As soon as Aston Villa dispatch tenacious-but-overmatched Burton Albion the club are linked with a Dutch international and want-away Barcode. The Vlaar story seems to have legs, with Feyenoord saying he wants to come, the player having been given a tour of Villa Park, and, well, you’ve likely read about it all by now. The real mystery apparently is whether the buyout clause is £3m, £7.5m, or £8m.
Danny Simpson (25) is interesting. Yesterday morning he was also considering Reading, if we believe what we read, and it was Forest’s Chris Gunter said to be Villa’s second choice. As of late last night, GMT, Simpson is supposedly headed to Villa and Gunter to Reading. I’m glad to see we might apparently have slightly more pull than back-again Reading.
For reasons you’ll understand, I usually avoid commenting too much on players that I simply don’t get a chance to see that much of. I’ll leave that to you and your various estimations of the players in question.
I know Vlaar (27) had a tough time of it in the Euros, but didn’t all the Dutch, really. One would think that as Feyenoord’s captain he’s got to have something in his locker, and being in the Dutch team…well, that can’t be bad either, no matter how disappointing they were.
The team are now in the U.S. and preparing for a much-anticipated set of games this side of the pond that have stateside Villa fans in a virtual frenzy, if not delirium.
It’s been good to see: supporters’ friendlies, meet-and-greets, open training, sold-out away allocations…the enthusiasm is genuine, and it’s a good time for Villa to be visiting football’s last great frontier. With MLS teams in midseason form and fitness, and having a bit of a chip on their shoulders, Villa ought to get some competitive matches in hot temperatures and high humidity.
What will also be good to see is Paul Lambert’s approach to these matches. I liked the full-squad rotation he employed against Burton. I think it put everyone out of their comfort zones, mixed the “youth” liberally, and gave players a fair half with which to do something. He’s obviously having a good look at everyone.
Obviously, the standouts were El Ahmadi, Holman, and Barry Bannan. Did I just say Barry Bannan? Yes, I did. He occupied the same deep-lying playmaker role as KEA did in the first half, and was intent on making an impression. He was all over the pitch and sprayed some nice passes around.
Have I changed my mind about him? No, I haven’t. But if he makes himself stick and does the same thing with whatever minutes he might get in the regular season, I’ll gladly give him credit. As it stands, I give him credit anyway for making the most of his 45 on Saturday.
Which was more than could be said for some others. While Villa certainly “dominated” the match, there weren’t an embarrassment of star turns. Yes, they’ve only just come back. Yes, Burton had been training longer. Yes, Villa were concentrating on “fitness” and playing in unaccustomed partnerships. And, yes, as is always the case, the small fry were up for a shot at the big-time boys in front of the home fans.
But. For all that, Villa were hardly “impressive”. Granted Burton were intent on pressing and disrupting, and for the most part they were disciplined and organized. After they’d taken the lead, they seemed quite content to play for a draw, perhaps nick a winner on the counter, and who could blame them.
So, yes, the new boys had something to prove, but it was rather interesting that they actually shone the brightest among a group of relative strangers who looked more like strangers to each other than they did to Holman and El Ahmadi.
Of course I’m being a bit harsh. I’m optimistic about the upcoming season, and you can’t really take a lot away from a game like this.
Other thoughts…
Many might not like the lime-green away kit, but I do like the socks.
I really can’t believe Jean II Makoun is having work-permit problems over not speaking enough English (but it might explain why he might not be with Villa). It is, after all, the international language. I’ve met Starbucks’ employees in Tokyo and Hong Kong who speak enough English to get along.
Hutton not on the pre-season U.S. tour? The horror. But with more defender links, one can’t be surprised, and, again, Lambert seems not to be a fool.
Brad Guzan re-signed. Good. Villa need some competition between the pipes, and I wouldn’t mind seeing him take the number-one spot. He’s as good if not better a shot-stopper than Given, much younger, and no worse at commanding his area. If he gets a fair crack, he ought to stand a good chance at the job.
So, roll on the tour, more signings (you have to like the defensive links whether or not they’re true), and more Villa moving forward.
Just as important, if it hasn’t all been rubbished by the time you read this, what do you think of Vlaar and Simpson? The right sorts of players for the right money? Do we still need another striker? I would say yes. Who do you think it should be? Berba anyone?
Here are the upcoming U.S. matches:
Philadelphia: July 18, 7.30pm US time, 12.30am UK time (10am, AVTV)
Chicago: July 21, 7.30pm US time, 1.30am UK time (10am AVTV)
Portland: July 24, 8pm US time, 4am UK time (Noon, AVTV)
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