The European Championships served as a nice distraction this summer, but there’s no denying we all wanted to get back to proper club football and Aston Villa fans had the chance to do just that last night as we made our annual trip to the Bescot to face Walsall.
It was a very mixed side as we opened our preseason campaign with some players still on their extended international breaks so we got a good look at some of our highly rated youngsters. Although head coach Dean Smith wasn’t in the dug out as he was self isolating, Craig Shakespeare would’ve been largely impressed with what he saw.
Top shift, Villa. 🙌
Goals from Ollie Watkins (2), Jaden Philogene-Bidace and Aaron Ramsey secure victory in our opening pre-season fixture. 🟣 pic.twitter.com/sj6cQpobar
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 21, 2021
The first half saw new signing Emi Buendia look like he’d been playing alongside Ollie Watkins for years with their understanding and the two assists for Watkins’ brace were a joy to watch.
https://twitter.com/weekwefollow/status/1417921753117040646
That ball 😍
— Aston Villa Statto (@AVFCStatto) July 21, 2021
There was plenty to be happy about with the opening 45 minutes but with ten changes made at the break, although we remained very comfortable in the game, it wasn’t quite the same performance. With that said, there were again good positives as Jaden Philogene-Bidace and Aaron Ramsey added to our score.
https://twitter.com/VillaSources/status/1417931627494318082
https://twitter.com/Saf1AVFC/status/1417933355866365954
Ramsey certainly caught the eye, as did Lamare Bogarde.
Vital Villa’s Preseason Fixtures Forum Thread
4-0, a good run out and as is usual, some impressed more than others but it’s all about minutes in the tank at this stage.
Walsall:
Rose (Rushworth), White (Foulkes), Monthé (Menayese), Taylor (Leak), Ward (Mills), Kiernan (Coogan), Labadie (Willis), Kinsella, Trialist A (Trialist B), Osadebe (Perry), Phillips.
Villa First Half XI:
Steer, Cash, Konsa (c), S Revan, A Young, J Ramsey, Nakamba, Chukwuemeka, El Ghazi, Buendia, Watkins.
Villa Second Half XI:
Steer (Sinisalo 83), Guilbert, Hause, Bogarde, Chrisene, Hourihane, A Ramsey, McGinn, Philogene-Bidace, Wesley, Davis.
Unused Subs:
Marschall, Kesler Hayden, Wright, Barry, Raikhy, B Young.
Best Goal Vs Walsall
Ollie Watkins (first)
Ollie Watkins (second)
Jacob Philogene-Bidace
Aaron Ramsey
and a little magician with 2 assists on his debut
— Zvr.AVFC (@zaviercurley) July 21, 2021
Great start to the campaign lads, let's gooo
— Alex Byrne (@ajbyrne_avfc) July 21, 2021
Every time I see Aaron Ramsey play he gets better and better. A great future ahead of him
— Gearóid (@gearoid1874) July 21, 2021
Good Shift, Buendia looks Promising and so does the Youth Coming Through! On to Stoke🙌🏻 #utv
— Sean🥶 (@SeannY200) July 21, 2021
Villas youngsters looked good 👏👏👏
— Scotty wilson (@scottwilson777) July 21, 2021
Cant wait to see Emi and Jack together now.
— Anthony Mair (@amairphoto) July 21, 2021
Well done lads! Great to see Youngy back and I love you already Emi Buendia 🇦🇷😍💜💙 #AVFC
— Amy Dunne 💜💙, ⚪⚫ & 💚💙⚪. (@amydunne_2001) July 21, 2021
Is it too much to say we’re winning the league
— Jacob (@1874Jacob) July 21, 2021
Few more class signings we'll have 3 squads, strength in depth. Few years ago we only had 15 first team players… how times change. Future looks bright. Future looks claret & blue. Wonder if @JackGrealish ever thought that 'Good times would ever seem so good' at his club? UTV!😊
— Jon Markall (@tea_bagger_) July 21, 2021
