Pre-Season Friendly Match Thread Compendium

[Matt Collins]

It was a  bit of a combo. Weak shape at times. Poor marking / closing down.

The full match is on avtv if interested. We played 442 then 433. Thought we were massively better w 433.

Veretout wasn't amazing but he was good enough to convince me he should play in a three next week. Richards' and gueye's, physicality definitely gives us extra. Westwood continues to play the ball more quickly and forwards and is looking really good

Kozak had a very poor game. Ayew was a bit better without looking awesome.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I just want to note Jack Woodward really can be incredibly irritating. I swear he is getting worse. Jack STOP adding your stupid little asides, they are not good enough to be interesting, Up your game to Ray Hudson level bollocks or ramp it down a level.

[OCD]

Having seen seasons where the pre-season results are good but the season is poor and pre-seasons which are poor but the season is good, I don't tend to feel comfortable when we're doing well in pre-season. I've not been at ease where it's looked like we were doing well.

[peter w]

I wouldn't read into it if it wasn't for the fact that we defended like a team of drunks last season too

I understand what you are saying but you should not be putting your body on the line in a friendly.  I didn't see the game yesterday so I cannot comment how poor the defending was or whether it was similar lapses to what we have come to see over the last few years.

Exactly. You're more likely to be closer to having your 'game head' on when attacking than defending as you won't throw your body in the way of the ball, or go crunching into 50/50 tackles.

[in exile]

I just want to note Jack Woodward really can be incredibly irritating. I swear he is getting worse. Jack STOP adding your stupid little asides, they are not good enough to be interesting, Up your game to Ray Hudson level bollocks or ramp it down a level.

Jack read out a Tweet wishing triplets a happy birthday, telling us they were all 7 years old.
Just about sums him up in my oppinion

[GarTomas]

I just want to note Jack Woodward really can be incredibly irritating. I swear he is getting worse. Jack STOP adding your stupid little asides, they are not good enough to be interesting, Up your game to Ray Hudson level bollocks or ramp it down a level.

Jack read out a Tweet wishing triplets a happy birthday, telling us they were all 7 years old.
Just about sums him up in my oppinion

I'm looking forward to the season proper where I'm only subjected to Jack when absolutely necessary and not every minute of a Villa game.

He certainly struggles more without an 'expert' summariser and clearly feels the need to fill the silence with anything.

[ciggiesnbeer]

He really does. Some gems from this pre season

"Well thats his first goal this pre season but they all count to his tally"
"We can't show full premier league games, the rights don't work that way." (After someone asked him if we would be showing the full PL games ..... just like Chelsea does)
"The kick off whistle was literally still hovering in the East Midlands air when the goal was scored" (After Forest scored 30 seconds after the whistle blew).

[Toronto Villa]

I just want to note Jack Woodward really can be incredibly irritating. I swear he is getting worse. Jack STOP adding your stupid little asides, they are not good enough to be interesting, Up your game to Ray Hudson level bollocks or ramp it down a level.

Jack's annoying but he's no Ray Hudson, and the mere thought of Jack "elevating" his game to that level makes me consider smashing things randomly as I walk through the house.

[Legion]

Jack Woodward is an awful commentator.

[gervilla]

Jack Woodward is an awful commentator.

You have never watched  Premier League highlights(before they dropped it to cut costs) on Irish T.V. Jack would fit right in.