Villa Preseason: 2-2 Nashville

Not a bad place, Nashville, and hope everyone’s getting used to the new look. Some things I’ll probably change as time goes on, but overall, not too bad.

Likewise the performance yesterday. Shame we keep giving it away at the back, but really, it was a solid 70 minutes, and a particularly decent first half. A little more luck and we could’ve notched up quite a few goals. But, the movement was good, the side looked a bit sharper, and we were seeing some new wrinkles in our patterns. Good to see Malen score and another fine header from Ollie, who’s looking fairly dialed in.

The problems playing it out persist, but I’m hoping they’re coaching moments and that we’re getting them out of our system. That might be a bit optimistic. But I thought Bogarde and Torres looked good together and Lamare’s willingness to carry it out was a big plus. Stopped us overplaying, spread the distribution. Not sure what’s up with Konsa, but he’s taken to going to ground rather easily and has been playing himself into trouble. He’s still doing the other things, but he’s the weak link so far in playing out.

We know he doesn’t carry often, and he rarely does much of anything to push it forward. Could be by design, but Bogarde’s initiative stood in stark contrast, and seemed to belie the idea that it has to go to the left CB for us to move out.

Kamara had another good outing up and down the pitch, and Onana seemed quietly comfortable. If we could just get a couple more of those long balls over the last man it would open up a lot.

Elsewhere, still not much news on the transfer front, which probably isn’t the worst thing. We could use that bit of attacking depth that Rashford and Asensio provided, but really that’s about all we’re missing as far as the numbers go. I like Villa’s stance on Watkins and Martinez, but the rumors persist around Ollie.

I’ve yet to see much from Jacob that would make me miss him. There’s a player there, but he just isn’t impacting games and it often feels like he’s just making up the numbers. Don’t think it’s for lack of trying, just sort of seems to have plateaued. For us, anyway. Bailey, I really hope someone comes in for him. We need someone out there who can consistently beat a man and it just isn’t working enough. But who knows, maybe he’ll start popping up with goals again.

And while I don’t think Buendia fits into Emery’s plan, he is sort of a cut-price Asensio type. Can completely understand selling him, but there don’t seem to be many takers. I imagine another loan deal will be his fate.

I suppose the Watkins saga will continue, but I really doubt Villa will be convinced to let him go this far into the summer with big-name strikers commanding such big sums. At 29, you think maybe it could be time to cash in, and I suppose the barcodes could meet Villa’s valuation if Isak does go for anywhere near what’s being asked. Malen might be seen as a replacement the way Emery’s been lining him up, but it could just as easily be about keeping the same structure.

Over to you.