Aston Villa: Player Ratings: Bologna Win
It was a night of highs and lows for Aston Villa as they secured a 2-0 win over Bologna in a pre-season friendly. The game was a real mixed bag, with some players shining and others looking rusty. Let's dive into the individual performances, shall we?
The Stars of the Show
Emi Martinez (8/10): Emi was his usual brilliant self, making a couple of crucial saves to keep a clean sheet. He was also a calming influence on the defense, especially in the second half when things got a bit hairy.
Matty Cash (7.5/10): Matty was a whirlwind down the right flank, constantly bombing forward and creating chances. His pace and energy were a constant threat, and he deservedly got an assist for the second goal.
Leon Bailey (7/10): Bailey was a menace for the Bologna defense with his pace and dribbling skills. He was always looking to take on his man and create something out of nothing. He was unlucky not to score himself, but his performance was still impressive.
John McGinn (7/10): John was the engine room in midfield, covering a lot of ground and linking the defense to the attack. He was also involved in the build-up to the first goal, so he deserves a lot of credit for that.
Moussa Diaby (6.5/10): Diaby was a bit quiet in the first half, but he came alive in the second half and almost scored a wonder goal with a long-range shot. He's definitely got the potential to be a real star for Villa, and it was good to see him getting involved more in the game.
Room for Improvement
Cameron Archer (5.5/10): Archer was a bit of a mixed bag. He showed some nice touches and held the ball up well, but he lacked the clinical edge in front of goal. He'll need to work on that if he wants to get more playing time this season.
Youri Tielemans (5/10): Tielemans is a class player, but he didn't really stamp his authority on the game. He had a couple of nice moments, but he needs to find his feet a bit more in this Villa team.
Jhon Duran (4.5/10): Duran looked a bit lost on the pitch, and he wasn't able to create much for himself. He's still young, so it's understandable, but he needs to find a way to be more effective in front of goal.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, it was a decent performance from Villa, with some encouraging signs for the season ahead. The new signings looked promising, and the existing players showed their quality in flashes. We're still early in pre-season, so there's plenty of time for the players to gel and get into top shape.
This is just a friendly, folks. The real test comes in the Premier League. But for now, Villa fans can be cautiously optimistic about the season ahead.