VUSA Podcast#76: Preseason Review, Supercup Prediction

It’s a new season, and time for another Villarreal USA podcast. I am joined by Sid, Robin and Rahul. We review the preseason that hasn’t really been much of one, figure what moves the team still has to make, and give our predictions for Wednesday (we’re not too optimistic, but hey, if we only win one game in preseason, this is the one we want, right?)

After the break we talk about the whole Leo Messi departure and Barcelona’s financial mismanagement. Will it be just a blip in the road for the blaugrana, or will it take awhile for them to recover from this mess? (A lot probably depends on what is yet to happen in the transfer market, since they can’t actually register players they bought this summer until they move some big salaries).

Latest news from the training ground (after we recorded this): Juan Foyth may have picked up a serious enough knock to miss out on Wednesday, which is not good news. Capoue, Paco and Moi were at practice and could/should be available; Samu practiced but is not expected to play. Rulli, Coquelin and Parejo will not travel.

And, we have loaned Haissem Hassan to Mirandés. We have a really good relationship with them—we loaned them Ivan Martín last season (he’s now loaned to Alavés, where he’s reunited with Javi Calleja who certainly knows him from his youth coaching days). Hassan impressed in the preseason so this is a good move for him to move up to the Segunda. Keep in mind, he’s only 19.

Endavant!!!