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The annual Hong Kong Soccer 7s tournament is taking place this weekend and Aston Villa are once again competing. It’s pleasing to see the official site giving the tournament some coverage this year, so you may already be aware that the squad are currently en route to Hong Kong with Ian Taylor among the travelling party.
It’s a competition we have a pretty rich pedigree in, winning the trophy five times (’02, ’04, ’07, ’08 & ’10) and finishing runner-up in 2006, with a host of young talent from the academy and reserves.
The club have confirmed the ten man squad for the 2011 tournament, but there are two changes from the squad announced by the organisers four days ago; Harry Forrester has been brought in to replace Nathan Delfouneso and Ellis Deeney will take Gary Gardner’s place.
As you can see from the thumbnail of the promotional poster I used to create the header image, Delfouneso was supposed to be something of a star turn for the competition.
As I understand it, Forrester’s contract is due to expire any day and is not being renewed, but according to a comment in last year’s post we were forced to recruit a (very lucky) local youngster to make up the numbers, so it can’t hurt to include him. Something of a parting gift perhaps.
The change in plans may be down to injury, it may point to greater involvement in what remains of this season, or it may even be to reduce the load ahead of next season. For instance, Delfouneso will more than likely be travelling to Denmark in June with the England to take part in the European Under-21 Championships after being name in Stuart Pearce’s provisional squad.
Whatever the underlying reasons for the changes, here’s the confirmed ten man squad:
Benjamin Siegrist, Nathan Baker, Ellis Deeney, Eric Lichaj, Shane Lowry, Chris Herd, Daniel Johnson, Jonathan Hogg, Harry Forrester, Andreas Weimann.
Bon voyage to everyone travelling to Hong Kong & good luck defending the title.
Look out for another post this week on the Hong Kong 7s detailing the tournament format, participating teams and schedule. It looks like there will be plenty of photos and videos this year, so if you’re not already following @AVFCOfficial on Twitter, you should do so. You can also follow @hksoccer7s and you must surely be following @avfccentral, right?
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One Comment to “Sevens squad heads to Hong Kong minus poster boy Delfouneso”
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I’d imagine its experience/fun/showing off for Siegrist Deeney D.Johnson at least.
Hogg Forrester and Lowry i’m not sure will be at the club for much longer. Forresters gone nowhere really and has all but moved to Barnsley, Lowry was a regular but got relegated and sent off in his last game for Sheff. Utd, Hogg has done ok at Portsmouth but with all our other cm’s, most of them young, I can see him making a permanent move to that division as well.
Baker Weimann Lichaj Herd went last year and obviously make up the rest. Signalling they won’t be included for the rest of the season presumably, and with loans just finished, it keeps them playing.
Gardner and Delfouneso it must be because they are cover. Fonz made the bench this week with Gabbys illness, maybe should have made the pitch after Heskey had a tantrum. Gardner is in all the pictures of the senior squad training these days, GH said he’ll probably be introduced next season but with all the others having been out on loan its probably just helpful to keep him around the seniors and keep building.