WakefieldVillan

Hoping for and expecting 3 points. Our squad on paper is much better than theirs so it's all about application. If we get that right then I can see a 0-2 or 1-3 scoreline. Starting line up will be interesting that's for sure. I'd go: Martinez Cash Chambers Carlos Digne Luiz Kamara McGinn Buendia Watkins Coutinho I think the ones bolded are the ones that will definitely start. The other places are up for grabs. I think SG will pick the following: Martinez, Cash, Carlos, Mings, Digne, Kamara, McGinn, Ramsey, Bailey, Watkins, Coutinho. You could pick various starting elevens all of which should be better than them but we can't afford complacency. UTV.

Yeah, fair play, another great goal

Thats a class finish at any level to be fair

Obviously want England to win, but really dislike Ellen White, just something about her! The dive for the pen in the group stages may have played a part ! Riding our luck here... and lucky not to concede a pen, which unsurprisingly the pundits ignored completely

I just want us to play the players that are in the BEST form. We have a very decent squad now, it isn't like in previous seasons where there would be a huge drop off in ability when 'reserve' players come in. We have very capable players in every position and whoever is playing well keeps the shirt, if they perform badly then they lose it. Simples. I really hope SG does this from now on because that's probably the one criticism I had of him last season. We should also take into account which opponents we are facing, some fixtures will be suited to different personnel.

I opted for Martinez with my vote purely because I felt that he was the only player (out of the real candidates) that realistically would start every premier league game. That said, I don't like goalkeepers being captain so I think him being vice captain is totally fine. I was shocked that Mings didn't retain it, though it would have made a bit of a mockery of the announcement so maybe not that much of a surprise. Having had time to reflect on the decision I am pretty happy with the choice of McGinn, I understand there are concerns over him playing every game but with Emi as back up I think there is a nice back up option of not always starting SJM. I am hoping it brings out the best in him and despite his flaws, he has a lot of good traits and usually when he is on it, Villa are on it - and I am quite excited that we are trying something new.

Voted Martinez but don't particularly like goalkeepers as captains so it's a tough one because I don't think Mings should be an automatic starter either?! Maybe Mings club captain - Martinez on field skipper. I don't know tbh.. Will be interesting who SG goes for.

Ha, fair enough - it may have come across that I was knocking him, I wasn't meaning to, just commenting on the goals last night - I'm sure he will do well like the majority of Klopp's signings.

Well the worst part of both kits (other than £) is the "Search.Drive.Smile" addition to the sponsor - other than that, I don't think either are too bad. I'd rate the away 7.5/10 and the home a 7/10 and I don't mind Castore as a brand, they have a clothes section with Reiss that are quite decent (albeit pretty pricey). If we have a successful season - they will get more popular in time - So up to the boys now.

Yeah just watched, I agree - Heard he'd scored 4 so was expecting something special when in truth they were all a bit meh. 2nd and 3rd goals were ok, but ones you'd expect your striker to score.

On pre-season so far I'd say order of performances is: Chambers Carlos Mings Konsa Feeney Hause I think the game against Man Utd will be the telling indicator of who will be our first choice centre halves for the new season. I'd currently go Chambers / Carlos - I think they've both looked calm and composed and error free. Thought Mings and Konsa were less composed today. Great position to be in for SG - But I do hope he has the balls to play the two in form and not just Mings, because it's Mings.

Ha very true but I can forgive getting a couple of letters mixed up on a foreign name, but adding in a letter to a simple five letter name to form a different player (Ex Bolton) I can't handle

But to be fair Gerrard has been extremely complimentary of Buendia from the day he arrived so I'm not sure he's not starting him just because he wasn't one of his signings. If anything Emi puts himself about as much as anybody and you'd think that this, more than anything would be the trait that Gerrard likes / wants from his players. He had a good 45 minutes and I'd like him to start against Man U with Coutinho and Watkins/Archer.

Davies instead of Davis is the one that gets me

Nobody really knows whether there was any "intent" or not other than Lucas - but that didn't look good and was much worse than McGinn's tackle on Gray. I don't think he even got a yellow card for it but I wouldn't have complained if he'd been given a red. It's a reckless challenge. Obviously not at this level, but I know from experience playing that if I have over run the ball (like he did) and am frustrated going into a tackle immediately after then there's a good chance of going in more aggressively which can be dangerous if it is not timed right. I've seen it happen loads, the adrenalin is flowing and it's all in the heat of the moment. Of course, he may not have meant it - like I said, only he knows - But I personally think he did. I'd also say, we've been a soft touch for far too long so I hope we can start showing more aggression in our game (albeit within the laws of the game).

Different game, different opposition (I know) - but he showed more today than Guilbert did on Sunday. Better going forward than defending - one error towards the end which I am sure he will learn from. If he bulks up a bit (whilst keeping the athleticism) then he can start to put some real pressure on Cash moving forward. Think a lot will depend on whether Freddie stays or not as to whether KKH goes out to loan or becomes our second choice RB.

Looked very comfortable - great to see our (Villa) yoof making strides in and around the 1st team.

Without starting a Tammy discussion (but I am, apologies) - Tammy wasn't (isn't) a natural finisher either IMO. He also misses lots of chances. Dwight Yorke was though for sure. Archer took his goal well and his overall game was decent enough. His pace caused their defence problems and on another day he may have had five goals - 1) Just failing to connect to Buendia's ball in. 2) One where he probably should have laid Watkins in but took the defender on and shot over the bar. 3) One he dragged wide (should have scored that). 4) One that deflected wide and the one he scored. I think he's a more natural finisher than Watkins, but he's still quite raw. I wouldn't mind having him on the bench should we be chasing a game, but I would love if we sign another top quality striker and loan out Archer to continue his development.

Yeah I agree, he lost possession quite easily on a couple of occasions and didn't contribute anything of note. Thing is with Traore he can produce moments of sublime play so probably has a place in the squad but not sure we will ever find real consistency from him (not being a regular starter obviously doesn't help).

I hadn't realised these three were injured - Presumed just not involved (today) due to such a large squad ? *Davis

I may be doing him a little disservice as I thought he was very good against Leeds, but just ok today (and I was hoping for more).

Positives (from this tour) Two wins. Two clean sheets. No injuries. Match fitness for a large number of the squad. Youth players looking ready if called upon. Olsen more than capable back up keeper. Four very decent centre halves. Carlos looks a beast. Kamara will be a real asset. Squad harmony looks good. Luiz looks more comfortable as an 8. Archer can finish. (Yes, I know he missed a couple - but he will get goals). Buendia, Coutinho, Luiz showing glimpses of the South American flair. Negatives Sanson, Guilbert not really taking their chance (albeit minimal game time). Traore and Bailey remain a little unconvincing, particularly Bertrand. Digne's challenge today was very poor - Didn't like that in a "friendly". Not clinical enough. Looked a little devoid of a real spark to the "low-block" - IE a Grealish type that draws 2 or 3 players in. Would've like 45 mins for Davis just to see a physical presence up top.

There's a few over reactions on here (not surprisingly by the anti-Gerrard brigade). It's pre-season, it's all about fitness, getting minutes in the bank and not getting injured. We are in control of the game - their one serious chance only came about because Kamara was body checked by the ref. Ok, we're struggling to create against a well drilled low-block but I'm sure we will break them down in the second half. Carlos and Kamara look very good - both new signings, so that's a positive for Gerrard. We are trying Bailey and Traore out wide and neither are grasping the opportunity but they needed the opportunity. The game against Man U will be totally different so no point worrying about that off the back of this one.

Don't flatter yourself. Teams sing it when they play you that's all (with possibly the exception if Man U, who sing it at other games too). Like opposition fans sing "shit on the Villa" - no difference really, yet we wouldn't make anything of it, but Leeds fans do, it's their mentality. Truth is your hatred cos many of your fans are words removed

My site manger is a Leeds fan, he's just been in the office, so I brought the game up (smugly ) - His three comments were that it was a bad challenge, McGinn went to injure him and he's only 16 . I responded by saying "if you're going to throw yourselves into tackles then you are going to get some back" - No comment back other than he thinks Leeds are in danger of relegation this season. (Let's hope so). As Leeds fans go, he's actually not that bad (I know, I know) - He was a fan of the Dirty Leeds side in the late 60's early 70's, so his views are somewhat clouded in that they are the greatest team on earth when really it was just a few years of success. To be fair we can be tarnished with that with our early 80's successes. I stand by the tackle being no more than a yellow and would have said the same if it was the other way round. And to be honest the tackle by Gray on Buendia looked a harsh yellow for me. He won the ball and followed through (like McGinn) - but maybe in this day and age you can't do that - which says more about how the game has changed for the worse (IMO).