Preseason – Wycombe 0-2 Villa

It had the feel of a training session last night, but a few players impressed me…

Kevin Philips appears to be ‘up for it’ and made some excellent runs. He has a great touch and as much as I groaned when I heard we’d bought him, he does look like a quality signing – excellent finish – lobbing the advancing keeper from 25yds. He’s as small as an Umpa Loompa. Patrick Berger – classy midfield performance. Passing accurate, but pity some of the other Villa players can’t read what he was doing. He’s much taller than I expected !!

Gavin McCann – back to his best. Controlled much of the middle of the field. Great to have him back.

Cahill – great performance, looks controlled and at ease beside Laursen.

Vassell – scared the life out of the Wycombe defenders. He touches were great and he looks hungry for the ball. I thought last season he looked lethargic, but hopefully that’s behind him.

Others I’m still concerned about…

Samuel – didn’t gel with Berger and never seems to overlap and this was the perfect opportunity to get forward. Passing poor.

Angel – my favourite, but still worried that he loses the ball too cheaply.

Djemba-Djemba – Can’t remember him actually doing anything good. Never seemed to have control of the ball.

Others…

I was set just behind Stuart Taylor’s family who had all turned out to watch him. He didn’t have much to do, so can’t really say much.

Hughes – I think he made a few good runs to the by-line in the 2nd half. Not a classic performance, but steady.

By: David Evans