By the time you read this the start of the season will be barely more than two weeks away. This is unquestionably the most eagerly anticipated season in several years.

Last year it felt like almost everything that could’ve gone wrong did. So far, it feels almost everything is going right. The only blemishes on an otherwise stellar preseason have been injuries to Darren Bent, Gabby Agbonlahor, Marc Albrighton, and Richard Dunne. Fortunately these can be considered moderate at worst.

The addition of Ron Vlaar, combined with solid preseasons from Ciaran Clark and Nathan Baker, Villa have enough depth to withstand being without Dunne for a few weeks. For Marc Albrighton, his injury couldn’t have come at a worse time personally. As for the club, the narrow 4-4-2 they have employed with the fullbacks getting forward has compensated for the lack of width in the midfield. At the moment it appears that Marc may have to be an impact sub brought in against certain opponents or modify his game to suit the way the team has played in his absence.

Darren Bent figures to be nearing fitness and could play Saturday at Notts Forrest, while Gabby appears is still several weeks away. There has been discussion about adding an experienced striker. Villa have been monitoring the Andy Carroll situation even it they haven’t been front and center. I wouldn’t be opposed to adding somebody up top, but if the right deal isn’t there the club don’t need to make a panic buy.

Andreas Weimann showed last season he is ready to at least contribute to the first team. Nathan Delfonueso, who feels like he has been around forever, looks like he might finally be getting it. Brett Holman and Charles N’Zogbia can also play up top in a pinch. The club could also play 4-5-1 or a 4-4-1-1 with Steven Ireland as a way to get Barry Bannan on the pitch.

All the new signings have looked great so far. Signing Brett Holman as a free agent looks like it could be the signing of the season. “The Governor” Karim El Ahmedi looks like he has been with us for five years already. Mathew Lowton might be the best fullback this club has had in literally years, excluding Kyle Walker’s loan spell.

I am more than comfortable with him on the right and Eric Lichaj on the left playing the role of an American Philip Lahm type. Enda Stevens has looked like a player who is ready to contribute and provide depth at minimum, although a loan might do more for his development as this time last year he was only playing semi-professional football in Ireland. I’d prefer either him or Lichaj over Steven Warnock. Even if the rumored Nathan Cresswell deal doesn’t go through, with any luck we can get Warnock’s wages off the books.

The team is still unbeaten. The competition hasn’t been at Premier League standards, but all the players can do is beat the players put in front of them. The only quibble I’d have is the relative lack of potency in the final third. The way they possess and move the ball leads me to believe that will come.

Hopefully these last two friendlies will serve as dress rehearsals for the season. By now, Paul Lambert should’ve seen enough to start to have an idea of who he wants to play where against West Ham on the 18th. I know us fans are dying to know.

So far my XI is Guzan, Lichaj, Clark, Vlaar, Lowton, N’Zogbia, El Ahmadi, Bannan, Holman, Ireland, and Bent.

Love to see who everybody else’s XI would be for West Ham if forced to choose right now.

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