Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Legion on July 20, 2013, 05:32:14 PM
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23.7.13 7:45pm KO
0-2 away win.
Lowton 1
Burke 89
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3-3. We'll concede from a corner.
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You mean a cornalty.
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It'd be nice to actually beat one of these shit teams we're playing and keep a clean sheet
We also need to start giving game time to gabby, benteke and Tonev as soon as possible whilst hoping Weimann comes back from injury ASAP. Or we're going to look pretty threadbare or rusty upfront in our first couple of league games.
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They will score !
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1-2
Westwood, Agbonlahor
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Anybody know how the defence played today? Hearing we conceded from their one and only corner.
I'm still not trusting Vlaar.
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This isn't a friendly. I fucking hate Luton. Win please, Villa.
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This isn't a friendly. I fucking hate Luton. Win please, Villa.
They are now a non-league team, it is most certainly a friendly. Why do you hate them so much lol?
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3-3, can see a very open game.
Good attacking from us, but poor defending.
Maybe a slightly different result if Tekkers & Okore playing.
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This isn't a friendly. I fucking hate Luton. Win please, Villa.
They are now a non-league team, it is most certainly a friendly. Why do you hate them so much lol?
They invented the EDL.
They have loads of hooligan wankers following them, who chased the opposition players into the stands because they couldn't accept defeat gracefully.
A quick look at their forums after the above game revealed that most of their fans seemed to think it was reasonable behaviour, and went for Millwallesque tedious claims of media conspiracy against them to excuse it.
They have a reputation for causing trouble up and down the country, despite having virtually no fans. The ones they do have, are mostly twats.
They banned away fans. If they refused to accept our money when they were in the top flight, we shouldn't be helping them now they're non-league and skint. Fuck 'em.
What division a team is in is mostly immaterial when deciding which teams I dislike. Leeds have been down for ages and I still think they're wankers, whereas I'm struggling to imagine a scenario in which I would start hating Fulham, even if they finish above us for the next decade.
Oh, and their Chairman carried on in his job despite the disgraceful, tragic, catastrophic removal of the divine Ms Virdee.
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I will go 3-0 to Villa, think the Luton manger will get the best out of them, but match fitness is coming now
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This isn't a friendly. I fucking hate Luton. Win please, Villa.
They are now a non-league team, it is most certainly a friendly. Why do you hate them so much lol?
They invented the EDL.
They have loads of hooligan wankers following them, who chased the opposition players into the stands because they couldn't accept defeat gracefully.
A quick look at their forums after the above game revealed that most of their fans seemed to think it was reasonable behaviour, and went for Millwallesque tedious claims of media conspiracy against them to excuse it.
They have a reputation for causing trouble up and down the country, despite having virtually no fans. The ones they do have, are mostly twats.
They banned away fans. If they refused to accept our money when they were in the top flight, we shouldn't be helping them now they're non-league and skint. Fuck 'em.
What division a team is in is mostly immaterial when deciding which teams I dislike. Leeds have been down for ages and I still think they're wankers, whereas I'm struggling to imagine a scenario in which I would start hating Fulham, even if they finish above us for the next decade.
Oh, and their Chairman carried on in his job despite the disgraceful, tragic, catastrophic removal of the divine Ms Virdee.
The EDL was invented after the bombings in London, wrong I agree, but people had strong feelings after that and one person took advantage. To tar Luton with that brush is totally wrong.
I know many Liton fans who are not twats and yes they do follow there clubs. Villa got a bad press after Anderlecht, but it wasnt Villa fans, should we have been punished?
They banned fans after Millwall, wrong decision I agree. Dont generalise though because I know a lot of Luton fans who are still passionate about their club and are far from hooligans. As for helping them, I thought it wasfor Villa to get match fitness
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The EDL was invented after the bombings in London, wrong I agree, but people had strong feelings after that and one person took advantage. To tar Luton with that brush is totally wrong.
Actually the EDL were formed after the al-Muhajiroun protest during the return of the troops in Luton.
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1-2 villa
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Isn't hating Luton because of a few EDL twats akin to hating Villa because of a few muslim extremist twats from Birmingham?
I'm all for "hatred" of opposing teams, there's barely a team in the premier league I don't dislike in some way but you can't make generalisations about fans' politics. There'll be people who go to Kenilworth Road who consider themselves socialists, equally there'll be people who attend Villa Park who sympathise with the EDL. Sad though that last statement may be.
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As with any team there will be good and bad. However, when some clubs have a far higher percentage of twats it makes them far more dislikeable (is that a word?). Leeds and Millwall, for instance. They're not all EDL, they're not all hooligans. But enough of them are to make me hope they stay in the non-league wilderness for all eternity.
Are we supposed to like Leeds and Millwall on the basis that some of them will be alright?
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Never thought we would have an EDL thread on HnV
3-1 Villa by the way.
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Mentioning the EDL doesn't make it an "EDL Thread".
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Mentioning the EDL doesn't make it an "EDL Thread".
Luton Town v Aston Villa Mega Monster Thread this is.
Maybe you should start a " Racist scum that have no place on here " type thread.
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Can't be arsed. In future if I want to mention anything to do with the opposition's supporters I'll be sure to ask your permission first.
X
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2 - 3
"We'll score one more than you!"
Pele, Careca and Ronaldinho.
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3-3 by the way things have been going.
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Mentioning the EDL doesn't make it an "EDL Thread".
Luton Town v Aston Villa Mega Monster Thread this is.
Maybe you should start a " Racist scum that have no place on here " type thread.
Threads go off topic all the time, however talking about the town of the club we are playing isn't really going off topic. And we've had more than one EDL thread in the past.
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I'm looking forward to Woody telling us that we'll have live streaming soon, whilst listening to the audio.
3-0 Villa. Clean sheet. Yes, I just said that.
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I'm with CD, Luton are a collective bunch of ******.
Is it any surprise that this is the friendly with no parking and no alcohol on sale to away fans?
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3-0. Yeah a clean sheet...confident. Alright 3-1.
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Them..... at least one (probably form a cornalty)
Use..... more than them
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I'm looking forward to Woody telling us that we'll have live streaming soon, whilst listening to the audio.
3-0 Villa. Clean sheet. Yes, I just said that.
Supertom, whatever your tripping out on, I'll take an ounce, pmsl.
If we were to get a clean sheet, I'd have me a multi.....
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We are just 90 minutes from our first clean sheet this year.
But if Luton do score. I may have to climb over the electric fence and throw my seat at a police dog. Thatcher and David Evans can't stop me now !
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We are just 90 minutes from our first clean sheet this year.
But if Luton do score. I may have to climb over the electric fence and throw my seat at a police dog. Thatcher and David Evans can't stop me now !
:-)
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Danny Baker has a very interesting alternative account of the Millwall 'riot' at Luton.
He was there. He says away fans were being packed into a small section of the stadium, Hillsborough-style. No limit on numbers, no thought of safety.
The fans at the front were being crushed, and a few tried to climb over the hoardings to escape. As they did, police set dogs on them and arrested them.
In the end the Millwall fans went for the police. Not the opposing fans, the coppers.
That's his account anyway. And he was there and I wasn't.
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We are just 90 minutes from our first clean sheet this year.
But if Luton do score. I may have to climb over the electric fence and throw my seat at a police dog. Thatcher and David Evans can't stop me now !
:-)
Don't forget Moynihan...fucking Thatcher, when will she die?
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1-1. Sylla for us, one of their hooligans to nut one in for them.
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I'm giving this one a miss but I'll catch it on AVTV's fine coverage.
1-2.
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I'm giving this one a miss but I'll catch it on AVTV's fine coverage.
1-2.
There is ITK in the blogosphere that AVTV may be transmitting live pictures which may be viewed on personal computer using the correct software and settings.
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Danny Baker has a very interesting alternative account of the Millwall 'riot' at Luton.
He was there. He says away fans were being packed into a small section of the stadium, Hillsborough-style. No limit on numbers, no thought of safety.
The fans at the front were being crushed, and a few tried to climb over the hoardings to escape. As they did, police set dogs on them and arrested them.
In the end the Millwall fans went for the police. Not the opposing fans, the coppers.
That's his account anyway. And he was there and I wasn't.
I've heard that story from a Millwall supporting bloke I knew when I was a squaddie, but then again his mate then piped in with something like, "Yeah, but there was a hell of a lot of the usual faces who used that as an excuse to pile into the Luton fans."
Bit of both I reckon.
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I'm giving this one a miss but I'll catch it on AVTV's fine coverage.
1-2.
There is ITK in the blogosphere that AVTV may be transmitting live pictures which may be viewed on personal computer using the correct software and settings.
and what is the correct software and settings? Apart from a subscription to AVTV of course?
I could only get text on Saturday, no vision, no sound until the end of the match Woodward summary.
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As it is local to me I went to the Hitchin Town v Luton friendly last week and although Luton won 4-0 Hitchin matched them for the first 75 minutes before making defensive substitutions. Luton have a tricky right winger and a number 13 who plays behind the front line,both were a marked class above the rest. It should be a good workout but not as challanging as Wycombe who I thought worked hard and closed the Villa down to little space and time. I predict a 3-1 Villa win with more of the youth getting a decent run out.
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Any sense of whether any of our injured players might be ok for this one? Gabby, Tonev, Helenius, Okore? Would be good to start giving these guys some game time or they're not going to be match fit for Arsenal.
How has Gardner been doing in pre-season? I wonder if he'll be on the bench at Arsenal or further down the pecking order
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Dont think any of the guys you mentioned will be playing this evening, although may have read Okore is back training. Apaprently Gardner has looked impressive in the games so far.
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Do people envisage the game going ahead? According the the met office the weather isn't quite a severe as it is in Birmingham this morning so fingers crossed the pitch won't be water logged.
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Dont think any of the guys you mentioned will be playing this evening, although may have read Okore is back training. Apaprently Gardner has looked impressive in the games so far.
I know he only had 30minutes on Saturday but I wasn't aware of Gardner doing much at all. Pretty sure he will be playing this evening.
Any tips on parking Villan?
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Do people envisage the game going ahead? According the the met office the weather isn't quite a severe as it is in Birmingham this morning so fingers crossed the pitch won't be water logged.
Hope so!
Got me ticket and need to set off about 2 as I've got a few calls to make on the way.
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Do people envisage the game going ahead? According the the met office the weather isn't quite a severe as it is in Birmingham this morning so fingers crossed the pitch won't be water logged.
Err excuse me ? What rain ? I am actually on a campsite right now and probably about 8 miles from Luton having stayed down here after the Wycombe game. The only drops of rain I have seen the whole time was about 6 this morning for about 15 minutes. If you have all been washed out back in Brum then I'm glad I stayed here.
Would you like me to point my camera in the direction of Luton and post a picture of the sky ?
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Will the picture have the new Royal baby floating in the sky wearing a crown ?
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Do people envisage the game going ahead? According the the met office the weather isn't quite a severe as it is in Birmingham this morning so fingers crossed the pitch won't be water logged.
Err excuse me ? What rain ? I am actually on a campsite right now and probably about 8 miles from Luton having stayed down here after the Wycombe game. The only drops of rain I have seen the whole time was about 6 this morning for about 15 minutes. If you have all been washed out back in Brum then I'm glad I stayed here.
Would you like me to point my camera in the direction of Luton and post a picture of the sky ?
Thanks Andy - that's it confirmed! Stay where you are and wave a flag - I'm on my way!
UTV!
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Us 2 them 1!
Oh and it will rain!
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Do people envisage the game going ahead? According the the met office the weather isn't quite a severe as it is in Birmingham this morning so fingers crossed the pitch won't be water logged.
Err excuse me ? What rain ? I am actually on a campsite right now and probably about 8 miles from Luton having stayed down here after the Wycombe game. The only drops of rain I have seen the whole time was about 6 this morning for about 15 minutes. If you have all been washed out back in Brum then I'm glad I stayed here.
Would you like me to point my camera in the direction of Luton and post a picture of the sky ?
You're written account will suffice cheers mate ;). Here in Birmingham we were subjected to a display of Biblical downpours and thunder and lightening from around 4am up to about an hour ago, causing flash flloding in many areas, it sounds like things are calmer down south.
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The sky over Luton 10 minutes ago.
(http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b518/Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air/IMG_1563_zps087601d3.jpg) (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air/media/IMG_1563_zps087601d3.jpg.html)
However.... looking in the other direction it's looking a bit dark over Aylesbury, I heard a rumble of thunder 5 minutes ago and its just started raining here.
Stay tuned throughout the day for further weather updates. ;D
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If it's the start of what we've had here mate, you're gonna get washed out to sea!
Good luck!
Will be tuning in for more updates later. ;-)
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Dont think any of the guys you mentioned will be playing this evening, although may have read Okore is back training. Apaprently Gardner has looked impressive in the games so far.
I know he only had 30minutes on Saturday but I wasn't aware of Gardner doing much at all. Pretty sure he will be playing this evening.
Any tips on parking Villan?
If you get off at j11 and do a left and go down the Dunstable Road, you will see a BP garage at some traffic lights. If you do a right there and follow road to end over a roundabout, do a left at traffic lights and near ground there and lots of side roads round there. Does anyone know if you can pay on gate, thought I was at a meeting tonight, but has been cancelled
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The sky over Luton 10 minutes ago.
(http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b518/Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air/IMG_1563_zps087601d3.jpg) (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air/media/IMG_1563_zps087601d3.jpg.html)
However.... looking in the other direction it's looking a bit dark over Aylesbury, I heard a rumble of thunder 5 minutes ago and its just started raining here.
Stay tuned throughout the day for further weather updates. ;D
Are there no brick buildings in Luton? Still living in wattle and daub house crafted from their own shit?
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I think that is Luton's idea of a fan park.
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Dont think any of the guys you mentioned will be playing this evening, although may have read Okore is back training. Apaprently Gardner has looked impressive in the games so far.
I know he only had 30minutes on Saturday but I wasn't aware of Gardner doing much at all. Pretty sure he will be playing this evening.
Any tips on parking Villan?
If you get off at j11 and do a left and go down the Dunstable Road, you will see a BP garage at some traffic lights. If you do a right there and follow road to end over a roundabout, do a left at traffic lights and near ground there and lots of side roads round there. Does anyone know if you can pay on gate, thought I was at a meeting tonight, but has been cancelled
Many thanks Villan.
No idea about paying on gate - most clubs are pretty tight on that kinda shit these days. Ring Luton?
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I think that is Luton's idea of a fan park.
Very good, PWS.
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Oh, and their Chairman carried on in his job despite the disgraceful, tragic, catastrophic removal of the divine Ms Virdee.
So why hasn't Luton been nuked yet?
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Oh, and their Chairman carried on in his job despite the disgraceful, tragic, catastrophic removal of the divine Ms Virdee.
So why hasn't Luton been nuked yet?
Because it would make it look better?
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I have not seen anything from Perform's average monkeys who operate match streams about the total fuck up last Saturday. Nor any reassurance that they plan to stop eating banana pizzas long enough tonight to provide value for the money paid by subscribers. Have you?
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Weather update approx. 8 miles west of Luton.
Thunder, lightening and rain two hours ago but has now cleared up to leave a pleasant sunny day with a nice breeze.
Looking in the direction of Luton there is some cloud but nothing untoward. Earlier dark skies over Aylesbury have cleared.
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Weather update approx. 8 miles west of Luton.
Thunder, lightening and rain two hours ago but has now cleared up to leave a pleasant sunny day with a nice breeze.
Looking in the direction of Luton there is some cloud but nothing untoward. Earlier dark skies over Aylesbury have cleared.
Cheers Andy.
Am wearing Sou'wester and wellies just in case! :-D
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Dare i say a Villa win and a CLEAN SHEET!!! ok the Vill awin 2-0
UTV!!!
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Anybody going dressed as the English Disco Lovers ?
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I have not seen anything from Perform's average monkeys who operate match streams about the total fuck up last Saturday. Nor any reassurance that they plan to stop eating banana pizzas long enough tonight to provide value for the money paid by subscribers. Have you?
I asked them and they are doing something, too slowly and in the background.
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Phoned Luton earleir and can pay on the gate, but advised to go fairly early as been quite a few queries from Villa fans. Just home from work and waiting for the lad to do likewise then off we go.
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anywhere else other than avtv to watch this? really want to but cant get it at the moment
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anywhere else other than avtv to watch this? really want to but cant get it at the moment
Unfortunately not.
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I can confirm that the bricklayers right by the station doesn't contain many fine real ales and the locals definitely aren't a really friendly bunch. Nothing to see here, honest.
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Mat Kendrick says rumour suggests Benteke may be there. He would never have signed again if he knew what Luton is like.
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I'm sure I read somewhere (fairly) reputable that he is going to get 45 minutes on the pitch.
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I'm sure I read somewhere (fairly) reputable that he is going to get 45 minutes on the pitch.
I hope, despite everything he gets a great reception and bags a goal. We can put all of the other stuff behind us and enjoy him winning games for us.
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I think he'll get a great reception.
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@MatKendrick: Villa (for first hour): Steer, Donacien, Baker, Herd, Webb; Delph, Sylla, Gardner; Carruthers, Benteke, Burke #avfc
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Who is Webb?
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Who is Webb?
the lad who flew out to Germany during the mini tour. defender I think.
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Never heard of him.
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@MatKendrick: Villa (for the final half hour): Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Luna; Bacuna, El Ahmadi, Johnson, Westwood, Robinson, Grealish.#avfc
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anywhere else other than avtv to watch this? really want to but cant get it at the moment
There may be a chance. Keep your eyes peeled.
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El Ahmadi - totally forgot about him.
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It's annoying that Lambert keeps his cards so close to his chest. We've really no idea how our injured players are coming along.
I wonder at what point you have to rule them out for the Arsenal game if they've really had no match practice? Tonev and Gabby have played 45 minutes each.
Surely they need a couple of weeks intensive training and a couple of games. Which means they need to be available by the game in Ireland in 10 days time. Maybe even before then?
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OH MY GOD PICTURES!
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AVTV is up and running!
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Where is Helenius?
Injured?
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What an absolute shit hole Kenilworth Road is. I'd forgotten.
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This should be a goal fest.
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anywhere else other than avtv to watch this? really want to but cant get it at the moment
Unfortunately not.
dont worry they have sent me a free 1 motnh subscription so i can see it now lol
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Who is Webb?
Harry Webb.
AKA Sir Clifford of Richard. Our new right back.
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Ta. I think that little monicker might just stick...
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Always something quite exciting about seeing your first 'live' match of the season. Or maybe that's just me,
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Who is Webb?
the lad who flew out to Germany during the mini tour. defender I think.
Played right back against Bochum. Neat player, slight build
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Pre match show is amazing on AVTV.
I see there's a knot of lads at the back there, getting massively over excited.
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Captain Jack speaks!
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At last.
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I've had a tenner on the draw at 15/4
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I've had a tenner on the draw at 15/4
a 1-1 draw I hope
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Who is Webb?
Harry Webb.
AKA Sir Clifford of Richard. Our new right back.
Josh. Gutted.
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I've had a tenner on the draw at 15/4
a 1-1 draw I hope
No chance with Benteke playing.
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That funny little stand opposite the camera position, the row of wooden conservatories.
If Benteke gets angry, I can see him pulling that ramshackle pile of crud to pieces.
Just saying, like.
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Kenilworth Road is such a great ground.,
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Kenilworth Road is such a great ground.,
One of the true cauldrons.
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Shit your not going struggle with how long is left.
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"Steer, lives up to his surname by rolling the ball to Herd"
Inspired stuff, JW.
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I'd take a nil nil with no injuries please
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"Steer lives up to his name by rolling the ball" So does that mean his real name is Henry Rollins?
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"Steer, lives up to his surname by rolling the ball to Herd"
Inspired stuff, JW.
he really is such a corny, useless wanker
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Nice bit of passing there.
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Am I the only one who thinks the clock and scoreline are a bit small?
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Having trouble watching this, so how's it going so far. How's Benteke settling in?
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Evening chaps. Nice to see GG fit and playing
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I'd take a nil nil with no injuries please
5-5 would be fine by me agree about injuries though. Thats a young defence out there...
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Oh shit. Corner to Luton.
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Another nice move. Delph continues to look impressive when he has one of those bursts forward.
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Delph playing well. Gardner not so much.
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Good run Burkey
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Just what on earth is Chris herd meant to be good at. He's absolutely shocking positionally, cannot pass the ball for toffee and really doesn't bring anything to the party.
Delph is playing well and looks lively. There's a fairly clear contrast with Gardner who always looks very slow paced to me and struggles with the pace of the game. I think he may need a really long run of uninterrupted football to show if he's got it.
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If this were a home game, that clock and score graphic would obliterate the entire lower trinity
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i tell you what donecian looks very good so far
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Lambert Out!
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Oh FFS etc etc etc
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And there we go. Could see that one coming. Not very impressive so far
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Traditional soiled sheet ;D
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Piss poor defending again.
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Terrible defending.
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From what I've seen and heard so far this pre-season, it doesn't seem that we've undergone any particular improvement in our defending.
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When oh when are we going to learn to track runners. That wasn't the first time we have let them run in behind us. It's just so bloody elementary.
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My broadband went down so missed that. Grrr
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Woeful defending
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as sure as taxes, death and a nose child being born with a tail and a lisp
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I take it they scored then what happened?
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We will never ever get a clean sheet again.
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Our defence is a shambles.
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Fucking defending AGAIN!!!, fucking sort it Villa
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I take it they scored then what happened?
The usual. A drilled cross in from the left byline. Luton player there to hammer it in.
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But preceded by two passes to players who had run in behind us with nobody picking them up
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Our defence is a shambles.
Every position looks dodgy to me.
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now granted, Baker aside, I don't see any of that lot being part of the starting defence at any stage this season, but we simply have not improved the fundamentals.
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So, now, including the pre-season friendlies so far - Bochum, Rodentburger and the other lot, Wycombe and Luton - the last time we kept a clean sheet was Dec 8th 2012, against Stoke.
That is a run of 32 games without a single clean sheet.
If that doesn't improve significantly this coming season, we are not going to be doing any better than last season.
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You do wonder what benteke's thinking!
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We cant keep on relying to score than the opposition.
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You do wonder what benteke's thinking!
he's thinking he just got a fat new contract and if he does the business a big bid will come in for him next summer and he'll be off to a another place.
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Why didn't sylla drive on in then and commit the defence?
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I've been impressed with Delph and Sylla. Not so much anyone else.
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You do wonder what benteke's thinking!
Probably, "it's pre-season and I've just signed a new contract."
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On the other hand, we do have 5 reserves and a bloke playing his first game of the pre-season for us. Still, it's a bit pants so far.
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We cant keep on relying to score more than the opposition.
Don't tell Mr Lambert.
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And we don't really look like scoring here! Some pretty terrible passing going on when we try to be penetrative. I thought that our kids might look quite tasty against this sort of opposition. Unless Gardner pops this free kick in I've been disappointed with all if them bar donacien.
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You do wonder what benteke's thinking!
I hate to say it but he is clearly and obviously miles above the quality of anyone else playing today.
We are bloody lucky he re-signed.
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Judas shows he is as greedy on the pitch as well as off it ;)
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I'd really like to see some develop and improvement in our defending.
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Woodwank "Webb ... mixing it with the big boys".
Err, this is Luton, Jack.
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Delph has been the standout so far I'd say. I thought he was seriously injured for a moment there
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Filthy bastards are kicking lumps out of us.
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You do wonder what benteke's thinking!
A little bit of an over-reaction to be honest.
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that's the one thing about pre-season. I'm sure Lambert tells his players not to over do it and try and stay of stupid challenges. Then again when some upstart non league or league 2 player wants to go through you to make a name for himself and tweet about it that night, how do you avoid that?
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Filthy bastards are kicking lumps out of us.
What about the players?
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Tamworth are 1-0 up at Rushall by the way.
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Herd playing CB rather than RB? - somewhat surprised in the light of last season's play by Herd at CB.
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That was shit by Gardner
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BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
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Lambert OUT!
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Tamworth are 1-0 up at Rushall by the way.
Cheers, Dave. I was just about to ask.
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That was shit by Gardner
His last free-kick? Looked a very decent effort to me.
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Oh dear. The defence is really worrying me in pre-season, it needs serious work.
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Not very impressive but realistically only 3 of that line-up - Sylla, Delph and Benteke - will feature much in a first 11 in the prem
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Is it HT yet?
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I wonder why Benteke is playing with them, then? Has he been a naughtier boy than we first thought?
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Oh dear. The defence is really worrying me in pre-season, it needs serious work.
Only Baker in that back four will get to play regularly
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No running off Benteke and too much possession given away (from the 15 minutes I saw).
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Well, while that was shite I am bearing in mind that only one of the back 5 would realistically be hoping to start a PL game unless we had a batch of injuries, Gardner and Carruthers are also unlikely to be starters and we have one fit striker who is playing his first game of the pre-season. So is it that much of a shock we looked quite poor?
On the plus side Delph looked ace, I can see him having a massive season for us. Sylla looked decent as well, and Webb was okay.
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I wonder why Benteke is playing with them, then? Has he been a naughtier boy than we first thought?
I think because he missed the games in Germany he needs to get his fitness up a bit more than others
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Tamworth are 1-0 up at Rushall by the way.
Cheers, Dave. I was just about to ask.
Andy Todd scored the goal, I'll keep you updated.
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Luton have cohesion. Villa have none. Luton are 4 divisions lower. The pre season excuses are fine but there is no apparent pattern nor guile in the play.
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Not very impressive but realistically only 3 of that line-up - Sylla, Delph and Benteke - will feature much in a first 11 in the prem
too be fair, none of this defence will be starting at Arsenal will they? Donacien (or however it;s spelt) looks ok though.
Delph has looked good and Sylla is gettin involved, typical preseason game so far though
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No width
No pace
No creativity
Basically it's like how we started last season, passing the ball around but going nowhere with it.
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I wonder why Benteke is playing with them, then? Has he been a naughtier boy than we first thought?
I would imagine because he's not fit and Lambert will expect the last 30 minutes to kick up a gear
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Oh dear. The defence is really worrying me in pre-season, it needs serious work.
Only Baker in that back four will get to play regularly
Well he needs to learn, he's played plenty now.
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donacien, delph and sylla have looked good to me. hoping carruthers can make more of an impact, I hope he breaks through this year
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Donacien had a good first 20. No idea about his history nor why he is playing, though. Hardly likely to be in the PL squad of 25.
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It wasnt that bad. I daresay we edged possession and we carved out a few chances. A few sloppy passes around though and the usual defensive line which is as disciplined as a group of 6 year olds rushing a birthday cake.
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Delph stands out for me so far !! Gards has improved as game gone on. Love that shirt and love benteke in it too !!
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It's a mishmash of a team. Incredible we have so many injuries already in pre season. Not idea at all some of our new signings are inevitably injured as they need to play games to acclimatise to the English game.
Our second half team will be much stronger so I expect a comeback but yeah not hugely convincing to put it midly!
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No width
No pace
No creativity
Basically it's like how we started last season, passing the ball around but going nowhere with it.
Yes. They are only playing 4231 in every match so you'd hope that each would show they understand their role. We seem to have too many players in midfield who play the same way.
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this feels a bit like my Sunday league side. Every team makes the end of season playoff but during the season it's amazing how many players are missing or injured. Then the play offs starts and evveryone is fit and ready to go and we are completely different team. While tonight has been completely gash it's no different to Man U losing two of their games on tour. When it matters they'll be better as will we. We need to get out of these exercises with our arms and legs in working order.
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No width
No pace
No creativity
Basically it's like how we started last season, passing the ball around but going nowhere with it.
Yes. They are only playing 4231 in every match so you'd hope that each would show they understand their role. We seem to have too many players in midfield who play the same way.
If it was a week before the season started and we were fielding our strongest 11 then i'd be worried, but it isn't and we're not, so pointless worrying too much in July I reckon.
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Midfield obviously the problem (again)
Too many doing exactly the same job by the looks of it. Surprised two haven't been give the wide roles either side of Benteke
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Carruthers? I didn't even realise he was playing! Is he on the left?
I agree that donacien has looked quite good. Would be more defensive but seems a much better bet than herd or the guy at left back.
Gardner seems quite like his brother at that age. Great shot and set piece. Really poor on possession under pressure. Hopefully that will improve. But he strikes me as a testimony to why England fails to produce Spanish style midfielders. you can get through to a high standard at 21 on the basis of physique and certain attributes, without having had to really learn to play one and two touch under pressure
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Actually I didn't see the line up so forget my comments on the defence.
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Benteke off Robinson (?) on ?
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AVTV keeping up its traditional wobble.
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Feed gone. There's a surprise.
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uh oh....avtv strikes again
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Benteke being a lazy ****** now he's doubled his money? #JPAmkII
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And........my AVTV has crashed
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avtv went down just after kick off
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Utterly shit service.
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Benteke seemed as though he may have picked up a strain to me. That'd be all we need
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"Even our telly's shit, even our telly's shit"
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To be fair it has been good-Jack Woodwnk aside
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Benteke seemed as though he may have picked up a strain to me. That'd be all we need
Agreed that last foul on him he was clutching his leg. Worrying.
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Picture scourtesy of Salvador Dali
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Benteke being a lazy c*** now he's doubled his money? #JPAmkII
What? FFS
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Utterly shit service.
This times 1000.
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useless, useless, useless twunts
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Benteke being a lazy c*** now he's doubled his money? #JPAmkII
Stupid comment of the thread goes to..
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Donacien had a good first 20. No idea about his history nor why he is playing, though. Hardly likely to be in the PL squad of 25.
Come on Paul: get with the programme ;D
Donacien was our stand-out CB in the NextGen and is regarded as a potential star.
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A live broadcast is pretty much a simple exercise. Point camera at the pitch, connect to the internet.
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I would be utterly embarrassed to work for these, they truly are wank. complaining email coming up
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This is beyond a joke.
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What odds we have a blinder of a second half now we have no picture?
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Benteke being a lazy c*** now he's doubled his money? #JPAmkII
What? FFS
Joke, my friend. Joke.
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Ah no pics for you either. What an utter bunch of clowns at Perform.
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Still 1-0 I think.
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Great stream....JPA was crap after he got an improved contract. Can't see Benteke doing the same.
These green stripes are hypnotising.
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SOUNDS like we are well on top now.
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I would be utterly embarrassed to work for these, they truly are wank. complaining email coming up
I sent one after the Wycombe dabacle. Got an apology then a further email today saying that "The good news is that Perform have assured us that the technical problems have now been fully rectified and we will be showing the remaining five games live as planned as part of your subscription, including Luton v Villa tonight at 7.45pm." I think the term "Perform" in this context should be taught in schools across the country as a classic definition of the term 'oxymoron'
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Utterly pathetic.
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I know a senior fella at Perform, from years ago through work. I am going to email him some abuse and suggest that he spends the rest of the evening drafting P45s for his clownish employees.
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10 subs coming on soon. Must be a bit cramped on the touchline as they all warm up.
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Back on
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Oh - it's back
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It's like a very early rave video at times! Less gurning into the camera mind, as you can't see anyone!
And it's back!
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Oh, it's back. Still an absolute joke considering our status.
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Time delay between the audio only and the live feed.
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I know a senior fella at Perform, from years ago through work. I am going to email him some abuse and suggest that he spends the rest of the evening drafting P45s for his clownish employees.
I work with Perform video streams in my day to day job, and they are absolutely rock solid.
I pretty much guarantee you, it won't be their fault, it'll be Jack sitting on the laptop or something.
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I know a senior fella at Perform, from years ago through work. I am going to email him some abuse and suggest that he spends the rest of the evening drafting P45s for his clownish employees.
I work with Perform video streams in my day to day job, and they are absolutely rock solid.
I pretty much guarantee you, it won't be their fault, it'll be Jack sitting on the laptop or something.
OK, but what we all deserved was a proper explanation quickly after Wycombe and offers of compensation. And again tonight, why should Jack W have to apologise for this repeated debacle, with no back-up support?
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I can see us getting at least a point here.
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Johnson needs a feckin hair cut.
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Better since the changes. Not sure I can see us scoring still though
Grealish looks quite good. KEA still failing to pass the ball crisply enough.
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C'mon Villa
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Awful from Clark and Vlaar, truly fucking awful.
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Now that is the definition of comedy defending.
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That is just shit.
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Fucking shit
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Haha. I don't care if this is a friendly. That was absolutely horrific.
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Awful from Clark and Vlaar, truly fucking awful.
Now that is worrying, they're supposed starters.
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Oh dear.
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shut up woodward u dick. They have been doing It all last season as well. absolute shit
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And they are regular first teasers!!!!
Bloody ridiculous
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2-0?
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What a calamity that was. Bloody awful.
I know these are only friendlies but I'm not exactly being inspired! No fit strikers. Continued shambolic defending. Inconsistent passing.
Hmm
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Clarke scares the shit out of me.
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Clark and Vlaar as the middle 2 terrify me.
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Calamity Clark at it again he's such a shit defender, new contract my arse
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Can we please sign another center back asap
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Awful from Clark and Vlaar, truly fucking awful.
I've heard that before.
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OK this is pre season but the performance has been utter cack, when good signs and a goal spree are expected against Conference opposition, even with 3rd choice players. Vlaar & Clark ARE first teamers and that was useless.
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Defensively shambolic. That is the one thing that will hold us back and undermine any progress. At worst drop us in the shit again like last season.
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Hahah Vlaar didnt half give Clark a bollocking after that
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Embarrassing
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This is just like the first game last season - plenty of possession in front of the opposition without causing them any problems or looking like scoring then conceding stupid goals
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Take Benteke off that leaves us with with players we 0% skill, pass move pass move over and over
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I'd sell Vlaar. Not up to it. Concrete my arse.
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Bloody hell KEA is shit a lot of the time isn't he?
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I'd sell Vlaar. Not up to it. Concrete my arse.
Might make your bowel movements awkward
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I'd like to see the second goal again just to see who was the player at fault.
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Lescott in Vlaar out
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I'd sell Vlaar. Not up to it. Concrete my arse.
Might make your bowel movements awkward
Not as awkward as Vlaar is at defending.
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Take Benteke off that leaves us with with players we 0% skill, pass move pass move over and over
It's a friendly, chill out!
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KEA continues to look disappointing.
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Teams that batter the opposition in pre-season friendlies generally start off the season crap, we'll be off to a flyer!!
When will Okore be fit to play, need to get him bedded in and quick!!
Helenius injured too??
UTV!!
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In pre-season speak We Go Again is pronounced It's All About Fitness.
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I've just come back and it's effin' 2-0! Jesus.
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I may have to revise my prediction of twelvtieth at this rate.
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This is just like the first game last season - plenty of possession in front of the opposition without causing them any problems or looking like scoring then conceding stupid goals
Remind me who we played first game of the season and who we are playing now ?
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To be honest, if Okore is the reincarnation of Paolo Maldini, it won't matter if he has to play alongside Clark or Vlaar, both of whom look utterly hopeless.
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In other news, some parents left a hospital with a baby.
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KEA continues to look disappointing.
He's down in the Holman league of uselessness
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KEA continues to look disappointing.
In fairness, it must be quite difficult to play when you haven't eaten or drank anything since about 6 this morning.
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Without a solid defence we are fucked. I do worry about Lambert in this area.
With regards to the kit I keep expecting Didier Six to pop up!
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Take Benteke off that leaves us with with players we 0% skill, pass move pass move over and over
It's a friendly, chill out!
Na we've been poor are you watching?
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Hatters' centre back wins man of the match. Sign him before getting on the coach!
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That was nearly 3-0.
Will this result be all over SSN?
How embarrassing
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KEA continues to look disappointing.
In fairness, it must be quite difficult to play when you haven't eaten or drank anything since about 6 this morning.
Probably a little before that.
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Am I getting this right...
Injured so far
1 gabby
2 Weimann
3 Helenius
4 Okore
5 bacuna
6 tonev
And Benteke limped off.....
Are the coaching staff pushing them to hard to get fitness levels up, seems a bit odd to me.
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This is just like the first game last season - plenty of possession in front of the opposition without causing them any problems or looking like scoring then conceding stupid goals
Remind me who we played first game of the season and who we are playing now ?
Luton Town. In a pre-season friendly that a few are really taking too seriously.
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Grealish and Robinson look good against this opposition; Vlaar and KEA look flaky. Bizarre.
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Take Benteke off that leaves us with with players we 0% skill, pass move pass move over and over
It's a friendly, chill out!
Na we've been poor are you watching?
It's still a friendly. I'm not going to panic too much about a friendly game in July.
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This is just like the first game last season - plenty of possession in front of the opposition without causing them any problems or looking like scoring then conceding stupid goals
Remind me who we played first game of the season and who we are playing now ?
Premier league opposition last year and a Conference team tonight. And our standard of play does not seem to have improved at all resulting in a bigger defeat tonight.
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Never mind it's the Emirates in 25 days time. Pretty rubbish pre-season so far- loads of injuries, players simply not performing.
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Have to say: pretty poor, for a team building up to a Premiership season.
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Don't worry. Only thirty-eight league games left till the end of the season.
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well they are ahead of us in their pre season , errrr yes that's it phew ???
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It does make me wonder what happens to players when they bog off for the post-season. They seem to forget everything they ever learned.
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Meh
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Man ure fans must be shitting themselves. They have lost both of their friendlies so far. It's a friendly ffs. Don't get all worked up.
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How good did Grealish look!
His touch, and general composure on the ball was very impressive
If you didn't know any of the team you'd have assumed he was one of our star players
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If we're playing like this in league games when we are fielding our strongest 11 i'll be bothered.
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I don't really care about the result. That doesn't matter.
What does matter is what sort of progress we make in improving on last season. Last season our massive problem was the defence, and so far this pre season we've seen exactly the same weaknesses that cost us so much last year.
It isn't encouraging.
I'm not even sure of the validity of the "it's all about fitness" / "their preparations are further ahead than ours" argument.
We keep seeing the same weakness as last season and in a few weeks it'll be Arsenal testing that defence, not a conference side.
Okore might prove himself to be very decent but if the other centre halves are Clark, Vlaar and Baker, then I am going to be worried.
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The Noses lost 4-2 at Shrewsbury.
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pre-season results dont count for much ...................a clean sheet and a win would have been nice though
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Well that was shit. Stop saying it's only a friendly when i play football 5 a side or a kick about i still put on my boots to play well. We were extremely poor and have been since we knew we were safe. Fact
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I don't really care about the result. That doesn't matter.
What does matter is what sort of progress we make in improving on last season. Last season our massive problem was the defence, and so far this pre season we've seen exactly the same weaknesses that cost us so much last year.
It isn't encouraging.
I'm not even sure of the validity of the "it's all about fitness" / "their preparations are further ahead than ours" argument.
We keep seeing the same weakness as last season and in a few weeks it'll be Arsenal testing that defence, not a conference side.
Okore might prove himself to be very decent but if the other centre halves are Clark, Vlaar and Baker, then I am going to be worried.
Lambert teams don't do defending. Look back to his previous clubs and even at Norwich when they were promoted twice I'm not sure even those defences were among the best.
As long as Benteke is fit and firing we will be o.k particularly as we conceded shed loads of goals in some of MON's seasons lets not forget.
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Impressed with some of the youngsters today. Donacien, Robinson, Johnson and Grealish all did well.
Luna looks more solid than Bennett.
First half we had a focal point up front in Benteke, but lacked an impact in wide positions. In the second half/60 min onwards, it was the opposite. Some better work wide, and good movement around the box but no real CF presence.
I expected more from Carruthers. When he had the ball he did okay, but he didn't get in the game enough. He needs to work harder, and he needs to get out wide more. Burke didn't look ready.
Bacuna was all energy but erratic with his touch and passing. Delph and Sylla did okay. Gardner didn't impose himself on the game enough.
KEA was poor. Both central defence combinations were very poor. Webb struggled at left back too. I don't think he's ready yet. Westwood was unusually sloppy. Both keepers did okay, couldn't do anything about the goals.
The overall verdict?
We still desperately need a quality center-half. We are also crying out for a good number 10 style player too. Without those I think we could potentially struggle. With them, we can be comfortable and push for top half up to 7th.
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Well that was shit. Stop saying it's only a friendly when i play football 5 a side or a kick about i still put on my boots to play well. We were extremely poor and have been since we knew we were safe. Fact
It's a friendly. Fact.
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I don't really care about the result. That doesn't matter.
What does matter is what sort of progress we make in improving on last season. Last season our massive problem was the defence, and so far this pre season we've seen exactly the same weaknesses that cost us so much last year.
It isn't encouraging.
I'm not even sure of the validity of the "it's all about fitness" / "their preparations are further ahead than ours" argument.
We keep seeing the same weakness as last season and in a few weeks it'll be Arsenal testing that defence, not a conference side.
Okore might prove himself to be very decent but if the other centre halves are Clark, Vlaar and Baker, then I am going to be worried.
Lambert teams don't do defending. Look back to his previous clubs and even at Norwich when they were promoted twice I'm not sure even those defences were among the best.
As long as Benteke is fit and firing we will be o.k particularly as we conceded shed loads of goals in some of MON's seasons lets not forget.
I wish people would stop saying that as some kind of a cure-all for a shit defence. If Lambert can't build a good defence then what the hell is he doing managing at the top level?
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Relying on scoring more when we are defending abysmally is only going to end in trouble
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If i were Clark and Vlaar i'd have wished the stream had remained in a crashed state......that was embarrassing.
Not impressed by Bacuna either , more impressive were some of the kids - Johnson and Grealish.
Don't get me started on KEA!!!
It is only a friendly after all but signs not encouraging.....like to see some strikers fit for Crewe game.
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I don't really care about the result. That doesn't matter.
What does matter is what sort of progress we make in improving on last season. Last season our massive problem was the defence, and so far this pre season we've seen exactly the same weaknesses that cost us so much last year.
It isn't encouraging.
I'm not even sure of the validity of the "it's all about fitness" / "their preparations are further ahead than ours" argument.
We keep seeing the same weakness as last season and in a few weeks it'll be Arsenal testing that defence, not a conference side.
Okore might prove himself to be very decent but if the other centre halves are Clark, Vlaar and Baker, then I am going to be worried.
Lambert teams don't do defending. Look back to his previous clubs and even at Norwich when they were promoted twice I'm not sure even those defences were among the best.
As long as Benteke is fit and firing we will be o.k particularly as we conceded shed loads of goals in some of MON's seasons lets not forget.
That's not acceptable, he has to turn to build a defence.
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It was a terrible performance, regardless of the result. Looked like Clark was at fault to me but I can only assume Vlaar didn't call for it. Our defending is as bad as you can possibly imagine at times, is any work done on it?
Im not panicking just yet, but Okore is going to have to develop a very good partnership with one of Vlaar, Clark or Baker and very quickly.
Neither Luna or Bacuna look like improving us on that showing, but 30 minutes is nowhere near enough time to judge them.
Injuries are a massive worry too, particular with Benteke going off with a knock.
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I remember going to see a friendly against Peterborough this time last year. We won 2-0 and one of the goals especially was liquid football. Twenty passes leading to a Holman scorcher if I remember correctly. Didn't mean a damn once the season started.
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Lot of "Nervous Nellies" posting tonight.Granted defending looks a bit precious at times- but it was a friendly and plenty of changes.Would still like to see Okore in defence though.
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Mind you Lenerslostit on Twitter will be loving this! Lol!
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KEA continues to look disappointing.
In fairness, it must be quite difficult to play when you haven't eaten or drank anything since about 6 this morning.
Probably a little before that.
3.20 AM to be precise.
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I really don't know if we are EVER going to win a game...
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KEA continues to look disappointing.
In fairness, it must be quite difficult to play when you haven't eaten or drank anything since about 6 this morning.
Probably a little before that.
3.20 AM to be precise.
Has he had an operation or something?
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Luton tried very hard and we clearly weren't in the same vein. Neither did we have a whole host of attacking players.
I thought grealish was the pick of the kids, followed by donacien and then Robinson. Thought carruthers was poor and Gardner worse.
Kea was disappointing. Not sure what to make of bacuna.
We have no fit forwards now!
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KEA continues to look disappointing.
In fairness, it must be quite difficult to play when you haven't eaten or drank anything since about 6 this morning.
Probably a little before that.
3.20 AM to be precise.
Has he had an operation or something?
Ramadam
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With hindsight Perform are just trying to save us from watching weak performances. Hopefully, this will mean that any match where one of their technicians keeps all of the plugs in the plugholes will be worth watching.
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Villa didn't win any of their preseason friendlies prior to the 1980/81 season ;)
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Yes, it's only a friendly & we are building up fitness but mistakes by defenders were costing us over the latter half of the season. The 2nd goals on Saturday & tonight were caused by the same players, making the same mistakes. That has nothing to do with fitness & everything to do with them not being good enough.
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KEA continues to look disappointing.
In fairness, it must be quite difficult to play when you haven't eaten or drank anything since about 6 this morning.
Probably a little before that.
3.20 AM to be precise.
Has he had an operation or something?
Ramadam
Of course! D'oh!!
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I remember the days when we used to go Sweden and play parks teams, we'd rattle in the goals with even the teaboy getting a hat-trick. Didn't mean a fat lot once the season started for real.
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Villa didn't win any of their preseason friendlies prior to the 1980/81 season ;)
I like that. So we just need to not win the next two.
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Benteke shouldn't have played in this game on so little training. A lot of these players ripped through Chelsea for 60 minutes only 3 months ago!
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I'll start worrying if we're this shit when we play Malaga. Also, I seriously doubt Vlaar and Clark will play together again next season (it'll be Vlaar-Baker)
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Benteke shouldn't have played in this game on so little training. A lot of these players ripped through Chelsea for 60 minutes only 3 months ago!
How many of them were on the pitch at the same time tonight though? That's why i'm not overly fussed. The only concern for me is that the Vlaar and Clark partnership still looks an accident waiting to happen.
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I remember going to see a friendly against Peterborough this time last year. We won 2-0 and one of the goals especially was liquid football. Twenty passes leading to a Holman scorcher if I remember correctly. Didn't mean a damn once the season started.
did we really keep a clean sheet ? what was it like ?
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Just pre season. I aint too fussed but our defensive positioning could use some work.
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Yes, it's only a friendly & we are building up fitness but mistakes by defenders were costing us over the latter half of the season. The 2nd goals on Saturday & tonight were caused by the same players, making the same mistakes. That has nothing to do with fitness & everything to do with them not being good enough.
[/quote
This. Many people were saying Vlaar was to busy looking out for the kids (Baker-Clarke) he is possibly worse than both of them. Priority is a solid CB to play with Okore. I cannot see how Clarke "earned" a new contract !! Oh ye I know its only a friendly. But this happened most of last season .....
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I'll start worrying if we're this shit when we play Malaga. Also, I seriously doubt Vlaar and Clark will play together again next season (it'll be Vlaar-Baker)
I expect it'll be Vlaar - Okore
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The thing about Clark is that he always struck me as a more than decent midfielder, but I have seen absolutely nothing that makes me think he can be a top flight central defender. Nothing.
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I know a senior fella at Perform, from years ago through work. I am going to email him some abuse and suggest that he spends the rest of the evening drafting P45s for his clownish employees.
I work with Perform video streams in my day to day job, and they are absolutely rock solid.
I pretty much guarantee you, it won't be their fault, it'll be Jack sitting on the laptop or something.
OK, but what we all deserved was a proper explanation quickly after Wycombe and offers of compensation. And again tonight, why should Jack W have to apologise for this repeated debacle, with no back-up support?
Classic! He responded that he did not know what I mean and was going on holiday for a fortnight. A least their customer care is consistently uncaring.
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I'm very pleased about the quality coming through. We've got some very promising lads and they're nice and tidy on the ball too. I think we're breeding proper footballers. I also think in Lambert we now have the perfect man to utilise the academy to its fullest. I think less will fall by the wayside in the next 3-4 years. A lot of the O Neill generation have faltered a little and we now see the likes of BB and Fonz on their way out.
Donacien I like. He did quite well defensively. Positionally he wasn't fantastic but he's got the pace to make up for it and he's young so he'll learn. Maybe it's a year too early, but if we had to throw him in at right back in a cup or due to injuries I think he'd do quite well.
Johnson should be pushing Gardner close IMO. I also think both should be above KEA in the pecking order.
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The thing about Clark is that he always struck me as a more than decent midfielder, but I have seen absolutely nothing that makes me think he can be a top flight central defender. Nothing.
This for me as well. I think he is a much better midfielder than he is a defender.
Mind, he might start playing better if his own fans can ever learn to spell his name right.
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Just back from the game - very lethargic first half with massive exception being Delph. Benteke showed some great touches. Thought the duo of Herd and Baker were very poor. Quite impressed by the right back Doncien (sp). Second half looked more lively, some good link up play but no cutting edge. Grealish showed some promise, great close ball control. Vlaar looked poor, Robinson lost confidence after missing a good chance and at fault for second goal with bad touch. What went on near the end with stewards and cops going into the group towards back and to right of the goal?
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The thing about Clark is that he always struck me as a more than decent midfielder, but I have seen absolutely nothing that makes me think he can be a top flight central defender. Nothing.
This for me as well. I think he is a much better midfielder than he is a defender.
I still don't think Clark could reasonably expect to be close to pushing our first choices in midfield. I think you'd have to play him as a defensive mid in the more conventional sense. We don't really play that. We have Westwood as the deep lying mid, but he's not what you'd call an anchorman by any stretch, more like our Pirlo.
I think in Clarks case he's kind of neither here nor there. I think he's frightening in defence. He'd adequately cover in midfield in games we want to be more defensive (which aint likely). I think Lambert will prefer players with more mobility in truth.
Johnson reminded me of Anderson. He looks pretty good. He's not quite ready to push the first choice 3 but I can see him making a few matchday squads.
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I'll start worrying if we're this shit when we play Malaga.
This
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I think we need to sign at least one more defender. Vlaar has been just awful since he signed and it doesn't look like he's improved much. Clark shouldn't be in the team
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Didn't we batter inter Milan a few seasons back in pre-season? Didn't win the league that year from my recollection. Preseason doesn't prove anything either wway and though it's nice to win games right now staying healthy is imperative. It's a bit concerning all the little knocks we've picked up so hopefully those missing are more out of precaution than anything more serious.
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I think there's really only one thing to pay attention to this preseason, and it is the continuity of the central defensive shitness.
Nothing else I would really draw too much attention too. Don't really care too much - at this point - if we lose, but in defence, it looks spookily like the entirety of last season.
When a side hasn't kept a single clean sheet in 32 games - and that includes five preseason games - something is really not right.
We didn't win the league when we battered Inter Milan in pre-season, no. We did finish sixth and have a good year, though, so not really sure that's the best example, although i do take your point about preseason not meaning huge amounts.
I saw the Inter team coach drive straight into a wall outside the north stand before that game. That was ace.
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I'm surprised this thread hasn't been moved by Legion. Hopefully he drank that dodgy beer. ;)
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Yes, we need to get some of the injured players back soon so they get some match fitness before kick off. I actually thought Carruthers showed somegood touches as well.
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One thing I would say is that I don't think games where we make eleven substitutions. That said, even taking account of that we desperately need to sort out that defence. I wonder if it is just the players or if it is the coaching too?
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One thing I would say is that I don't think games where we make eleven substitutions. That said, even taking account of that we desperately need to sort out that defence. I wonder if it is just the players or if it is the coaching too?
In the case of Clark I think it the player. He just seems to lack concentration at times, hence the ridiculous mistakes. In MF you can get away with them more as you have the defence behind you, but as a CB he is often pretty much last man so it proves costly.
I prefer Baker over Clark as a CB.
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Lescott in Vlaar out
Gregnash in Goldie out.
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Didn't see it and since I am a lazy tart and can't be arsed to read the whole thread from the start: Does Lambert still appear to think Clark is a proper defender, and if so does he look like changing his mind any time soon?
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Nick Owen is doing the Midlands news. How did he fail to get the night off to see his favourite team play the most important team for his work?
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Sounds like a right load of shit. Let's hope we learn and learn fast.
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Get a bloody grip. It's pre-season and means nothing at all. The team had loads of substitutions etc. Benteke has been back since Friday.
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Lescott in Vlaar out
Gregnash in Goldie out.
Thanks. You're nice person.
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Clark and Vlaar worry me too. The new contract for clark does make you wonder whether lambert sees something we dont. Helluva lot of pressure on Okore now really, would like a new CB in addition really.
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Lescott in Vlaar out
Gregnash in Goldie out.
Thanks. Your a nice person.
*You're*
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Lescott in Vlaar out
Gregnash in Goldie out.
Thanks. Your a nice person.
He a rude boy innit.
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It is pre-season, and Clark should be moved into midfield, with another centre back coming in for me. He is a good player, and much more use further up the pitch, has a good pass and a good eye for goal. Playing him at the back is only hindering him IMO.
Good to see some of the young lads being given a run out and chance to impress.
I am sure 2-3 more signings are still to come, and the fitness is improving.
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Vlaar, Baker and Okore fighting it out for the starting spots.
Clark next in line with a new contract just signed so he isn't going anywhere soon.
I doubt it somehow if we will be signing a new CB.
Fingers crossed that Okore hits the ground running.
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I'm holding on to the observation that often when we've had good seasons, it's seemed to follow a poor pre-season (results wise).
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Just got out of Luton.
To the early posts....No it didn't rain, yes it has already been nuked as far as I could see.
The only difference I could see in the ground from the 1970s was that they have bolted some seats to the terraces and the paint has had 40 years to peel off some more.
I had forgot what a strange ground it was, entering the away stand almost through the back yard of somebodys house. A real throw back to the good old days of having to dodge your head about to follow the game with so many roof supports blocking your view.
Also nice to see a good visible police presence to add to the feelings of nostalgia.
I would say there were about 1,000-1,200 Villa there (including Sid Cowans and Nigel Spink) and the fans remained in good voice despite the game being the pre season friendly equivalent of Doncaster in the League Cup.
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Vlaar, Baker and Okore fighting it out for the starting spots.
Clark next in line with a new contract just signed so he isn't going anywhere soon.
I doubt it somehow if we will be signing a new CB.
Fingers crossed that Okore hits the ground running.
(http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070103155339/memoryalpha/en/images/f/fb/The_Centre_Cannot_Hold_cover.jpg)
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Luna-Sulu-Chekov-Lowton at the back? Sounds good to me.
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An enterprising idea, i'm sure we'll be able to klingon for a few 1-0 wins with them on board.
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Nevermind....... we go again!
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McLeish's pre season was quite good wasn't it IIRC?
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McLeish's pre season was quite good wasn't it IIRC?
Didn't we have a rubbish defeat at Derby ?
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McLeish's pre season was quite good wasn't it IIRC?
Didn't we have a rubbish defeat at Derby ?
Yeah just looked it up. Couple of wins, couple of defeats and a draw against Braga who aint bad. Better opposition than this pre-season but less games. It seems we're playing a lot of matches actually. We only had 5 pre-season matches back then. According to Wiki anyway and I'm buggered if I can remember any more.
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Most important news tonight is that we should have a couple of the crocks back for Friday.
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Lescott in Vlaar out
Gregnash in Goldie out.
Thanks. You're a nice person.
*You're*
kmt
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Lescott in Vlaar out
Gregnash in Goldie out.
Thanks. You're a nice person.
He a rude boy innit.
kmt
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Kiss my todger?
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Kiss my todger?
Kiss My Teeth, which is apparently an insult. I prefer to just call someone a ******.
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(http://www.redmolotov.com/images/designs/alan-partridge-kiss-my-face-tshirt_design.jpg)
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all about the fitness so dont be to despondnet ! just hope those ijured wil get up too speed in time as can affect pre season and knock on effect of game time sharpeness.
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Got back about an hour ago. The contrast between the two halves was marked; I thought the first one was interminable, the second just flashed past. Their second goal was comedy gold from our two CHs. (It's a friendly, if they're doing that in a month's time I'll have a go.)
I thought we were very unlucky not to score in the second half at least twice, and there was some terrific play from individuals (like Sylla and Delph), but CB will be back to his best when he's trained off the icecream and pizza - the contrast in creating chances was obvious when young Callum appeared, but CB was trying, just not up to the speed he normally is. I didn't think there was that much link up with him from midfield, but what do I know!
The Luton fans around me went really quiet for the first part of the second half and when the 'second 11' started to knock the ball around at speed. It was great to watch, and the season should be really good when the crocks return - There were very few 'trademark' attacks because Weimann and Gabby were missing, and this aspect of Villa's game is usually so effective, remembering the matches during the last part of last season.
Everything to look forward to, although it would be nice if the team could defend more consistently!
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Nicely summed up Lou. Yes, let's not get too disheartened as much it would be nice to get a win. But there are so many players out right now and we look a little disjointed. That will all come together in time and there's still a good 6 weeks or so of the transfer window left to go. Lots will still change.
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On a more positive note, I did think:
Delph was excellent
Grealish looked very good too
Some of the quick passing in the second half was an awful lot better
I continue to be more impressed with Daniel Johnson than Gary Gardner. I really don't know if he's got the 'weapons' to really make it. But his quick feet and ability to pass the ball in tight situations seems much better than gardner's.
Um.thats probably about it I think
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What annoys me about our defending is that it is the basics that we don't do. We do not track the runners and this is surely the first thing you are taught as a kid.
Their first goal last night the man ran through to receive the pass before crossing it and he had no one anywhere near him till it was too late. And this had happened previously but we had got away with it. Surely this should be being worked on at BH?
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KEA continues to look disappointing.
Last pre-season he looked excellent, so who knows how he'll play when the season starts
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KEA is not PL quality . Terrible player.
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You cant expect young millionaire premier league footballers to show any pride in wearing the shirt against non-league opposition - especially in a pre -season friendly - c`mon its all about the fitness surely :(
We have now witnessed defeats against lower league opposition - Bradford, Millwall and Luton (ok only a friendly) and a draw against the mighty Wycombe Wanderers - takes me back to the good old days when we lost to Bedford Town even though we had two Argentinians in our team - Oscar and Hector - yes, the ARCES !
Cant wait for the season to start - Arsenal will be quaking in their boots
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I'm surprised this thread hasn't been moved by Legion. Hopefully he drank that dodgy beer. ;)
Behave! I have been suitably chastised.
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I wonder if Vlaar and Clark are still arguing who is at fault for the second goal in the Luton car park !!
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Good to see them arguing. They know as well as we do they need to buck their ideas up.
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delph was excellent. hopefully carrying on his good form from the end of last season.
gary gardner struggled, but you have to remember the lad has just come back from nearly 12 months out.
grealish impressed me again last night, as he did at wycombe.
the defence. people say "it's just a friendly" etc etc, but this is the time to be ironing these problems out, going to be another long season if we can't tighten up.
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all about the fitness so dont be to despondnet ! just hope those ijured wil get up too speed in time as can affect pre season and knock on effect of game time sharpeness.
Je suis maintenant très heureux et pas découragé!
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Got back about an hour ago. The contrast between the two halves was marked; I thought the first one was interminable, the second just flashed past. Their second goal was comedy gold from our two CHs. (It's a friendly, if they're doing that in a month's time I'll have a go.)
I thought we were very unlucky not to score in the second half at least twice, and there was some terrific play from individuals (like Sylla and Delph), but CB will be back to his best when he's trained off the icecream and pizza - the contrast in creating chances was obvious when young Callum appeared, but CB was trying, just not up to the speed he normally is. I didn't think there was that much link up with him from midfield, but what do I know!
The Luton fans around me went really quiet for the first part of the second half and when the 'second 11' started to knock the ball around at speed. It was great to watch, and the season should be really good when the crocks return - There were very few 'trademark' attacks because Weimann and Gabby were missing, and this aspect of Villa's game is usually so effective, remembering the matches during the last part of last season.
Everything to look forward to, although it would be nice if the team could defend more consistently!
Good summary L!
Blinked and missed what happened for the 2nd goal but was able to work out it was a cock up - again!
Thought we could have had 3 or 4 in the 2nd half when we were knocking it about well after the hour mark. Delph and Sylla looked good, Grealish promising and Baker pretty dominant in the air at the back. Webb looks promising too but we'll need cover for him when he goes back to school in Sept to start his GCSEs! ;-)
Wry smile walking back to the car behind Luton fans saying how well Luton played and how shit Villa were!
Roll on Friday, Crewe and dreams of a clean sheet!
UTV!
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Yes, good summation by Lou. Don't know why she needs to aim constant digs at players like Benteke having to work-off their summer savagery of ice cream and pizza though. Everyone knows Big Ben spent June solely gorging on the finest Belgian chocolates, pretzels and the blood of Eric Kismet.
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Yes, good summation by Lou. Don't know why she needs to aim constant digs at players like Benteke having to work-off their summer savagery of ice cream and pizza though. Everyone knows Big Ben spent June solely gorging on the finest Belgian chocolates, pretzels and the blood of Eric Kismet.
And a giant helping of bullshit from Spurs/Levy!
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Yes, good summation by Lou. Don't know why she needs to aim constant digs at players like Benteke having to work-off their summer savagery of ice cream and pizza though. Everyone knows Big Ben spent June solely gorging on the finest Belgian chocolates, pretzels and the blood of Eric Kismet.
And a giant helping of bullshit from Spurs/Levy!
It's because I really have it in for him, of course.
;D When the teams were lining up, there were luton fans around me going, 'Oh god, look at him! 'E's massive!' and, 'Noooo, nobody's that big!' I reckon the icecream and pizza holiday hangover (very limited training) was the major factor in his less than 100% impact last night and can't wait to see him with Weimann and Gabby when I have absolutely no doubt that they will be utterly and absolutely stunningly invincible.
UTV!
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Only saw Sky highlights. Who was it that sped down the left-wing and put the cross in for (I think) Robinson's header that went wide? The run and cross at least were impressive.
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It was the right wing and it was donacien
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It was the right wing and it was donacien
Of course, the right yes. Sorry and thanks.
He also impressed me in the Next Gen game I saw last season (Olympiakos).
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Donacien looked a very good prospect, got some pace as well. Put a couple of good crosses over and looked sound defensively.
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Would someone kindly save me a trawl and tell me the score?
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We lost 2-0.
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Donacien looked a very good prospect, got some pace as well. Put a couple of good crosses over and looked sound defensively.
Cover for Lowton sorted?
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Donacien looked a very good prospect, got some pace as well. Put a couple of good crosses over and looked sound defensively.
Cover for Lowton sorted?
Not sure, but he showed some promise. Was always looking for the ball as well, think he is more naturally a centre back, but certainly showed promise.
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Donacien looked a very good prospect, got some pace as well. Put a couple of good crosses over and looked sound defensively.
Cover for Lowton sorted?
Not sure, but he showed some promise. Was always looking for the ball as well, think he is more naturally a centre back, but certainly showed promise.
One of the few good things about the game.
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We lost 2-0.
Cheers Leeg.
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Donacien looked a very good prospect, got some pace as well. Put a couple of good crosses over and looked sound defensively.
Cover for Lowton sorted?
Not sure, but he showed some promise. Was always looking for the ball as well, think he is more naturally a centre back, but certainly showed promise.
One of the few good things about the game.
I was impressed with Jack Grealish in the last half hour as well. Has got good close control and impressed me more than in the next gen games at end of last season.