Bree, Bjarnason, Amavi, Samba.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2YBiZr2DM0

I wonder how long it will take before this pass and move stuff will be coached out of Elmo. Joke aside though, we're looking okey I think. Very organised.

Whelan is class though.

We seem to have lost something since Grealish was brought off, think Green needs to have a more faith in his ability and drive at players a bit more, maybe this game is highlighting that we still need more quality in the final third.

Whelan has been excellent, impressed with Elmohamady as well.