The past three days were absolutely amazing. Even though it was only preseason, I got to see the Villa live and in the flesh for the first time. Not only that, I got to meet and have my picture taken with Paul Lambert and five full internationals who play for Villa.
Everybody connected with the club couldn’t have been more gracious. I had a five-to-10-minute chat with Jack Woodward and Mat Kendrick after the meet and gree,t and again at Fado in central Philly. A journo from The Sun bought me a Samuel Adams Summer Ale. I met Ian Taylor and asked him when I would be able to buy his iT7 headphones in the States. I got to meet several people I befriended online for the first time. I led a school bus filled with Villans singing “Paul McGrath My Lord.”
My girlfriend and I drove down from north of Boston on Tuesday. Timing the trip perfectly to avoid Boston and New York traffic, we made it to our hotel in Central Philadelphia and were all checked in my 4 pm. We grabbed dinner at Triumph Brewing company. The beer brewed on the premises was fantastic as was my grass-fed burger. The service was just slow enough that I was afraid we’d be late for the open training. Luckily we made it to PPL Park in Chester just in time.
The 95ºF heat was unbearable for the players. Shay Given in particular looked to be knackered as he had only just reported back to the club. In training the keepers looked to be ahead of the outfield players at this early stage. Brad Guzan made several top saves, while the finishing left a lot to be desired. Until seeing the players in person I never realized how big Gabby Agbonlahor is. He is built like an NFL running back; I can see why managers have intimated that he should lay off the weights a bit.
My girlfriend and I were among the last to get into the room for the meet and greet. It was a small room—evidently that was where the Union wanted to have it, while Villa would’ve preferred a larger room that could’ve accommodated more fans. There was no PA system in the room and neither my girlfriend or I could hear a word the players or manager said as the air conditioning was particularly loud.
Players generally don’t care for these types of events, not the least after training in such heat. They were polite, if not overly enthusiastic. I thanked Paul Lambert for coming to our club and he really didn’t say anything. My girlfriend remarked how un-enthused Charles N’Zogbia looked. I assured here that us how he looks more or less all the time.
Fado embraced the Villa supporters with open arms. Fans met there after the supporters’ match. Even with Ian Taylor, the Villa fans hastily thrown together had no chance against the Union supporters and lost 4-0. We walked 20 minutes from our hotel to Fado. By then it had cooled: it was only 90ºF. Combine that with an extended Happy Hour, and the night did get a bit foggier as it went on.
We gathered there the next day as well. Fado had arranged buses; $20 got you a seat on the bus and included drinks at the bar and the Yuengling on the bus and in the parking lot, and sandwiches at the parking lot as well. I can assure all of you that I made sure to take full advantage of this.
The match itself was what one would imagine a match between a poor MLS side and a Premier League team early in preseason would look like. Barry Bannan was man of the match for me and Nathan Delfonueso took his goal well. Villa kept the ball well and the Union didn’t create too many chances. Overall the score line was a fair reflection.
Now we’re heading home. The only way this week would’ve been better is if I was following the Villa to Chicago.
The Author
