Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: cdbearsfan on May 12, 2016, 03:09:39 PM
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Any news about these yet?
I assume we don't have to play Walsall if we end up in the same division as them?
As ever, I want new grounds, on a Saturday. Don't play all the vaguely interesting trips midweek this year, pretty please Villa.
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Depressing that we can now play some Premier League teams in friendlies.
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Telford (a) - 16th July
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I assume that will be a "Villa XI" side.
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Telford (a) - 16th July
The last time we played there in July 2002 I sponsored the match ball, had my name on the front of the programme, and sat next to Sid in the directors' box. It was a 'Villa XI', including Hitzlsperger, and Shropshire lad Boaz Myhill in goal for us.
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We've played Burton a few times haven't we, that's off aswell now!
Be interesting to see what the schedule is.
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I assume that will be a "Villa XI" side.
Nah, more likely a Telford XI. They can afford to put out a weakened side
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Depressing that we can now play some Premier League teams in friendlies.
We'll end up playing Leicester and it'll be advertised as the chance to see us test ourselves against the League Champions.
I feel sick.
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Depressing that we can now play some Premier League teams in friendlies.
Aston Villa vs. Bournemouth..
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Depressing that we can now play some Premier League teams in friendlies.
We'll end up playing Leicester and it'll be advertised as the chance to see us test ourselves against the League Champions.
I feel sick.
you can imagine some clueless prick doing a gushing press release to sell tickets.
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A pre-season tour to the Valencia/Alicante region would be nice.
I jet time off in July and August. The lioness wouldn't be too happy, but she will get over it.
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Chasetown V Villa XI on August 1st
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Is that doable on public transport on a Monday night?
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'Nam Town away would be a nice one to have
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Someone said to me earlier that were not going on tour?
Can anyone confirm or deny?
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Someone said to me earlier that were not going on tour?
Can anyone confirm or deny?
Probably not had any offers if that's the case Phil.
Can't be thru lack of funds cos once that dickheads zog goes we got £65,000 every week available
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Is that doable on public transport on a Monday night?
Yes depending on where you live (obviously!), the No. 10 bus from Chasetown to Walsall runs every half hour and there are trains into Brum from Walsall until nearly midnight.
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Might see if our kid fancies it then, ta.
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Shall we run a sweepstake as to how many minutes into the first pre-season friendly someone posts on this site that we are doomed to League One?
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Might see if our kid fancies it then, ta.
Might go myself if I'm not working, haven't been there for years.
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Shall we run a sweepstake as to how many minutes into the first pre-season friendly someone posts on this site that we are doomed to League One?
I don't think you'll need to wait that long.
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Shall we run a sweepstake as to how many minutes into the first pre-season friendly someone posts on this site that we are doomed to League One?
I don't think you'll need to wait that long.
Bugger, beat me to it.
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Someone said to me earlier that were not going on tour?
Can anyone confirm or deny?
Probably tour the Isle of Dogs
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It'll be another tour of the Midlands.
Oh for those glory days of the Inter Toto... And shouldn't we have defended the Peace Cup by now?
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It was abolished after 2012 when the leader of the Korean Moonies died.
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Maybe our 'showpiece' Villa Park friendly could be against Leicester if they'll come.
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We could organise a glamour tie against Bournemouth.
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Is that doable on public transport on a Monday night?
Plenty of buses from Walsall and Lichfield go to Burntwood and the ground is around there.
Edit: Sorry didn't see the reply from Coops, the doyen of non league ground directions.
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IF all goes to plan and we are promoted this coming season, it will be China for pre season next Summer
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I've heard that Wrexham is a possibility. Whether that will change now with the arrival of new owners remains to be seen.
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Looks like Walsall could be back on the agenda after last night
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IF all goes to plan and we are promoted this coming season, it will be China for pre season next Summer
And if it doesn't either trips to the likes of Dagenham and Redbridge or the gallows - China has the highest death row numbers in the world.
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I'd like to us play Fleetwood (as I would be able to blag free tickets).
I would imagine we will be playing a couple of games in China and Hong Kong this summer, as Chairman Xia kick starts our journey to Chinese football domination.
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Someone said to me earlier that were not going on tour?
Can anyone confirm or deny?
Even if it is true right now I bet that changes if this takeover is confirmed. I can see us playing in China sometime in July.
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73 days (72 if it's a Friday night game) & we haven't even got a notable pre season game arranged,farcical
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73 days (72 if it's a Friday night game) & we haven't even got a notable pre season game arranged,farcical
Not that we know of anyway
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I'd like to us play Fleetwood (as I would be able to blag free tickets).
I would imagine we will be playing a couple of games in China and Hong Kong this summer, as Chairman Xia kick starts our journey to Chinese football domination.
Went up there in August for Fleetwood - Colchester (didn't go FOR that reason) and the head steward is a Villa fan. Came over to me as I was wearing a Villa top and was chatting about his time travelling all over the country watching Villa and being at highbury in 81 and Rotterdam in 82.
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73 days (72 if it's a Friday night game) & we haven't even got a notable pre season game arranged,farcical
They're holding back the announcement of Messi making his Villa debut** in a prestige friendly against his old club
(**match to be played at Walsall as Villa Park is frantically converted into a 60,000 seat stadium)
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According to Evans there are 3 tours set up and some friendly games but will be approved by the new manager
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I'd like to us play Fleetwood (as I would be able to blag free tickets).
I would imagine we will be playing a couple of games in China and Hong Kong this summer, as Chairman Xia kick starts our journey to Chinese football domination.
I'd rather jack than play Fleetwood, Mac.
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I'd rather we played in China if and when we are back in the top flight. We won't boost the branch much as some bunch of jobbing losers from a league that doesn't exist as far as most people in Asia are concerned.
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Can we do Cheltenham please.
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I'd rather play Gloucester. Cheltenham is shit, I've heard.
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I'd rather play Gloucester. Cheltenham is shit, I've heard.
You been talking to Lovejoy again?
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Afraid so. Still, I prefer him to his nephew Tim.
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He is probably still sulking because the Robins got promoted.
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It's a global game and playing abroad offers much so if not China or Asia tour then European destination. In part
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This summer is going to be very busy with players coming and going. This will mean integrating quite a few players into the squad. The last thing we need is to be jetting off to the Far East for a couple of weeks.
They are going to need as much time at BH as possible so need to stay in UK for friendlies.
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a villa park glamour tie against premier league middlesbrough... fuck off.
CONFIRMED FIRST TEAM GAMES
Friendly v AFC Telford (A) - 12pm Saturday July 16
Friendly v Worcester City (At Walshes Meadow, Stourport) - 3pm Saturday July 16
Friendly v Bristol Rovers (A) - 7.45pm Wednesday July 20
Friendly v FC Nantes (At Stade Leo Lagrange, Saint Nazaire) - Saturday July 23
Friendly v Cambridge United (A) - 7.30pm Tuesday July 26
Friendly v Middlesbrough (H) - 3pm Saturday July 30
CONFIRMED U21 GAMES
Friendly v Heather St John's (At Coalville) - 7.30pm Thursday July 21
Friendly v Biggleswade (A) - 2pm Sunday July 24
Friendly v Tamworth (A) - 7.30pm Wednesday July 27
Friendly v Chasetown (A) - 7.30pm Monday August 1
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Friendly v Bristol Rovers (A) - 7.45pm Wednesday July 20 - That'll do nicely :)
Friendly v Middlesbrough (H) - 3pm Saturday July 30 - You have got to be kidding me ::)
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I think the Middlesbrough friendly is just what we need myself to see what a promoted team are made of.
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Premier League Middlesbrough visiting Championship Aston Villa. Reality is kicking in.
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Premier League Middlesbrough visiting Championship Aston Villa. Reality is kicking in.
Yep pretty much, in recent times we've welcomed Inter Milan and Valencia week before start of season...now it's Boro.
At least we have some sort of schedule now so the wheels are slowly starting to creak into action.
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The thing I don't understand is why we're sending a full-strength team to play Worcester.
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I doubt it will be a proper first team as we play Telford and Worcester on the same day. So split squads I assume.
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Haha, only Villa would get relegated and play one of the 3 teams that replace them in preseason - boot reapplied!!! any game v Boro could have been played at Bodymoor :-)
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I doubt it will be a proper first team as we play Telford and Worcester on the same day. So split squads I assume.
So we do - didn't notice that.
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I doubt it will be a proper first team as we play Telford and Worcester on the same day. So split squads I assume.
Spring Training ;)
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The thing I don't understand is why we're sending a full-strength team to play Worcester.
Stourport is v small as well from memory - shame it's not at Worcesters new home as Bromsgrove could house a couple of thousand
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This is the day the reality of relegation hit home, Middlesbrough at home in a friendly. Middlesbrough ffs. Embarrassing.
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I'll probably do the weekend in Brittany (although it's a pity it's not at Nantes' own ground), and maybe pop to Telford or Stourport but definitely won't bother with the Villa Park one.
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Friendly v Bristol Rovers (A) - 7.45pm Wednesday July 20 - That'll do nicely :)
Friendly v Middlesbrough (H) - 3pm Saturday July 30 - You have got to be kidding me ::)
MIDDLESBROUGH is somebody having a fucking laugh? They have arranged a friendly against a team that has bypassed us into the Premier league. This is just rubbing our noses into the dirt. Who the fucking hell chose this game? The total muppetry seems to be continuing at Villa Park. You just couldn't make it up.
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Cambridge Utd......oh happy days :( bad enough I have had the piss ripped out of me for last season by all and sundry down here, but an early chance for a second dose too...
UTV
The Doc
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Friendly v Bristol Rovers (A) - 7.45pm Wednesday July 20 - That'll do nicely :)
Friendly v Middlesbrough (H) - 3pm Saturday July 30 - You have got to be kidding me ::)
MIDDLESBROUGH is somebody having a fucking laugh? They have arranged a friendly against a team that has bypassed us into the Premier league. This is just rubbing our noses into the dirt. Who the fucking hell chose this game? The total muppetry seems to be continuing at Villa Park. You just couldn't make it up.
Dunno if it matters that much but it seems to make sense for us to play a team that has just left the division we're about to join. Same for them I suppose... Glad they haven't arranged a 'glamour' tie against Man Utd or Arsenal or summat. Now that would have been a tad embarrassing.
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Villa website says the Stade Leo Lagrange in Saint Nazaire is the home of Racing Besancon, but it can't be - they're on the other side of France near the Swiss border.
Saint Nazaire is just to the west of Nantes at the mouth of the Loire. Bournemouth played Nantes there last summer. Small ground that holds around 7,000.
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The U-21 game at Tamworth will be the first game played on the their new 3G pitch fact fans. (If it's finished by then of course).
I might go to Biggleswade, never been there.
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No game against Walsall?
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I'd rather play Middlesbrough who I haven't seen for a while then play some bunch who we've already lost to ten times this decade.
Will the game be covered by the ST, does anyone know?
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Anyone know what the A442's like on a Saturday afternoon in the summer? With the Telford game finishing at 1.45 and Stourport a 3pm kick-off, both are do-able in theory.
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Anyone know what the A442's like on a Saturday afternoon in the summer? With the Telford game finishing at 1.45 and Stourport a 3pm kick-off, both are do-able in theory.
You'd have to be hoping for a clear road and easy parking.
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Anyone know what the A442's like on a Saturday afternoon in the summer? With the Telford game finishing at 1.45 and Stourport a 3pm kick-off, both are do-able in theory.
You'd have to be hoping for a clear road and easy parking.
When you come towards Kidderminster on the A442 if you turn right just past the Bellmans Cross pub towards Trimpley you can miss out Kidderminster & go back way into Stourport missing most the town centre traffic.
Carparking will be ridiculous though
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I'm just trying to work out how to get to Stourport by public transport. Doesn't look particularly easy.
**EDIT**
Got it, train to Kiddy and Bus 3 to Stourport goes past the ground, marvellous, might do that one.
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Anyone know what the A442's like on a Saturday afternoon in the summer? With the Telford game finishing at 1.45 and Stourport a 3pm kick-off, both are do-able in theory.
You'd have to be hoping for a clear road and easy parking.
When you come towards Kidderminster on the A442 if you turn right just past the Bellmans Cross pub towards Trimpley you can miss out Kidderminster & go back way into Stourport missing most the town centre traffic.
Carparking will be ridiculous though
Thanks both.
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I will have a few spots in my copter
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This is the day the reality of relegation hit home, Middlesbrough at home in a friendly. Middlesbrough ffs. Embarrassing.
You're right though it's the reality kicking in. Let's just make sure it's just a one-off and we're back where we belong this time next year.
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Friendly v Bristol Rovers (A) - 7.45pm Wednesday July 20 - That'll do nicely :)
Friendly v Middlesbrough (H) - 3pm Saturday July 30 - You have got to be kidding me ::)
MIDDLESBROUGH is somebody having a fucking laugh? They have arranged a friendly against a team that has bypassed us into the Premier league. This is just rubbing our noses into the dirt. Who the fucking hell chose this game? The total muppetry seems to be continuing at Villa Park. You just couldn't make it up.
I blame the manager
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Boro at home. Depressing but that's where we are at the moment. Might be a bit of a gauge as to where we are.
Would be a confidence boost if we could beat one of the best sides in the Championship this year though I suppose.
But still depressing in a footy sense.
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I get the feeling, that the Trinity Road upper will remain closed for the Borough game
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Only 1 turnstile at Stourport Swifts ground aswell
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Only 1 turnstile at Stourport Swifts ground aswell
How did the 50,000 Hereford fans manage to all get in then?
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£114 return Friday - Sunday to Nantes return - flybe from Brum
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Boro? Fuck me side ways, there is a glamour tie.
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Boro? An early chance to test how good we are. I reckon we'll beat them. It's not the glamour tie we might want but a sensible selection.
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Boro at home? Hells bells, that it should come to this. At least we can practice our booing when Downing runs out.
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They're just friendlies guys...and I think Boro is a decent one..a team that just came up from the Championship...err which is where we are now.
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I couldn't care less who we play in the preseason friendlies. The most important thing is that they are good preparation for next season.
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One day we can hope to emulate clubs like Middlesbrough.
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This is the day the reality of relegation hit home, Middlesbrough at home in a friendly. Middlesbrough ffs. Embarrassing.
You're right though it's the reality kicking in. Let's just make sure it's just a one-off and we're back where we belong this time next year.
If only we could make sure. It's the club who can do something about it not the fans. Us fans are Premier league standard but the people running the show are clueless. Still now we know our place we can challenge Middlesbrough as plucky underdogs and maybe just maybe get a draw which we can celebrate against our illustrious Premier league opponents.
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Boro at home. Depressing but that's where we are at the moment. Might be a bit of a gauge as to where we are.
Would be a confidence boost if we could beat one of the best sides in the Championship this year though I suppose.
But still depressing in a footy sense.
It's depressing in every sense. We usually go to little old Walsall for our players to stretch their legs against players who are grateful to play against the Midlands top dogs. Now we have Boro coming to little old Villa. Hope our players aren't too starstruck when they meet our illustrious Premier league opponents.
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Boro will turn up in there new kit, showing the Premier League badge on the sleeve, ours will show the Championship badge
It does make you wonder where it all went wrong?
Also are we entered into the 1st round of the league Cup?
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Boro will turn up in there new kit, showing the Premier League badge on the sleeve, ours will show the Championship badge
It does make you wonder where it all went wrong?
Also are we entered into the 1st round of the league Cup?
It has just dawned on me - if we knock West Brom out of the cup again it will be called a giant killing!! Or Burnley, or Palace or Hull. Good grief.
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If we are winning we will able to sing to the Boro fans "Premier League your having a laugh"
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Christ some of you lot could moan for Britain!
They are friendlies, designed to get our players match fit, and Middlesborough is as good a run out against decent opposition as any, in fact probably better than playing Walsall again.
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£114 return Friday - Sunday to Nantes return - flybe from Brum
The games not in Nantes by the looks of it. Think its closer to the border of Switzerland.
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Christ some of you lot could moan for Britain!
They are friendlies, designed to get our players match fit, and Middlesborough is as good a run out against decent opposition as any, in fact probably better than playing Walsall again.
Indeed.
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Does anyone remember the annual friendlies against Port Vale in the seventies? There were always more Stoke fans in the ground than Port Vale.
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Christ some of you lot could moan for Britain!
They are friendlies, designed to get our players match fit, and Middlesborough is as good a run out against decent opposition as any, in fact probably better than playing Walsall again.
Personally, I think they would have been better off picking a foreign team like they normally do. I can kind of understand the disappointment in us being Boro.
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£114 return Friday - Sunday to Nantes return - flybe from Brum
The games not in Nantes by the looks of it. Think its closer to the border of Switzerland.
Booked accomodation in St Nazaire and now flights to Nantes (Cheers for the FlyBe tip)...looking forward to this. Plus got my Worcester ticket this morning.
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I'd like to pull a couple of friendlies in; aren't tickets being sold through the OS,apart from the Boro game?
A lady in the ticket office said the away matches will be sold on the gate on match days?
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I'd like to pull a couple of friendlies in; aren't tickets being sold through the OS,apart from the Boro game?
A lady in the ticket office said the away matches will be sold on the gate on match days?
Here you go (http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~5659319,00.html)
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I'd like to pull a couple of friendlies in; aren't tickets being sold through the OS,apart from the Boro game?
A lady in the ticket office said the away matches will be sold on the gate on match days?
Here you go (http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~5659319,00.html)
Thanks Dave.
Can't wait for the new season to start. I'm having withdrawal symptoms; haven't booed anyone for ages :-)
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Christ some of you lot could moan for Britain!
They are friendlies, designed to get our players match fit, and Middlesborough is as good a run out against decent opposition as any, in fact probably better than playing Walsall again.
Personally, I think they would have been better off picking a foreign team like they normally do. I can kind of understand the disappointment in us being Boro.
I can see the logic in playing what will still largely be a Championship club (just not in name), just one that's a little bit better than what we'll come up against.
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Does anyone remember the annual friendlies against Port Vale in the seventies? There were always more Stoke fans in the ground than Port Vale.
Yes played one just before the start of 75/76 the week before the opener against Leeds.
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Only the game in France will be shown live on AVTV, and as far as they know AVTV is still part of the season ticket package
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I think the Boro game is quite a smart choice of fixture to be honest.
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They've just announced some new pre-season games. Wednesday away and then Rotherham and Huddersfield at home. Still haven't announced our marquee game yet though.
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It's Real Middlesbrough.
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I'm amazed i thought there wouldn't be any chance of me obtaining a Nantes ticket, to my amazement this morning still had some left.
So that's flight,accommodation and now match ticket sorted!!!!
Must admit i thought 300 tickets would get snapped up in no time.
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Thought Worcester City away might be nice on a Saturday, although it seems to be at Stourport Swifts' ground.
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Thought Worcester City away might be nice on a Saturday, although it seems to be at Stourport Swifts' ground.
Nice ground but not so easy by public transport.
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Thought Worcester City away might be nice on a Saturday, although it seems to be at Stourport Swifts' ground.
Nice ground but not so easy by public transport.
Is Worcester under water again, or are they just ground-sharing with Stourport?
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Thought Worcester City away might be nice on a Saturday, although it seems to be at Stourport Swifts' ground.
Nice ground but not so easy by public transport.
Is Worcester under water again, or are they just ground-sharing with Stourport?
Ground sharing with Bromsgrove Sporting but ground not ready yet. Obviously rented Swifts ground as a one off
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Is Worcester under water again, or are they just ground-sharing with Stourport?
They haven't had a ground of their own for ages, sold it for housing without ever managing to build a new one! Were groundsharing at Kidderminster but Kiddy tried tried to shaft them by putting the rent up massively so now they've fucked off to Bromsgrove for a bit.
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Thanks guys, don't think I'll bother if it's difficult to get to on public transport.
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Thanks guys, don't think I'll bother if it's difficult to get to on public transport.
Head to Telford instead.
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How far from the the main station is Telford's ground?
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How far from the the main station is Telford's ground?
Wellington is the nearest station 10 minute walk.Some great pubs in Wellington as well.
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How far from the the main station is Telford's ground?
Wellington is the nearest station 10 minute walk.Some great pubs in Wellington as well.
Even better pubs in Oakengates just a stop own the line.
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This is the 24 man squad off to training camp in Austria -
Goalkeepers: Mark Bunn, Jed Steer.
Defenders: Tommy Elphick, Nathan Baker, Joe Bennett, Micah Richards, Jores Okore, Joleon Lescott, Alan Hutton, Jordan Amavi, Aly Cissokho, Leandro Bacuna.
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye, Ashley Westwood, Jordan Veretout, Gary Gardner, Carles Gil, Jack Grealish, Stiliyan Petrov.
Forwards: Scott Sinclair, Gabby Agbonlahor, Jordan Ayew, Libor Kozak, Rudy Gestede.
Adama Traoré and Jordan Lyden remain at home for rehab on injuries
Source - Birmingham Mail
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Guzan not going either, he about to be sold maybe (hopefully)?
I'd like to see Richards, Bacuna, either Cissokho or Bennett, Gabby and Kozak also shown the door.
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No Guzan due to additional rest time after International games (presumably the same applies to Clark and Sanchez), but Richards, Lescott, Bacuna and Gabby still being given the opportunity to prove themselves. On paper that looks like such a shit squad, and beyond a starting 11 its hard to see any genuine quality...we may struggle to challenge for promotion without further additions.
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So missing from that squad is:-
Guzan
Clark
Sanchez
Think that's the major ones?
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I reckon Kozak might be okay at this level. Not as a first choice lone striker obviously,
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Defenders: Tommy Elphick, Nathan Baker, Joe Bennett, Micah Richards, Jores Okore, Joleon Lescott, Alan Hutton, Jordan Amavi, Aly Cissokho, Leandro Bacuna.
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye, Ashley Westwood, Jordan Veretout, Gary Gardner, Carles Gil, Jack Grealish, Stiliyan Petrov.
Forwards: Scott Sinclair, Gabby Agbonlahor, Jordan Ayew, Libor Kozak, Rudy Gestede.
Adama Traoré and Jordan Lyden remain at home for rehab on injuries
I think most of the squad will be good enough to keep us in the Championship but the players highlighted above are probably the only ones good enough to get us promoted. I have absolutely no faith in the rest of them which is quite worrying when that is approx a third of the squad.
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So missing from that squad is:-
Guzan
Clark
Sanchez
Think that's the major ones?
Extra time off due to Copa America and Euros
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Oh I see, did think that Clark and Sanchez would only be omitted if there was interest in buying them.
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Defenders: Tommy Elphick, Nathan Baker, Joe Bennett, Micah Richards, Jores Okore, Joleon Lescott, Alan Hutton, Jordan Amavi, Aly Cissokho, Leandro Bacuna.
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye, Ashley Westwood, Jordan Veretout, Gary Gardner, Carles Gil, Jack Grealish, Stiliyan Petrov.
Forwards: Scott Sinclair, Gabby Agbonlahor, Jordan Ayew, Libor Kozak, Rudy Gestede.
Adama Traoré and Jordan Lyden remain at home for rehab on injuries
I think most of the squad will be good enough to keep us in the Championship but the players highlighted above are probably the only ones good enough to get us promoted. I have absolutely no faith in the rest of them which is quite worrying when that is approx a third of the squad.
I reckon there are at least five players (minimum) you've not highlighted who would be on the "good enough to get us promoted" list before Hutton's name came up.
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Defenders: Tommy Elphick, Nathan Baker, Joe Bennett, Micah Richards, Jores Okore, Joleon Lescott, Alan Hutton, Jordan Amavi, Aly Cissokho, Leandro Bacuna.
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye, Ashley Westwood, Jordan Veretout, Gary Gardner, Carles Gil, Jack Grealish, Stiliyan Petrov.
Forwards: Scott Sinclair, Gabby Agbonlahor, Jordan Ayew, Libor Kozak, Rudy Gestede.
Adama Traoré and Jordan Lyden remain at home for rehab on injuries
I think most of the squad will be good enough to keep us in the Championship but the players highlighted above are probably the only ones good enough to get us promoted. I have absolutely no faith in the rest of them which is quite worrying when that is approx a third of the squad.
I reckon there are at least five players (minimum) you've not highlighted who would be on the "good enough to get us promoted" list before Hutton's name came up.
That's impossible...there are only 4 that I haven't highlighted before Hutton (unless you're counting first name and surnames!). I was marginal on Hutton as I think he could do a job with his work rate in the Championship, but I'd quite happily take him off the list if that makes you happy? :)
In fairness, I could probably scrape another 4 or 5 to make a half decent starting 11, but I wouldn't have any confidence in that team other than may be scraping into the playoffs.
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Traore injured again? Is he ever fit?
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Why no kids, are they on your somewhere? I mean Lyden, Green etc
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Lyden's having rehab and presumably it's what RDM was referring to about the squad being too big. As it's mainly about fitness it's better the kids do their own training, move out any dead wood we can and then bring youth through when it's merited.
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This new era not really taken off yet has it? Got to be patient I guess but this all feels a bit too familiar at the moment. I'm sure they will be fitter and more organised but we need fresh blood.
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Let's hope tonight we whack GAK who I hope are cack. Mind you I could be on crack to think so soon Villa are back.
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This new era not really taken off yet has it?
In what way ? it's July 9th
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#AVFC first half team: Gollini, Richards, Elphick, Baker, Cissokho, Gana, Gardner, Gil, Veretout, Ayew, Kozak.
#AVFC second half team: Bunn, Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bennett, Westwood, Petrov, Grealish, Agbonlahor, Sinclair, Gestede.
No Amavi in there, but great to see Stan
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No AVTV or audio coverage then? Or am I missing something?
Help appreciated!
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No AVTV or audio coverage then? Or am I missing something?
Help appreciated!
Yes, you'll be missing the game.
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its surreal and fantastic to see stans name
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Elphick skipper.
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So nice to see Stan involved.
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Nice to see Gardner and Kozak in there as well. They've both been so unlucky with injuries.
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I've always liked that Micah Richards. 1 goal up.
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I've always liked that Micah Richards. 1 goal up.
make him captain again , who says we are fickle ? :-[ :D
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We're winning. Fuck I haven't typed that in a long time.
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Ayew 2-0
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3-0 Kozak
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Kozak has gone close a few times. Good to see him back and fit.
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Apparently a pinpoint cross from Cissokho for Kozak's goal. Never thought I would read pinpoint and cross in reference to Cissokho.
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Richards injured replaced by the Scottish Cafu
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Richards injured replaced by the Scottish Cafu
Nooooooo, don't want him injured, want him sold!
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Richards injured replaced by the Scottish Cafu
Stretchered off with a ruptured ego.
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Ayew 4-0
Two long range efforts today from Jordan
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I might be getting ahead of myself here but we might actually win this.
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Maybe this season might be good fun after all!
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I might be getting ahead of myself here but we might actually win this.
Steady on - let's not get carried away.
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Apparently a pinpoint cross from Cissokho for Kozak's goal. Never thought I would read pinpoint and cross in reference to Cissokho.
must be lost in translation ........oh wait
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I might be getting ahead of myself here but we might actually win this.
Steady on - let's not get carried away.
Rush of blood to the head. Sorry
Great to see Stan out for the second half
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I wonder if we can play them every week?!
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Fucking hell Joe Bennett free kick makes it 5-0
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they must be shiiiiiiiite
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We're gonna win the league, we're gonna win the league.
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Nah, it's the new Villa. We've shed the dark cloud of Lerner/Fox/Faulkner et al. You are watching the birth of the Xia Dynasty.
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Just catching up...is Bacuna injured or dropped ?
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Joe Bennett is still our player???
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Be a nice change to see some highlights rather than lowlights.
*I'll get me coat*
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Just catching up...is Bacuna injured or dropped ?
Fired out of a canon and last seen heading towards the Jupiter Space Probe, Juno. Hopefully.
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Just catching up...is Bacuna injured or dropped ?
Fired out of a canon and last seen heading towards the Jupiter Space Probe, Juno. Hopefully.
Surely the most delusional footballer of all time (possible exception of Robbie Savage)
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Just catching up...is Bacuna injured or dropped ?
Fired out of a canon and last seen heading towards the Jupiter Space Probe, Juno. Hopefully.
Surely the most delusional footballer of all time (possible exception of Robbie Savage)
Why?
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6-0, Gestede.
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Just catching up...is Bacuna injured or dropped ?
Fired out of a canon and last seen heading towards the Jupiter Space Probe, Juno. Hopefully.
Surely the most delusional footballer of all time (possible exception of Robbie Savage)
Why?
Dave to which point? Mine is his self belief that he could comfortably play in the European Cup (Champions league)
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Just catching up...is Bacuna injured or dropped ?
Fired out of a canon and last seen heading towards the Jupiter Space Probe, Juno. Hopefully.
Surely the most delusional footballer of all time (possible exception of Robbie Savage)
Why?
Dave to which point? Mine is his self belief that he could comfortably play in the European Cup (Champions league)
What was wrong with that? He said it was something he wanted to do at some point. It was a bit of a ridiculous stick to beat him with.
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Ah I didnt realise GAK played in the amateur leagues. The scoreline makes a bit more sense now.
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Just catching up...is Bacuna injured or dropped ?
Fired out of a canon and last seen heading towards the Jupiter Space Probe, Juno. Hopefully.
Surely the most delusional footballer of all time (possible exception of Robbie Savage)
Why?
Dave to which point? Mine is his self belief that he could comfortably play in the European Cup (Champions league)
He answered somebody's question that if he were to return home and PSV or Ajax wanted to sign him then yes, he would be happy to play for them.
And that was about the extent of his delusions.
He's a pretty lousy player, but all this "wanting to play in the Champions League" bullshit is a complete non-story.
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I'd be more concerned if we had players that accepted the best they'll ever be is mid table or lower in the PL. I want players that have the ambition and self belief to play at the highest level.
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As for GAK, they play in level 6 of the Austrian league, Bromsgrove could probably give them a shoeing. Handy game though to ease players back in, especially Stan.
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Ah I didnt realise GAK played in the amateur leagues. The scoreline makes a bit more sense now.
It's the Austrian Blind league - that's why we are doing so well. But maybe if we play well with a bell in the ball it might be worth bringing one home - just in case we have to play Guzan again.
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7-0 Joe with another free kick
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Twitter says Gabby has had a shot on the run - must be heading for the Bratwurst seller.
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Rudy 8-0
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FT 8-0
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Just catching up...is Bacuna injured or dropped ?
Fired out of a canon and last seen heading towards the Jupiter Space Probe, Juno. Hopefully.
he's bound to miss it
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Just catching up...is Bacuna injured or dropped ?
Fired out of a canon and last seen heading towards the Jupiter Space Probe, Juno. Hopefully.
he's bound to miss it
Grinning inanely as he runs out of air.
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FT 8-0
Is that more than we scored last season?
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No mention of this anywhere on the OS.
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From the Brum Mail:
So Day One of the new era at Aston Villa went down pretty well.
The claret and blues might have only been playing an Austrian sixth-tier side but credit to the visitors for the way they saw them off.
In what was Roberto Di Matteo’s first game in charge, Villa put on quite a show, smashing eight past the minnows.
First-half goals from Micah Richards, Libor Kozak and Jordan Ayew (two) put the away side in complete control at the break.
And the second-half team were just as ruthless, adding further strikes from Joe Bennett (two) and Rudy Gestede (two).
For a man who hasn’t featured for almost a year for Villa, Bennett stole the show with two delightful free-kicks.
And if he continues to perform like he did here, Di Matteo could have a selection crisis come the start of the season.
The Villa boss picked two strong teams to take on GAK 1902 - a club that has been on a rollercoaster ride in recent years.
Not so long ago they were competing in the Champions League but things turned sour in 2007 as financial problems saw the outfit drop out of existence.
Reformed and now working their way back up the league system, GAK are on a new mission, just like Villa.
And although they were beaten 8-0, it was an improvement on the 13-1 battering by Crystal Palace three years ago.
The first of six friendlies this summer before the Championship opener on August 7, this game couldn’t have gone much better for Villa.
Apart from Richards picking up a slight injury, all players came through unscathed.
Dominant from the word go, Villa took the game to their opponents and went ahead early on.
Aly Cissokho, who looked energetic and vibrant down the left, crossed for Richards and he powered in a header at the back post.
Ayew then slammed in the first of his deadly double with a well-taken strike from outside the box.
Cissokho was at it again minutes later as he flew down the wing and crossed for Kozak who steered home.
Then Ayew wrapped up the first-half with another decent hit from 20 yards out.
Given that the players had trained early this morning, this encounter was very much a bounce game.
Still, Di Matteo was pleased with what he saw.
Two minutes into the second half, forgotten man Bennett reminded us all that he still means business by curling in a stunning free-kick.
It really was the pick of the bunch as Villa strolled to success.
Gestede missed a sitter soon after but got his rewards for sticking at it with a goal midway through the half.
Again it was good work from Bennett that allowed the big man to chance to convert and the left-back was all smiles again at the end.
In an almost identical position to his first free-kick, the ex-Middlesbrough man fired in from 20 yards out to once again leave the goalkeeper scrambling.
Gestede added an eighth late on to wrap it up.
Roberto Di Matteo said: “I’m very pleased with the workout. The players have been working extremely hard in training. We even had a training session this morning so it’s demanding physically.
“But I thought the players applied themselves well and I was pleased to see us scoring so many goals.”
More to follow:
First half: (4-2-3-1) Gollini, Richards (Hutton, 30), Elphick, Baker, Cissokho, Gana, Gardner, Gil, Veretout, Ayew, Kozak.
Second half: (4-2-3-1) Bunn, Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bennett, Westwood, Petrov, Grealish, Agbonlahor, Sinclair, Gestede.
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Match report on the OS now:
https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2016/07/09/graz-report
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Can't believe we only won 8-0. Nailed on to be relegated already
-
I like Joe Bennett. There's a footballer in there somewhere. Maybe not a defender but a footballer nonetheless
-
From the Brum Mail:
So Day One of the new era at Aston Villa went down pretty well.
The claret and blues might have only been playing an Austrian sixth-tier side but credit to the visitors for the way they saw them off.
In what was Roberto Di Matteo’s first game in charge, Villa put on quite a show, smashing eight past the minnows.
First-half goals from Micah Richards, Libor Kozak and Jordan Ayew (two) put the away side in complete control at the break.
And the second-half team were just as ruthless, adding further strikes from Joe Bennett (two) and Rudy Gestede (two).
For a man who hasn’t featured for almost a year for Villa, Bennett stole the show with two delightful free-kicks.
And if he continues to perform like he did here, Di Matteo could have a selection crisis come the start of the season.
The Villa boss picked two strong teams to take on GAK 1902 - a club that has been on a rollercoaster ride in recent years.
Not so long ago they were competing in the Champions League but things turned sour in 2007 as financial problems saw the outfit drop out of existence.
Reformed and now working their way back up the league system, GAK are on a new mission, just like Villa.
And although they were beaten 8-0, it was an improvement on the 13-1 battering by Crystal Palace three years ago.
The first of six friendlies this summer before the Championship opener on August 7, this game couldn’t have gone much better for Villa.
Apart from Richards picking up a slight injury, all players came through unscathed.
Dominant from the word go, Villa took the game to their opponents and went ahead early on.
Aly Cissokho, who looked energetic and vibrant down the left, crossed for Richards and he powered in a header at the back post.
Ayew then slammed in the first of his deadly double with a well-taken strike from outside the box.
Cissokho was at it again minutes later as he flew down the wing and crossed for Kozak who steered home.
Then Ayew wrapped up the first-half with another decent hit from 20 yards out.
Given that the players had trained early this morning, this encounter was very much a bounce game.
Still, Di Matteo was pleased with what he saw.
Two minutes into the second half, forgotten man Bennett reminded us all that he still means business by curling in a stunning free-kick.
It really was the pick of the bunch as Villa strolled to success.
Gestede missed a sitter soon after but got his rewards for sticking at it with a goal midway through the half.
Again it was good work from Bennett that allowed the big man to chance to convert and the left-back was all smiles again at the end.
In an almost identical position to his first free-kick, the ex-Middlesbrough man fired in from 20 yards out to once again leave the goalkeeper scrambling.
Gestede added an eighth late on to wrap it up.
Roberto Di Matteo said: “I’m very pleased with the workout. The players have been working extremely hard in training. We even had a training session this morning so it’s demanding physically.
“But I thought the players applied themselves well and I was pleased to see us scoring so many goals.”
More to follow:
First half: (4-2-3-1) Gollini, Richards (Hutton, 30), Elphick, Baker, Cissokho, Gana, Gardner, Gil, Veretout, Ayew, Kozak.
Second half: (4-2-3-1) Bunn, Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bennett, Westwood, Petrov, Grealish, Agbonlahor, Sinclair, Gestede.
We are not "the claret and blues" and our new kit isn't fucking claret, the bastards!
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I like Joe Bennett. There's a footballer in there somewhere. Maybe not a defender but a footballer nonetheless
He should change his name by deed poll to Joe Bennett There's A Footballer In There Somewhere.
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Where has this 'claret and blues' nonsense come from? The only time I see it is when the Birmingham Mail use it, are they trying to rebrand us?
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I fucking hate it. And it's only the Mail that calls us that. Like the c***s are trying to wind us up with it. The Shit are called the Blues. We're called The Villa. It's not that hard.
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I like Joe Bennett. There's a footballer in there somewhere. Maybe not a defender but a footballer nonetheless
He should change his name by deed poll to Joe Bennett There's A Footballer In There Somewhere.
I think that twat N'zogbia got the copyright on that
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Where has this 'claret and blues' nonsense come from? The only time I see it is when the Birmingham Mail use it, are they trying to rebrand us?
The Birmingham Mail have been openly despising our club for at least a year now. Not sure why , they should be desperate for local support but it is yet another area they have got very badly wrong. Unlike football clubs no investor is interested in buying a bad regional newspaper. I just wish they would hurry up and go out of business at this point.
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I've noticed that imbecile Greg Evans likes to have subtle little digs at Villa on Twitter, he loved the fact a plane was flown over Villa Park for the last home game celebrating our relegation.
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cm8RkJuWYAAB2zu.jpg)
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8-0
RDM out
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It's usually us being beaten 8-0...
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Can't read too much in that, but delighted to see Stan back in a Villa shirt and it looks like Elphick will have the captaincy. Was wondering where Amavi wax but it seems he has a slight injury. I guess we'll see it piece together more over the coming weeks.
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Can't read too much in that, but delighted to see Stan back in a Villa shirt and it looks like Elphick will have the captaincy. Was wondering where Amavi wax but it seems he has a slight injury. I guess we'll see it piece together more over the coming weeks.
Slight injury? He's at the final stages of getting over a cruciate ligament rupture. He'll only be thrown in when they're sure he's ready.
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Can't read too much in that, but delighted to see Stan back in a Villa shirt and it looks like Elphick will have the captaincy. Was wondering where Amavi wax but it seems he has a slight injury. I guess we'll see it piece together more over the coming weeks.
Slight injury? He's at the final stages of getting over a cruciate ligament rupture. He'll only be thrown in when they're sure he's ready.
Apparently he's been training well and picked up a little knock. He missed today as a precaution. But nothing related to his big injury
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Is anyone going to Worcester next week, and if so can you pay on the door? I want to take my 5 year old lad to his first away game.
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I've noticed that imbecile Greg Evans likes to have subtle little digs at Villa on Twitter, he loved the fact a plane was flown over Villa Park for the last home game celebrating our relegation.
They had a collection at "Errols" funeral to pay for that plane. Greg Evans probably put to it. I take that kind of thing as a compliment. They are obsessed by the villa and can't help themselves. Hilarious really.
Can't wait for Stan to walk out at Villa Park again. What he's done is remarkable. He is going down as a true Villa legend.
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cm8RkJuWYAAB2zu.jpg)
Says it all really. Fucking legend.
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Is anyone going to Worcester next week, and if so can you pay on the door? I want to take my 5 year old lad to his first away game.
Don't forget it's at Stourport Swifts ground (capacity 2000 - no dogs allowed!) so if you don't get there early you may not get in - more details on Worcester City's site (http://www.worcestercityfc.com/news/pre-season-friendly-vs-aston-villa-first-team-1623410.html). If your lad was just under 5 he'd get in free ;)
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cm8RkJuWYAAB2zu.jpg)
Says it all really. Fucking legend.
It's possible that he took it all in his stride, but equally that could have been quite an emotional day for Stan. It's an incredible story.
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Stan has done amazingly and I'd love him to be club captain this year.
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Stan has done amazingly and I'd love him to be club captain this year.
:) Well said and Exactly Accrington Stanley
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Not sure why the Mail piece thought any mention of Crystal Palace winning against the same team 13-1 has any relevance. Unless, of course, they're just trying to sneer and on the wind up.
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weve found the net, long may it continue.
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Was wondering where Amavi wax but it seems he has a slight injury.
A full Brazilian apparently.
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Well its all down hill from here! ;)
Its a nice start and we can hopefully work our way up to better teams. I would like to see Kozak get a proper chance in the first team this season. He always impressed me when he did play and I think in the Championship he could do something, though Rudy and Ayew would be ahead of him right now.
Good story with Stan though. I reinforce that he should be captain for next season.
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Just hope that if the club decide not to give Stan a new deal (which has to be for professional reasons and not sentimental) that they don't get slated for it.
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Just hope that if the club decide not to give Stan a new deal (which has to be for professional reasons and not sentimental) that they don't get slated for it.
I don't think they need to be rushed into such a call right now. Given what he's been through I'm sure he's just happy be fit again and back involved. I'd say give him a one year rolling deal and see how it goes.
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At 37, I'd be amazed if he got offered any sort of playing deal. Fair play to him if he gets it.
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I think he still has more to give because his game isn't reliant on pace, he has intelligence and he's going to be enjoying himself after what he's been through. There are other players who have been able to play a little longer into their late 30's. If that wasn't possible, I imagine he would become part of the coaching staff.
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I take it that Stan still lives in the area
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At 37, I'd be amazed if he got offered any sort of playing deal. Fair play to him if he gets it.
There are players even outfield ones who play past that though. I think right now he is just good to have around the dressing room and if he can make the odd sub appearance then great.
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If he proves his fitness he'll get a deal. His ability is not in doubt.
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I take it that Stan still lives in the area
Must do, as he has been playing regularly in a local over 35's league in the last couple of years.
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cm8RkJuWYAAB2zu.jpg)
Says it all really. Fucking legend.
It's possible that he took it all in his stride, but equally that could have been quite an emotional day for Stan. It's an incredible story.
I'm not ashamed to say I got a tad emotional when I saw that photo, I've since printed it and have it on my desk at work.
However tough life gets, never give up.
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I'd say his current ability is in doubt, I don't see how it can be otherwise when yesterday is his most competitive game, and strongest opponents, he's played in over 4 years. It would be fantastic if he does make it back but there's a lot more hurdles than just proving he's fit.
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I'm more saying his ability is what is in his head. The fitness piece is critical for it all to come together. He's a smart player and one who didn't rely on immense pace or bursts of energy during games. Most importantly his presence brings calmness and confidence to those around him. And that's whether he is on the pitch or not. Of course the odds are stacked against him but then they have been since he was diagnosed 4 years ago. I wouldn't write anything off with Stan.
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As wonderful as it is to see him playing, I can't really see him getting a playing contract.
The next best think though, is to get him (back) on the coaching staff.
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I take it that Stan still lives in the area
Must do, as he has been playing regularly in a local over 35's league in the last couple of years.
Theres a short film on the bbc website showing him playing in it if anyone can post a link,its at the bottom of the article"Petrov makes Villa playing comeback." He is way off, watching the clip(from 12 months ago),but to be on our tour,whether he makes it or not,is fucking amazing!!
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Not sure why the Mail piece thought any mention of Crystal Palace winning against the same team 13-1 has any relevance. Unless, of course, they're just trying to sneer and on the wind up.
They didn't bother to mention that GAK were playing in the 7th division at the time either... I wonder why.
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Not sure why the Mail piece thought any mention of Crystal Palace winning against the same team 13-1 has any relevance. Unless, of course, they're just trying to sneer and on the wind up.
The only relevance I can see is that we were able to keep a clean sheet and Palace couldnt 8)
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I have a spare ticket for the friendly at Bristol Rovers next wednesday, I've missed the deadline for returns so if anyone can use it they are welcome to it for nowt (just don't want it to go to waste).. Let me know soon if you want it so I can put it in the post in plenty of time..
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Just bought a ticket for the Telford match so will be heading over there on Saturday.
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I take it that Stan still lives in the area
Lapworth I think.
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Going to go to either of the two games on Saturday but not sure which one is likely to have the most first team playing. Telford or Worcester game, anyone any thoughts? Live roughly equal distance between them both.
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Going to go to either of the two games on Saturday but not sure which one is likely to have the most first team playing. Telford or Worcester game, anyone any thoughts? Live roughly equal distance between them both.
Telford's a better ground, higher standard opposition and two quid cheaper.
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I'm more saying his ability is what is in his head. The fitness piece is critical for it all to come together. He's a smart player and one who didn't rely on immense pace or bursts of energy during games.
I sort of get what you mean, but there is fit and then there is football fit.
JPA never relied at speed at his best, but when he came back after is knee injury, he was usually a yard off the pace.
Bent and Dublin were never the same after their injuries and so on. At that is guys who were never out of the loop training-wise, once their injuries healed. That said, you could make an argument that Stan might still have some more miles in the tank because he HASN'T been going flat out with training and games for the past four years.
I think it is possible he could come back and make some contribution, which is amazing in itself. But we'll have to temper our expectations.
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I take it that Stan still lives in the area
I have seen him a few times recently when I'm dropping the kids at school so I'd guess he lives around Sutton or Four Oaks.
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I'm more saying his ability is what is in his head. The fitness piece is critical for it all to come together. He's a smart player and one who didn't rely on immense pace or bursts of energy during games.
I sort of get what you mean, but there is fit and then there is football fit.
JPA never relied at speed at his best, but when he came back after is knee injury, he was usually a yard off the pace.
Bent and Dublin were never the same after their injuries and so on. At that is guys who were never out of the loop training-wise, once their injuries healed. That said, you could make an argument that Stan might still have some more miles in the tank because he HASN'T been going flat out with training and games for the past four years.
I think it is possible he could come back and make some contribution, which is amazing in itself. But we'll have to temper our expectations.
In a football context is a knee injury worse than the illness suffered by Stan?
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I think that any 37 year old making a comeback after 4 years is going to struggle at such a high level of competition, fantastic PR from the club though, credit where its due.
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Am I the only one who doesn't want to go the Middlesboro friendly because I don't want to go to a game where we are considered a warm up match for one of the Premier League 'big boys'.
Middlesboro.......FFS !!
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Am I the only one who doesn't want to go the Middlesboro friendly because I don't want to go to a game where we are considered a warm up match for one of the Premier League 'big boys'.
Middlesboro.......FFS !!
I agree. Also I don't understand the clamour for home friendlies during pre season unless Real Madrid are coming to town. It's Middlesbrough for crying out loud.
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I'm never that bothered about pre-season opponents. I didn't join the chorus of adulation when we played Inter in 2007 and I'm not beating myself up that we're playing Boro now. One thing I do know, though, is that the latter will give us a far more relevant warm-up now than the former could, no matter how big the crowd or glamorous the opposition.
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I'm never that bothered about pre-season opponents. I didn't join the chorus of adulation when we played Inter in 2007 and I'm not beating myself up that we're playing Boro now. One thing I do know, though, is that the latter will give us a far more relevant warm-up now than the former could, no matter how big the crowd or glamorous the opposition.
You kind of beat me to it. We're playing a team whoo were playing in our league a few months ago so in a way, it makes sense. I'm fine with it.
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I'm never that bothered about pre-season opponents. I didn't join the chorus of adulation when we played Inter in 2007 and I'm not beating myself up that we're playing Boro now. One thing I do know, though, is that the latter will give us a far more relevant warm-up now than the former could, no matter how big the crowd or glamorous the opposition.
We will be playing quite a few games against teams of a similar size to Middlesbrough, and will likely play them in the league in the coming seasons one way or another.
I prefer playing someone a bit different in pre-season. If suitable opposition can't be found, I'd rather we played all our friendlies away. I also think they should chuck the game in with the season ticket, the tight-fisted sods.
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I can't think of anyone more suitable than a better version of the teams we'll be playing all season. Pre-season games aren't for us, they're for the players.
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Friendlies are just for getting fitness up. Doesn't make much odds who we play so may as well play someone exciting.
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I'm more saying his ability is what is in his head. The fitness piece is critical for it all to come together. He's a smart player and one who didn't rely on immense pace or bursts of energy during games.
I sort of get what you mean, but there is fit and then there is football fit.
JPA never relied at speed at his best, but when he came back after is knee injury, he was usually a yard off the pace.
Bent and Dublin were never the same after their injuries and so on. At that is guys who were never out of the loop training-wise, once their injuries healed. That said, you could make an argument that Stan might still have some more miles in the tank because he HASN'T been going flat out with training and games for the past four years.
I think it is possible he could come back and make some contribution, which is amazing in itself. But we'll have to temper our expectations.
In a football context is a knee injury worse than the illness suffered by Stan?
In a way. Once joints have gone that's it. If all Stan needs is to try and reach the levels of fitness needed and has maintained the stamina levels required there shouldn't be any reason why his illness should prevent him playing again.
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Team vs Telford tomorrow. I'm going to the Worcester City game so presume everyone else wil be playing:
Pierluigi Gollini,
Viktor Johansson,
Tommy Elphick,
Nathan Baker,
Easah Suliman,
Niall Mason,
Aly Cissokho,
Idrissa Gana Gueye,
Ashley Westwood,
Andre Green,
Harry McKirdy,
Jordan Ayew,
Scott Sinclair,
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy,
Henry Cowans,
Rudy Gestede
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I'm going Telford. Was hoping to see Petrov. 🙁
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Team vs Telford tomorrow. I'm going to the Worcester City game so presume everyone else wil be playing:
Pierluigi Gollini,
Viktor Johansson,
Tommy Elphick,
Nathan Baker,
Easah Suliman,
Niall Mason,
Aly Cissokho,
Idrissa Gana Gueye,
Ashley Westwood,
Andre Green,
Harry McKirdy,
Jordan Ayew,
Scott Sinclair,
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy,
Henry Cowans,
Rudy Gestede
I will admit that drink has been taken and my judgement may be clouded, but that looks ghastly. Absolutely ghastly. All signs point to Stourport. Bring a roach pole for a spot of fishing if one cannot gain entrance to the match.
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not going either as have been up all night on call have to be kind and friendly to people who I have absolutely nothing in common 1) a domestic burglar and 2) A re-arrested prisoner. and 3) a tramp of the head custody officer at the local lock up that makes Kenny Burns look like a pussy cat, has no humour and thinks he is more important than the prime minister.
Oh the joys of the legal world not. Night night.
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Never heard of Viktor Johansson so looked him up. A 17 year old Swedish goalkeeper, 1.86m tall.
Must be good as he shares my date of birth, but just a few years younger!
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I'm off to the Worcester City game too...after looking at the Telford team I hope to see Tshibola and hotch potch of others at Stourport Swifts!
UTV!
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1-0 down after 7 minutes v Telford. Same as it ever was!!!
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First half-time booing of the season.
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Sounds like Cissokho and Gana are having a mare...Gestede missed 3 chances so far.
Game updates here (http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-live-4-2-11616343) courtesy of Mr Gregg Evans.
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We need a forward. Or two.
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And a goal. Or two
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Sounds like Cissokho and Gana are having a mare...Gestede missed 3 chances so far.
Game updates here (http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-live-4-2-11616343) courtesy of Mr Gregg Evans.
It is entirely possible that Cissokho is the worst LB in Villa history and amongst worst defenders we've ever had. How he made it to professional level is beyond me. I thought he was a decent defender at least even if he couldn't attack. But he's just massively shit. I pray he'll be gone by August. And Gana I don't really care one way or another if he's here or not.
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Gregg Evans, not for the first time, is talking shite.
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2,884 here. 1,028 of us standing.
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Gregg Evans, not for the first time, is talking shite.
And no shock there either.
We sound like we are all over them without the finish.
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Gregg Evans, not for the first time, is talking shite.
And no shock there either.
We sound like we are all over them without the finish.
That's about right.
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1-1 Ayew.
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1-1 Ayew.
Thank the good lord for Ayew
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RDM needs to see the good and the bad for himself. Being great in training is only a small part of the issue. Sissokho is very poor.
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RDM needs to see the good and the bad for himself. Being great in training is only a small part of the issue. Sissokho is very poor.
I only wish we had Sissokho
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RDM needs to see the good and the bad for himself. Being great in training is only a small part of the issue. Sissokho is very poor.
He had a good Euro 2016 though
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2-1 Cissokho.
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Commentators curse!! Sorry I spelt his name incorrectly! Oops.
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2-1 FT.
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2-1 Cissokho.
Fucking love Cissokho
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National League North, you're having a laugh...
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2-1 Cissokho.
Fucking love Cissokho
You bin drinking TV? 😂
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Cissokho played well. Can only assume those slagging him off were watching a different game. Green very good and Hepburn-Murphy promising. Ayew and Gestede pretty decent.
Gana terrible.
Sinclair much worse than Gana.
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Cissokho played well. Can only assume those slagging him off were watching a different game. Green very good and Hepburn-Murphy promising. Ayew and Gestede pretty decent.
Gana terrible.
Sinclair much worse than Gana.
Maybe Gana & Sinclair's heads are elsewhere
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Mat Kendrick @MatKendrick
Worcester v Villa kick off put back to 315pm as the #AVFC players haven't turned up yet. Bit like the whole of last season....
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Cissokho played well. Can only assume those slagging him off were watching a different game.
This is what Gregg Evans said...
Terrible opening ten minutes for Villa. Telford look fit and fired up for this one. Cissokho has also been exposed a few times too often already.
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Oh well if Gregg Evans says he was playing badly after ten minutes...
In fairness we were all over the place in the opening minutes but that wasn't just Aly.
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Villa v Worcester
Bunn
Hutton
Okore
Toner
Bennett
Gardner
Tshibola
Veretout
Grealish
Agbonlahor
Kozak
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So no sign of Bacuna spagain which is good and assume Guzan clark Sanchez still on the beach
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No, they are not on the bench.
The only first teamers on the bench are Lescott and Gil plus Petrov
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I did say beach 😄 though I did mis type again I admit
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I did say beach 😄 though I did mis type again I admit
Hahaha...YES! You did.
Oh well, at least you know some of the subs now.
I am a cock!
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So no sign of Bacuna spagain which is good and assume Guzan clark Sanchez still on the beach
Bacuna has an injury as does Traore. With the latter it feels that he's never actually fit. Like ever.
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Richards not featured in either squad?
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1-0 to erm...them. We have to come from behind to win both games today
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Grealish equaliser
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1-1 (Grealish)
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Would really like to see a fit Kozak given his chance this season in the odd game at least. Maybe starting him in the Cup game at Luton might be a good idea.
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You asked for a bit of Kozak magic and he's delivered 2-1 Villa
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Is Gabby getting any stick?
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You asked for a bit of Kozak magic and he's delivered 2-1 Villa
Excellent stuff! Villa the comeback Kings at least for now!
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Stan on for the second half
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Richards not featured in either squad?
Richards was injured and came off last week in Austria.
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The Russian makes it 3-1
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The Russian makes it 3-1
Russian ?...
From what I gather there´s a Bulgarian & a Czech, maybe theyré both Russian ( about ?!), Moscow , dinner´s ready.............Godzvilla!
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5-1 now
Davis with both
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5-1 now. KD with 2. These kids aren't bad
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Davis replaces scabby and scores two in 19 minutes. What the hell was that clown doing for 68 minutes?
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Davis replaces scabby and scores two in 19 minutes. What the hell was that clown doing for 68 minutes?
Eyeing up the burger van.
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Davis replaces scabby and scores two in 19 minutes. What the hell was that clown doing for 68 minutes?
Was he wearing big, novelty boots?
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Went to telford, was impressed with baker & Elphick. Not so much Gana he was shocking
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The Russian makes it 3-1
Russian ?...
From what I gather there´s a Bulgarian & a Czech, maybe theyré both Russian ( about ?!), Moscow , dinner´s ready.............Godzvilla!
Ah , you mean ´Rushian´( Hepburn-Murphy )...duh !.........Godzvilla! ( getting his coat ).
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Two wins in about five hours is an improvement on two wins in about five months.
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7 goals in about 5 hours is also a improvement ,it took us about 3 months last season to score that many
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This whole winning games thing is all a bit odd.
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Any insights into our formation and style of play for both games? Somethng RDM mentioned in his Austria AVTV interview is he was trying to get the squad instilled with his way fairly quickly.
I wondered if anyone had an analysis or opinions for those who saw it?
Cheers!
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Can only go on the Telfraud game but it looked 3-5-2 or maybe 3-5-1-1
Wing backs, Ayew roaming, To be honest fuck knows! Andre Green was superb though,
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Cheers! Appreciate it! (to everyone who responded below as well, rather than me spam each one with thanks).
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Any insights into our formation and style of play for both games? Somethng RDM mentioned in his Austria AVTV interview is he was trying to get the squad instilled with his way fairly quickly.
I wondered if anyone had an analysis or opinions for those who saw it?
Cheers!
Whooooooa there. You mean we're not stabbing wildly in the dark until we stumble across something that works which we'll then ditch as soon as it hits a blip? How's that gonna work, eh?
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It seems RDM favours 4231. Without Richards, Amavi, Bacuna and Traore though so might not be able to tell just yet, particularly with Clark, Guzan and Sanchez to get back from international duty. If he is planning on the likes of Ayew and Gueye being part of the side he might have to rethink.
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Ayew seemed deep. I was impressed with Elphick though
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Looks like both sides were set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which suggests that might be the way we go.
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What kind of reception did flabby and lescott get?
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Can only go on the Telfraud game but it looked 3-5-2 or maybe 3-5-1-1
Wing backs, Ayew roaming, To be honest fuck knows! Andre Green was superb though,
I'd have said it was 4-2-3-1. the young no 21 (Sulleman?) was right back in a back four and Westwood and Gana played as the two holding midfielders. Ayew centre of the three with Sinclair and Green either side of him, and then Gestede up top. Green played very wide on the right and looked good I thought.
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I was impressed with Green
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Pretty sure it was 4231
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Cissokho played well. Can only assume those slagging him off were watching a different game. Green very good and Hepburn-Murphy promising. Ayew and Gestede pretty decent.
Gana terrible.
Sinclair much worse than Gana.
Hepburn-Murphy scored against Worcester. Did he feature in both games?
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Went to the Worcester game. The Russian looked very lively when he came on, Bennett had a decent game and Tsihbola took it easy without overdoing it. Gabby still looks very past it though.
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Did we have two first team games today? Was RDM at both?
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I wonder how involved Hepburn-Murphy, Green and Davis will be this season. Or whether any of the other kids will come through too.
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I wonder how involved Hepburn-Murphy, Green and Davis will be this season. Or whether any of the other kids will come through too.
I think Green could feature quite a bit this season.
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I wonder how involved Hepburn-Murphy, Green and Davis will be this season. Or whether any of the other kids will come through too.
I think Green could feature quite a bit this season.
I think RHM and Green will be around the team this year.
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I went to both games yesterday,there's not been much positive stuff to say about villa the last few years but I thought yesterday showed what a classy club we are.
Results arnt really important but we went to 2 non league clubs & took very good squads to both & took 2000+ fans to both which would have helped 3 clubs (Stourport Swifts included) massively financially.
After the 2nd game our players & manager all stopped on the pitch for a good 30 minutes signing autographs & having photos with supporters.
Good PR stuff I know but great to see.
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No Traore in either game?
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No Traore in either game?
Still injured apparently.
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Went to the Worcester City game yesterday...thought we were the same old static Villa with Kozak as the target man...very little movement, one dimensional, Hutton our main attacking outlet...except for the two goals, pretty disappointing.
Much better with Stan on sitting in front of the back 4 (not suggesting this is a permanent fix!), Grealish offered more and RHM was a delight - for his goal he held off two Worcester defenders, used his pace and finished with confidence ...Davis finished his two chances really well and we should have had more. Toner MOTM for me - solid and totally reliable throughout. Not impressed by Kozak, Gil, Gabby.
UTV!
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two wins, good for morale but lets be honest results against teams from the 6th tier is no barometer of anything
less than 3 weeks to go so a big week coming up for ins and outs
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Cissokho played well. Can only assume those slagging him off were watching a different game. Green very good and Hepburn-Murphy promising. Ayew and Gestede pretty decent.
Gana terrible.
Sinclair much worse than Gana.
Hepburn-Murphy scored against Worcester. Did he feature in both games?
Yep.
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Went to the Worcester City game yesterday...thought we were the same old static Villa with Kozak as the target man...very little movement, one dimensional, Hutton our main attacking outlet...except for the two goals, pretty disappointing.
Much better with Stan on sitting in front of the back 4 (not suggesting this is a permanent fix!), Grealish offered more and RHM was a delight - for his goal he held off two Worcester defenders, used his pace and finished with confidence ...Davis finished his two chances really well and we should have had more. Toner MOTM for me - solid and totally reliable throughout. Not impressed by Kozak, Gil, Gabby.
UTV!
What I like about Kozak though is he seems to anticipate where the ball is going to land in the box. I think if he was to stay injury free, he'd knock in a few goals in this league.
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Went to the Worcester City game yesterday...thought we were the same old static Villa with Kozak as the target man...very little movement, one dimensional, Hutton our main attacking outlet...except for the two goals, pretty disappointing.
Much better with Stan on sitting in front of the back 4 (not suggesting this is a permanent fix!), Grealish offered more and RHM was a delight - for his goal he held off two Worcester defenders, used his pace and finished with confidence ...Davis finished his two chances really well and we should have had more. Toner MOTM for me - solid and totally reliable throughout. Not impressed by Kozak, Gil, Gabby.
UTV!
What I like about Kozak though is he seems to anticipate where the ball is going to land in the box. I think if he was to stay injury free, he'd knock in a few goals in this league.
Yep, big and ungainly but seems to have that sense of anticipation and knack of knowing where to be when the ball comes into the box. Also think if he stays injury free and gets a run of games he could score a few this year.
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Went to the Worcester City game yesterday...thought we were the same old static Villa with Kozak as the target man...very little movement, one dimensional, Hutton our main attacking outlet...except for the two goals, pretty disappointing.
Much better with Stan on sitting in front of the back 4 (not suggesting this is a permanent fix!), Grealish offered more and RHM was a delight - for his goal he held off two Worcester defenders, used his pace and finished with confidence ...Davis finished his two chances really well and we should have had more. Toner MOTM for me - solid and totally reliable throughout. Not impressed by Kozak, Gil, Gabby.
UTV!
What I like about Kozak though is he seems to anticipate where the ball is going to land in the box. I think if he was to stay injury free, he'd knock in a few goals in this league.
Yep, big and ungainly but seems to have that sense of anticipation and knack of knowing where to be when the ball comes into the box. Also think if he stays injury free and gets a run of games he could score a few this year.
Always been a fan of Kozak, just don't think we played to his strengths when he was on yesterday...took his goal really well and should have had at least one more, but don't think he put himself about enough; something he usually does pretty well! As with Gestede, if we get more crosses in he'll create more danger/goals.
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'On paper' we should have a squad to challenge strongly for promotion. But unfortunately 'on paper' is a very uncertain thing when it comes to what happens on a football pitch.
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Away at Bristol Rovers on Wednesday, mixed side I guess. I would have thought RDM will want to start thinking about playing his strongest side against Nantes next Saturday though.
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Went to the Worcester City game yesterday...thought we were the same old static Villa with Kozak as the target man...very little movement, one dimensional, Hutton our main attacking outlet...except for the two goals, pretty disappointing.
Much better with Stan on sitting in front of the back 4 (not suggesting this is a permanent fix!), Grealish offered more and RHM was a delight - for his goal he held off two Worcester defenders, used his pace and finished with confidence ...Davis finished his two chances really well and we should have had more. Toner MOTM for me - solid and totally reliable throughout. Not impressed by Kozak, Gil, Gabby.
UTV!
What I like about Kozak though is he seems to anticipate where the ball is going to land in the box. I think if he was to stay injury free, he'd knock in a few goals in this league.
Yep, big and ungainly but seems to have that sense of anticipation and knack of knowing where to be when the ball comes into the box. Also think if he stays injury free and gets a run of games he could score a few this year.
I think we will be looking to sell if a bid comes in, simply because we have Gestede who is a similar type of player. I am still hoping a striker will be coming in before the end of the window though.
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Away at Bristol Rovers on Wednesday, mixed side I guess. I would have thought RDM will want to start thinking about playing his strongest side against Nantes next Saturday though.
Is anyone else going ?
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Yup
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Yup too.
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me too
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me two
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No
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Yep!
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Yes but just read on the Birmingham Mail site that you can't buy tickets for the away end tonight, however BRFC say you can.
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Hi guys, my dad and I are French Villa nuts, my dad has been since 1981, and when we saw that Villa were playing against Nantes in St Nazaire, not too far from where we live, we could not miss it for the world.
So we got tickets and we were wondering if any of you are coming down for the game on Saturday, we'd love to meet with some of you and the Villa fans fans before the game to have a drink or something, let us know if anything like that happens ! Cheers UTV !
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Hi guys, my dad and I are French Villa nuts, my dad has been since 1981, and when we saw that Villa were playing against Nantes in St Nazaire, not too far from where we live, we could not miss it for the world.
So we got tickets and we were wondering if any of you are coming down for the game on Saturday, we'd love to meet with some of you and the Villa fans fans before the game to have a drink or something, let us know if anything like that happens ! Cheers UTV !
You wouldn't be coming down from the Angers area would you?
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Hi guys, my dad and I are French Villa nuts, my dad has been since 1981, and when we saw that Villa were playing against Nantes in St Nazaire, not too far from where we live, we could not miss it for the world.
So we got tickets and we were wondering if any of you are coming down for the game on Saturday, we'd love to meet with some of you and the Villa fans fans before the game to have a drink or something, let us know if anything like that happens ! Cheers UTV !
You wouldn't be coming down from the Angers area would you?
Yes, we are indeed from Angers !
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Hi guys, my dad and I are French Villa nuts, my dad has been since 1981, and when we saw that Villa were playing against Nantes in St Nazaire, not too far from where we live, we could not miss it for the world.
So we got tickets and we were wondering if any of you are coming down for the game on Saturday, we'd love to meet with some of you and the Villa fans fans before the game to have a drink or something, let us know if anything like that happens ! Cheers UTV !
You wouldn't be coming down from the Angers area would you?
Yes, we are indeed from Angers !
Say hello to Frank for me.
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No AVTV coverage of the games so far then. Bit disappointing.
-
.....and all the girls in Horfield are.........quite respectable really.
Live from the Costa in the Tesco just up the hill from The Mem.
it's a bit blustery but not too hot
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Gollini, Hutton, Okore, Baker, Bennett, Green, Westwood, Tshibola, Ayew, Hepburn-Murphy, Grealish
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Warming up....
Bunn
Gollini
Ayew
RHM (I think)
Green
Okore
Baker
Jack
Tshibola
Pointy
McCafu
Joe
Sir Clive
GG
Aly
Rudy
Pocket Tweeter
Tommy
Gana
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Gollini, Hutton, Okore, Baker, Bennett, Green, Westwood, Tshibola, Ayew, Hepburn-Murphy, Grealish
Where you standing Dave
-
Captain Pointy
-
We've had a shot 😀
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Gollini, Hutton, Okore, Baker, Bennett, Green, Westwood, Tshibola, Ayew, Hepburn-Murphy, Grealish
Where you standing Dave
With a few Rovers mates, directly above the away dugout.
I'm sitting just above Lescott.
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Another shot from Ayew parried away by the keeper
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Gollini, Hutton, Okore, Baker, Bennett, Green, Westwood, Tshibola, Ayew, Hepburn-Murphy, Grealish
Where you standing Dave
With a few Rovers mates, directly above the away dugout.
I'm sitting just above Lescott.
I'm in the South Stand
Stand up and give us a wave
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Gollini, Hutton, Okore, Baker, Bennett, Green, Westwood, Tshibola, Ayew, Hepburn-Murphy, Grealish
Where you standing Dave
With a few Rovers mates, directly above the away dugout.
I'm sitting just above Lescott.
How far can you spit gum?
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Wolfie in da house
-
I take it nothing is happening ??
;D
-
Wolfie in da house
is he wearing a hat and/or holding a random vegetable?
-
I take it nothing is happening ??
;D
Couple of Ayew shots. Some nice ideas from Grealish but the passes overhit.
Baker looking like the most comfortable defender, but still with the lousy passing.
-
Not impressed with Okore
-
I take it nothing is happening ??
;D
Plenty of passing it around but lacking something up front
Ayew playing too deep IMO
-
In other news, summer's over.
It's cool, windy and looks like rain
-
0-1 Ayew
-
Gas miss a sitter and hit the post
-
Lescott, Lescott how's your car
-
HT 0-1
-
Tweeter for Baker at HT
-
Bunn on as well
-
Mass substitution
Everybody left is coming on
-
Tommy captain
Okore at RB
-
Bad miss from SirClive
-
Couple of terrible corners from Jack
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Good Villa move, great cross from Andre but JustHead misses
-
Bad miss from SirClive
Perhaps his battery ran out!
-
Bad miss from SirClive
Perhaps his battery ran out!
it was outside of his spectrum
-
1-1 Matty Taylor
-
That Matty Taylor?
-
No, he's a striker.
-
Just read that during a flurry of substitutions, the Bristol City announcer has said 'coming on for Villa, absolutely everybody'.
Quality.
-
Gana shoots from the edge of the box and it goes out for a throw
-
Just read that during a flurry of substitutions, the Bristol City announcer has said 'coming on for Villa, absolutely everybody'.
Quality.
Nick Day is a great PA announcer
-
Just read that during a flurry of substitutions, the Bristol City announcer has said 'coming on for Villa, absolutely everybody'.
Quality.
Are Bristol City playing Pelsall?
-
Just read that during a flurry of substitutions, the Bristol City announcer has said 'coming on for Villa, absolutely everybody'.
Quality.
Nick Day is a great PA announcer
He must have a bloody loud voice too if they can hear him at Bristol Rovers! ;-)
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Ok... I'm now upgrading it from cool to chilly
-
Just read that during a flurry of substitutions, the Bristol announcer has said 'coming on for Villa, absolutely everybody'.
Quality.
Nick Day is a great PA announcer
-
FT 1-1
-
A brief description of the goals if someone could please. Great header, bad defending, that sort of thing.
-
Sounds underwhelming.
In other news Sheff Weds 1 Benfica 0....
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A brief description of the goals if someone could please. Great header, bad defending, that sort of thing.
Ayew - picked up the ball on the halfway line, ran unchallenged to the edge of the box, dummied past a couple of poor challenges and slotted it in.
Taylor - bit of passing around the edge of our box, no real attempt at a challenge, Taylor turned inside what looked like Gardner and Elphick and put it inside Bunn's near post.
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Thanks Dave, I appreciate it.
-
Who played well for us?
-
Lescott looked like our best defender by a mile. All of Hutton, Okore and Elphick had pretty ropey moments. Bennett did nothing wrong. Cissokho was normal, nothing got past him, didn't do a thing right offensively.
Grealish and Ayew the pick of the attackers. Ayew spent too long too deep, but was the only player who ever looked like scoring. Grealish was more involved than pretty much anyone else but never looked like picking the right ball at the edge of the box.
Gana looked decent. Tshibola looked comfortable for that level, but wasn't really tested. Westwood looked better than Gardner did in that position.
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Still a lot of work to do then. Still some money to be spent on the right players. Amavi and Traore to come back at left back and wide respectively, but we need the extra creativity in the middle of the park and a good striker.
-
Saw the goal on ssn all too similar to last year
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Cheers for the report Dave.
-
Hmm so for folks that were there how do you feel we looked against Bristol City? Both squads are in the same bit of pre season and both are playing in the same league (Bristol City 18th last season). Thoughts?
-
We need a clearout - this has been obvious for a very long time. And quick. The season starts in what two and a half weeks.
-
Hmm so for folks that were there how do you feel we looked against Bristol City? Both squads are in the same bit of pre season and both are playing in the same league (Bristol City 18th last season). Thoughts?
We were playing a team who were in league two last season albeit promoted.
-
We need a clearout - this has been obvious for a very long time. And quick. The season starts in what two and a half weeks.
The only way we can clear out is by selling players, and the only players who other clubs want will be the ones we want to keep.
Do we accept offers below what we want or hold out for more, as is reported the situation with Sinclair?
We'll be offering BOGOF deals by the end of August and throwing in Green Shield stamps as well.
-
Hmm so for folks that were there how do you feel we looked against Bristol City? Both squads are in the same bit of pre season and both are playing in the same league (Bristol City 18th last season). Thoughts?
We were playing a team who were in league two last season albeit promoted.
Ah thank you! I am an idiot. Wrong team :)
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We need a clearout - this has been obvious for a very long time. And quick. The season starts in what two and a half weeks.
The only way we can clear out is by selling players, and the only players who other clubs want will be the ones we want to keep.
Do we accept offers below what we want or hold out for more, as is reported the situation with Sinclair?
We'll be offering BOGOF deals by the end of August and throwing in Green Shield stamps as well.
A spectacular losing mentality doesn't become a winning one all of a sudden. There are half a dozen or so players that have a serious attitude-ability issue. They need to be moved on and at a loss if necessary. As for the ones we want to keep then ultimately it's entirely up to us (with the possible exception of Gueye) as to whether we cash in or not.
-
Was in the home end. Very cold in the end. Not T shirt weather. We looked slow and lacked invention. Poor quality on both sides. Jack looked lively but didn't seem to want to take on and beat players. Same old shit TBH.
-
Over 1,000 Villa fans there tonight apparently. That is incredible.
-
1,300 they said at the end.
-
Was in the home end. Very cold in the end. Not T shirt weather. We looked slow and lacked invention. Poor quality on both sides. Jack looked lively but didn't seem to want to take on and beat players. Same old shit TBH.
I know it's only a friendly, and it's all about fitness, but it's quite disconcerting to read a report like this.
So many players looking for a fresh start, new management, fresh approach, so much to pay the fans back for......I'd have hoped we'd seem some intent from them.
-
We need a clearout - this has been obvious for a very long time. And quick. The season starts in what two and a half weeks.
The only way we can clear out is by selling players, and the only players who other clubs want will be the ones we want to keep.
Do we accept offers below what we want or hold out for more, as is reported the situation with Sinclair?
We'll be offering BOGOF deals by the end of August and throwing in Green Shield stamps as well.
A spectacular losing mentality doesn't become a winning one all of a sudden. There are half a dozen or so players that have a serious attitude-ability issue. They need to be moved on and at a loss if necessary. As for the ones we want to keep then ultimately it's entirely up to us (with the possible exception of Gueye) as to whether we cash in or not.
I agree. No idea why everyone thinks well piss it next season. Our squad is mostly shit and/or lacking confidence. We need wins quickly when the season starts. I got the feeling Sheff Wednesday will be a reality check. By then we might not have time to get in and integrate them.
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Was in the home end. Very cold in the end. Not T shirt weather. We looked slow and lacked invention. Poor quality on both sides. Jack looked lively but didn't seem to want to take on and beat players. Same old shit TBH.
Most friendlies are like that though. I can't think of too many I've been to where we've played teams off the park and looked brilliant.
-
Those players left out, do we know why? Kozak, Agbonlahor, Amavi etc. Gil and Veretout are off so that's understandable. Richards and Traore injured.
-
Traore injured you say?
-
Those players left out, do we know why? Kozak, Agbonlahor, Amavi etc. Gil and Veretout are off so that's understandable. Richards and Traore injured.
Maybe he wanted to look at other players. The squad that flies over to France at the weekend will tell us more maybe.
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A few more thoughts
Jack still won't shoot and cant take corners
Ayew either needs a strike partner or to be told to stay further forward (nicely taken goal though)
Joe looked good going forward and can take a decent corner (would have liked to see him still on the pitch after JustHead came on)
Some nice moments of skill from Andre
Gana is fine at breaking up play but I don't rate his passing
Okore would not be one of my first choice centre backs
-
Briefly saw our goal this morning on SSN.
I thought Traore had scored - It didn't look like Ayew at all to me until they showed a closer shot as he turned round - I guess he's still not quite "match fit".
-
Going from a friends words we are still almost exactly the same as last season, there's no invention or pace in the team and the defence and midfield still soft as shit.
No revolution yet. Just more of the same with a bit more leadership behind the scenes. We need to really step it up the next few weeks, on the pitch and behind the scenes with some transfers to inject what's missing in the team. This team is not good enough to get promoted.
-
I still think half a dozen need to be shipped out. Gabby, Richards, Lescott, Bacuna, Guzan, Westwood. There should be no forgiveness or revisionism when it comes to Gabby. At the time we needed him most, as the so called club captain, he saw fit to be filmed looking like a complete gobshite in Dubai, followed by a piss up in a hotel bedroom in London on the day we got relegated.
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I can give any of them a chance except Gabby. That ****** has to go.
-
I keep seeing this name re-appearing on here...Traore Injured... is that his real surname!!!!
-
I know all the clichés about "Only friendlies" "only a fitness assessment" etc
Did not stop me looking at the phone every 5 mins for an update
Now disappointed because we did not win and reports are we are still crap :(
-
Now disappointed because we did not win and reports are we are still crap :(
We weren't. We looked like a team playing a friendly against a bunch of players who were more excited about playing against us than we were about playing against them.
We might be rubbish this season, but last night offers no evidence to either back it up or refute it.
-
A few more thoughts
Jack still won't shoot and cant take corners
Ayew either needs a strike partner or to be told to stay further forward (nicely taken goal though)
Joe looked good going forward and can take a decent corner (would have liked to see him still on the pitch after JustHead came on)
Some nice moments of skill from Andre
Gana is fine at breaking up play but I don't rate his passing
Okore would not be one of my first choice centre backs
Plus ca change eh?
Gana reminds me of Boateng or Reo Coker in that he is better without the ball than with it.
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Now disappointed because we did not win and reports are we are still crap :(
We weren't. We looked like a team playing a friendly against a bunch of players who were more excited about playing against us than we were about playing against them.
Daniel Leadbitter impressed me at Right Back
Matty Taylor would be a good buy. The bloke's a goal scorer (47 in 94 for Rovers)
This Bristol Rovers scouting report is brought to you by the same person (ie me) who was banging on about signing Rickie Lambert in 2007/08 before he moved from Rovers to Southampton
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Hi guys, my dad and I are French Villa nuts, my dad has been since 1981, and when we saw that Villa were playing against Nantes in St Nazaire, not too far from where we live, we could not miss it for the world.
So we got tickets and we were wondering if any of you are coming down for the game on Saturday, we'd love to meet with some of you and the Villa fans fans before the game to have a drink or something, let us know if anything like that happens ! Cheers UTV !
You wouldn't be coming down from the Angers area would you?
Yes, we are indeed from Angers !
Say hello to Frank for me.
Frank says hello back !
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Now disappointed because we did not win and reports are we are still crap :(
We weren't. We looked like a team playing a friendly against a bunch of players who were more excited about playing against us than we were about playing against them.
We might be rubbish this season, but last night offers no evidence to either back it up or refute it.
Doesn't that describe the majority of next season though? Everyone we play against is going to be excited and up for it against us, if we don't show the same we are going to do shit.
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Now disappointed because we did not win and reports are we are still crap :(
We weren't. We looked like a team playing a friendly against a bunch of players who were more excited about playing against us than we were about playing against them.
Daniel Leadbitter impressed me at Right Back
Matty Taylor would be a good buy. The bloke's a goal scorer (47 in 94 for Rovers)
This Bristol Rovers scouting report is brought to you by the same person (ie me) who was banging on about signing Rickie Lambert in 2007/08 before he moved from Rovers to Southampton
You're sco uting reports are much better than your weather reports from Rovers
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Very low key from players and the villa fans. The only two players that seemed to put in a bit more effort were Grealish and Ayew.
Hopefully the next couple of friendlies will be a bit more intensive. 4231 seems to be the formation of choice. It just worries me that
crosses into the box were still being provided by the full backs rather than a proper wide player. Greta turn out on a Wed night!
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Hi guys, my dad and I are French Villa nuts, my dad has been since 1981, and when we saw that Villa were playing against Nantes in St Nazaire, not too far from where we live, we could not miss it for the world.
So we got tickets and we were wondering if any of you are coming down for the game on Saturday, we'd love to meet with some of you and the Villa fans fans before the game to have a drink or something, let us know if anything like that happens ! Cheers UTV !
You wouldn't be coming down from the Angers area would you?
Yes, we are indeed from Angers !
Say hello to Frank for me.
Frank says hello back !
If you see a chap wandering around in Villa shorts and walking with aid of a stick....will be me!!!
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The only friendly I can recall us battering anybody was Inter. They won the title and we finished 6th.
I stopped going to friendlies. They get their pound of flesh from me between August and May.
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The only friendly I am likely to surface at would be played in my back garden.
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I'd go if it was European opposition, or even some exotic mob from Brazil, China or some mad place. Can't be arsed with Middlesbrough though although it's possible I'll change my mind and decide to turn up on the day.
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I will be in Somerset spending the cash I may otherwise have on that and a trip to Sheffield on important things. Like plastic lightsabre's, mini golf in Brean and trying to win dinosaurs in the amusements.
-
Premier League Middlesbrough visiting Championship Aston Villa. Reality is kicking in.
We should be grateful to Boro for coming down to play us.
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Now disappointed because we did not win and reports are we are still crap :(
We weren't. We looked like a team playing a friendly against a bunch of players who were more excited about playing against us than we were about playing against them.
Daniel Leadbitter impressed me at Right Back
Matty Taylor would be a good buy. The bloke's a goal scorer (47 in 94 for Rovers)
This Bristol Rovers scouting report is brought to you by the same person (ie me) who was banging on about signing Rickie Lambert in 2007/08 before he moved from Rovers to Southampton
You're sco uting reports are much better than your weather reports from Rovers
Mr Beer is someone who's had to put up for several years with me moaning about Villa's failure to sign Rickie and also my advocating for Ian Holloway as manager, purely because he talks properly :D
From my seat low down in the stand behind the goal, I had a better view of the incoming weather than I did of the game.
BTW, it's been raining this evening ;)
-
Can anyone remember the kick off time for this Saturdays game?
Can't see it on OS and I've gone back a few pages on here but don't see it.
Thanks
-
6pm our time so 7pm over there, assuming Fotmob is correct.
-
The only friendly I can recall us battering anybody was Inter. They won the title and we finished 6th.
A lean Gabby Agbonlahor absolutely roasted the Inter defence that day. Cristian Chivu was terrified of him.
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6pm our time so 7pm over there, assuming Fotmob is correct.
Thank you
-
6pm our time so 7pm over there, assuming Fotmob is correct.
Thank you
live on the OS at 6pm
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The only friendly I can recall us battering anybody was Inter. They won the title and we finished 6th.
A lean Gabby Agbonlahor absolutely roasted the Inter defence that day. Cristian Chivu was terrified of him.
We were quite good in that friendly against, errr, whoever it was (not Valencia, that was too long ago, but some other spanish team).
There was a great bit where their defender bounced off Benteke like a moth prior to him scoring.
God, I miss that guy, the micro-eared magician.
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The bloke Benteke flattened got a broken collar bone for his troubles as well.
-
6pm our time so 7pm over there, assuming Fotmob is correct.
Thank you
live on the OS at 6pm
That's why I was asking, I still have a subscription to AVTV.
Thank you
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6pm our time so 7pm over there, assuming Fotmob is correct.
Thank you
LIVE on the OS at 6pm
That's why I was asking, I still have a subscription to AVTV.
Thank you
*Fans will not need an AVTV subscription to view.
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The only friendly I can recall us battering anybody was Inter. They won the title and we finished 6th.
A lean Gabby Agbonlahor absolutely roasted the Inter defence that day. Cristian Chivu was terrified of him.
We were quite good in that friendly against, errr, whoever it was (not Valencia, that was too long ago, but some other spanish team).
There was a great bit where their defender bounced off Benteke like a moth prior to him scoring.
God, I miss that guy, the micro-eared magician.
Malaga I think?
I remember a comfortable dicking of Wolves at Molineux just after O'Leary was sacked.
-
And for those of us who're a bit older losing to a late Wolves goal in Paul Birch's testimonial before BFR's first season.
-
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Brilliant. Also watched the montage. That man gave me pleasure (even if it sounds wrong!)
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The only friendly I can recall us battering anybody was Inter. They won the title and we finished 6th.
A lean Gabby Agbonlahor absolutely roasted the Inter defence that day. Cristian Chivu was terrified of him.
We were quite good in that friendly against, errr, whoever it was (not Valencia, that was too long ago, but some other spanish team).
There was a great bit where their defender bounced off Benteke like a moth prior to him scoring.
God, I miss that guy, the micro-eared magician.
Malaga I think?
I remember a comfortable dicking of Wolves at Molineux just after O'Leary was sacked.
Was Malaga. If I remember correctly didn't we go 3-0 up before they came back into a bit? I do remember them having a winger who gave Luna an absolute roasting.
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Nantes game? What time? Is it on TV? Anywhere. I am in Turkey now. Red lion bar can access if they have info.
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It's being shown live on AVTV at 6pm UK time I think.
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All you need to do is register with AVTV as the game is being shown free
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It's being shown live on AVTV at 6pm UK time I think.
. Says 1500 local here. Bit. Confused. No chance avtv tbh. Hope on 'net somewhere
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I'll tell young lad at red lion..he can try
Just looked again. Time and date changed.. says 24/7 now. Very confused.
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It's being shown live on AVTV at 6pm UK time I think.
. Says 1500 local here. Bit. Confused. No chance avtv tbh. Hope on 'net somewhere
Just checked on the OS. Definitely 6pm BST
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... Hope on 'net somewhere
It is Brian
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It's being shown live on AVTV at 6pm UK time I think.
With no commentary, so everyone should feel free to provide their own Jack-style voice over
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It's being shown live on AVTV at 6pm UK time I think.
With no commentary, so everyone should feel free to provide their own Jack-style voice over
A huge improvement.
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It's being shown live on AVTV at 6pm UK time I think.
With no commentary, so everyone should feel free to provide their own Jack-style voice over
A huge improvement.
live football say 1900 turkey. 5oclock uk. I'll just have to go and have a beer while I wait. One site says 0900 Sunday.. no way.
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#AVFC team v @FCNantes: Gollini, Hutton, Elphick, Baker, Cissokho, Bacuna, Westwood, Gana, Veretout, Ayew, Gestede.
#AVFC subs v @FCNantes: Bunn, Okore, Bennett, Tshibola, Gardner, Green, Grealish, Sinclair, Lyden.
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Bloody hell Cissokho, Baker, Bacuna and Hutton. We've still got some work to do.
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Christ, I know we have no choice at the moment, but it's pretty disheartening seeing all those (bloody) familiar names on a starting lineup.
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Yep, but you have to think it wouldn't be that as first choice. Amavi and Okore for two of them. Ideally a new RB too.
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That team looks horrible and miles away from promotion challenging.
Have we got Eric Black back?!
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One bright spot, no Flabby.
He must be persona non grata ?
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Bloody hell Cissokho, Baker, Bacuna and Hutton. We've still got some work to do.
Yeah, Jesus, there are some woeful names there.
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Bacuna still picked?? RDM needs to look at the horror dvd of last year's 'highlights'.
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'kinell...Bacuna
Please, some one, anyone, make it stop
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i was looking forward to watching this until i saw that lineup
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The only one of that line line up that depresses me a little is Westwood. I'm surprised Veretout is in there as well considering he's meant to be off.
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Bloody hell Cissokho, Baker, Bacuna and Hutton. We've still got some work to do.
Consoling myself with no Richards, Lescott, Nzog, Ricardson and despite being his biggest H&V fan for years, Gabby.
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I think if you were playing a football manager game and wanted to manage us, you would have to hack the database before you got started.
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They have a very nice ground and pitch. Seem relaxed about drinking beer in the stands
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There appears to be a crashed spaceship just outside the ground
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Wasn't this friendly agreed as part of the Veretout transfer, that's probably why he's in.
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I take it that AVTV are just using a Nantes TV feed.
The picture quality is way better than their own preseason coverage from last year
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Minutes silence for Nice and Munich
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They also appear to be speaking some kind of alien language.
edit: sorry, that was a very badly timed joke.
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And once again I can't get into AVTV despite being a season ticket holder for 25 years.
I despair of this club sometimes.
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I have no stream just the live now screen...I am logged-in, am I doing something wrong
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Look how high up that clown Hutton is.
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I have no stream just the live now screen...I am logged-in, am I doing something wrong
No problems here
Try reloading the page
Which browser are you using?
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Where is this on the website? Not in live match centre or features....
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And once again I can't get into AVTV despite being a season ticket holder for 25 years.
I despair of this club sometimes.
I just logged in using the email address and password that I use for buying tickets
I don't think that this steam has anything to do with your AVTV subscription
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I'm using firefox and I'm not an avtv subscriber...I'll try with ie instead
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Where is this on the website? Not in live match centre or features....
First thing that came up on screen when I went to the OS
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Somebody tell Ginger Baker to do one! not our fabulous central defender!
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Ah it is on the normal website not AVTV
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I'm now seriously considering ordering a ticket for Luton.
It's amazing the strange things that watching live football can do to a bloke
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Good save Gollini.
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It's just not the same without J-Dub and his barking mad, surreal commentary
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Nice save from the Villa keeper.
Baker continues to remind me of Brendan Ormsby.
Not much happening up top
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I think if you were playing a football manager game and wanted to manage us, you would have to hack the database before you got started.
Tag worthy. Well played.
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Westwood really is crap isn't he
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(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNFn2-Bkv8o/VlQwlsayoyI/AAAAAAABKfc/63KmE0tFRoA/s1600/8138_14ar038.jpg)
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I thought that we had some H&V'ers at the match
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I've seen nothing so far to suggest we are any better then last year
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Two throw ins in a row we have just given away possession.
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No Gabby? Burger van time?
Amarvi - surely needs some game time or is he really going
Sick note - still no sign
Veretout - guess this was part of the signing deal
Bacuna - why oh why?
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Fuck me we look shite.
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Been watching for about 10 minutes and not seen us having any decent possession and nothing in their half. This could be a long season.......
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We look better in the drinks break!
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At least there's some good singing.
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We look poor, but damn, hearing the fans... I want to be there :)
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I've seen nothing so far to suggest we are any better then last year
That's what happens when the same shit players as last season take to the field...a few weeks off isn't going to make them any better. They look shit and play shit because they are...shit.
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Bacuna. FFS!!
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Manchester City, Manchester Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal can only dream of having a right side to their lineup of the level of Bacuna and Hutton
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RDM needs to wake up. Same shite as last season. Is he taking advice from Eric Black?
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This has been really poor so far.
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Tedium returns
-
Lets try to be positive...RDM needs to see how shite they are in games to decide how shite they really are. Once he knows that some of them are categorically shite then he can start to do something about getting rid of the shite.
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to AFC Shite?
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Actually Bacuna has been alright
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I know it's pre season and I know it's a friendly, we don't appear to have gained any meaning to the way we play.
Tedious, unimaginative shite
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Lets try to be positive...RDM needs to see how shite they are in games to decide how shite they really are. Once he knows that some of them are categorically shite then he can start to do something about getting rid of the shite.
of course he could have just watched a Video of last seasons games.
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I like the way they signal when taking a corner which is a complete waste of time because we all know it isn't going to get past the first defender.
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Very uninspiring up to now, and that shirt isn't claret, nor even clarple, its just plain old purple.
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We basically need a whole new midfield...Veretout, Gana, Bacuna and Westwood just aren't good enough. File under "shite".
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Only our new keeper is showing any quality
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We should finish above Nantes. They're even worse.
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Wow. A shot on goal. Miles over but still a shot. Yes I'm clutching at straws.
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Our strikers might as well not be on the pitch they are getting no service.
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Cross from McCafu and not even a token effort from JustHead to get on the end of it
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We basically need a whole new midfield...Veretout, Gana, Bacuna and Westwood just aren't good enough. File under "shite".
Looks like shite could be the word of the season again.
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We basically need a whole new midfield...Veretout, Gana, Bacuna and Westwood just aren't good enough. File under "shite".
Looks like shite could be the word of the season again.
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So who can we look to for some inspiration in the second half...
Bunn, Okore, Bennett, Tshibola, Gardner, Green, Grealish, Sinclair, Lyden
I'm looking forward to seeing Tish, Grealish and Green...and would have been nice to see the Russian get a game, so I guess we'll see if Bennett and Gardner have improved.
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Better bit of play there but Veretout & Hutton are weak links today.
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Fuck me, a closeup of Westwood.
I didn't know he was playing
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No skill worthy of the name. Lots of pointless hard work with nothing of note created. Bottom half beckons if this is anything to go by.
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Fuck me, a closeup of Westwood.
I didn't know he was playing
Just noticed that as well. He really does become invisible in games. Not a good trait for a central midfielder.
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Dreadful.
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New keeper looks OK - he can actually catch the ball.
Not sure about Elfick.
Full backs and Champions League reject have me very worried.
Why Vertout is playing and not house hunting in Marseilles is a mystery.
Maybe Baker is playing as he has the best beard and looks a bit Icelandic.
Good cross just now from Vertout but Gestede's too bloody slow.
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Gestede really can't run very fast can he? Should have got that cross.
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If we're relying on Justhead to score the goals to get us out of the championship we're going to be disappointed.
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Gestede really can't run very fast can he? Should have got that cross.
I thought he had got there but was just too poor to react to it.
-
Is Hutton actually playing right back or right wing? Either way, he's been absolutely terrible.
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Nantes should have scored there at the end of the first half.
Theres no sign of any improvement, pattern of play or any idea of what to do in their half of the pitch...which is quite worrying.
Hopefully some changes will improve things in the second half.
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I think Gestede needs to do better there, nothing wrong with the pass from Veretout.
Westwood has been poor and full backs of Hutton and Cissokho add nothing going forward which puts too much pressure on the midfield to create everything or Ayew to do something magic.
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No skill worthy of the name. Lots of pointless hard work with nothing of note created. Bottom half beckons if this is anything to go by.
I'm on the more negative side of things but there's not a hope that the squad as it currently stands will be what we finish up with come the close of the window. It's a bit early for making any sort of predictions imo.
-
Speaking of which the live coverage is very good. Should I be complimenting Nantes or AVTV I wonder?
-
It just looks EXACTLY like last season - in personnel and in football. I am worried. There's two weeks to go!
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Friendly or not, that was uber shite. A familiar lack of cohesion, pattern or interplay. It's like watching those celebrity matches without the occasional flashes of skill.
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Sounds like it's going great.
-
Speaking of which the live coverage is very good. Should I be complimenting Nantes or AVTV I wonder?
Nantes - and having no commentary is OK - very pleased Jack what's his name has left. Used to get on my nerves.
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It's a friendly. Can people before they jump out of a window remember that. Neither side has played that well. This won't be the side that starts the season and it certainly won't be he squad that emerges from the transfer window. No doubt we need to improve but let's not make wild bottom of the bloody Championship type predictions based on this.
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People moaning over a meaningless friendly *cringe*
-
It just looks EXACTLY like last season - in personnel and in football. I am worried. There's two weeks to go!
(http://i.imgur.com/EJywbcq.gif)
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Everyone knows and appreciates it's a friendly.
The fact that we are 2 weeks away from kickoff and there is no improvement in the approach, style and quality of our football, despite having a new management team, is highly disconcerting.
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Refreshing to be able to watch a match on the Villa site without Woodwood's inane banter making you want to punch the screen in.
Match is fairly dire and there appears to be absolutely no shape/style to our play at all first half. I think from here on we really need to start fielding the team RDM intends to start the season with so they can gel.
I point blank refuse to believe Cissokho, Hutton, Westwood, Gestede and Bacuna will be anywhere near the starting 11 against Wednesday.
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Tshibolaba coming on second half
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Grealish getting ready to come on. Actually putting shin pads on - with enough tape to keep them on till half way through the season.
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It was a tiny bit better towards half-time. Overall though, no options for the man in possession, Just-head shite. Can't see it working with him apart from in a blood-and-thunder 4-4-2.
A more mobile and skilful centre-forward and two decent full-backs would make a big difference IMO.
Goalie looks ok, Elphick looks a leader, I like Ayew and Gana.
-
Tish, straight in with a 'reducer'
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Tish and Jack on for Veretout and Westwood by the looks of it. I'd like to see Bennett on soon as well.
-
Grealish with a bit of skill. Nice to see.
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What's the bra type thing that seems to be the essential piece of equipment for the discerning footballer this season?
-
What's the bra type thing that seems to be the essential piece of equipment for the discerning footballer this season?
fitness tracker
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They'll think the batteries have run out in Gestedes.
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i was looking forward to watching this until i saw that lineup
Maybe it's a "window shopping" , I'm for sale balanced team......lives in hope ?!
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I see N'zogbia scored Sunderland 's winner.
-
What's the bra type thing that seems to be the essential piece of equipment for the discerning footballer this season?
fitness tracker
Thanks
-
Bacuna is one of our best players today.
Which is terrifying.
-
I see N'zogbia scored Sunderland 's winner.
Let's hope he secures a nice big contract.
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Good dive
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Lol Hutton. Its a friendly mate.
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I see N'zogbia scored Sunderland 's winner.
Let's hope he secures a nice big contract.
And buys a new suit.
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Green and Bennett on for Hutton and Cissokho (with Bacuna going to RB) please then go to a 4231 with Ayew left and Grealish central.
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No commentary which is weird but good rendition from villains of shit on the city
-
I think that I may have dozed off for a bit
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Gestede, lovely lad. Terrible in the game so far.
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These players are very skinny, there isn't a pick on them!
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Lol Hutton. Its a friendly mate.
I don't think Glaswegian's do friendlies
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0-1 Gestede
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We scored from a corner. Never again.
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Get in. It was coming!
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Gestede, lovely lad. Terrible in the game so far.
Commentater's curse!
-
These players are very skinny, there isn't a pick on them!
I was just saying exactly the same thing.
-
Nice goal from Rudy
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Gestede, lovely lad. Terrible in the game so far.
Never doubted you for a moment.
Gestede, lovely lad. Terrible in the game so far.
Commentater's curse!
;D ;D ;D ;D
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0-1 Villa. Just-head scores with not his head.
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0-1 Gestede
My feed must be a bit slow. Your post appeared about 30 seconds before I saw the goal
-
Things we're not used to......good baker header down from a corner and gestede finishes off
-
I think we just witnessed something very rare from Rudy.
-
0-1 Gestede
My feed must be a bit slow. Your post appeared about 30 seconds before I saw the goal
I'm not watching the official stream if you know what I mean
-
And all of a sudden we look quite good.... aside from the traditional Hutton "give the ball away" throw in.
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why no more changes? reasons?
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How long left please?
-
10 minutes
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Bennett on for ayew
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why no more changes? reasons?
He just brought Bennett on for Ayew.
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Yellow card for jack
-
Thanks Ger. A win is a win! Just to hex it!
-
Green's on for Bacuna as well, didn't notice that at the time.
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I know he scored but damn, Rudy has been garbage in open play so far.
-
I think that I may have dozed off for a bit
I did too, woke up when we scored. Which was surprising.
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#AVFC team v @FCNantes: Gollini, Hutton, Elphick, Baker, Cissokho, Bacuna, Westwood, Gana, Veretout, Ayew, Gestede.
Only just got back in and saw this - the sadness goes on. How was the team lining up - Bacuna and Ayew out wide or a diamond shape with Ayew and Gestede up front? If it is the latter, we've got a season ahead of Hutton and Cissokho being our wide attacking options again.
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0-1 Gestede
My feed must be a bit slow. Your post appeared about 30 seconds before I saw the goal
Mine must be even slower then, because we haven't got the corner yet, but I am rural Wales !
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That is now five in a row Hutton throw ins that have led to us losing possession.
Thats fucking poor in any game.
edit. Six.
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Why won't Jack shoot?
-
0-1 Gestede
My feed must be a bit slow. Your post appeared about 30 seconds before I saw the goal
Mine must be even slower then, because we haven't got the corner yet, but I am rural Wales !
What day is it there?
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That is now five in a row Hutton throw ins that have led to us losing possession.
Thats fucking poor in any game.
#sadnessinhisthrowins
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Jack would appear to be the boy who cried wolf. A little more surging run, and a little less looking for it, please, Jack Óg.
-
I like Tommy shouting and pulling people around, its like new and stuff.
-
0-1 Gestede
My feed must be a bit slow. Your post appeared about 30 seconds before I saw the goal
Mine must be even slower then, because we haven't got the corner yet, but I am rural Wales !
What day is it there?
Sat 23rd July 1953
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Saw the goal.. were winning 88mins.. bit park footie tho
-
Elphick marshelling well at back
-
This hasn't been all bad. We've looked reasonably compact all the way through.
-
What's the delay all about?
-
I'm still waiting for the little man inside AVTV to resend me my password as I'd forgotten it. He must be on an extended tea break.
-
Taking a drinks break with 30 seconds to go...what is this madness?
-
What's the game stopped for drinks with injury time almost over?
-
Not too bad I suppose. After all theyre in the same league as PSG and were in the same league as Burton Albion.
It also looked baking hot.
-
97 minutes!!!
-
A 95th min drinks break ?!?!
-
0-1 Gestede
My feed must be a bit slow. Your post appeared about 30 seconds before I saw the goal
Mine must be even slower then, because we haven't got the corner yet, but I am rural Wales !
What day is it there?
Sat 23rd July 1953
It feels like that here sometimes - looks like I'm about 10 mins behind live - anybody else watching in Tywyn/Aberdovey ?
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0-1 FT
-
Aston Villa fans are old; or at least of a certain vintage....
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I like Tommy shouting and pulling people around, its like new and stuff.
Yep. Just need another doing that in midfield now.
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Almost non-existent forward threat however Elphick is a solid defender. It's good to see him organising at the back.
Nantes are probably Championship level and to be fair they were as feeble as we were in attack.
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Apparently Nantes had 54% possession and 15 shots. Were the stats guys watching a different game?
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1 shot on target, 1 goal. Not that bad after all :P
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A win is a win - lets hope we do this more often this season.
Not a great performance but some signs of hope.
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What an absolute crock of shite
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Decent at the back. Elphick looks an unremarkable Championship defender. IE: A massive step up for us. Keeper looked solid.
Midfield. Gana & Bacuna worked hard. Grealish looked like our most skillful player. The rest... oh dear.
Up front Ayew was good. Gestede was garbage in open play.
On the plus side I REALLY enjoyed watching live Villa again :)
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97 minutes!!!
Le time Du Fergie !
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Tshibola - how did he do?
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Thought we defended quite well in the second half. Gana was decent and broke up play well. The ref didn't seem to give Jack very much but that's something he might have to get used to in the championship. Good workout for us I thought though.
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Tshibola - how did he do?
Alright. Broke up play a couple of times. Lost possession a couple of times. Ran a lot. Didnt seem to wander out of position. Did some short passes which made sense.
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As they kicked-off for the start of the second half, did anyone cop the lone voice singing of Holte Enders in the sky rendered in a strong Brummie accent?
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(http://oi66.tinypic.com/2h3xy61.jpg)
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Tshibola - how did he do?
Alright. Broke up play a couple of times. Lost possession a couple of times. Ran a lot. Didnt seem to wander out of position. Did some short passes which made sense.
Aaagh, the black Ashley Westwood.
I jokes of course......
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1 shot on target, 1 goal. Not that bad after all :P
maybe we could be the new Leicester ????!!!!
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Very disappointing. Off the ball movement was poor and pretty clear we carry little threat going forward. Proof that so much needs to be done before we can start talking about promotion. Stop talking the talk Doctor Tony. You need to walk the walk.
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Very disappointing. Off the ball movement was poor and pretty clear we carry little threat going forward. Proof that so much needs to be done before we can start talking about promotion. Stop talking the talk Doctor Tony. You need to walk the walk.
I missed what happened today. Assume by your post we lost.
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Didn't watch, but I suspect gestede is the biggest problem. Completely immobile. The last sort of player that you need in a 4231 if your creative players are the likes of grealish and ayew.
We must buy a centre forward who can run in behind whilst also being able to play the ball up to. It was the biggest problem going into last season and my guess is it's still the biggest problem
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I see in another friendly Man U lost 4-1 to Dortmund. You have to think it spells the end for Mourinho.
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As they kicked-off for the start of the second half, did anyone cop the lone voice singing of Holte Enders in the sky rendered in a strong Brummie accent?
Yeah, nobody seemed interested in helping him out!
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Players still needed all throughout the side.
No width, no skill in the middle, Gestede hopeless upfront. I'd say we need another 4 players in that improve us to stand a chance of automatic promotion.
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... Off the ball movement was poor and pretty clear we carry little threat going forward ...
Of the first 30 minutes that I watched, I'd agree with this. I flicked off after half an hour because it was dull!
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We don't need anything. This is a friendly, when the real competition starts we will smite everything that confronts us because we're Aston Villa.
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I thought Green looked good.
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... Off the ball movement was poor and pretty clear we carry little threat going forward ...
Of the first 30 minutes that I watched, I'd agree with this. I flicked off after half an hour because it was dull!
To be fair we changed after the goal. I daresay we looked the better side after that. LTA's comments are still fair but we did noticably improve for the last part of the game.
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... Off the ball movement was poor and pretty clear we carry little threat going forward ...
Of the first 30 minutes that I watched, I'd agree with this. I flicked off after half an hour because it was dull!
To be fair we changed after the goal. I daresay we looked the better side after that. LTA's comments are still fair but we did noticably improve for the last part of the game.
Whilst his comments about the game were fair enough, the comments on Doctor Tony are just a moan for the sake of it, but it's what he does best unfortunately.
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I'm still waiting for AVTV to send me a password reminder.
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10 minutes
This is great. Been out all day so following the game in 'real time' on here. 10 minutes to go and we're 1 up. i'm actually quite nervous.
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Very disappointing. Off the ball movement was poor and pretty clear we carry little threat going forward. Proof that so much needs to be done before we can start talking about promotion. Stop talking the talk Doctor Tony. You need to walk the walk.
Work needs to be done yes, but good grief.
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0-1 FT
FUCKING YES!
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I'm still waiting for AVTV to send me a password reminder.
The game was on the OS, not through AVTV.
btw, I've had my new password thing and in attempting to use it couldn't get beyond the first of the 5 instructions because there is no "underlined link" to click!!!
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Players still needed all throughout the side.
No width, no skill in the middle, Gestede hopeless upfront. I'd say we need another 4 players in that improve us to stand a chance of automatic promotion.
Arsenal scored late to draw against Lens, the league below Nantes. They're probably fucked as well.
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From the official site "we're now 5 unbeaten" includes the likes of Bristol Rovers, Telford and Worcester - testing times ahead me thinks.
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lets not read too much into any of this , we are neither good or bad or anything like the finished article so lets just see. It has been 6 weeks since he rocked up, mind you we have left Europe since
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From the official site "we're now 5 unbeaten" includes the likes of Bristol Rovers, Telford and Worcester - testing times ahead me thinks.
Or they're trying to get some positive feeling going.
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I'm still waiting for AVTV to send me a password reminder.
The game was on the OS, not through AVTV.
btw, I've had my new password
thing and in attempting to use it couldn't get beyond the first of the 5 instructions because there is no "underlined link" to click!!!
It took me a while to sort it out too. The avfc site instructions are useless, completely useless.
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Players still needed all throughout the side.
No width, no skill in the middle, Gestede hopeless upfront. I'd say we need another 4 players in that improve us to stand a chance of automatic promotion.
Arsenal scored late to draw against Lens, the league below Nantes. They're probably fucked as well.
Arsenal don't have by and large the same squad that won 3 games out of 38.
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Players still needed all throughout the side.
No width, no skill in the middle, Gestede hopeless upfront. I'd say we need another 4 players in that improve us to stand a chance of automatic promotion.
Arsenal scored late to draw against Lens, the league below Nantes. They're probably fucked as well.
Arsenal don't have by and large the same squad that won 3 games out of 38.
In fairness though, and I fully acknowledge we need three or four more players, we're playing at a much lower level now. So immediately that squad improves in quality relative to who we'll be playing.
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Yes it does, that's why I don't expect us to be struggling to stay up. The same huge problems will still be there though with the same set of players, it wasn't a one off, we've been consistently terrible for years.
There's no voice in the middle and no focus point to the attack.
How are we going about scoring our goals? What's the game plan? What are our strengths to exploit? We have no idea and haven't had one for over 12 months. Too many players who are nothing players.
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I'm still waiting for AVTV to send me a password reminder.
The game was on the OS, not through AVTV.
btw, I've had my new password
thing and in attempting to use it couldn't get beyond the first of the 5 instructions because there is no "underlined link" to click!!!
It took me a while to sort it out too. The avfc site instructions are useless, completely useless.
I'm still waiting. They recognised my email address and promised to send me an email to register with a new password. Sounds like a job for Recon Group though from what I've read, I won't hold my breathe.
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Yes it does, that's why I don't expect us to be struggling to stay up. The same huge problems will still be there though with the same set of players, it wasn't a one off, we've been consistently terrible for years.
There's no voice in the middle and no focus point to the attack.
How are we going about scoring our goals? What's the game plan? What are our strengths to exploit? We have no idea and haven't had one for over 12 months. Too many players who are nothing players.
We are shite and deep down we all know we are.
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Yes it does, that's why I don't expect us to be struggling to stay up. The same huge problems will still be there though with the same set of players, it wasn't a one off, we've been consistently terrible for years.
There's no voice in the middle and no focus point to the attack.
How are we going about scoring our goals? What's the game plan? What are our strengths to exploit? We have no idea and haven't had one for over 12 months. Too many players who are nothing players.
We are shite and deep down we all know we are.
Do we?
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From the official site "we're now 5 unbeaten" includes the likes of Bristol Rovers, Telford and Worcester - testing times ahead me thinks.
I dunno. Typos aside I thought the short write up was actually pretty good by Paul Brown.
Here is is in full. Seems fair to me.
https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2016/07/23/Nantes-match-report
Analysis
Rudy Gestede’s second half goal guaranteed the win over FC Nantes here in the latest game of our pre-season schedule.
It’s now five games unbeaten, this victory following wins over GAK Graz, Telford, Worcester and a draw at Bristol Rovers.
It wasn’t the best of games in truth, with very little goalmouth action but fitness was improved and confidence was increased.
Gestede finished well on 71 minutes after Nathan Baker headed back a Jack Grealish corner.
There were also runouts for new boys Tommy Elphick and Pierluigi Gollini for 90 minutes while Aaron Tshibola slotted into midfielder for final 45 minutes.
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Yes it does, that's why I don't expect us to be struggling to stay up. The same huge problems will still be there though with the same set of players, it wasn't a one off, we've been consistently terrible for years.
There's no voice in the middle and no focus point to the attack.
How are we going about scoring our goals? What's the game plan? What are our strengths to exploit? We have no idea and haven't had one for over 12 months. Too many players who are nothing players.
We are shite and deep down we all know we are.
Do we?
I, since 1973 when Aston Villa took hold of me, have never seen a worse set up from top to bottom. It may be my age, but name me one player or one aspect of the club that instills any hope for a return to the glory years? We are definitely shitter than 87-88.
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Yes it does, that's why I don't expect us to be struggling to stay up. The same huge problems will still be there though with the same set of players, it wasn't a one off, we've been consistently terrible for years.
There's no voice in the middle and no focus point to the attack.
How are we going about scoring our goals? What's the game plan? What are our strengths to exploit? We have no idea and haven't had one for over 12 months. Too many players who are nothing players.
With due respect, maybe give the new manager and owner more than a few weeks to try and sort this pile of shite out. On another thing, Villa are so much worse than the mighty Newcastle. Are we really?
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That's the spirit.
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Yes it does, that's why I don't expect us to be struggling to stay up. The same huge problems will still be there though with the same set of players, it wasn't a one off, we've been consistently terrible for years.
There's no voice in the middle and no focus point to the attack.
How are we going about scoring our goals? What's the game plan? What are our strengths to exploit? We have no idea and haven't had one for over 12 months. Too many players who are nothing players.
We are shite and deep down we all know we are.
Do we?
I, since 1973 when Aston Villa took hold of me, have never seen a worse set up from top to bottom. It may be my age, but name me one player or one aspect of the club that instills any hope for a return to the glory years? We are definitely shitter than 87-88.
A new owner and manager? That's two. Also, maybe don't hope for a return to "the glory years" just yet. Promotion would be great for starters. Actually, just some steady progress would be good. And giving the new regime more than a few weeks would be reasonable.
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Yes it does, that's why I don't expect us to be struggling to stay up. The same huge problems will still be there though with the same set of players, it wasn't a one off, we've been consistently terrible for years.
There's no voice in the middle and no focus point to the attack.
How are we going about scoring our goals? What's the game plan? What are our strengths to exploit? We have no idea and haven't had one for over 12 months. Too many players who are nothing players.
We are shite and deep down we all know we are.
Do we?
I, since 1973 when Aston Villa took hold of me, have never seen a worse set up from top to bottom. It may be my age, but name me one player or one aspect of the club that instills any hope for a return to the glory years? We are definitely shitter than 87-88.
A new owner and manager? That's two. Also, maybe don't hope for a return to "the glory years" just yet. Promotion would be great for starters. Actually, just some steady progress would be good. And giving the new regime more than a few weeks would be reasonable.
But at this moment in time I still think we are shite
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You can think what you like but spare us the "deep down we all know we are" bollocks.
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You can think what you like but spare us the "deep down we all know we are" bollocks.
We are shite Dave, you in denial?
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Can I suggest you just give up, FF? I think it's for the best.
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You can think what you like but spare us the "deep down we all know we are" bollocks.
We are shite Dave, you in denial?
I'm not in denial, I'm not suicidal over the fact that we've just won a pre-season friendly and I don't take kindly to anyone who think that "we" all secretly agree with them but are somehow refusing to say it.
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You can think what you like but spare us the "deep down we all know we are" bollocks.
We are shite Dave, you in denial?
I'm not in denial, I'm not suicidal over the fact that we've just won a pre-season friendly and I don't take kindly to anyone who think that "we" all secretly agree with them but are somehow refusing to say it.
Im not suicidal neither ,just cant understand how anyone thinks that the 11 that started today aren't a pretty poor bunch of footballers, bordering on shite.
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How many did we lose by?
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How many did we lose by?
I think that's a good point - what happened to the win despite not playing well attitude ?
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Last Monday Di Matteo told the Guardian that Villa was a house that had to be torn down and rebuilt. Fair point, but its not something he can do in a couple of months. Please give him time. Last year a dozen players went and 13 or so arrived and it was a mess from the start.
This year we have three players in, two contracts expired and two left the country - Crespo and Gil - with more to be moved on. But who wants to sign players as dire as last year's group were? THough Kieran Richardson may get a club and N'Zogbia is trying to get a new contract with Sunderland. 3 in four gone is not a major rebuilding job and its work in progress. I doubt we can get many changes before August 7th so its likely we will start with most of last years players. Patience please. Rome was not built in a day.
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Yes it does, that's why I don't expect us to be struggling to stay up. The same huge problems will still be there though with the same set of players, it wasn't a one off, we've been consistently terrible for years.
There's no voice in the middle and no focus point to the attack.
How are we going about scoring our goals? What's the game plan? What are our strengths to exploit? We have no idea and haven't had one for over 12 months. Too many players who are nothing players.
With due respect, maybe give the new manager and owner more than a few weeks to try and sort this pile of shite out. On another thing, Villa are so much worse than the mighty Newcastle. Are we really?
Where have I complained about the manager and chairman? All I've said is this set of players are not good enough to get promoted. There's little to no strength, skill or pace in the team and I believe anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves in the same way they did last season before it dawned on us all that we were a total shambles.
We need qualities added to the side and we need them fast.
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There is no doubt Di Matteo has a lot of work to do in a short space of time.Is he up to the job only time will tell.Give him a couple of months to make obvious improvements.He was Ok at West Brom for a long period in this league so he should know what it takes to get us out of it.
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Glad I did not go. I was going to drive over via Dover
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I see no reason why we won't be competitive in the League this season. No need to "panic Mr Mainwaring"
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Glad I did not go. I was going to drive over via Dover
Thanks goodness. The Dover situation is horrific but I guess necessary at the moment.
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I see no reason why we won't be competitive in the League this season. No need to "panic Mr Mainwaring"
Is that what we've downgraded our expectations to now? Being competitive in the Championship?
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Oh hold on let me check again....yes we are in the Championship.
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It might be the same players as last season but it's not the same result, boring your way with defensive organisation and capitalising on a set piece.
Not that it matters. This isn't the final squad that will be available for the Wednesday game and even that won't be the squad we take into September.
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i never pay a lot of attention to friendlies however when i see largely the same team doing (or not doing) the same things as last season then i start to worry
hoping to see a cm and a forward in this week
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I see no reason why we won't be competitive in the League this season. No need to "panic Mr Mainwaring"
Is that what we've downgraded our expectations to now? Being competitive in the Championship?
What league are you expecting us to be competitive in from now until next May?
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i never pay a lot of attention to friendlies however when i see largely the same team doing (or not doing) the same things as last season then i start to worry
hoping to see a cm and a forward in this week
Last season we'd have lost this game with two late goals. There seemed to be a lot more defensive cohesion even if the forward play needs some work. Then again, that's what preseason is for - working out your strengths and weaknesses. If we had won all our friendlies 3-0, you'd still be moaning we hadn't played anyone of any standard. Remember, we won't be playing Manchester, Chelsea and Spurs next season and I doubt the likes of Bristol and Burton carry the same threat.
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Very interesting that Agbonlahor did not travel.Is something happening with him? Perhaps Xia is considering paying his contract up..... or perhaps not.
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Apparently, he's injured.
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Apparently, he's injured.
Cheers Any idea what the injury is?
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The comparisons between 87-88 and now are fair given that they are relegation seasons. If you look at the players available to both teams there is better quality now although the defence then was a lot stronger on paper - Spink, Evans, Dorigo, Keown, Elliott (can't remember the right-back). Admittedly they weren't the settled defence for the full season but the point being that across the starting 11 we should have had a stronger unit last season than 87-88. And yet we were still a lot worse last season.
Di matteo talking about rebuilding from top to bottom resonates with what Sir Graham said when he came in, and something that he did with brilliance in one season. Again, things that went for him were the lack of a transfer window and that he had a defence to build on. Also, there was less of a club to have to rebuild - as in less academy teams, youth teams, and buying players was cheaper and easier. Against Di matteo is the size of the club and the teams that he has to rebuild and the coaching, scouting etc He has to get to know the whole set-up that even though a couple of hundred have been laid off is probably still 300% more than when Sir Graham was in charge.
So rebuilding is not really feasible as seen under the 88-89 season. Di matteo is likely to need a lot more than a month or so to know his players, to see what he's got and how they perform under competitive games. Thankully the transfer window has still got 5 or so weeks to run and despite how it may seem with a bad start no side is promoted or relegated by the end of August.
I don't want to and will be as peeved as any by defeats in the early games but am prepared to write them off so Di matteo sees exactly what we need, where we are, and what we need to do. I'm already expecting a defeat at Sheff Wed and by something convincing (comfortable 2 or 3-0). That will be probably better for us than a scrappy 1-0 win with a Cissokho goal in the 78th minute if it means it helps the manager see in baseball bat round the head terms as being a short sharp shock.
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I didn't watch the game yesterday but it seems obvious to me where the manager is going wrong. In his naivety born from inexperience in the is industry he is using the pre season games to assess the squad and work out what works and what doesn't ahead of the varied challenges that the season will bring. This kind of joined up thinking will get us nowhere.
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i never pay a lot of attention to friendlies however when i see largely the same team doing (or not doing) the same things as last season then i start to worry
hoping to see a cm and a forward in this week
Last season we'd have lost this game with two late goals. There seemed to be a lot more defensive cohesion even if the forward play needs some work. Then again, that's what preseason is for - working out your strengths and weaknesses. If we had won all our friendlies 3-0, you'd still be moaning we hadn't played anyone of any standard. Remember, we won't be playing Manchester, Chelsea and Spurs next season and I doubt the likes of Bristol and Burton carry the same threat.
you miss the point entirely
pre season results mean nothing either way but we are still playing the same midfield, sideways sideways tippy tappy, still lacking a cutting edge, still fucking up throw ins
the next two games i would like to see our first 11 start
and yes burton and bristol city will be no great shakes but newcastle, norwich, derby, sheff wed possibly wolves with new owners wont
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The thing is we were so diabolical last season, it's possibly going to take time to repair the damage and for RDM to get his idea's across. I didn't expect us to play free flowing football 4 games into his reign and we might even have a slow start to the season. The most important thing is that we rebuild the team spirit, which according to Spink is what played a massive part in getting us back up last time.
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Not losing games and putting a couple of results together back to back will.likely lift the squad in the same way a £15 million striker would.
I've said that the first two home games are key. Don't get beat at Wednesday, but look at Rotherham and Huddersfield as a massive opportunity to get back to back home wins. (Yes I am aware what I've just typed).
I'm fairly sure we will see a new forward in the next week or so to aid us in that task.
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i never pay a lot of attention to friendlies however when i see largely the same team doing (or not doing) the same things as last season then i start to worry
hoping to see a cm and a forward in this week
Last season we'd have lost this game with two late goals. There seemed to be a lot more defensive cohesion even if the forward play needs some work. Then again, that's what preseason is for - working out your strengths and weaknesses. If we had won all our friendlies 3-0, you'd still be moaning we hadn't played anyone of any standard. Remember, we won't be playing Manchester, Chelsea and Spurs next season and I doubt the likes of Bristol and Burton carry the same threat.
you miss the point entirely
pre season results mean nothing either way but we are still playing the same midfield, sideways sideways tippy tappy, still lacking a cutting edge, still fucking up throw ins
the next two games i would like to see our first 11 start
and yes burton and bristol city will be no great shakes but newcastle, norwich, derby, sheff wed possibly wolves with new owners wont
And what you're forgetting is that the 2 of those who we played last season resulted in a win, 2 draws and a loss so we've shown we can compete with them at our worst. The only other side we faced last year who we'll be playing this year we also beat 1-0.
I'm not saying we don't need to work on the squad but this idea that Newcastle and Norwich are going to completely turn their form around and destroy everyone but we're incapable of it seems to be people trying to find negatives rather than being based on anything measurable.
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Nantes area top-flight French outfit. They didn't want to lose that game. Congrats Villa. Looking forward to a winning season with new blood and management. Come on d'Villa!
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Oh hold on let me check again....yes we are in the Championship.
I'd be expecting us to be more than just competitive in a shit division like that.
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Oh hold on let me check again....yes we are in the Championship.
I'd be expecting us to be more than just competitive in a shit division like that.
What on earth are you wobbling on about?
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Oh hold on let me check again....yes we are in the Championship.
I'd be expecting us to be more than just competitive in a shit division like that.
What on earth are you wobbling on about?
Not worth the effort, you've got your head in the sand again.
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Big problem for me was style of play.
It was exactly the same as last few seasons which has been a roaring success. Hutton as our ring wing creator and Westwood, Gana, Bacuna contributing the "creativity" from midfield.
I know we're a lower level but hand on heart this squad is miles away from winning 25 games next season and winning promotion.
Another problem is players we want to see like Grealish, Adama and Amavi who can freshen up the side and add some unpredictability at least to attacks have hardly been seen in pre season for one reason or another so I don't see two of them starting in Sheffield.
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How many did we lose by?
I think that's a good point - what happened to the win despite not playing well attitude ?
We won games last pre season didn't we? And the seasons before under Lambert?
Main thing in pre season for me is get a good style of play going...e.g. establishing a connection between midfield and strikers that means chances are regularly created.
None of that yesterday, 1 shot on target wasn't it which is very poor considering Nantes aren't at peak fitness levels themselves and probably didn't have their full team out.
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i never pay a lot of attention to friendlies however when i see largely the same team doing (or not doing) the same things as last season then i start to worry
hoping to see a cm and a forward in this week
Last season we'd have lost this game with two late goals. There seemed to be a lot more defensive cohesion even if the forward play needs some work. Then again, that's what preseason is for - working out your strengths and weaknesses. If we had won all our friendlies 3-0, you'd still be moaning we hadn't played anyone of any standard. Remember, we won't be playing Manchester, Chelsea and Spurs next season and I doubt the likes of Bristol and Burton carry the same threat.
Watching the game last night actually reminded me of Bournemouth away on the first day, under pressure for long spells before a Gestede winner from a set piece nicked the win.
I naively thought we'd get better from that point but all the problems in the side were brutally exposed over 38 games, same will happen here unless new signings freshen things up.
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Nobody knows how we will fair this season but if you were seeking encouragement from yesterday's performance you wouldn't have found it.
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i never pay a lot of attention to friendlies however when i see largely the same team doing (or not doing) the same things as last season then i start to worry
hoping to see a cm and a forward in this week
Last season we'd have lost this game with two late goals. There seemed to be a lot more defensive cohesion even if the forward play needs some work. Then again, that's what preseason is for - working out your strengths and weaknesses. If we had won all our friendlies 3-0, you'd still be moaning we hadn't played anyone of any standard. Remember, we won't be playing Manchester, Chelsea and Spurs next season and I doubt the likes of Bristol and Burton carry the same threat.
you miss the point entirely
pre season results mean nothing either way but we are still playing the same midfield, sideways sideways tippy tappy, still lacking a cutting edge, still fucking up throw ins
the next two games i would like to see our first 11 start
and yes burton and bristol city will be no great shakes but newcastle, norwich, derby, sheff wed possibly wolves with new owners wont
So preseason means nothing but you're going to use the games to justify your opinion anyway?
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I see Swansea put 5 past Bristol rovers yday
Can't read too much into pre season. But equally given our appalling form for 12 months it would be nice to see some signs of improvement too
The team he picked isn't geared up for creative football tho. I wonder if he'll aim to be solid to begin with. Then blood the kids slowly and hopefully continue to bring in some new players
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Oh hold on let me check again....yes we are in the Championship.
I'd be expecting us to be more than just competitive in a shit division like that.
What on earth are you wobbling on about?
Not worth the effort, you've got your head in the sand again.
I haven't got my head in the sand at all. I'm just wondering what you mean by 'more than competitive'. You said it, it's not a hard question.
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I see Swansea put 5 past Bristol rovers yday
Can't read too much into pre season. But equally given our appalling form for 12 months it would be nice to see some signs of improvement too
The team he picked isn't geared up for creative football tho. I wonder if he'll aim to be solid to begin with. Then blood the kids slowly and hopefully continue to bring in some new players
Mind you, Swansea haven't just got relegated and won only 3 of their last 39 league games. It's going to take a while to build the confidence back up.
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The thing is we were so diabolical last season, it's possibly going to take time to repair the damage and for RDM to get his idea's across. I didn't expect us to play free flowing football 4 games into his reign and we might even have a slow start to the season. The most important thing is that we rebuild the team spirit, which according to Spink is what played a massive part in getting us back up last time.
And we'd have bitten hands off last year for a few "didn't play well scrappy 1-0 wins". There's actually a team in blue in the eastern part of the Midlands that took full advantage of that approach.
We won't always play well, but when we don't can we still stay compact enough to grab a point or a win. All too often in the past few years when we didn't play well we didn't just lose by the odd goal. We got utterly battered. So as much as yesterday wasn't great, we won, and that builds a bit more togetherness and belief in the squad.
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The thing is we were so diabolical last season, it's possibly going to take time to repair the damage and for RDM to get his idea's across. I didn't expect us to play free flowing football 4 games into his reign and we might even have a slow start to the season. The most important thing is that we rebuild the team spirit, which according to Spink is what played a massive part in getting us back up last time.
And we'd have bitten hands off last year for a few "didn't play well scrappy 1-0 wins". There's actually a team in blue in the eastern part of the Midlands that took full advantage of that approach.
We won't always play well, but when we don't can we still stay compact enough to grab a point or a win. All too often in the past few years when we didn't play well we didn't just lose by the odd goal. We got utterly battered. So as much as yesterday wasn't great, we won, and that builds a bit more togetherness and belief in the squad.
We had a near identical one on the first day of last season which should've set the tone for the season but instead the major weaknesses in the squad were exposed brutally over the next 37 games.
I worry the same is going to happen here. Teams with likes of Bacuna, Westwood, Hutton, Cissokho, Gestede in it simply don't win many games during a season.
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Soccer, a few things:
1) manager isn't Tim Sherwood who tactically was inept. Randy isn't owner. Fox isn't Chief Exec.
2) we're not in the PL
3) division in the squad isn't there as it was under Tim who was quick to blame others when it went wrong. That created a divide we never recovered from
4) we won't have the group of players this season and even if we do keep some they will be better suited to the lower standard
I'm sure there are loads of other reasons why it won't be the same as last season
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Soccer, a few things:
1) manager isn't Tim Sherwood who tactically was inept. Randy isn't owner. Fox isn't Chief Exec.
2) we're not in the PL
3) division in the squad isn't there as it was under Tim who was quick to blame others when it went wrong. That created a divide we never recovered from
4) we won't have the group of players this season and even if we do keep some they will be better suited to the lower standard
I'm sure there are loads of other reasons why it won't be the same as last season
All of the above may be true, the point is though, is what we have good enough to get out I've the Division. A lot of people rightly think the squad is not capable enough without major surgery.
There is still time but we need to be loosing quite a few soon.
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The one thing our squad was completely devoid of was confidence in themselves. No leadership throughout the club, losing became a habit not just on the pitch. We need to start winning again and that will build confidence within the same set of players. They are not all bad. Yes we need to move some players on and some players simply either don't want to be with us or won't fit the system RDM is looking to employ. But the fact we have dropped a division will help in getting us back to being competitive again quickly and we can build from that. It's also important to note how all of this has affected us. We are all tired of losing also and we've naturally become cynical and skeptical of the intentions of the club. Winning changes that too. We could all do with some of that.
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I am not pointing the finger at any one, as you say we have been in a very bad place for a long time.
I think it is impossible to over state the turnaround that is needed here.
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I agree, it shouldn't be underestimated. I was saying in a different thread that I expect us to start steady and then pick up momentum after a few games. There's going to be a settling in period. I think Newcastle are favourites and in the end we will go up second.
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Soccer, a few things:
1) manager isn't Tim Sherwood who tactically was inept. Randy isn't owner. Fox isn't Chief Exec.
2) we're not in the PL
3) division in the squad isn't there as it was under Tim who was quick to blame others when it went wrong. That created a divide we never recovered from
4) we won't have the group of players this season and even if we do keep some they will be better suited to the lower standard
I'm sure there are loads of other reasons why it won't be the same as last season
All of the above may be true, the point is though, is what we have good enough to get out I've the Division. A lot of people rightly think the squad is not capable enough without major surgery.
There is still time but we need to be loosing quite a few soon.
The bit in bold is the same sort of arrogance you show on off topic all the time, there's no rightly about it, there hasn't been a single ball kicked in the league how can you possibly say that people 'rightly' think the squad is too weak? That's an opinion, and a fairly common one, but you can't claim to be right about it with no evidence.
I personally believe that if we can keep fitness levels up and keep developing the defensive organisation that I've seen so far this squad would sneak enough wins to be in the mix, Ayew will score spectacular goals, we know that, Gestede will score if we get good crosses in and Bennett, Amavi, Grealish and Green can all cross (and Traore will put chances on a plate for people as well). I don't think that's enough to score shit loads and dominate teams but I'd trust that if we can keep 20-25 clean sheets we have enough to sneak one at the other end and turn a big chunk of those into wins.
The good/bad thing is none of us will find out either way because this squad isn't the one well have for most of the season. On top of that the complaints seem to have come because our 5th friendly saw us put out a team that was similar to last season and some seem to think everything else that we've done in pre-season is meaningless and this game is the only one that we should look at. I think overall in the friendlies we've seen that he will give the kids a chance and that 2-3 of them look like they can add something to us.
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Soccer, a few things:
1) manager isn't Tim Sherwood who tactically was inept. Randy isn't owner. Fox isn't Chief Exec.
2) we're not in the PL
3) division in the squad isn't there as it was under Tim who was quick to blame others when it went wrong. That created a divide we never recovered from
4) we won't have the group of players this season and even if we do keep some they will be better suited to the lower standard
I'm sure there are loads of other reasons why it won't be the same as last season
All of the above may be true, the point is though, is what we have good enough to get out I've the Division. A lot of people rightly think the squad is not capable enough without major surgery.
There is still time but we need to be loosing quite a few soon.
The bit in bold is the same sort of arrogance you show on off topic all the time, there's no rightly about it, there hasn't been a single ball kicked in the league how can you possibly say that people 'rightly' think the squad is too weak? That's an opinion, and a fairly common one, but you can't claim to be right about it with no evidence.
I personally believe that if we can keep fitness levels up and keep developing the defensive organisation that I've seen so far this squad would sneak enough wins to be in the mix, Ayew will score spectacular goals, we know that, Gestede will score if we get good crosses in and Bennett, Amavi, Grealish and Green can all cross (and Traore will put chances on a plate for people as well). I don't think that's enough to score shit loads and dominate teams but I'd trust that if we can keep 20-25 clean sheets we have enough to sneak one at the other end and turn a big chunk of those into wins.
The good/bad thing is none of us will find out either way because this squad isn't the one well have for most of the season. On top of that the complaints seem to have come because our 5th friendly saw us put out a team that was similar to last season and some seem to think everything else that we've done in pre-season is meaningless and this game is the only one that we should look at. I think overall in the friendlies we've seen that he will give the kids a chance and that 2-3 of them look like they can add something to us.
what is your problem?
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If we keep 20/25 clean sheets then I'll pay £50 to whatever charity you choose. More chance of Leicester retaining the title in my opinion.
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If we keep 20/25 clean sheets then I'll pay £50 to whatever charity you choose. More chance of Leicester retaining the title in my opinion.
Bearing in mind the way we played last season, you might win you bet.
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I agree, it shouldn't be underestimated. I was saying in a different thread that I expect us to start steady and then pick up momentum after a few games. There's going to be a settling in period. I think Newcastle are favourites and in the end we will go up second.
TV lets hope you are right,it's more about attitude than ability.
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If we keep 20/25 clean sheets then I'll pay £50 to whatever charity you choose. More chance of Leicester retaining the title in my opinion.
Out of interest, how many clean sheets did the Championship winners and runners up keep last season?
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Soccer, a few things:
1) manager isn't Tim Sherwood who tactically was inept. Randy isn't owner. Fox isn't Chief Exec.
2) we're not in the PL
3) division in the squad isn't there as it was under Tim who was quick to blame others when it went wrong. That created a divide we never recovered from
4) we won't have the group of players this season and even if we do keep some they will be better suited to the lower standard
I'm sure there are loads of other reasons why it won't be the same as last season
All of the above may be true, the point is though, is what we have good enough to get out I've the Division. A lot of people rightly think the squad is not capable enough without major surgery.
There is still time but we need to be loosing quite a few soon.
The bit in bold is the same sort of arrogance you show on off topic all the time, there's no rightly about it, there hasn't been a single ball kicked in the league how can you possibly say that people 'rightly' think the squad is too weak? That's an opinion, and a fairly common one, but you can't claim to be right about it with no evidence.
I personally believe that if we can keep fitness levels up and keep developing the defensive organisation that I've seen so far this squad would sneak enough wins to be in the mix, Ayew will score spectacular goals, we know that, Gestede will score if we get good crosses in and Bennett, Amavi, Grealish and Green can all cross (and Traore will put chances on a plate for people as well). I don't think that's enough to score shit loads and dominate teams but I'd trust that if we can keep 20-25 clean sheets we have enough to sneak one at the other end and turn a big chunk of those into wins.
The good/bad thing is none of us will find out either way because this squad isn't the one well have for most of the season. On top of that the complaints seem to have come because our 5th friendly saw us put out a team that was similar to last season and some seem to think everything else that we've done in pre-season is meaningless and this game is the only one that we should look at. I think overall in the friendlies we've seen that he will give the kids a chance and that 2-3 of them look like they can add something to us.
what is your problem?
Nothing at all, I just don't see how you can say that people 'rightly' think the squad isn't good enough as if it's a fact, you've made the same 'mistake' of thinking your own opinion is fact on a number of threads over the last month or so.
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I think I have been responding to attacks that are becoming quite frequent by you and your ilk.
I think you will find I have voiced opinions without resorting to name calling which is something you are obviously incapable of.
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If we keep 20/25 clean sheets then I'll pay £50 to whatever charity you choose. More chance of Leicester retaining the title in my opinion.
Out of interest, how many clean sheets did the Championship winners and runners up keep last season?
I reckon Burnley got 20 and Middlesbrough 22, so 20-25 seems a good target to aim for. Hull also got to 20.
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If we keep 20/25 clean sheets then I'll pay £50 to whatever charity you choose. More chance of Leicester retaining the title in my opinion.
Out of interest, how many clean sheets did the Championship winners and runners up keep last season?
I reckon Burnley got 20 and Middlesbrough 22, so 20-25 seems a good target to aim for.
Yes it does, and it can be done. It'll be tough though.
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I think I have been responding to attacks that are becoming quite frequent by you and your ilk.
I think you will find I have voiced opinions without resorting to name calling which is something you are obviously incapable of.
If you have a complaint about any member of this site, please contact a moderator.
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How we do or don't do next season, regardless of pre season warm up games is pure speculation. Nobody can predict with any certainty what the future holds until we know whether Tony Xia is going to put his money where his mouth is. What is happening at the moment is that RDM, Steve Clarke and Kevin Bond are giving the players a chance to prove themselves. It is entirely right and proper that they should. If we are not winning games by the autumn the owner will have to get his cheque book out in January. I think Tony Xia knows the score and knows how important a quick return to the top flight is for his investment.
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Does anyone that was at the game know why some of our fans were teargassed by the French police?
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Does anyone that was at the game know why some of our fans were teargassed by the French police?
I saw pictures of that earlier on facebook. No idea what went on but going by the live footage, there didn't seem to be any problems in the away end. It all looked a bit heavy handed, there wasn't that many of us there.
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An over the top response to a handful of drunks.
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Fans were asked to move on after the game. 6 of them, absolutely hammered according to eye witnesses refused or were being obstinate. They have a zero tolerance policy over there and somewhat understandable given recent events in that country albeit non football related. It was over the top but then the fans played a part too.
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I agree, it shouldn't be underestimated. I was saying in a different thread that I expect us to start steady and then pick up momentum after a few games. There's going to be a settling in period. I think Newcastle are favourites and in the end we will go up second.
Although it probably is wise not to read too much into the line up yesterday, the midfield remains an area of concern for me. To see midfield still containing Westwood and Bacuna was disappointing to say the least, friendly or no friendly. I'm not sure if we lined up with a flat four across the middle or were in a diamond shape, but it looked an unbalanced midfield even on paper. It will be interesting to see the team this coming Saturday, as I would have thought it will be very close to the XI for Hillsborough.
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Does anyone that was at the game know why some of our fans were teargassed by the French police?
It all started with the 5 or 6 completely drunk guys in the away end. No problem at first but they started kicking and climbing the fence in front of us during the second half ( one eventually got on the pitch behind the goal ), so stewards came to calm things down which didn't really work but nothing of major importance happened, they were just drunk.
5 or 10 minutes before the final whistle these guys got out of the away end on their own, not escorted by anyone, they looked angry at the stewards I don't really know why, and this is when the riot police came to take them back into our end and randomly teargassed us for no reason, with kids there, instead of dealing with the few that caused trouble. This is why the game was stopped 2 minutes before the end, some of the players received some of the gas into their eyes and mouths, you can see it this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xMGKBpZFfU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xMGKBpZFfU)
The police made it worse with their intervention as almost all the villa fans were peaceful, I guess they were afraid that the fans would want to fight with the Nantes lot which would've not happened if they could've simply handled 5 drunks. Once the game was over they made us walk out of the stadium by another exit so we would not go out with the Nantes fans, I left quickly with my dad so we didn't see anything that may have happened afterwards.
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Not sure if mentioned elsewhere but Wednesday's game at The Lamb against Tamworth has now been rescheduled for Tuesday August 2nd at 7.30pm.
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Anyone know if you can pay on the gate tomorrow at Cambridge?
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Pre-season friendly
Tuesday July 26
Kick off: 7:30pm
Allocation: 1,447
Abbey Stadium
Prices £15 [adults], £10 [concessions - O65s/students/young adult 18-21], £5 [U18s] and free [U5s]
Disabled supporters ticket prices as above with a free Personal Assistant. There are seven wheelchair bays
TODAY: On general sale
Head over to our ONLINE BOX OFFICE.
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Thanks for the report Theo. Some of us watching in to were wondering why the game was stopped so near the end.
The tv didn't show the trouble
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I wonder if Amavi will get a run out tomorrow. I also wonder when Clark is back in training? Guzan and Sanchez look like they may have seen the last of BMH if rumours are true.
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Cheers rudy cf. I'd read that. Genuinely want to know if me plus child can pay in tomorrow.
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I wonder if Amavi will get a run out tomorrow. I also wonder when Clark is back in training? Guzan and Sanchez look like they may have seen the last of BMH if rumours are true.
Sanchez leaving would make me a little sad. I was so excited when he arrived. Such a shame it has not worked out, so far anyway.
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Pre-season friendly
Tuesday July 26
Kick off: 7:30pm
Allocation: 1,447
Abbey Stadium
Prices £15 [adults], £10 [concessions - O65s/students/young adult 18-21], £5 [U18s] and free [U5s]
Disabled supporters ticket prices as above with a free Personal Assistant. There are seven wheelchair bays
TODAY: On general sale
Head over to our ONLINE BOX OFFICE.
and if your coming down the A14 towards Cambridge, rush hour is a bit of a pig..also there are limited pubs near the ground so best to stop somewhere like Histon and drive to the ground for kick off.
UTV
The Doc
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.
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Pre-season friendly
Tuesday July 26
Kick off: 7:30pm
Allocation: 1,447
Abbey Stadium
Prices £15 [adults], £10 [concessions - O65s/students/young adult 18-21], £5 [U18s] and free [U5s]
Disabled supporters ticket prices as above with a free Personal Assistant. There are seven wheelchair bays
TODAY: On general sale
Head over to our ONLINE BOX OFFICE.
and if your coming down the A14 towards Cambridge, rush hour is a bit of a pig..also there are limited pubs near the ground so best to stop somewhere like Histon and drive to the ground for kick off.
UTV
The Doc
and if you are drinking and driving, try and remember where you parked the car.
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Can you pay on the door tonight? I cant find the info anywhere and the previous info (thanks anyway) is inconclusive. I know you can in the home end.
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Yes, my son rang VP for me and I am too late for an on line ticket. Advised to buy a Villa end ticket at the main ticket office. Get there early. My garden shed is bigger than their main ticket office. Anybody coming down the A14 get off at the most easterly Cambridge exit the one for the airport and drive back towards Cambridge on Newmarket Rd. Don't attempt to drive through the city centre. As Doc Butler says two or three good pubs in Histon. Easy free parking opposite the Holiday Inn, then back on the A14 heading east, first turn off after the arched pedestrian bridge over the road and that delivers you to walking distance from the ground.
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You can pay on the gate - £17. Been to ticket office to check. And, it is indeed very small.
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You can pay on the gate - £17. Been to ticket office to check. And, it is indeed very small.
£17 ???
Blimey i got one for £12...
UTV
The Doc
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And who gets the money if we pay at Cambridge Ticketofficearama? Us or them?
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And who gets the money if we pay at Cambridge Ticketofficearama? Us or them?
They get it anyway.
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I don't suppose there is any coverage on local radio here or Cambridge?
I will answer my own question. There is live coverage on Cambridge 105fm if you can tune in.
I can get it on the desktop!
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you mean radio wm aren't covering it?
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Still some interesting players missing tonite ..........
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Gollini, Lyden, Okore, Toner, Bennett, Bacuna, Gardner, Tshibola, Grealish, Hepburn-Murphy, Sinclair.
Subs: Idem, Suliman, Abdo, Sanchez, Green, Veretout.
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Where's Gabby and Richards?
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Where's Gabby and Richards?
Gabby has an injury. Richards is a wanker
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Why isn't Sinclair in Scotland?
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Commentator says we have a lot of people travelled down.
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Good opportunity for Tshibola, Rushian and Gardner.
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Why is Gollini the captain tonight? Doesn't make sense.
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Commentators sound like a couple of rugger twats that try to talk football during the Euros/World Cup.
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Sinclair scores 1-0
2-0 Murphy
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Brian, give us a wave, Brian Brian give us a wave
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I'd love to see Rushian involved this year, he's got something about him.
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The commentary on Cambridge 105 is comical...every second word is erm or oooh.
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These commentators are ok, when they're not actually commentating, then they're awful.
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These commentators are ok, when they're not actually commentating, then they're awful.
Local radio eh!
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The commentary on Cambridge 105 is comical...every second word is erm or oooh.
aaaagggh , that's ruined it for me now, I'm now even starting to count the erms per minute.
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erm...kind of...errr
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I'd love to see Rushian involved this year, he's got something about him.
I like him and Davis looks very good as well, think they could work well together as well.
I agree with others on this commentary, it's truly awful, Don't like the rugby link though (by Rudy), no rugby commentators I've ever heard have been this shit.
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I seriously cant listen any longer. Inside the factory BBC2 for me.
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I'd love to see Rushian involved this year, he's got something about him.
I like him and Davis looks very good as well, think they could work well together as well.
I agree with others on this commentary, it's truly awful, Don't like the rugby link though (by Rudy), no rugby commentators I've ever heard have been this shit.
These two make Jack sound quite professional. God bless him wherever he is!
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Say De Facto some more, go on I dare you.
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Why is Gollini the captain tonight? Doesn't make sense.
What difference does it make ?
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Why is Gollini the captain tonight? Doesn't make sense.
What difference does it make ?
Makes the sleeve tighter.
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This commentary is gloriously amateur.
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I wish they would bring Piggott on so we can start a punathon
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I'd love to see Rushian involved this year, he's got something about him.
I like him and Davis looks very good as well, think they could work well together as well.
I agree with others on this commentary, it's truly awful, Don't like the rugby link though (by Rudy), no rugby commentators I've ever heard have been this shit.
I wouldn't mind rugby commentators, they're normally well informed. These two six form rugger buggers however can only have got the job through some every strong connections. They're so bad I switched it off. That didn't happen even once with Woodward.
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So apparently Guzan has gone to Stoke or Southampton as reserve keeper - these commentators are genius !
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Erm. Yeah. Errrrrrr. Oooh.
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Comm1 : "That was a professional foul"
Comm2 : "Yes, a very professional foul"
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So Guzan has gone and we haven't signed Elphick. Top research lads.
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Enough about the commentators, what's the fackin' score ?
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Enough about the commentators, what's the fackin' score ?
Still 2-0
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'Josh Lyden....Joe Lyden....'
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They both sound like there's something riding on this game.
"Is that Josh Lyden ... "
"Jack G-relish ..."
"de facto de facto de facto - reset reset reset"
... "and thanks to Brian from Dover for letting us know where Tommy Elphick came from"
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I'd love to see Rushian involved this year, he's got something about him.
I like him and Davis looks very good as well, think they could work well together as well.
I agree with others on this commentary, it's truly awful, Don't like the rugby link though (by Rudy), no rugby commentators I've ever heard have been this shit.
I wouldn't mind rugby commentators, they're normally well informed. These two six form rugger buggers however can only have got the job through some every strong connections. They're so bad I switched it off. That didn't happen even once with Woodward.
See I'm imagining the 'main' commentator as a bit of a hipster, I'd put money on him having a bit of a beard. The other guy sounds like someone they got in from the crowd.
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They have been joined by Tim from the Terraces!
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I'd love to see Rushian involved this year, he's got something about him.
I like him and Davis looks very good as well, think they could work well together as well.
I agree with others on this commentary, it's truly awful, Don't like the rugby link though (by Rudy), no rugby commentators I've ever heard have been this shit.
I wouldn't mind rugby commentators, they're normally well informed. These two six form rugger buggers however can only have got the job through some every strong connections. They're so bad I switched it off. That didn't happen even once with Woodward.
See I'm imagining the 'main' commentator as a bit of a hipster, I'd put money on him having a bit of a beard. The other guy sounds like someone they got in from the crowd.
(https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/s320x320/e15/11186814_1659294197627659_1902151125_n.jpg)
There you go, the main one is the guy in the background, definitely not a rugger player.
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I'd love to see Rushian involved this year, he's got something about him.
I like him and Davis looks very good as well, think they could work well together as well.
I agree with others on this commentary, it's truly awful, Don't like the rugby link though (by Rudy), no rugby commentators I've ever heard have been this shit.
I wouldn't mind rugby commentators, they're normally well informed. These two six form rugger buggers however can only have got the job through some every strong connections. They're so bad I switched it off. That didn't happen even once with Woodward.
See I'm imagining the 'main' commentator as a bit of a hipster, I'd put money on him having a bit of a beard. The other guy sounds like someone they got in from the crowd.
Ha! I've been googling them and one does indeed have a bit of a beard but more sad twat than hipster, if that's possible. Whoever they are, they're both completely out of their depth.
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(https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/s320x320/e15/11186814_1659294197627659_1902151125_n.jpg)
There you go, the main one is the guy in the background, definitely not a rugger player.
My guess is he's the son of former footballer, David Swindlehurst.
(https://i.holmesdale.net/news/1636.jpg)
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Awwww "Our listenership means everything" to the commentators.
I think they're great.
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I knew it - A Rugger Bugger!!!
(https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/s320x320/e35/11906095_497034340453656_1722932767_n.jpg)
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Carlos coming on. They love his hair!
Oooooooooooh!.... Ive had enough.
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This is what it must sound like in the Stretford End at TTOD.
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I'm listening, but I have no clue what is going on.
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Mr Trialist has had a shot!
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Taking their information from the utterances of nearby reporters now.
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Apparently, Andre Gren is coming on.
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It is still 2-0 please?
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Yes.
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Apparently, Andre Gren is coming on.
Sounds like some arty French writer from between the wars.
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Yes.
Cheers PWS. Are we playing the usual 4231? Not watching/listening, working away.
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3-0. Gardner.
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Yes.
Cheers PWS. Are we playing the usual 4231? Not watching/listening, working away.
No idea with these commentators. They don't cover trivial things like tactics. They like talking about the hairstyles of players though.
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WM should employ them.
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It isn't a penalty but the ref should have been fair as it's a friendly and given a pen instead of a freekick.
816 Villa there tonight.
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One of them sounds like Alan Partridge.
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FT 3-0 win.
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I was about to turn it off but then they started playing Geno.
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Just tuned back in and its that classic, erm geno.
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I was about to turn it off but then they started playing Geno.
Planet Earth and Food for Thought next.
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Looks a bit like a reserve side tonight bar for a couple, I'd like to know what RDM was looking at tonight, particularly with throwing in some players who we seem to be selling imminently?
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If we ever play them again lets all remember they are now called C erm bridge United.
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I wonder if the bloke from Homes under the Hammer was there?
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Looks a bit like a reserve side tonight bar for a couple, I'd like to know what RDM was looking at tonight, particularly with throwing in some players who we seem to be selling imminently?
got to be full strength sat with the team that will start at sheffield
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I wonder if the bloke from Homes under the Hammer was there?
Martin Roberts?
Strikes me as more of a rugger type guy.
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I wonder if the bloke from Homes under the Hammer was there?
Martin Roberts?
Strikes me as more of a rugger type guy.
Shame, I love him.
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Looks a bit like a reserve side tonight bar for a couple, I'd like to know what RDM was looking at tonight, particularly with throwing in some players who we seem to be selling imminently?
Yep, which suggests that the team that played on Saturday is pretty much going to be the starting XI for Hillsborough.
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*waving*. Walking home. Green is bloody good. Sanchez is pants. The baiting of Bacuna has to stop. Night all.
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Agree Brian. The constant baiting of players needs to stop because it will derail our attempts to go back up. It's over, move on. We went down it was shit. But if the manager picks Bacuna or Lescott or Gabby we have to give them the best chance to succeed both individually and as part of the team.
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Generally agree but fuck Gabby. He deserves all he gets and got away with it last year.
I don't want him to play a single minute for us ever again.
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Generally agree but fuck Gabby. He deserves all he gets and got away with it last year.
I don't want him to play a single minute for us ever again.
I would be very impressed with Xia if he paid up the years remaining on Agbonlahors contract and got him out of the club.
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Agree Brian. The constant baiting of players needs to stop because it will derail our attempts to go back up. It's over, move on. We went down it was shit. But if the manager picks Bacuna or Lescott or Gabby we have to give them the best chance to succeed both individually and as part of the team.
Agree entirely and with Brian. If fans are going to get on player's backs whilst we're going for promotion, then we don't need their support.
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Generally agree but fuck Gabby. He deserves all he gets and got away with it last year.
I don't want him to play a single minute for us ever again.
I would be very impressed with Xia if he paid up the years remaining on Agbonlahors contract and got him out of the club.
Agree with the sentiment but if it was our money mmmm Doubt it - I would begrudgingly pay the lump and make him clean the shithouse if need be for the duration of his contract
Paying a footballer off as a "punishment" is nothing of the sort
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Generally agree but fuck Gabby. He deserves all he gets and got away with it last year.
I don't want him to play a single minute for us ever again.
I would be very impressed with Xia if he paid up the years remaining on Agbonlahors contract and got him out of the club.
Agree with the sentiment but if it was our money mmmm Doubt it - I would begrudgingly pay the lump and make him clean the shithouse if need be for the duration of his contract
Paying a footballer off as a "punishment" is nothing of the sort
it is our money, and has been our money while he has been prancing around the pitch for the last 4 years taking the piss
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Agree Brian. The constant baiting of players needs to stop because it will derail our attempts to go back up. It's over, move on. We went down it was shit. But if the manager picks Bacuna or Lescott or Gabby we have to give them the best chance to succeed both individually and as part of the team.
I agree, although if you had asked me in May my response would have been less pragmatic.
As far as the manager and coaches are concerned they can only judge on what they see and if individuals are working hard and showing that they have something to offer then he is probably going to want to use them.
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Generally agree but fuck Gabby. He deserves all he gets and got away with it last year.
I don't want him to play a single minute for us ever again.
I would be very impressed with Xia if he paid up the years remaining on Agbonlahors contract and got him out of the club.
No, no, no! :-) this club has been a charity to workshy Gabby for last 3/4 years, giving him a lump sum to walk away and get another contract on top of his pay off is more sickening than keeping him and not playing him
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This commentary is gloriously amateur.
Thats because it is. 105 is a community radio station run by volunteers and funded through fundraising. Its based in a garage round the corner from my house.
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Generally agree but fuck Gabby. He deserves all he gets and got away with it last year.
I don't want him to play a single minute for us ever again.
I would be very impressed with Xia if he paid up the years remaining on Agbonlahors contract and got him out of the club.
No, no, no! :-) this club has been a charity to workshy Gabby for last 3/4 years, giving him a lump sum to walk away and get another contract on top of his pay off is more sickening than keeping him and not playing him
He could probably get a contract out of some gullible Chinese or American team. It would be worth paying half his contract to get rid of him rather than being stuck with him as Tottingham were lumbered with Adebayor for half of last season.
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[Agree Brian. The constant baiting of players needs to stop because it will derail our attempts to go back up. It's over, move on. We went down it was shit. But if the manager picks Bacuna or Lescott or Gabby we have to give them the best chance to succeed both individually and as part of the team.
[/quote]
I agree with you we have to put last season behind us and move on and get behind them this season.
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For anyone who went. Did the players look good? Who played well? Who didn't? Did they look in better condition than at the same stage last year?
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For anyone who went. Did the players look good? Who played well? Who didn't? Did they look in better condition than at the same stage last year?
Agreed
Formation(s)
Fitness
Tactics (hoping we have some of these this season)
Young players performances
It really helps those that cannot make the games
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Gardner, Green Gollini and Grealish looked the best.
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[Agree Brian. The constant baiting of players needs to stop because it will derail our attempts to go back up. It's over, move on. We went down it was shit. But if the manager picks Bacuna or Lescott or Gabby we have to give them the best chance to succeed both individually and as part of the team.
I agree with you we have to put last season behind us and move on and get behind them this season.
[/quote]
Gabby can do what he likes in a Villa shirt ranging from M - XXL. I just need to look at his retarded countenance to know I'll always remain one of his loyal haterz.
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All the fans' comments I've seen suggested grealish and Gardner the best, with an exciting cameo from green
The Mail said Gardner was rubbish tho. I've a low opinion of their analysis however!
Sounds like we were ropey at the back tho it was far from first choice
I imagine 4231 w grealish in the hole?
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In addition to the ones mentioned by Ads I would add RH-M for energy, pace and effort. He got very little from the ref in his tussles with a centre back a foot taller than himself and he deserved his goal. There will be very few better players than Green and Grealish in the Championship. And what a blessed relief to have a goalkeeper who can kick long and straight with either foot.
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Cheers chaps. For me it sounds like if we add some experience and quality in the right areas (centre mid mainly) we could have an exciting season.
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Our young players acquitted themselves well. Bloody shame they were not allowed to cheer us up a little when Black was blazing his trail of ignomony.
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Gardner, Green Gollini and Grealish looked the best.
So will these be known as The V Gees
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Gardner, Green Gollini and Grealish looked the best.
So will these be known as The V Gees
Given that the best thing about the team was the 4G does that mean we looked more mobile?
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Gardner, Green Gollini and Grealish looked the best.
So will these be known as The V Gees
Given that the best thing about the team was the 4G does that mean we looked more mobile?
Return of the Orange Dot
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Agree Brian. The constant baiting of players needs to stop because it will derail our attempts to go back up. It's over, move on. We went down it was shit. But if the manager picks Bacuna or Lescott or Gabby we have to give them the best chance to succeed both individually and as part of the team.
Can we have one bash at Gabby, preferably in a friendly, and then get on with supporting the club.
The fact Gabby has managed to avoid facing the crowd through lack of fitness/unspecific injuries boils my piss a bit.
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Is the Family Fun Zone open before the Middlesbrough match?
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Is the Family Fun Zone open before the Middlesbrough match?
Not listed on here Leeg
https://www.avfc.co.uk/familyfunzone
Are you going to the game ?
If so, drop me a text and I'll track you down
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I accept that it is only a friendly, but I would be treating tomorrow's game for all intents and purposes as the first game of the season. It should be the side that will start next week, with a few opportunities for squad members later on in the game.
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Boro game live and free on the OS again today
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Boro game live and free on the OS again today
I can't make the game so I for one am happy!
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Boro game live and free on the OS again today
How can it be on live.... again?
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Just registered for the official website, is that all thats needed to watch the game?
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Just registered for the official website, is that all thats needed to watch the game?
i hope
cant afford £44 at the moment
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I think an AVTV (or whatever it is called now) log-in is required.
-
It is required but I don't think it's on AVTV.
It's being screened through the official site I think
-
#AVFC team v @Boro: Gollini, Hutton, Cissokho, Elphick, Baker, Gardner, Westwood, Grealish, Bacuna, Ayew, Gestede.
Reckon that's the team he has in mind for next week
Only surprise for me is Gardner, not Tish
Green and RHM to get 30 mins+
-
Loads of Twitter chat regarding Amavi being back in the squad.
-
Actually RHM and Green aren't on the bench so scrub that. Amavi is
-
Not much steel in that midfield - we could do with a dominant ball winner in there and that should be top of our shopping list
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It is hard to feel positive with Hutton Gestede Westwood and Wanker on the team sheet.
-
Hutton's fine. He'll easily be one of the best fullbacks in the division.
-
Hutton's fine. He'll easily be one of the best fullbacks in the division.
That Hutton Bacuna combo has never looked good though.
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I've never seen bacuna play well in midfield. Technique-wise it's a shocking right hand side of the pitch. We've got to get a right hand sided player in
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Hutton is fine and always gives 100% .... the problem we have at Villa is that whoever seems to be infant of him does not offer the support and that was always a issue in the Prem
It amazes me that Hutton gets more stick than Cissohko who is really dross ....cant understand why Bennett is not playing rather than him
Todays team worries me as it simply is not good enough to make a major challenge in this division - we have not done the business we expected in transfer market
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It's definitely not good enough this team. But two well targeted signings would make a big difference
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Would it look better with the kids in?
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We need what we have needed as long as I can remember .....
1) Ball winning midfielder in the Joey Barton mould ....dont mean JB just someone nasty like he is
2) Creative midfield player
3) Goalscorer in the McCormick mould
Will take approx 20 million but we won't be far off that from sales
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I'd definitely be happier w green and RHM on the bench. We've only got Sinclair as an attacking option
Bit odd I'd have thought
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Hutton's fine. He'll easily be one of the best fullbacks in the division.
This. Hutton should comfortably be one of the best right backs in this league.
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No point looking at Sinclair as surely by next week he will have gone ....... Don't understand why he is on bench other than for injuries
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#AVFC team v @Boro: Gollini, Hutton, Cissokho, Elphick, Baker, Gardner, Westwood, Grealish, Bacuna, Ayew, Gestede.
Reckon that's the team he has in mind for next week
Only surprise for me is Gardner, not Tish
Green and RHM to get 30 mins+
I can see that team lining up something like:
Gollini
Hutton Elphick Baker Cissokho
Westwood Gardner
Bacuna Grealish Ayew
Gestede
Grealish and Ayew might be swapped or it might even be a diamond in midfield with Ayew and Gestede up top. Whatever it is, upgrades are required on Hutton, Baker, Westwood and Bacuna.
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Cissokho really is poor, we have to do better than him.
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It's easier to chose who you would want to see,
Elphic,Grealish, Ayew, Gollini.
Gardener and Gestede maybe, the rest ?
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Who is doing the commentary?
-
Is that Tony Morley on the live stream suggesting the likes of Lescott and Agbonlahor should be paid off and fucked off?
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Baker has got rid of most of the beard
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God it's depressing to see the players Boro have got in attack now compared to us with bacuna and gestede as first choice
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Afternoon all. Is it just me or is the volume on the OS stream very low?
-
Hutton, Baker, Cissohko, Westwood, Gestede and Bacuna-its hard to get excited when six of the starting 11 are garbage.
-
Gardener and Westwood as a pair in the middle looks uninspiring.
-
Who is doing the commentary?
WM guy - ?Rob Gurney?
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I know it's only a friendly, but that does look like an average Championship side.
-
Rudy should have been on the end of that
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Afternoon all. Is it just me or is the volume on the OS stream very low?
It is low - I've had to turn my laptop volume up to max
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Its Rego with Tony Morley
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Gardner already caught in possession twice deep in our own half
I've hardly seen him play many minutes and I've seen him do that quite a lot. I really really want him to do well but this season must be the last of his 'final chance seasons'
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Afternoon all. Is it just me or is the volume on the OS stream very low?
It is low - I've had to turn my laptop volume up to max
Mine is ok unlike the picture.
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Conversely my picture is excellent!
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Hutton is shit.
-
commentator just said we are playing Newcastle
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Bacuna and Hutton down that right hand side 😟😟😟😟😟😟
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Westwood and Bacuna are pathetic.
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Grealish and Ayew bothe looking good
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Bakerrrrrrrrrrr 1-0
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I can see a pattern it's just the players are shit
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Ayew
well done son
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1-0!
-
goallll
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ma baker
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In kozak and gestede we must have two of the least mobile forwards going
Ayew and grealish got more quality tho. Even if Boro somewhat statuesque
Baker seems to have learned to head the ball properly in the opponents' box whilst on loan. Nice ball from bacuna there
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Boro deserve to be behind, they've been very dirty for a friendly.
We've been pretty decent so far.
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good cross by bacuna
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Early observations. We still seem to have little fluidity on the counter as soon as we enter the final third because our front line is so immobile. Nice goal from Baker. Cissokho is utterly dreadful and so clumsy.
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good cross by bacuna
It was
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Well taken goal, but terrible corner, luckily Bacuna had a second chance.
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Also glad Bacuna isn't getting booed.
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Well taken goal, but terrible corner, luckily Bacuna had a second chance.
I've missed heroes and villains
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Quite like the look of Tommy
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Gollini looks useful with his feet. I'm not panicking whenever the ball goes back to him.
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Has gestede managed to hold onto one of those balls into him yet?
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one lay off
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Hutton the "fiery jock". Tony Morley is brilliant.
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Hutton should have shot there
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great move
hutton needs to sort his final ball out
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Nice move. Ayew and Grealish combining well again
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All our best movement from grealish and ayew
Gardner also coming into it quite well
Hutton couldn't have telegraphed that cross any more tho!
Get a proper striker with movement in and grealish and ayew could do brilliantly with someone like that in front of them
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Is everybody's stream still working? Mine's gone.
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Lot more structure defensively which is good to see
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get a striker bought in for gestede
amavi for cissokho
tish and adama some game time and another experienced midfielder
we will be ok this season
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Is everybody's stream still working? Mine's gone.
Yep perfect. Could be a little higher definition but not complaining
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Is everybody's stream still working? Mine's gone.
Yep perfect. Could be a little higher definition but not complaining
tablet was stuttering, desktop perfect
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Nice ball by Cissokho
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Second good cross from Cissokho with only the showroom dummy in the box.
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Rudy has gotten slower
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great pic - just the sound too quiet , had to put on speakers loud
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Ayew and Grealish definitely look good together. Maybe with Adama we might have the makings of a bit of excitement
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Good move again. Imperative we hang on to Ayew
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Not seen a move like that for a while. Encouraging
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Good move thankfully Ayew looks ok
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There's definitely a touch of gout going on with Rudy.
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gestede shit
great ball by ayew
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Where the fuck was Gestede then?
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Rudy so slow
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Really nice move. But the last two players we want on that break. Make that Amavi and Ayew or another proper striker not Gestede that's a goal.
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Gestede . . .
Shocking movement
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Good move again. Imperative we hang on to Ayew
:( :'(
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It looks as turgid as ever.
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He's not just slow he doesn't seem to know where to run!
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Boro really are a bunch of wankers. Fouling constantly.
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I can't find a feed. But there's commentary on Radio Smogmonster.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctees
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Lovely move again and touch from Aly.
*shocked face*
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I can't find a feed. But there's commentary on Radio Smogmonster.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctees
Just go to the OS. It's live and free
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I've registered with avfc.co.uk but says I have to subscribe to watch.
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ayew and grealish look good
getesde is poor at the moment
some good football at times
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Also live on avfc facebook
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I've registered with avfc.co.uk but says I have to subscribe to watch.
It's live on facebook for free.
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Lovely move again and touch from Aly.
*shocked face*
One of our best players this half. But if only we had someone living in the box to score.
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Some encouraging signs - especially from Grealish and Ayew, but to be fair Cissokho has done well and we've closed down quickly. If 'Boro are the best that the Championship can offer we'll be OK, but we desperately need a huge upgrade on Gestede up front
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Enjoyed that half. Boro very poor so can't read too much into it. But Gardner, grealish, ayew all looking quite good
Bacuna good cross. Gestede unquestionably the weak link.
Tony Morley keeps on going on about how he doesn't know his best formation. I think we've played 4231 every game!
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I've registered with avfc.co.uk but says I have to subscribe to watch.
Go to Matchday> Live Match Centre, scroll right to the bottom, click on WATCH THE MATCH
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I just don't think Gardener offers us anything, similar to Westwood, keeps it simple but nothing going forward.
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I know now what Gestede reminds me of, Nelson's Column, tall, immobile and half-blind to what's going on around him.
Tony Morley has definitely been posting on here. If not he's certainly reading us. Virtually everything he's saying is what has been written on here.
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I've registered with avfc.co.uk but says I have to subscribe to watch.
Shouldn't have to because it isn't on AVTV. It's the first thing on the OS. Just click and go. At least it should be.
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Decent first half, but the striker problem is going to bother us until it's fixed, whether that be this window, January, or next summer even.
Apart from that, we could still definitely use some guile in midfield - Gardner's played a couple of nice passes, but generally speaking he's playing too deep.
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I've registered with avfc.co.uk but says I have to subscribe to watch.
That caught me out too. You have to register with AVTV. It's separate from avfc.co.uk.
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Nice to see a couple of villa players who can beat a player. Need a couple more and a finisher and my confidence levels will improve significantly. Think someone said this before, but if Jack stays focused he will be the chumps player of the season
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I've registered with avfc.co.uk but says I have to subscribe to watch.
Shouldn't have to because it isn't on AVTV. It's the first thing on the OS. Just click and go. At least it should be.
i logged in through Facebook which worked
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I see Newcastle are 3-0 at half time against vitesse Arnhem
Not that I think that really matters but I think they'll run away with the league this year
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Gestede really doesn't fit the style RDM is looking to play. But shows our lack of options up front right now.
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Reasonably pleased so far, but we definitely need a striker, as this team will not score enough goals to be in promotion shake up. We've coped pretty well at the back, though Middlesbrough havent been what you'd call adventurous.
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I see Newcastle are 3-0 at half time against vitesse Arnhem
Not that I think that really matters but I think they'll run away with the league this year
They didn't have to change manager, have a very talented manager and on paper have a very decent squad. They should be favourites really. However we are holding our own vs a PL side that was in the Championship last season. It's ultimately this level of talent and worse that we have to beat on a weekly basis.
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Oh, and the shirt is indeed purple. Shrugs.
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I've registered with avfc.co.uk but says I have to subscribe to watch.
Go to Matchday> Live Match Centre, scroll right to the bottom, click on WATCH THE MATCH
It asks me to log-in at that point.
Thanks anyway, have it playing through Facebook.
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Tish on
-
Be interested to see how Tshibola does - have to admit I'd never even heard of him before we signed him
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Really wish they changed the players entrance tune 😠
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Anyone miss Jack Woodward?
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Looks like Tish and Gardner getting a half each as an audition
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Do the youngsters have a game in midweek. Wonder if he likes of Green, Lyden, RHM are being save to have a proper look at them then.
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Anyone miss Jack Woodward?
NO
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Gestede is a complete carthorse. If we do one thing the next week it has to be getting a striker in. He is terrible, technically one of the worst Strikers I've seen down Villa and as mobile as a postbox.
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Looks like Tish and Gardner getting a half each as an audition
and somehow Westy stays on. Managers must see something in him but I'm blowed if I can see it
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Gestede is a complete carthorse. If we do one thing the next week it has to be getting a striker in. He is terrible, technically one of the worst Strikers I've seen down Villa and as mobile as a postbox.
Agree. Can't see him having much impact.
-
On this basis it's going to be a long tedious season.
-
That came from a shit ball by Cissokho
-
All came from a fucking stupid Cissokho give away
-
1-1. Gollini should've done better. Parried it straight to Negredo.
-
Work in progress?
-
Is Kozak still injured?
-
Cissokho at fault there.
-
Aly with a great slide pass assist. Saw Gollini's highlights in youtube, did a lot of palming shots back in play.
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Friendlies are pretty much always like this tho
Ooh dear. Not the best from gollini there. There were a few ones like that on his YouTube
-
Terrible from Cissokho, Keeper should have done better.
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Gestede is a complete carthorse. If we do one thing the next week it has to be getting a striker in. He is terrible, technically one of the worst Strikers I've seen down Villa and as mobile as a postbox.
Agree. Can't see him having much impact.
The only thing to his game is getting on the end of crosses, which is a problem because he's too slow to get on the end of crosses
-
1 min after I logged in and started watching they scored.
-
On this basis it's going to be a long tedious season.
Same side as last season. We just won't look outclassed but those thinking that we are going to be right up there from the word go I fear are in for a rude awakening again. There's no fluidity in the side, to many slow players or one's who take the easy sideways option.
We need some pace, strength and guile added. Still no spine to the team either.
Young goalie
Elphick
Young centre mid
Gestede
Not great at all.
-
Cissokho at fault there.
Odd that you didn't bother to comment on the Villa goal.
It's almost as if you're only interested in making negative comments.
-
Not much improvement on last season. Same old defensive errors self-inflicted. No real threat upfront.
-
Cissokho at fault there.
Odd that you didn't bother to comment on the Villa goal.
It's almost as if you're only interested in making negative comments.
Hutton is shit and Cissokho was at fault there, all facts now toddle off and find something better to do with your time than constant insinuating.
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It's a bit boring. We still lack that creative flair and spark. We are crying out for pace up front because it is dreadful up there. No movement makes it so hard for our players looking to create opportunities and so easy for the defenders. We are very predictable.
-
Shit goal conceded. Fuck
-
....and normal service is resumed
-
Ripped apart there and left with 3 on 1.
-
46 cup finals
-
Where the hell was the defence?
-
Undone by a couple of passes leaving 3 v 1 at the back. Shocking
-
Poor.
-
Plus ca change
Just shouldn't be possible to end up 3 v 1 from our attack so easily
-
A couple of passes and we are left with a 3 on 1 at the back, that's poor. Well taken goal and move by them though.
-
It's all gone a bit 2015-16
-
What a shambles.
-
3-1
-
Ashley Westwood is just about the last player on the planet that should be wearing orange boots
Oh for fuck sake 3-1
-
we have no legs !!! oh dear
-
Oh dear.
-
Hmmmm, the back four look a little lost at times as a unit.
-
This may at least convince RDM that more new faces are required.
-
This is terrible. Just like last year. Really disappointed with this.
-
I'd thought other than that our defensive shape looked good. But then Boro haven't got out of second gear
I'm expecting transfer activity in this week. Not that we've been awful. But he can't have liked what he's seen from gestede, bacuna or our overall attacking threat
-
Ayew has been shit in the 15-20 mins i've been watching. Shocking pass and not even an attempt to track back.
-
Oh dear. The fragility surfaces
-
No difference from last season. Now 1-3. Rubbish defending.
-
Tommy Elphick...hmm
-
Why isn't RDM making changes? We look knackered too and Boro have made several changes.
-
Cissokho at fault there.
Odd that you didn't bother to comment on the Villa goal.
It's almost as if you're only interested in making negative comments.
Hutton is shit and Cissokho was at fault there, all facts now toddle off and find something better to do with your time than constant insinuating.
Maybe toddle off and learn what "insinuating" means.
And neither Hutton nor Cissokho are shit.
-
Ayew is killing this team.
-
Just like last year. Opposition step up and the ball ends up in our net. Elphick is breathing through his arsehole, Hutton goes missing and there is a big hole in the middle.
-
You keep believing that.
-
Looked OK first half but second half Boro decide to turn up and we've gone all 2015/16 again.
-
That was better from Ayew.
-
Stream's gone but as far as I can tell they've had three attacks and scored three goals
It may be partly tiredness if he's worked them hard in the week. But I think we've seen this show before
I thought we were quite good first half but as I say Boro weren't trying very hard
-
What do we expect? It's the same team as last season. We needed major investment in more or less a whole new team and it hasn't happened
-
Can we start panicking now?
-
it's just reinforcing the fact that we are still very poor. RDM needs to get people out and better players in asap or it's a season of toil.
-
If this was a year ago we'd be consoling ourselves with: they're a week earlier in their preparations because the Championship starts earlier, we'll be OK in time.
Oh.
-
Vintage Villa, this.
-
Very poor. Just looks like last season.The defence seems to have gone to pieces. As Morley has said, a lot more questions than answers.
Team shape just doesn't look right. Hopefully better next Sunday.
-
Cissokho at fault there.
Odd that you didn't bother to comment on the Villa goal.
It's almost as if you're only interested in making negative comments.
Hutton is shit and Cissokho was at fault there, all facts now toddle off and find something better to do with your time than constant insinuating.
Maybe toddle off and learn what "insinuating" means.
And neither Hutton nor Cissokho are shit.
You are joking?
-
why bother playing Gestede ?
-
Should have been 4. We're being dragged forward and hit on the counter - simple stuff
-
Should have been 4.
-
Excellent confidence booster.
-
why bother playing Gestede ?
We haven't really got anyone else unless he puts ayew there. Absent a new signing I think that's what I'd do.
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Not as if Boro are great. The remains a really poor Villa side. Bacuna, Westwood, Gestede all need replacing. Time to show us the money Doc.
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Tony is a big fan of Gabby by the sounds.
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RDM is half-soaked. Obvious that last year's players aren't up to it.
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What do we expect? It's the same team as last season. We needed major investment in more or less a whole new team and it hasn't happened
this
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14,863
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Amavi coming on to prove his fitness for Liverpool
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Bravo Mr Morley.
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I'd give Rushian H-M a chance rather than persist with Gestede while we look for a new striker
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Cissokho at fault there.
Odd that you didn't bother to comment on the Villa goal.
It's almost as if you're only interested in making negative comments.
Hutton is shit and Cissokho was at fault there, all facts now toddle off and find something better to do with your time than constant insinuating.
Maybe toddle off and learn what "insinuating" means.
And neither Hutton nor Cissokho are shit.
Theyre dreadful players, mate. But, each to their own. Someone just pointed out that Ayew is 'killing the team'....
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Cissokho at fault there.
Odd that you didn't bother to comment on the Villa goal.
It's almost as if you're only interested in making negative comments.
Hutton is shit and Cissokho was at fault there, all facts now toddle off and find something better to do with your time than constant insinuating.
Maybe toddle off and learn what "insinuating" means.
And neither Hutton nor Cissokho are shit.
You are joking?
Ermmm... no. Cissokho is about average and Hutton is above average.
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this maybe harsh , but I really hope RDM is not just a bit of a poser ,
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14,863
I dare say, had we have made the promised signings, this crowd may have doubled. Hate to be negative but we are worse than ever!
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Ashley Westwood is just about the last player on the planet that should be wearing orange boots
Oh for fuck sake 3-1
Yep, Westwood is the worst player for me. He tries, he isn't part of the ****** brigade. But he's fucking useless. God only knows why he gets picked again and again.
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We should try Gollini up front with those skills.
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Cissokho at fault there.
Odd that you didn't bother to comment on the Villa goal.
It's almost as if you're only interested in making negative comments.
Hutton is shit and Cissokho was at fault there, all facts now toddle off and find something better to do with your time than constant insinuating.
Maybe toddle off and learn what "insinuating" means.
And neither Hutton nor Cissokho are shit.
Theyre dreadful players, mate. But, each to their own. Someone just pointed out that Ayew is 'killing the team'....
He has been, in this half, and it was his losing possession which cost us the second goal.
He's still by far our best player though which goes to show you can't read too much into a pre-season game.
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Cissokho at fault there.
Odd that you didn't bother to comment on the Villa goal.
It's almost as if you're only interested in making negative comments.
Hutton is shit and Cissokho was at fault there, all facts now toddle off and find something better to do with your time than constant insinuating.
Maybe toddle off and learn what "insinuating" means.
And neither Hutton nor Cissokho are shit.
You are joking?
Ermmm... no. Cissokho is about average and Hutton is above average.
You're ok with these average and nearly good but not quite full backs playing in this below average defence?
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Booooooo!
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not much different to last season usual lets keep possession and give away lots of goals
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Ayew played too deep the entire game, I don't get it.
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Well I saw three goals in the half hour I watched!
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At half time I thought we'd be OK next season. Now I'm worried.
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That was like game 39 of last season.
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Well nothing like heading into a new season after having been relegated the previous one on a high. Fuck me. So much work to do
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In order for a Dog shit pie not to be a dog shit pie, you have to start by taking the dog shit out of it.
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Hmmm. Something rather special's going to have to happen to get a result next Sunday, or even against Rotherham.
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any team with justhead, pointy boy and the grinning fuckwit in it is going to struggle
just like it did in the previous 38 games
fuck me is it really that difficult for managers to grasp?
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Rubbish. Major investment was required pre-season and it didn't happen. Not at all surprised. No chance of promotion on that showing.
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Cissokho at fault there.
Odd that you didn't bother to comment on the Villa goal.
It's almost as if you're only interested in making negative comments.
Hutton is shit and Cissokho was at fault there, all facts now toddle off and find something better to do with your time than constant insinuating.
Maybe toddle off and learn what "insinuating" means.
And neither Hutton nor Cissokho are shit.
You are joking?
Ermmm... no. Cissokho is about average and Hutton is above average.
You're ok with these average and nearly good but not quite full backs playing in this below average defence?
One of them won't be playing much once Amavi is fit. There will be few clubs with a better right-back than Hutton or a better back-up left-back than Cissokho in our league. Long term, if we were ever aiming to compete near the top of the Premier League again we'd need to improve on them, but they're more than adequate for where we are. Our priorities should be on strengthening our midfield and attack. The midfield offered no protection whatsoever today and Boro were allowed to canter from one end of the pitch to the other without encountering a tackle.
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A loss like this could be a blessing in disguise, as it shows that the inadequacies in the team still remain from last season. The main one being that we desperately need a striker, and it needs to be sorted asap.
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any team with justhead, pointy boy and the grinning fuckwit in it is going to struggle
just like it did in the previous 38 games
fuck me is it really that difficult for managers to grasp?
I'm stuck on Pointy Boy?
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Cissokho at fault there.
Odd that you didn't bother to comment on the Villa goal.
It's almost as if you're only interested in making negative comments.
Hutton is shit and Cissokho was at fault there, all facts now toddle off and find something better to do with your time than constant insinuating.
Maybe toddle off and learn what "insinuating" means.
And neither Hutton nor Cissokho are shit.
Theyre dreadful players, mate. But, each to their own. Someone just pointed out that Ayew is 'killing the team'....
He has been, in this half, and it was his losing possession which cost us the second goal.
He's still by far our best player though which goes to show you can't read too much into a pre-season game.
I agree. I think with Ayew, he gets disheartened by some of the dirge around him. A sulker, perhaps. We desperately need a good midfielder and good striker. Theyre out there.
But yes, it's only pre season, and we'll see what they're made of next Sunday. Up the Villa!
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any team with justhead, pointy boy and the grinning fuckwit in it is going to struggle
just like it did in the previous 38 games
fuck me is it really that difficult for managers to grasp?
I'm stuck on Pointy Boy?
Westwood.
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any team with justhead, pointy boy and the grinning fuckwit in it is going to struggle
just like it did in the previous 38 games
fuck me is it really that difficult for managers to grasp?
I'm stuck on Pointy Boy?
Westwood, no?
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any team with justhead, pointy boy and the grinning fuckwit in it is going to struggle
just like it did in the previous 38 games
fuck me is it really that difficult for managers to grasp?
I'm stuck on Pointy Boy?
Westwood.
My biggest concern is that Ashley fucking Westwood still seems to be first name on the teamsheet.
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I'm not in the least bit concerned that we lost 1-3 to Middlesborough in a preseason friendly
I am however very concerned that we appear to be lining up with the likes of Bacuna and Westwood next week against Sheffield Wednesday The lack of much needed investment is worrying .
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Same old fuckin' same old
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Poor 2nd half, positives for me amavi back, tshibola showed some decent touches, grealish and ayew had some good link up play first half. Negatives- full backs poor, keeper should of done better for first goal, bacuna,Westwood, gestede are not good enough. Ayew played too deep 2nd half. No threat at goal, no pace.
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any team with justhead, pointy boy and the grinning fuckwit in it is going to struggle
just like it did in the previous 38 games
fuck me is it really that difficult for managers to grasp?
I'm stuck on Pointy Boy?
the king of pointing
lord mcpointing of mcpointingshire
the league one player westwood
as has been already been said for a shit pie not to be a shit pie you have to take the shit out
and with justhead there are undiscovered tribes in the amazon who would know to play against the useless lump
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It's a little bit disheartening I must say. I have hope that new players will be arriving, we certainly need them. First half I was thinking that with two or three goodish players coming in, we may be in with a chance of promotion. If it doesn't happen I fear there's no chance.
It just proves what a single mistake can do to a team with fragile confidence. Cissokho's give away for their first goal had us chasing a game that didn't need chasing leaving an average defence dangerously exposed by a near non-existent mid-field. We'll soon see.
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Surprised anybody has mentioned the sauntering, seemingly self obsessed Jack Grealish. he will need to do far more than that during the season.
Re Gestede, in this formation it's like playing with 10 men. What's the point
There is clearly lots of work ahead
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I'm not in the least bit concerned that we lost 1-3 to Middlesborough in a preseason friendly
I am however very concerned that we appear to be lining up with the likes of Bacuna and Westwood next week against Sheffield Wednesday The lack of much needed investment is worrying .
This is it. What next, Agbonlahor back in the team?
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Well that was a lacking performance.....
lacking in pace, mobility, strength,skill,creativity and desire (I know it was a friendly but...)
Hutton and Baker can be the only players who performed anywhere near to the level required to get out of this division.
Amarvi should have come on after their first goal, Ayew played too much across the line rather than forward, Westwood too lightweight,Gardner too one paced, Grealish too Lazy,and LumpofLead never looked like moving faster than an amble all afternoon
oh dear it had better get better because this could prove to be embarrassing
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Ayew playing too deep
Gustede not good enough
Westwood cack
Defence a worry
Apart from that, all good
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A much needed wake up call for RDM to realise the amount of shit he has at his disposal if he hadn't realised it already. We can't afford to carry passengers and we've got a whole coach load at VP that need dropping off and replacing.
Whilst I disagree with cdbullyweefan that Hutton and Cissokho aren't shit, I agree that our priority needs to be midfield and up front as we quite simply will never win games if we can't create or score goals.
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I do hope RDM is not just another yes man who's been told to make do.
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Surprised anybody has mentioned the sauntering, seemingly self obsessed Jack Grealish. he will need to do far more than that during the season.
Not sure about seemingly self obsessed but I am questioning what is the point. A classic example of all fart no shit? I hope not but right now you can count his good games on your thumbs.
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New midfielders please.
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RDM was quoted a few days ago in the B'ham Mail that he's in no hurry to sign a striker. How half-soaked is that? It's been a requirement all summer and he's done nothing.
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Well, we're not getting out of the division with that squad. What really fries me is that Middlesbrough were crap. They said in the commentary that two goals came from two balls being lost up front - so what, can we not afford to lose the ball there now? What about organisation, or awareness, or even just leaving more than one defender back? We have been shite at the back for so long that the denominator is the players we have; they may run all day but they don't know how to defend as a unit. And what was the point of Gestede? If you know you're not going to be crossing, you're voluntarily playing with nine outfield players. It's insane.
All told, I don't see anything different than from last year. Naïve, lightweight and lacking any kind of game management. That match has pissed me off big time.
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Only watched the first half. Looks like I made a sensible choice then judging from the comments. Last season at this stage we were all quite positive. Not expecting anything of note this season unless Xia gets his hands off the keyboard and puts them in his pocket.
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So predictable, you could see this coming a mile off. Lack of investment yet again.
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So much for the "We spend 20,30,40, even 50 Mirrion on players"
Same old rubbish, we are in for a hard season unless we bring in some quality players.
Not looking like a ding dong at Villa Park this season more like a Ping pong with last seasons shite squad.
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Our problem is too many of our rubbish players were only signed a year ago.
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So much for the "We spend 20,30,40, even 50 Mirrion on players"
Same old rubbish, we are in for a hard season unless we bring in some quality players.
Not looking like a ding dong at Villa Park this season more like a Ping pong with last seasons shite squad.
Fuck me, the ****** are on here already?
The season hasn't started and the Rags are climbing out of their rat holes.
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So much for the "We spend 20,30,40, even 50 Mirrion on players"
Same old rubbish, we are in for a hard season unless we bring in some quality players.
Not looking like a ding dong at Villa Park this season more like a Ping pong with last seasons shite squad.
You got the benefit of the doubt with your user name. You don't with your first sentence. That's your first and only warning.
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Surprised anybody has mentioned the sauntering, seemingly self obsessed Jack Grealish. he will need to do far more than that during the season.
Not sure about seemingly self obsessed but I am questioning what is the point. A classic example of all fart no shit? I hope not but right now you can count his good games on your thumbs.
Grealish does nothing noteworthy pretty much every time he plays. I want him to do well but I hardly ever see what he brings to the team.
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any team with justhead, pointy boy and the grinning fuckwit in it is going to struggle
just like it did in the previous 38 games
fuck me is it really that difficult for managers to grasp?
I'm stuck on Pointy Boy?
Westwood.
Fuck me, I was thinking, "Who has hair like Simon from the Inbetweeners at Villa".
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The team is no stronger than last season which was the worst in living memory.
Continuing with that line-up and playing like that, the only way we will be getting out of the Championship is via the relegation trap door.
We've seen time after time what most of them can (or can't) do. Feeling disillusioned before a ball is kicked in anger.
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Well if Dr X and RDM don't start getting active bringing players in sharpish, then the clubs aim of getting promoted at the first attempt is nothing more than a pipe dream. This squad has been rotten to the core for a few seasons now, and just 3 new players coming in doesn't change that in the slightest. There's a few weeks of the window to go but August could be a very shit month in terms of results, and if they don't address the blatant inadequacies of this squad then a shit month will soon become a shit season.
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So much for the "We spend 20,30,40, even 50 Mirrion on players"
Same old rubbish, we are in for a hard season unless we bring in some quality players.
Not looking like a ding dong at Villa Park this season more like a Ping pong with last seasons shite squad.
I'm putting it out there, I laughed.
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Been out all day so just heard the score but it sounds grim.
As I said last week I wasn't impressed one little bit by our play against Nantes and if Boro are taking the piss at VP then that dosen't bode well either.
We need some new players, I'm surprised even some people on here are struggling to grasp it. We aren't getting promoted with Bacuna and Westwood as week in week out starters.
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So predictable, you could see this coming a mile off. Lack of investment yet again.
This. We are nowhere near ready and the season starts next week. Wheres the 30 million Carsen Xia promised?
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we need a lot of simultaneous action next week. Not players out then players in, but both at the same time. Wednesday will win easily if the team today is the team next Sunday.
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Am I the only one who thinks Grealish is a complete waste of space?
Another Lee Hendrie!
Clearly thinks he's better than what he is, he won't be able to take the physical play from opposing teams this season and will go hiding.
Get rid!
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We have started where we finished last season. I think it may take a little while to get back in to the top division. But this we knew however this result isn't going to do much for the hope of hanging on to our better players. If we beat Wednesday next week and all is well.
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So much for the "We spend 20,30,40, even 50 Mirrion on players"
Same old rubbish, we are in for a hard season unless we bring in some quality players.
Not looking like a ding dong at Villa Park this season more like a Ping pong with last seasons shite squad.
I'm putting it out there, I laughed.
I bet you find Jim Davidson hilarious.
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So much for the "We spend 20,30,40, even 50 Mirrion on players"
Same old rubbish, we are in for a hard season unless we bring in some quality players.
Not looking like a ding dong at Villa Park this season more like a Ping pong with last seasons shite squad.
I find your comments & user name racist and they offend me. Could you at least change the former? We get it, he is Chinese. They have an accent.
I am not a mod just a fellow fan offended by it and I am asking you.
Please stop with the purile impressions.
Thank you.
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Well we were beaten,by a poor Boro team we couldn't hold a good defensive shape, by constantly using the fullbacks high up the pitch, we tend to be wide open on the counter. Imho until we become hard to beat we are going nowhere.
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I had hoped the team we saw today would be the one we start at Wednesday, but I still can't believe we're waiting for our first choice strikeforce eight days before kick-off. In my opinion, it should have been the overriding priority. You so very rarely see a player just played because we had a gap to fill like Gestede was today. An absolute waste of everybody's time.
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well I was another who only stayed till half time, I thought we looked quite good, I was impressed with grealish, and he did get a bit of unnecessary attention from the boro, but his attitude seemed good and I'm hopeful. it was a friendly and it always looked that way.
anybody notice the pitch?? they've shrunk it!! its shorter and narrower, whys that ??
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In order for a Dog shit pie not to be a dog shit pie, you have to start by taking the dog shit out of it.
Exactly - too many of the same shit players as last season looking as shit as they ever did.
We have got a really large amount of player buying to do. Thus far almost no sign of it happening.
Given that, why would anyone expect anything different?
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Ah fuck it, it was a half arsed, experimental, get some fitness under your belt, preseason training match played in 2nd gear.
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Am I the only one who thinks Grealish is a complete waste of space?
Another Lee Hendrie!
Clearly thinks he's better than what he is, he won't be able to take the physical play from opposing teams this season and will go hiding.
Get rid!
Too obvious
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So much for the "We spend 20,30,40, even 50 Mirrion on players"
Same old rubbish, we are in for a hard season unless we bring in some quality players.
Not looking like a ding dong at Villa Park this season more like a Ping pong with last seasons shite squad.
I'm putting it out there, I laughed.
I bet you find Jim Davidson hilarious.
Big Break wasn't bad as a kid.
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This is starting to seem like promises we have had the last few seasons of money being made available. However, in reality nothing much seems to be happening, no links are being made regarding possible new signings etc.and the season starts next week with a tonking at Sheffield by the looks of our performances so far.
We need action Dr Tony NOT words as we've heard them all before and, League 1 will beckon if you don't pull your finger out an, very quickly at that. As an aside, maybe then Brexiters can somehow negotiate us having just one lot of the weekly £350 million we will be saving from having voted out lol!!!!!
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Well nothing like heading into a new season after having been relegated the previous one on a high. Fuck me. So much work to do
That's why I was concerned by last week mate. We won but I wasn't impressed one single bit by our play and we hardly created a chance. Sounds like Boro ruthlessly exploited that second half today.
Yes pre season is about fitness but surely it's also about establishing a style of play and also getting into good habits. I'm a bit worried RDM hasn't seemed to change much at all and seems to be gambling that this group of player will magically become amazing just because we're dropping down a division.
Still a lot of work to do before we're promotion standard e.g. Bacuna and Westwood not being regular starters.
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RDM has invited all this criticism on himself. Lack of any planning or urgency to address a dire squad of players.
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So predictable, you could see this coming a mile off. Lack of investment yet again.
This. We are nowhere near ready and the season starts next week. Wheres the 30 million Carsen Xia promised?
Carson!
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I haven't been impressed by much I've seen in pre-season, I have to say. I keep telling myself it's about fitness, but Di Matteo is a new boss, with new ideas and a new approach. So far, I can just see the same mistakes made by slightly different faces in slightly different formations.
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RDM has invited all this criticism on himself. Lack of any planning or urgency to address a dire squad of players.
You're having a pop at a man who hasn't managed a competitive game yet?
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Am I the only one who thinks Grealish is a complete waste of space?
Another Lee Hendrie!
Clearly thinks he's better than what he is, he won't be able to take the physical play from opposing teams this season and will go hiding.
Get rid!
No you're not. I agree about both players mentioned.
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New ideas, new approach... all meaningless unless you have new players, instead of utter wasters like Westwood and fucking Bacuna still clogging up your squad like a galaxy-consuming supermassive black hole of talent.
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we've changed the managers regularly, the only thing that we haven't changed are the players who once they cross the line have it under their control to produce what is necessary . They don't but they will still take the money each week
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Bacuna was utter bobbins today. I was probably casting a more critical eye over him than anybody in the side, but even with low expectations I thought he was dreadful.
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Am I the only one who thinks Grealish is a complete waste of space?
Another Lee Hendrie!
Clearly thinks he's better than what he is, he won't be able to take the physical play from opposing teams this season and will go hiding.
Get rid!
Too obvious
Yes, more than a whiff....
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We can still get refunds on season tickets till the first home game ....starting to look an option !
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So much for the "We spend 20,30,40, even 50 Mirrion on players"
Same old rubbish, we are in for a hard season unless we bring in some quality players.
Not looking like a ding dong at Villa Park this season more like a Ping pong with last seasons shite squad.
I find your comments & user name racist and they offend me. Could you at least change the former? We get it, he is Chinese. They have an accent.
I am not a mod just a fellow fan offended by it and I am asking you.
Please stop with the purile impressions.
Thank you.
His username is taken from Thailand, Ting Tong means stupid, crazy in a insult way so please never use this saying if you do come to Thailand.
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RDM has invited all this criticism on himself. Lack of any planning or urgency to address a dire squad of players.
You're having a pop at a man who hasn't managed a competitive game yet?
A man who picks Bacuna, Westwood and Gestede, who were rubbish last season and simply aren't good enough.
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We can still get refunds on season tickets till the first home game ....starting to look an option !
Nobody's stopping you.
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We can still get refunds on season tickets till the first home game ....starting to look an option !
Nobody's stopping you.
The sense of humour some people don't have ......
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In order for a Dog shit pie not to be a dog shit pie, you have to start by taking the dog shit out of it.
Exactly - too many of the same shit players as last season looking as shit as they ever did.
We have got a really large amount of player buying to do. Thus far almost no sign of it happening.
Given that, why would anyone expect anything different?
Westwood is my shitness barometer. As long as he's on the pitch, we'll be shit.
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RDM has invited all this criticism on himself. Lack of any planning or urgency to address a dire squad of players.
You're having a pop at a man who hasn't managed a competitive game yet?
A man who picks Bacuna, Westwood and Gestede, who were rubbish last season and simply aren't good enough.
So you are then.
But we saw these players last season, we don't have a choice we're fans. I bet you Di Matteo has never seen the majority of these players play so he's giving the few a chance, possibly their last chance, regardless of what happened in the past.
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We can still get refunds on season tickets till the first home game ....starting to look an option !
Nobody's stopping you.
The sense of humour some people don't have ......
I don't do humour.
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why not give it a try?
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RDM has invited all this criticism on himself. Lack of any planning or urgency to address a dire squad of players.
You're having a pop at a man who hasn't managed a competitive game yet?
A man who picks Bacuna, Westwood and Gestede, who were rubbish last season and simply aren't good enough.
So you are then.
But we saw these players last season, we don't have a choice we're fans. I bet you Di Matteo has never seen the majority of these players play so he's giving the few a chance, possibly their last chance, regardless of what happened in the past.
With 1 week to go before the season starts? We'll get beaten at Sheffield Wednesday.
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why not give it a try?
I reckon it would look like this... :)
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rofkX14qGUA/UB04M3NJ2wI/AAAAAAAACEk/w-BDMoI7sFU/s320/kanye-west-laugh.gif)
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RDM has invited all this criticism on himself. Lack of any planning or urgency to address a dire squad of players.
You're having a pop at a man who hasn't managed a competitive game yet?
A man who picks Bacuna, Westwood and Gestede, who were rubbish last season and simply aren't good enough.
So you are then.
But we saw these players last season, we don't have a choice we're fans. I bet you Di Matteo has never seen the majority of these players play so he's giving the few a chance, possibly their last chance, regardless of what happened in the past.
With 1 week to go before the season starts? We'll get beaten at Sheffield Wednesday.
If they do then the seasons over for you is it? A few friendlies have been played, that's all, and Di Matteo is getting it already!?
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why not give it a try?
I reckon it would look like this... :)
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rofkX14qGUA/UB04M3NJ2wI/AAAAAAAACEk/w-BDMoI7sFU/s320/kanye-west-laugh.gif)
He definitely sits on a throne.
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I tried it once but there was no money in it.
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Due to traffic and roadworks I didn't get to the ground till half past three. Judging by the amount of people I saw outside the ground at that time I was far from the only one. At least I now know I need to find an alternative route when the season starts. Like the one I used to get back home with ease.
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RDM has invited all this criticism on himself. Lack of any planning or urgency to address a dire squad of players.
You're having a pop at a man who hasn't managed a competitive game yet?
A man who picks Bacuna, Westwood and Gestede, who were rubbish last season and simply aren't good enough.
So you are then.
But we saw these players last season, we don't have a choice we're fans. I bet you Di Matteo has never seen the majority of these players play so he's giving the few a chance, possibly their last chance, regardless of what happened in the past.
With 1 week to go before the season starts? We'll get beaten at Sheffield Wednesday.
Bristol City couldn't beat League Two Portsmouth, Ipswich lost to a Belgian team I've never head of, Norwich lost to a German Second Division team, Forest lost to a team that finished below Middlesbrough, Wolves lost four-nil to Swansea.
Are they all certain to lose their opening games?
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What I have difficulty getting my head around is: the amount of people clamouring for RDM to get rid of all the shit. Easy said, but first of all someone has to want them. Secondly, if they are interested in them thinking it's going to improve their existing squad then, they must already have some proper shit on their books.
To get rid of all our dross as it stands, with very, very few exceptions; then paying up their contracts is the only option and with all the shit we have that needs shifting, that ain't going to happen.
I saw a post yesterday asking if anyone knew if we'd received a fee for Guzan. I didn't as yet see an answer. Does anyone know?
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What I have difficulty getting my head around is: the amount of people clamouring for RDM to get rid of all the shit. Easy said, but first of all someone has to want them. Secondly, if they are interested in them thinking it's going to improve their existing squad then, they must already have some proper shit on their books.
To get rid of all our dross as it stands, with very, very few exceptions; then paying up their contracts is the only option and with all the shit we have that needs shifting, that ain't going to happen.
I saw a post yesterday asking if anyone knew if we'd received a fee for Guzan. I didn't as yet see an answer. Does anyone know?
I assumed we let him go on a free as he was surplus to requirements ... that's kind of what I read.
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I suppose a 3-1 defeat is reflective of a team that suddenly decided to go forward and one that inexplicably decided to go sideways? I thought we started; albeit sedately, on the front foot and shaded the first half. Sadly our bad habits from last season soon emerged though after their equaliser. As for Gestede? I fail too see the point in his presence in the team.
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That was complete shit, team is bollocks still and has no game plan still. There's no goals in the team, no prescence and very little pace. As it stands we will struggle to make the play offs.
Pissing the division is cloud cuckoo land.
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My first game for quite a while. I hope they swapped shirts with those Premier League players at the end because it will be the closest they get to it for a long time.
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Gestede and Grealish 25+ goals combined, I read that on here the other day, maybe down the power league but not next season they won't.
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This will probably prove a more useful work out than our earlier victories. Nice to see Amavi on the pitch.
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I could understand it, accept it even, if our impotence was purely down to a sub-standard playing staff. However, when a team is set up in that manner with Gestede ploughing a lone furrow then I lose all sense of what a professionally run football club actually is. What on Earth is going on? Who are these managers we seem to be enduring? Jesus H. I know it is only a friendly but who thinks for a millisecond that system will ever be effective. Truly awful and dispiriting.
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We're in for a tough season if that was our best today. We need an entire midfield, a striker, and a dependable defender.
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We're in for a tough season if that was our best today. We need an entire midfield, a striker, and a dependable defender.
It isn't our best. A lot will change between now and the end of the window. There is no way based on what RDM will have seen so far that will be the line up that takes us into the season. There will be at least 4 or 5 ins and outs yet. And we won't settle into a consistent formation and system for a month or two.
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I hope you are right
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Well, that's it for me. A shit performance in a pre-season match. They can shove it.
These games always dictate how you will perform in the coming season.
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We're in for a tough season if that was our best today. We need an entire midfield, a striker, and a dependable defender.
It isn't our best. A lot will change between now and the end of the window. There is no way based on what RDM will have seen so far that will be the line up that takes us into the season. There will be at least 4 or 5 ins and outs yet. And we won't settle into a consistent formation and system for a month or two.
I really hope so, TV. I guess I had hoped we would be a bit more energised than we have been, with perhaps a more discernible gameplan. Hopefully it's coming but this and the Nantes game has been grounding for me. Lots of work to do and as it stands I cannot see us making light work of this league.
I thought we did show some nice moments today but fleetingly and from individuals rather than as a collective.
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Nelly, from what I've read it appears he is looking for two strikers. We had no movement at all up front and I can only think that he played Gestede because he had no other options. We didn't put in any decent crosses today probably because we're not good enough but mainly because RDM isn't setting us up to play that way.
I'd like to think that the only fixtures should be Gollini, Elphick, Amavi when fit and Ayew. Grealish will play a role but in my opinion has a lot to do, Tshibola should be in there also. After that it's anyone's guess as to who will become a regular.
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any team with justhead, pointy boy and the grinning fuckwit in it is going to struggle
just like it did in the previous 38 games
fuck me is it really that difficult for managers to grasp?
this
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We're in for a tough season if that was our best today. We need an entire midfield, a striker, and a dependable defender.
We're well short of what we need to be even in the mix for promotion. All the more galling after Xia's comments when he arrived. I blame Xia totally for the mess we look at the moment, and if I thought that nonsense he spouted about big investment in the playing squad could be used as a contract, I'd sue him for breach of contract.
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I can't say I was overly impressed but i'm not panicking too much either. I just hope playing Gestede is a temporary measure because without service, it's a waste of time. You might as well play me there.
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We're in for a tough season if that was our best today. We need an entire midfield, a striker, and a dependable defender.
We're well short of what we need to be even in the mix for promotion. All the more galling after Xia's comments when he arrived. I blame Xia totally for the mess we look at the moment, and if I thought that nonsense he spouted about big investment in the playing squad could be used as a contract, I'd sue him for breach of contract.
You blame our chairman for relegation? Haven't you got an Albion site to post on?
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We're in for a tough season if that was our best today. We need an entire midfield, a striker, and a dependable defender.
We're well short of what we need to be even in the mix for promotion. All the more galling after Xia's comments when he arrived. I blame Xia totally for the mess we look at the moment, and if I thought that nonsense he spouted about big investment in the playing squad could be used as a contract, I'd sue him for breach of contract.
Oh and you're becoming boring.
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Nelly, from what I've read it appears he is looking for two strikers. ...snip
TV, I think you're right that the side will (hopefully) see a lot of changes, it's clear that Villa are trying to being people in. That's encouraging. I guess we'll have to wait and see how things pan out. I would have liked for Di Matteo try try Ayew up front with Grealish behind today. Ayew was pretty much a midfielder today it seemed.
I hope we have a bit more about us next week, I think it'll be a tough game for us against Wednesday. Once we solidify out first team a bit I think things will look much rosier.
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While only watching the game on TV today I have to say that there is massive concern ......
We look little or no different to last season .......
There seems to have been little recruitment happening ...maybe it can't until some are moved on
If thats the case we may have problems as the window now shits in 4 weeks
There didn't seem any real formation to the team .....
If we start next weekend with this team there is only one result and it will be same number of points as goals ....nil
Worrying signs ........ lets cut all the Twitter chat Dr Xia and lets see the focus on the Club ...less talk and more action
We all want the same things but currently it simply is not falling into place
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We're in for a tough season if that was our best today. We need an entire midfield, a striker, and a dependable defender.
We're well short of what we need to be even in the mix for promotion. All the more galling after Xia's comments when he arrived. I blame Xia totally for the mess we look at the moment, and if I thought that nonsense he spouted about big investment in the playing squad could be used as a contract, I'd sue him for breach of contract.
Let's at least give him the fullness of the transfer window to see what happens.
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Probably not a bad result in the sense that RDM can now see our limitations as a narrow win could paper over the cracks. Enforcer in midfield, someone who can see a pass but the main concern is a lack of a decent forward. Gestede neither has the brains or technical skills to be even a Championship forward. We need someone who can hold the ball up and actually make runs pass the centre backs to actually create space for players like Grealish and Ayew.
I've no idea who this Bristol City lad is, but he must be better than what we already have.
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Nelly, from what I've read it appears he is looking for two strikers. ...snip
TV, I think you're right that the side will (hopefully) see a lot of changes, it's clear that Villa are trying to being people in. That's encouraging. I guess we'll have to wait and see how things pan out. I would have liked for Di Matteo try try Ayew up front with Grealish behind today. Ayew was pretty much a midfielder today it seemed.
I hope we have a bit more about us next week, I think it'll be a tough game for us against Wednesday. Once we solidify out first team a bit I think things will look much rosier.
Not if we have a manager who thinks it is ok to watch Ayew playing alongside Westwood with Gestede stood scratching his arse all game it won't.
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We're in for a tough season if that was our best today. We need an entire midfield, a striker, and a dependable defender.
We're well short of what we need to be even in the mix for promotion. All the more galling after Xia's comments when he arrived. I blame Xia totally for the mess we look at the moment, and if I thought that nonsense he spouted about big investment in the playing squad could be used as a contract, I'd sue him for breach of contract.
You blame our chairman for relegation? Haven't you got an Albion site to post on?
No. But I do blame him for the lack of activity in bringing players in, give his boasting and bragging.
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From todays team I don't think many came out with much credit ........
Much as its sad news I fear Grealish is just all hype ....
Gardner ....... forget it
Ayew ...Did he look like he wanted to be there?
You could go on but its time Grealish either put a shift in was we forget him ...not popular words I guess but what else can be said
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Words are wind, time for some serious action instead of the bullshit we are hearing. We know that a few are not good enough and should be binned, he has hinted at doing it but Dr T needs to pay them up and fuck them off if no one else wants them. Then let RDM get a few more fresh faces in, sorry I have had a drink but what do we expect with only 3 new players in the squad. Miracles will not happen with this squad.
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Nelly, from what I've read it appears he is looking for two strikers. ...snip
TV, I think you're right that the side will (hopefully) see a lot of changes, it's clear that Villa are trying to being people in. That's encouraging. I guess we'll have to wait and see how things pan out. I would have liked for Di Matteo try try Ayew up front with Grealish behind today. Ayew was pretty much a midfielder today it seemed.
I hope we have a bit more about us next week, I think it'll be a tough game for us against Wednesday. Once we solidify out first team a bit I think things will look much rosier.
Not if we have a manager who thinks it is ok to watch Ayew playing alongside Westwood with Gestede stood scratching his arse all game it won't.
Agreed. Playing Gestede was a waste today. And Westwood: Gr. I think our midfield was the most dissapointing aspect of today's game for me.
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LV I am with you on this one, time a fair few of the squad pulled their weight and delivered, I would love Ayew to stay but if his mind is elsewhere the get rid and spend the cash on someone who wants to be here.
grealish is over rated and if he isn't careful will end up the same as a lot of other promising youngsters we have had, no where.
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Just walked through the door. Still totally pissed off with them. What was the single biggest reason for our abject humiliation last season ? It was defeatism. A losing mentality. The opposition score and we throw in the towel. We assemble in the centre circle, shoulders slumped, heads bowed, silent - just as though a coffin is being buried on the centre spot. No rolling up of sleeves, no encouraging each other, just spineless acceptance of inevitable defeat. Today was the day I realised we should have got Nigel Pearson. It costs nothing to roust a team. Just bollock them until they start to play like men, not frigging eunuchs.
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We've missed a natural leader on the pitch for a long time.
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We're in for a tough season if that was our best today. We need an entire midfield, a striker, and a dependable defender.
We're well short of what we need to be even in the mix for promotion. All the more galling after Xia's comments when he arrived. I blame Xia totally for the mess we look at the moment, and if I thought that nonsense he spouted about big investment in the playing squad could be used as a contract, I'd sue him for breach of contract.
You blame our chairman for relegation? Haven't you got an Albion site to post on?
No. But I do blame him for the lack of activity in bringing players in, give his boasting and bragging.
do we should just sign players randomly just to make fans happy? He sanctioned the signings of three players very quickly and he is very vocally trusting his manager to evaluate the squad before adding others. The manager himself knows and has said he needs to move some players on too, and in trying to do that he has to play them so they can be scouted by other teams. That adds to the disruption. Instead of constantly complaining why don't you try and comprehend the situation that we find ourselves in and attempt to logically work through what has to take place to arrive at a squad, playing style and overall club environment required to make use successful. Real football management isn't FIFA or Football Manager. It's way more time consuming and complex.
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Gestede is ok in the Championship as proven at Blackburn where he was given the service by wingers who played to his strengths, as proven by his goal tally. We gave him no crosses of note today, as we had zero width. Great planning and tactics there....
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Nelly, from what I've read it appears he is looking for two strikers. ...snip
TV, I think you're right that the side will (hopefully) see a lot of changes, it's clear that Villa are trying to being people in. That's encouraging. I guess we'll have to wait and see how things pan out. I would have liked for Di Matteo try try Ayew up front with Grealish behind today. Ayew was pretty much a midfielder today it seemed.
I hope we have a bit more about us next week, I think it'll be a tough game for us against Wednesday. Once we solidify out first team a bit I think things will look much rosier.
Not if we have a manager who thinks it is ok to watch Ayew playing alongside Westwood with Gestede stood scratching his arse all game it won't.
Agreed. Playing Gestede was a waste today. And Westwood: Gr. I think our midfield was the most dissapointing aspect of today's game for me.
Watching Westwood is making my eyes bleed. Please God make it stop. He is utterly 'pointless'. It's like playing with ten men. Zero creativity and no defensive qualities at all. I despair at his unerring ability to convince managers he is worthy of the shirt.
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It was a friendly, let's not get so worked up until we play those first 3 games inc Luton next week and then we may have a better idea.
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Today was largely a game of 55 minutes v 35 minutes. Individual mistakes led to all of their 3 goals.
What was most alarming is that the team despite what has been reported as double training sessions simply could not see the match through for 90 minutes and we are a week ahead of Middlesborough in preparation.
Roberto is right when he says it will take time and anyone watching today couldn't argue with that assessment. I guess we will win some big games but also lose some others.
Individually the players I would pick out for comment today:
Grealish - did okay until he was moved wide - he did enough up to half time to show that there is a footballer there.
Gestede - adds very little to the team, no movement, very little commitment.
Ayew again showed well early on but the game passed him by later on.
By my number one wish is for a centre forward before next week. Surely we can't go into the season with Gestede or can we.
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Just walked through the door. Still totally pissed off with them. What was the single biggest reason for our abject humiliation last season ? It was defeatism. A losing mentality. The opposition score and we throw in the towel. We assemble in the centre circle, shoulders slumped, heads bowed, silent - just as though a coffin is being buried on the centre spot. No rolling up of sleeves, no encouraging each other, just spineless acceptance of inevitable defeat. Today was the day I realised we should have got Nigel Pearson. It costs nothing to roust a team. Just bollock them until they start to play like men, not frigging eunuchs.
This is it for me. It's just a friendly yes, but the manner of the defeat and how we lost it so easily in the second-half that worried me. Some of the goals were so reminiscent of last season that one week away from the start of the season it is a worry. it also shows how far we've got to go to change the mindset that is so deeply ingrained in many of the players from last season. The 'here we go again' when we concede is [robably going to take a lot longer to shift than we thought.
This is probably what Di Matteo, or xia, was talking about, when mentioning the clear out before the additions. The latter is clearly needed but we need rid of so many of the old players that have so stained the psyche of the club with the stench of surrender and constant defeat.
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Well said Mr W.
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I wouldn't feed Gestede right now.
Please find us a resolution quick.
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Just walked through the door. Still totally pissed off with them. What was the single biggest reason for our abject humiliation last season ? It was defeatism. A losing mentality. The opposition score and we throw in the towel. We assemble in the centre circle, shoulders slumped, heads bowed, silent - just as though a coffin is being buried on the centre spot. No rolling up of sleeves, no encouraging each other, just spineless acceptance of inevitable defeat. Today was the day I realised we should have got Nigel Pearson. It costs nothing to roust a team. Just bollock them until they start to play like men, not frigging eunuchs.
I find that very offensive (he says in a high pitched voice)
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Today was largely a game of 55 minutes v 35 minutes. Individual mistakes led to all of their 3 goals.
What was most alarming is that the team despite what has been reported as double training sessions simply could not see the match through for 90 minutes and we are a week ahead of Middlesborough in preparation.
Roberto is right when he says it will take time and anyone watching today couldn't argue with that assessment. I guess we will win some big games but also lose some others.
Individually the players I would pick out for comment today:
Grealish - did okay until he was moved wide - he did enough up to half time to show that there is a footballer there.
Gestede - adds very little to the team, no movement, very little commitment.
Ayew again showed well early on but the game passed him by later on.
By my number one wish is for a centre forward before next week. Surely we can't go into the season with Gestede or can we.
"I guess we will win some big games. " Are you serious? What have you observed that brings you to that conclusion?
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why not give the russian a go? or green? why play ayew deep? why play gestede? why start with westwood?
these arent brain of britain questions and im not knocking rdm but jesus just try something different that we havent seen fail 20 times before
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Today was largely a game of 55 minutes v 35 minutes. Individual mistakes led to all of their 3 goals.
What was most alarming is that the team despite what has been reported as double training sessions simply could not see the match through for 90 minutes and we are a week ahead of Middlesborough in preparation.
Roberto is right when he says it will take time and anyone watching today couldn't argue with that assessment. I guess we will win some big games but also lose some others.
Individually the players I would pick out for comment today:
Grealish - did okay until he was moved wide - he did enough up to half time to show that there is a footballer there.
Gestede - adds very little to the team, no movement, very little commitment.
Ayew again showed well early on but the game passed him by later on.
By my number one wish is for a centre forward before next week. Surely we can't go into the season with Gestede or can we.
"I guess we will win some big games. " Are you serious? What have you observed that brings you to that conclusion?
Because that appears to be the general theme in the Championship. I am fearful though for next week, especially if Wendy steam out of the blocks, as undoubtedly they have something to prove after Wembley.
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Let hope it will tell us how urgent we need a good powerful and mobile striker. Do Championship have a transfer deadline like Premier League ?
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From todays team I don't think many came out with much credit ........
Much as its sad news I fear Grealish is just all hype ....
Gardner ....... forget it
Ayew ...Did he look like he wanted to be there?
You could go on but its time Grealish either put a shift in was we forget him ...not popular words I guess but what else can be said
I'm with you on Grealish and GG. The former's total unwillingness to shoot is really strange. He's like a golfer with the yips.
To me it looks like the injuries have really taken their toll on Gardner. Potentially he's the best passer in the squad but physically I don't think he's up to it.
I thought that Ayew tried really hard, dropping back to pick up the ball and always looking to be involved. However, when he does drop back, no one pushes forward to support Rudy. It's not Pointy's game, so I'm not expecting him to and GG doesn't have the pace.
For the good of the team (in the absence of a midfielder who can burst forward), Ayew needs to stay up top
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Gestede is ok in the Championship as proven at Blackburn where he was given the service by wingers who played to his strengths, as proven by his goal tally. We gave him no crosses of note today, as we had zero width. Great planning and tactics there....
there were a couple of decent crosses that Rudy got nowhere near
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It's a friendly and we shouldn't get too carried away. We could easily have been three up at half time if Hutton and ayew had made better choices, and that was with gestede impersonating a statue all game
Grealish and ayew are still a class above most players in this league, but they need guys around them to give us punch
The obvious problems were the same old ones though: mentality, losing goals in bursts, looking hopelessly vulnerable to a break, lack of invention and quality, and the midfield. Westwood has always struggled in a two and he and Gardner don't have a whole lot of energy between them
But we knew there was a hell of a lot to sort out. I never could see us hitting the ground running at the top of the table. There's just soooo much to sort out. But 2-3 really good signings and the right coaching will make the world of difference
Let's just give RDM some time and not get on his back if we're off to a slow start
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I agree 2-3 more signings in that side would make a big difference - we look desperately ponderous in the final third; more pace and power there would make all the difference.
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I thought Tshibola looked quite exciting but then my stream broke so I'm guessing he didn't for the final 20?
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It's a friendly and we shouldn't get too carried away. We could easily have been three up at half time if Hutton and ayew had made better choices, and that was with gestede impersonating a statue all game
Grealish and ayew are still a class above most players in this league, but they need guys around them to give us punch
The obvious problems were the same old ones though: mentality, losing goals in bursts, looking hopelessly vulnerable to a break, lack of invention and quality, and the midfield. Westwood has always struggled in a two and he and Gardner don't have a whole lot of energy between them
But we knew there was a hell of a lot to sort out. I never could see us hitting the ground running at the top of the table. There's just soooo much to sort out. But 2-3 really good signings and the right coaching will make the world of difference
Let's just give RDM some time and not get on his back if we're off to a slow start
i agree with the shitstorm that rdm has walked into and hopefully we will see at least a couple of new arrivals this week
august is a big month, two tough away games and two cup finals for rotherham and huddersfield
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Just walked through the door. Still totally pissed off with them. What was the single biggest reason for our abject humiliation last season ? It was defeatism. A losing mentality. The opposition score and we throw in the towel. We assemble in the centre circle, shoulders slumped, heads bowed, silent - just as though a coffin is being buried on the centre spot. No rolling up of sleeves, no encouraging each other, just spineless acceptance of inevitable defeat. Today was the day I realised we should have got Nigel Pearson. It costs nothing to roust a team. Just bollock them until they start to play like men, not frigging eunuchs.
No - the biggest reason we were abject last season was the abysmal quality of players.
Yes, there's a role for motivation and leadership, but it can't make up for the lack of quality in this squad.
If we keep playing the same old players, in the same way, we'll get the same results - simple.
The midfield and creative players last year mustered up virtually nothing, and although the standard is obviously lower this year, it's not so low as to make them into world beaters.
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It was a friendly, let's not get so worked up until we play those first 3 games inc Luton next week and then we may have a better idea.
Did you not watch these same losers 'perform' last season? They're not good enough, plain and simple. 3 wins and 17 points from 38 matches??
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Respect oldhill but the players last season played massively below their actual abilities. Every man jack of them had played better for other sides or for better motivators.
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It was only a friendly, but it was only a friendly for Boro too, and they beat us at home 3 goals to 1
it doesn't bode well
I can't see us being anywhere near good enough to come up in the two automatic spots, best we can hope for in my opinion is getting into the play offs and take our chances,
but even if we manage that we will have to make big changes to stay up again in the prem
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Ghastly.
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Respect oldhill but the players last season played massively below their actual abilities. Every man jack of them had played better for other sides or for better motivators.
Not sure about that Brian. Players like Westwood, Cissokho and Gestede have been dire since they arrived.
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I know it's mostly pointless but I'm watching Bayern vs Inter in the International Cup. It's just gone 35 min and Bayern lead 4-0, the very good US player Julian Green with 3. The movement is simply magnificent and it is the most glaring thing for me about watching us in recent seasons. We are slow and get slower as we get closer to goal. The good and very good sides just pose so many problems by their running off the ball. We are really bad at that.
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Football is a simple game, and the simple fact of the matter is that...we are shit because we have too many shit players. You can't polish a turd.
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It's a friendly and we shouldn't get too carried away. We could easily have been three up at half time if Hutton and ayew had made better choices, and that was with gestede impersonating a statue all game
Grealish and ayew are still a class above most players in this league, but they need guys around them to give us punch
The obvious problems were the same old ones though: mentality, losing goals in bursts, looking hopelessly vulnerable to a break, lack of invention and quality, and the midfield. Westwood has always struggled in a two and he and Gardner don't have a whole lot of energy between them
But we knew there was a hell of a lot to sort out. I never could see us hitting the ground running at the top of the table. There's just soooo much to sort out. But 2-3 really good signings and the right coaching will make the world of difference
Let's just give RDM some time and not get on his back if we're off to a slow start
I agree with a lot of this,
we may have a load of midfielders, BUT leaders, "who??"
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What I mean Riss is was Westwood as bad for Crewe as he is for us, was Cissoko as bad for Liverpool, or Gestede for Blackburn, or Gueye for Lille, or Gestede for Blackburn, or Veretout for Nantes, or Ayew for L'Orient or Amavi for Nice or Hutton for Spurs? They came to us and all their ability that attracted us to them failed to materialise. It can't be coincidence that players play so much worse for us. The mess that we are is contagious. We take potentially good players and fail to develop them.
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Utter crap Brian. The players last year did not under perform. They are crap and will be crap this year. Going down a division does not make you a better player. We desperately need flesh blood. Dr Xia - have you got any money or not ??????????
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Respect oldhill but the players last season played massively below their actual abilities. Every man jack of them had played better for other sides or for better motivators.
Not so sure about that.
Westwood, Hutton, Sanchez, Bacuna, Cisshoko, Clark, Baker, Gabby, Richardson, Gill, Sinclair, etc - none of these massively underperformed - they may have played slightly better in other situations, but not massively below their abilities.
Then you add in the untested Ayew, Veretout, Gana, Traore and Amavi - who knows what they're capable of, they might improve with the right manager but there's no obvious great talents that dramatically underperformed.
I think we are deluding ourselves and seting up another manager to fail if you think all they have to do is shout at the players and tell them to try harder.
If only life was that simple.
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I don't think our flair players can score regularly our constantly provide the killer pass. These players get plenty of possession and do very little with it. I wonder if you asked them to describe their role in the team what there answer would be.
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I think it's more to do with poor scouting and buying the wrong players than development. I asked a Liverpool fan that i worked with about Cissokho when we bought him and he said that he was a decent enough defender, but was woeful in possession which was the issue Liverpool fans had with him. It's pretty much what we've seen.
In Islamabad me and my rangers mate watched Rangers and then Villa virtually every weekend live so i saw a fair bit of Hutton. he was a marauding full-back he scored the odd goal and had a hand in quite a few. He looked quality and then went to tottenham for something like 9 or 10 million. I thought he'd be what Walker is now but he failed to push on and was signed by us, but that rangers player has never been seen in England bar the odd good performance.
Westwood was getting plaudits in his first season or two but has since gone backwards as one by one players have been sold off and our set-up has become more and more aimless.
It's just a general all round malaise. We are like the Tories with austerity. Stripped back bit by bit to the point where it stops working. And we did. In just about every department.
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But life is that simple oldhill. Every one, every one, has shown that he is capable of playing to a higher level than they did when they amassed 17 points and 3 wins in a season for us. That tells me one thing, perhaps it tells you something else, but it tells me that they are not motivated. Shouting at them would be a good start, in my humble and simplistic view.
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Three teams well supported in today's friendlies in Brum:
Villa attendance 14,863 (869 Boro)
Small Heath: 4,218 (436 Roda)
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Gestede is ok in the Championship as proven at Blackburn where he was given the service by wingers who played to his strengths, as proven by his goal tally. We gave him no crosses of note today, as we had zero width. Great planning and tactics there....
He is gash....stop making excuses for him... He's as static as a MFI cabinet....no.......sorry...that has more movement.
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But life is that simple oldhill. Every one, every one, has shown that he is capable of playing to a higher level than they did when they amassed 17 points and 3 wins in a season for us. That tells me one thing, perhaps it tells you something else, but it tells me that they are not motivated. Shouting at them would be a good start, in my humble and simplistic view.
17 points and 3 wins tells me, that as a group of players, that they well below the standard needed . If they'd missed out by a point or two then I'd agree that motivation might have been a deciding factor.
You always come across as a well rounded, educated sort of chap, but now you think that shouting at them is the answer.
I know you're frustrated, but seriously do you really believe that?
How many points do you think we would have got if say Pearson taken over from Sherwood instead of Garde?
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I just cant agree that our players are under performing. I've not seen them play enough for other clubs - fair enough. I have seen them play every match for Villa either live or via the internet. The defenders make mistake after mistake, the midfielders don't create or score and the forwards don't score, the game is simple - the players who played last year ain't good enough and they need to be replaced.
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Some fans say it is only a friendly,but as someone said earlier it was only a friendly for Boro to .Today reminded me of the pre season friendly last season when Fulham beat us 3-1 .We looked totally clueless in that game and we all know what followed .Today worried me that we are going into this season with the same players who just are not good enough.The two full backs are very poor ,Westwood as usual did nothing of note,there is no pace in the midfield and still we have no width.Fans go on about Gestede and i have to say he looks bloody awful but i am convinced ,give him a decent service and he will score goals.Biggest concern for me though is reading our manager saying he will give Gabby another chance .How that guy pulls the wool over every manger's eyes just amazes me
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I wonder how much pressure he is under to use what we have - let's face it, it's a business, and we probably can't afford to be writing lots of money off
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Utter crap Brian. The players last year did not under perform. They are crap and will be crap this year. Going down a division does not make you a better player. We desperately need flesh blood. Dr Xia - have you got any money or not ??????????
Totally disagree, they massively under performed just like Leicesters over performed
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And we go again making excuses... it's only a friendly, it's all about fitness, giving the squad the benefit of the doubt, RDM needs to see the squad for himself, blah, blah, blah. We've just lost another game (at home) with the same useless squad, same useless tactics and the now accustomed collapse. Are we seriously expecting promotion with a squad of Gestede, Bacuna, Westwood, Cissokho together with the cancer of Agbonlahor, Richards and Lescott? I hope and pray Xia isn't full of shit because if he is, we've still to bottom out. I'm just sick if now. Tired.
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Nothing surprising, we put the same players out that put us in this situation.
My biggest concern is that the new Management has not realised how big a transformation is needed.
if they think that they can build a team around this squad then we might as well look forward to scrapping to stay in this league.
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Nothing surprising, we put the same players out that put us in this situation.
My biggest concern is that the new Management has not realised how big a transformation is needed.
if they think that they can build a team around this squad then we might as well look forward to scrapping to stay in this league.
As someone who has seen Villa in the old third division, I think we should hold fire. Gestede wont get goals in that set up, no crosses. If we are going to play that way, and I think it will be hard in the championship, we need a pacey person up top
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it's time this under performing myth was put to bed - the usual suspects have under performed under a succession of different managers and coaches, which says to me that they are not up to the job.
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it's time this under performing myth was put to bed - the usual suspects have under performed under a succession of different managers and coaches, which says to me that they are not up to the job.
This. Westwood, Bacuna, Cissoko, Westwood, Gestede all not good enough
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it's time this under performing myth was put to bed - the usual suspects have under performed under a succession of different managers and coaches, which says to me that they are not up to the job.
Too right. I'm sick to death of these shit players. Sell them all.
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I am not making excuses for them. A decision has to be made for the good of the future of the club. If a player will not perform and continues to show the same mistakes week after week, of unforced errors, sloppy passing, lack of application, you make him stop doing it or you get rid of him. If RDM and Clarke and Bond saw that capitulation yesterday and thought it was good enough, they are simply not the strong management team we must have. If they saw what I saw, a team of serial quitters they will demand from the owner the funds to bring in a sufficient number of players to purge the squad of defeatism. If they think the answer is to coax adequate performances out of players and somehow muddle through with what they have got, I see no reason to continue to support the club.
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I am not making excuses for them. A decision has to be made for the good of the future of the club. If a player will not perform and continues to show the same mistakes week after week, of unforced errors, sloppy passing, lack of application, you make him stop doing it or you get rid of him. If RDM and Clarke and Bond saw that capitulation yesterday and thought it was good enough, they are simply not the strong management team we must have. If they saw what I saw, a team of serial quitters they will demand from the owner the funds to bring in a sufficient number of players to purge the squad of defeatism. If they think the answer is to coax adequate performances out of players and somehow muddle through with what they have got, I see no reason to continue to support the club.
A good post,Brian.
I'd go as far as saying that when I look at all those familiar faces, I have no expectation that they can win any game.
If you are rebuilding a crumbling house, you do better to replace the foundations first. Not sure that RDM is the man but w'ell see.
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Why were we set up in that fashion yesterday? I am aware some of the players regularly castigated on here will never be good enough but we do have sufficient quality to be competing at the top of this league providing the manager gets a grip quickly. It was almost a formation designed to demonstrate how desperately we need goals. I worry that players who should have been fired out of a cannon at the end of last season are free to inject their poison. Team spirit, work ethic and a smidge of quality get you out of this league. I saw no sign yesterday that we are steadily heading that way.
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I think the problem is RDM wants to play s certain way and the players are simply not up to it. Reminds me of when Brendan Rogers was at Reading so problem is who will fall first RDM or the players?
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What I mean Riss is was Westwood as bad for Crewe as he is for us, was Cissoko as bad for Liverpool, or Gestede for Blackburn, or Gueye for Lille, or Gestede for Blackburn, or Veretout for Nantes, or Ayew for L'Orient or Amavi for Nice or Hutton for Spurs? They came to us and all their ability that attracted us to them failed to materialise. It can't be coincidence that players play so much worse for us. The mess that we are is contagious. We take potentially good players and fail to develop them.
Out of the players on show yesterday the only ones that would seem to be worth persevering with would be Amavi, Tshibola and Green for their potential the rest have blown it for me they are made up of either the not good enough,not spirited enough or just plain lazy and greedy
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Gestede is ok in the Championship as proven at Blackburn where he was given the service by wingers who played to his strengths, as proven by his goal tally. We gave him no crosses of note today, as we had zero width. Great planning and tactics there....
He is gash....stop making excuses for him... He's as static as a MFI cabinet....no.......sorry...that has more movement.
at least the hinges creak!
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it's time this under performing myth was put to bed - the usual suspects have under performed under a succession of different managers and coaches, which says to me that they are not up to the job.
Too right. I'm sick to death of these shit players. Sell them all.
It would be lovely, ditch the lot and start from scratch. In reality, of course, that is impossible and this is where the manager earns his corn. Weed out those that are beyond hope but coach and organise what is left and, combined with new additions, create a competent unit. Then build from there.
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I didn't follow the game at all yesterday, what sort of player is Tshbola? How did the new centre half do? Did any of the young lads look like they can make the step up?
Any positives at all?
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it's time this under performing myth was put to bed - the usual suspects have under performed under a succession of different managers and coaches, which says to me that they are not up to the job.
Too right. I'm sick to death of these shit players. Sell them all.
Nik you have summed up the problem here and it's not over reaction to a friendly result. How do you get rid of shit other than wait till they are out of contract? Let's face it even if we give them away no one is going to pay their wages. I reckon we could be up the creek....for a few years simply due to having to ship out garbage.
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it's time this under performing myth was put to bed - the usual suspects have under performed under a succession of different managers and coaches, which says to me that they are not up to the job.
This. Westwood, Bacuna, Cissoko, Westwood, Gestede all not good enough
Even two Westwoods aren't good enough. 0+0 = 0.
I think it's quite possible RDM has looked at his players on the training ground, and at the friendlies, and thought 'all is not lost with this bunch'. He's probably told them the slate has been wiped clean and 'we go again'. But until yesterday he hadn't seen them play at Villa Park.
All those players who took us down last season might be capable of better performances, but perhaps, once they cross that white line at Villa Park, all the old demons come flooding back?
It was the scene of their most horrendous failures, after all, and I doubt whether most of them have the strength of character to move on from that. They are irretrievably lost. And no amount of gentle coaxing or shouting or slate wiping will get them back.
Somebody mentioned we still need a leader on the pitch. That's key. One or two big characters will not allow the house of cards to cave in as soon as we concede. The body language alone yesterday spoke volumes.
But more than anything, we just need decent players who aren't tainted with the stink of failure and hopelessness. It still lingers thick in the air at Villa Park.
Graham Taylor didn't exactly break the bank in his first season, but he made radical changes on the pitch. He knew exactly the type of personalities we needed. We need the same approach now.
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If thats the case we may have problems as the window now shits in 4 weeksDoes it really?
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It's all just so disappointing. There's absolutely no point in playing Gestede if the team isn't going to bang cross after cross in at him, and as we have no width in the team, that's never going to happen. Ayew was our best player last season, but I'm not convinced he's got what it takes to be our main line striker this season. Westwood and Bacuna just don't have the quality to dominate midfields in this division and the new kid Tshibola has played a handful of games. It's going to be a long, hard and ultimately disappointing season if we don't sort this out. We need an attacking midfielder, a striker and a decent wideman at the very least, and we need them ASAP.
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it's time this under performing myth was put to bed - the usual suspects have under performed under a succession of different managers and coaches, which says to me that they are not up to the job.
This. Westwood, Bacuna, Cissoko, Westwood, Gestede all not good enough
Even two Westwoods aren't good enough. 0+0 = 0.
I think it's quite possible RDM has looked at his players on the training ground, and at the friendlies, and thought 'all is not lost with this bunch'. He's probably told them the slate has been wiped clean and 'we go again'. But until yesterday he hadn't seen them play at Villa Park.
All those players who took us down last season might be capable of better performances, but perhaps, once they cross that white line at Villa Park, all the old demons come flooding back?
It was the scene of their most horrendous failures, after all, and I doubt whether most of them have the strength of character to move on from that. They are irretrievably lost. And no amount of gentle coaxing or shouting or slate wiping will get them back.
Somebody mentioned we still need a leader on the pitch. That's key. One or two big characters will not allow the house of cards to cave in as soon as we concede. The body language alone yesterday spoke volumes.
But more than anything, we just need decent players who aren't tainted with the stink of failure and hopelessness. It still lingers thick in the air at Villa Park.
Graham Taylor didn't exactly break the bank in his first season, but he made radical changes on the pitch. He knew exactly the type of personalities we needed. We need the same approach now.
The point about a leader is absolutely key. Collectively they just shrink when a game starts getting away from them. It's one of the reasons I was so disappointed it was decided Stan didn't have enough to earn a contract. We desperately need someone with his influence in the dressing room and on the pitch.
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watching the friendly against middlesborough gave few clues to how Villa will play this season. I agree with the Mail reporter that the old faults of giving the ball away to allow the opposition to attack the final third, heads going down when a goal against is conceded, and too many Villa players off the pace were obvious. Though I don't agree Ayew was the star, he wasn't playing the same game as the rest.
But the most worrying thing was the lack of strikes on goal and the easy time the boro goalie had. It was impossible to see Gestede scoring as he never had service. He needs the ball in the air, and Villa don't get crosses in. This for me highlights the big weakness tactically since Marc Albrighton was mystifyingly transferred, Villa don't do wing play and there is no width.
Boro got the message by half time and attacked ceaselessly after the break. While midfield was neat but never dominated the opposition, the main fault was defending too deep and with the other faults, boro had an easy second half. Di Matteo has to get the tactics right. The mistakes hopefully he can eliminate so we don't give the ball away. But a team that doesn't put the opposition goalie under consistent pressure is going to struggle.
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Was quite positive coming in to this game, but disappointed as soon as I saw the team...Bacuna, Westwood, Gestede....
...and so it proved. Gestede is a complete waste of a shirt - shows no movement at all, no desire to get in front of or behind his marker, makes no runs to open up gaps for others. How is this bloke a footballer? Where was Hepburn-Murphy? He's played well in other friendlies. Davis? Toner?
Bacuna just seemed to be wandering around the pitch with no sense of urgency at any time...had a little bet that Westwood's first pass would be backwards - I won!
I rate Ayew - he looked good in the first half, but in the second half he looked completely lacking in energy/interest and his two f*ck ups led to losing possession from which they scored.
As Brian Green said, the body language after conceding speaks bloody volumes about this lot!
Desperately needed - a leader, a creative midfielder, a striker. Minimum.
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It was a friendly so you don't tend to get the same intensity
I think we could have scored three in the first half quite easily and that was with gestede doing an impression of a 100 year old oak tree
After 60 mins I was reasonably happy w the tactics. We looked to have more defensive shape. Ayew and grealish were the two most creative players on the pitch. And you could see that, with a proper striker, proper wide player, Amavi at left back and more dynamism centrally (Tishbola?) we could be one of the better teams in this league. IF we make the right signings
The last 30 mins showed that the mentality and organisation has got a long way to go tho. And that might mean clearing more out than RDM had envisaged
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One of the many things Tony Morley said yesterday that was true was: even when Villa break and are in position to deliver a telling ball/cross, Gestede isn't up with play to make the most of it. As has been said, a very decent human being, a very poor footballer.
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My profound disappointment with yesterday was made all the more painful by the hope that the Cambridge game provided. We beat Cambridge without breaking sweat, but the team contained Lyden, Toner, Green, Bennett, Okore and Hepburn-Murphy. They were enough to freshen the side and play with pace and enthusiasm. When we had played an hour yesterday, the team started to look unfit, the tempo of the game dropped and there was only ever going to be another defeat to endure.
What really bothers me is that RDM is going down exactly the same path as Garde and Black and putting his trust in the hands of the likes of Hutton, Sissoko, Bacuna, Westwood and Gestede. As I posted a couple of days ago, they are failures and they do what now comes naturally to them. They fail. The young players may not be world beaters but at least they want to win.
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i just dont understand that all these managers we have had think Bacuna and Westwood are the answer in midfielder.
When I saw them in the team yesterday i just thought dont these so called experts ever learn.
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Whilst knowing it was only a meaningless friendly, i still can't believe how bloody awful we were in the second half yesterday. It was turgid, and RDM not changing things for so long made it all the more baffling.
If I never see Hutton, Cissokho, Bacuna or Gestede in a Villa shirt again it'll still be too soon.
God help us if we're going into the Sheff Weds game with that lot in the starting eleven.
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Same old wasn't it. Looking comfortable without really creating much then make a mistake and implode. To be fair to Gestede he was being held back or down on every set piece - at least two clear penalty offences against him. Grealish continues to look pretty while delivering absolutely zero end product in terms of shots, crosses and incisive passes. Massively over rated. The midfield needs three new players at least, it's pedestrian in the extreme, and we need to replace the full backs. The keeper looked decent but the one thing I mentioned about his you tube highlights when we signed him was his tendency to knock the ball back into the danger area when making saves - and it costs us a goal yesterday. Can't say I fancy our chances after yesterday unles we get 3-4 new players as a minimum.
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Typical Villa imploding after a goal totally gifted to them.
Westwood, Cissokho and Bacuna desperately need replacing.
Roll on Sunday 4,500 Villa, can't wait.
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i just dont understand that all these managers we have had think Bacuna and Westwood are the answer in midfielder.
When I saw them in the team yesterday i just thought dont these so called experts ever learn.
In Bacuna's defence yesterday, he was playing on the left side of midfield which was a bit odd. As for Westwood, he's a very lucky fella to keep being picked.
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rdm has a massive job on his hands and will hopefully get the right players in
the only question i would ask at this stage is if you watched the game yesterday was the performance any different to watching a mcleish/lambert/sherwood/garde/black side?
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As much as it is easy to concentrate on the way we folded like a cheap tent it's also important to note that we dominated the game in the first half. We should have led by 2 or even 3 before they scored and everything changed. If only we had a proper striker or two who could create space and keep the momentum of our attacks. Because what we have now only serves to slow it down. Additionally our midfielders have to get into the box more and take shots themselves. We started to do it more when Sherwood took over that got us out of trouble but we just don't support our forwards from midfield at all.
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Anyone who was there notice any changes in squad numbers?
From the pictures on the OS it looked like Grealish was wearing 30
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Anyone who was there notice any changes in squad numbers?
From the pictures on the OS it looked like Grealish was wearing 30
I don't think the new squad numbers have been given out have they?
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We are caught in a perfect storm TV. We don't score enough goals and we concede soft goals. Based on Cambridge, if Hepburn Murphy and Green had started yesterday's game, I believe the first hour would have yielded more than one goal. Rushian is only small but he has pace and a good engine. He is the perfect antidote to Gestede toothlessness.
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I hope Brian that the talented young players are integrated gradually. I agree with you though that some of them should be played instead the tried and tested, or as we have tried and failed.
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We are caught in a perfect storm TV. We don't score enough goals and we concede soft goals. Based on Cambridge, if Hepburn Murphy and Green had started yesterday's game, I believe the first hour would have yielded more than one goal. Rushian is only small but he has pace and a good engine. He is the perfect antidote to Gestede toothlessness.
this where the wanker black buggered up, if he had chucked a few of the kids in once we had been relegated at least they would have had game time against better opposition
chuck the russian in, chuck green in, chuck the reserve left back in, anything apart from the same wankers who took us down and make your eyes bleed doing the same one paced unpenetrative shit week in week out that has never worked an aint going to anytime soon
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I know it was only Worcester City the other week, but we looked twice as effective with "Spud" Hepburn-Murphy up front in the 2nd half (and Stan instead of Gardner deep midfield) than we did in the first half with Kozak...and even more so when Davis came on...and scored 2!
conclusion: it's no good playing with a big man up front unless you play to his strengths (Gestede has none that I have seen) so use pace instead....Spud has it, Davis has it, Traore has it.
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Ayew and grealish were the two most creative players on the pitch.
What did Grealish create exactly? I must have missed it, perhaps when I went for a pish.
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We had about three moves of quality in that first half. One led to the corner we scored from. One led to the Hutton chance. And one to ayew' chance when he got a bit injured. I think grealish was involved in all three
That's not to say he doesn't need more end product. It can be tough though when your centre forward is just fucking standing there doing nothing
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For me Jack needs to be far more decisive and direct. Keep it simple. He tends to beat the man and not make a direct move towards goal. And absolutely needs to add shooting let alone goals to his game.
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If I never see Hutton, Cissokho, Bacuna or Gestede in a Villa shirt again it'll still be too soon.
God help us if we're going into the Sheff Weds game with that lot in the starting eleven.
Hutton is a Villa legend according to some of his Instagram followers. ::)
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Gestede is not going to make the difference we need - although if we do continue with him, surely H-M and Green have to play out wide. I'd prefer to give Davis a run upfront rather than persist with Gestede.
Cissokho is dreadful - concentration and positioning are his undoing.
The latest rumour today is of Abel Fernandez being touted for a move from Hull, with Gestede going the other way ... Hope that is true.
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If I never see Hutton, Cissokho, Bacuna or Gestede in a Villa shirt again it'll still be too soon.
God help us if we're going into the Sheff Weds game with that lot in the starting eleven.
Hutton is a Villa legend according to some of his Instagram followers. ::)
Alan Hutton has become a legend because he tries - even if the accolades seem somewhat of a piss-take during the match...
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If I never see Hutton, Cissokho, Bacuna or Gestede in a Villa shirt again it'll still be too soon.
God help us if we're going into the Sheff Weds game with that lot in the starting eleven.
Hutton is a Villa legend according to some of his Instagram followers. ::)
Alan Hutton has become a legend because he tries - even if the accolades seem somewhat of a piss-take during the match...
Legend my arse!
Your Villa Legend is too over the hill for Aston Villa, The EFL and possibly League 1.
Just out of interest, how old are you Witton Warrior?
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"He's shit but he tries, he's Alan Hutton, he's shit but he tries"
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I'd take eleven Alan Huttons with all his inadequacies as a footballer any day of the week for his attitude alone. Far superior in attitude than any other of his so-called team mates. He gets a lot of stick on here with comments like he just kicks people. Well maybe he does but, at least he cares enough to kick which is more than can be said for most of the others. New signings notwithstanding.
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I'd take eleven Alan Huttons with all his inadequacies as a footballer any day of the week for his attitude alone. Far superior in attitude than any other of his so-called team mates. He gets a lot of stick on here with comments like he just kicks people. Well maybe he does but, at least he cares enough to kick which is more than can be said for most of the others. New signings notwithstanding.
What exactly does he care about?
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At least Hutton makes the effort and looks like he is bothered.
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I'd take eleven Alan Huttons with all his inadequacies as a footballer any day of the week for his attitude alone. Far superior in attitude than any other of his so-called team mates. He gets a lot of stick on here with comments like he just kicks people. Well maybe he does but, at least he cares enough to kick which is more than can be said for most of the others. New signings notwithstanding.
Like getting pointlessly sent off against Chelsea, which seemed to get a lot of admiration at the time.
Because apparently kicking somebody hard and not having to bother playing anymore really shows that you care, rather than being the act of a cowardly shitehawk.
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I'd take eleven Alan Huttons with all his inadequacies as a footballer any day of the week for his attitude alone. Far superior in attitude than any other of his so-called team mates. He gets a lot of stick on here with comments like he just kicks people. Well maybe he does but, at least he cares enough to kick which is more than can be said for most of the others. New signings notwithstanding.
Like getting pointlessly sent off against Chelsea, which seemed to get a lot of admiration at the time.
Because apparently kicking somebody hard and not having to bother playing anymore really shows that you care, rather than being the act of a cowardly shitehawk.
That's not just us in fairness. It seems to be every set of fans who ridiculously applaud their player who has just been sent off.
It's moronic
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He's a very limited footballer. At times when I look at both of our full backs I honestly wonder how the hell they made it as professionals.
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If we had amavi and bennet available how the hell did cissoku get first choice?
thought first half midfield with Westwood and Gardner looked ok. Gardner goes off and we go to shit. Please have tish and Gardner not Westwood.
i would ayew firstly pass the ball. Lost count how many times he lost possession by being just greedy. And i would tell him to stay in the final 3rd and stop coming deep.
if you play gestede play 442 with width. Its that simple.
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Is there actually such a thing as first choice in a pre season friendly?
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What the hell was Baker doing for their second, he tries to make up for it but the real worry is how him and Hutton are almost level before the ball goes past the HW line, yet only one person is busting a gut trying to get back. (It isn't Hutton)
Also for their third, Hutton is behind two of their players all the way until it goes in the back of the net, what the hell...
How on earth anyone says the full-backs were good or are good is utter nonsense.
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What the hell was Baker doing for their second, he tries to make up for it but the real worry is how him and Hutton are almost level before the ball goes past the HW line, yet only one person is busting a gut trying to get back. (It isn't Hutton)
Also for their third, Hutton is behind two of their players all the way until it goes in the back of the net, what the hell...
How on earth anyone says the full-backs were good or are good is utter nonsense.
Cissokho's pass for their first was a bit special as well.
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The crowd is dubbed. Wankers.
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Thats the first time i've seen the goals from yesterday....Oh dear...awful
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Any defence with Baker, Clark, Hutton and Cissokho is going to struggle...each and every single one of them is likely to make a mistake whether it be caught out of position, bad pass, poor clearance or bad tackle. Its literally a disaster waiting to happen and most of the time they are incapable of making amends for their mistakes. The only good thing is that Guzan has been taken out of that catastrophic equation so thats one less idiot to worry about.
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Agree KRS but am sure Okore and Amavi would be better options longer term, maybe even Lyden at right back ?
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First time I've seen the second and third properly
Baker completely at fault for both in my view. Trying to play (possibly beyond his ability) Cissokho for the first
Being optimistic, I'll say he's less likely to try somethi like that in a week's time . . .
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Cissokho, Hutton and Baker are all absolutely gash.
I honestly think we need to be realistic about some of these players. Cissokho is positionally one of the worst players I've seen at Villa in a long time. Baker is incapable of concentrating for more than ten minutes at a time, and Hutton is a blustery, charge-around-a-lot-to-hide-your-deficiencies player of the Micah Richards type (and he's fucking shit, too).
The thought of relying on any of these arseholes for any length of time next season scares me to death.
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Baker is just rubbish.
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Hutton was signed by TSM1. TSM2 dumped him in the bomb squad, only for two years later and a loan spell in Spain, then recalled into the squad. STAGGERING.
TSM2 tried other full backs Lowton & Bacuna to provide the magical width to feed Benteke and the current Donkey.
Full backs are designed to defend. They can overlap at best.
Hutton cannot defend - he thinks he is modern attacking right back - he is not. (Asking a full back to be an expert at defending and then provide crosses to strikers - a la Walker of Spurs has it's limitations. - For example could you put two socks on your feet at the same time?) No you cannot.
His effort is commendable. Alas, within our darkest moments we praise a player who is just not good enough for ASTON VILLA and has never been.
If we play the likes of Hutton we deserve to be where we are and where we are going.
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after 6 weeks of forgetting this lot its back to reality and another season of Blues
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after 6 weeks of forgetting this lot its back to reality and another season of Blues
Make that another 2 seasons.
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The season hasn't even started and people are writing off the next 2 years?
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after 6 weeks of forgetting this lot its back to reality and another season of Blues
bitter alert
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My profound disappointment with yesterday was made all the more painful by the hope that the Cambridge game provided. We beat Cambridge without breaking sweat, but the team contained Lyden, Toner, Green, Bennett, Okore and Hepburn-Murphy. They were enough to freshen the side and play with pace and enthusiasm. When we had played an hour yesterday, the team started to look unfit, the tempo of the game dropped and there was only ever going to be another defeat to endure.
What really bothers me is that RDM is going down exactly the same path as Garde and Black and putting his trust in the hands of the likes of Hutton, Sissoko, Bacuna, Westwood and Gestede. As I posted a couple of days ago, they are failures and they do what now comes naturally to them. They fail. The young players may not be world beaters but at least they want to win.
Yesterday you were saying they needed shouting at (motivating?) to perform to the higher standards they had proven themselves capable of elsewhere. You thought Pearson should have brought in do the shouting.
Now you're saying they're serial failures and we need to get rid and give the youngsers a chance (agreed).
What made you change your mind?
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I have not changed my mind at all. You took my metaphor of shouting at them to represent strong, forceful management, literally and have used it as a stick to beat me with. You will probably disagree for the sake of stringing out an argument I do not seek but I will spell it out.
Did Westwood play as badly for Crewe as he plays for Villa? No. Did Hutton play for Spurs as badly as he plays for Villa? Veretout for Nantes? Gueye for Lille? Kozak for Lazio? Traore for Barcelona? Amavi for Nice? Richards for Manchester City? Lescott for Manchester City? Sinclair for Swansea? The list goes on and the answer is a resounding No.
So what is the common denominator? It is Aston Villa and it's managers, right through from O'Neill to Garde and straws in the wind that hint at Matteo. Managers who have allowed players to deteriorate. Even Garde who I liked very much, bottled it and allowed Agbonlahor back into the nest of vipers just as it appeared to be scattering.
Forceful management might have brought about an end to defeatism. My opinion is that Pearson could have done it. Based on last last Saturday's capitulation RDM seems not to have done.
If the failed players are clearly unable or unwilling to change their ways so the only alternative is to give fresh players their chance. I was at Worcester and Cambridge and it looked to be working. I was at the Boro game and the same old losing mentality proved that it is still alive and well.
If you want to highlight any of this highlight the words about the common denominator of failing players is Aston Villa managers.
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Remember what we are dealing with here, the majority of top professional footballers are children, they have had everything they required provided for them by the club's employing them, on top of that they earn obscene amounts of money and can have anything their little hearts desire.
Yes we may not be Prem anymore, but there will still be a number of Villa players who think they are as they have known nothing else, tough no nonsense management can help and it does not have to be a shouter or a nutter type manager to get that through to them, Ron Saunders never came bawling out on interviews, but you got the impression he was not one to cross, if some of our so called super stars are to fragile to handle this, Brian is quite right, play some youngsters and remove the defeatist attitude that is still to strong a smell around B6.
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so, I might be getting this wrong but are you saying that already, RDM is another failure?
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I agree with Brian, until we get rid of the players who only know how to lose, then I don't think that we will turn Villa into play off contender for this season
Most of these players, have been given chance after chance to prove themselves, and very few of them have shown that they deserve another go.
I would rather give the young ones ago than watch some of our "superstars" pretend that they care about the club, and playing for it.
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so, I might be getting this wrong but are you saying that already, RDM is another failure?
If so that is ridiculous at this very early stage when the season hasn't even begun! For the record I wanted Pearson but the owner went against the advice of others and was no doubt impressed by the fact that Di Matteo had won the Champions League. He must be given a chance and be backed by the owner with the funds promised .
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No assumptions about how our season is going to pan out should really be drawn from a friendly fixture. Yes, it would have been much better had we won 3 -1 but so what, we lost a friendly game. If 4 or 5 weeks into the season and we're seeing the same then yes, concerned we should be.
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I have not changed my mind at all. You took my metaphor of shouting at them to represent strong, forceful management, literally and have used it as a stick to beat me with. You will probably disagree for the sake of stringing out an argument I do not seek but I will spell it out.
Did Westwood play as badly for Crewe as he plays for Villa? No. Did Hutton play for Spurs as badly as he plays for Villa? Veretout for Nantes? Gueye for Lille? Kozak for Lazio? Traore for Barcelona? Amavi for Nice? Richards for Manchester City? Lescott for Manchester City? Sinclair for Swansea? The list goes on and the answer is a resounding No.
So what is the common denominator? It is Aston Villa and it's managers, right through from O'Neill to Garde and straws in the wind that hint at Matteo. Managers who have allowed players to deteriorate. Even Garde who I liked very much, bottled it and allowed Agbonlahor back into the nest of vipers just as it appeared to be scattering.
Forceful management might have brought about an end to defeatism. My opinion is that Pearson could have done it. Based on last last Saturday's capitulation RDM seems not to have done.
If the failed players are clearly unable or unwilling to change their ways so the only alternative is to give fresh players their chance. I was at Worcester and Cambridge and it looked to be working. I was at the Boro game and the same old losing mentality proved that it is still alive and well.
If you want to highlight any of this highlight the words about the common denominator of failing players is Aston Villa managers.
Brian, Hutton was terrible for Spurs, Cissokho terrible for Liverpool. Westwood played in the 3rd tier and the french players are completely untested having played in what's generally considered a very average league. Traore didn't play for Barcelona, he played for the B team who were relegated if my memory serves me well. Kozak didn't play much at all for the Lazio first team and was a Europa player and sub. Sinclair's glory season was half a decade ago and Lescott at the age he is was vulnerable to ''falling off the edge of the cliff'', it can happen to players in their 30's, one season too many.
We didn't buy tried and tested players who suddenly became poor. We bought untested or very average players who's sum of their parts, thanks to terrible guidance from 2 crap managers was less than expected. They also gave up.
I don't see the ability in the players you do. Ask a Spurs fan what they think of Hutton, you won't hear to dissimilar to what we do.
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No mr.underhill I am not saying RDM is a failure, he has not picked one team or had one result in a competitive match, what I am saying is their is a brittle confidence layer at Villa Park and what he must, or else he will fail, is overcome this by his own management methods, or get rid of the dead wood, I would say that numbers at least 8 players.
RDM cannot shift the deadwood if no one else wants them, that should also tell you something about the inside knowledge within football, that what we have identified as being wankers and wasters, are also identified within the game as such, Newcastle have been able to shift quite a few off their wage books, no one wants ours buy one get one free tossers.
So if that is the case and the good Dr has not got billions to spunk on Gabby's inflated contract, Bacuna's champion league wages, Lescott's next new motor John, RDM will have a very difficult task at hand, we will probably know by the end of January if he has failed or not, that gives him two windows to get rid of the dross, not long I know but this is modern day football.
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thanks for the qualification
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It doesn't look like RDM is doing the necessary shake up and ship out. We are looking at another painful season.
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At least Hutton makes the effort and looks like he is bothered.
There is a playing to the gallery element to it though, look at me throwing in crunching tackles etc. As others have said he isn't one to be breaking a sweat getting back when caught constantly up the pitch.
A fraud of a footballer really, zero positional sense, poor discipline and very limited technically. Typical British defender unfortunately. I seem to remember in some of his better spells at Spurs he was decent going forward but those days are long gone. He is the epitome of the declining standards at AVFC when his "efforts" are seen as commendable.
OK as backup this season in the last year of his contract. Was hoping one of the Scottish clubs would offer him a 2 year deal this summer but that's a forlorn hope.
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It doesn't look like RDM is doing the necessary shake up and ship out. We are looking at another painful season.
Short of shooting them, I imagine it's a bit difficult to get rid, i.e. persuade other clubs to buy only the players he doesn't rate. They might not rate them either.
I am hoping that some end up going as second or third choices for other clubs as the end of the window approaches and the first choices have fallen through.
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I for one am amazed that all the players who were utter shit for all of last season as we got relegated with seventeen points haven't been snapped up by other clubs.
Terrible management from Di Matteo. If we'd appointed Pearson, he'd have kept shouting until Real Madrid signed them all.
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I have not changed my mind at all. You took my metaphor of shouting at them to represent strong, forceful management, literally and have used it as a stick to beat me with. You will probably disagree for the sake of stringing out an argument I do not seek but I will spell it out.
Did Westwood play as badly for Crewe as he plays for Villa? No. Did Hutton play for Spurs as badly as he plays for Villa? Veretout for Nantes? Gueye for Lille? Kozak for Lazio? Traore for Barcelona? Amavi for Nice? Richards for Manchester City? Lescott for Manchester City? Sinclair for Swansea? The list goes on and the answer is a resounding No.
So what is the common denominator? It is Aston Villa and it's managers, right through from O'Neill to Garde and straws in the wind that hint at Matteo. Managers who have allowed players to deteriorate. Even Garde who I liked very much, bottled it and allowed Agbonlahor back into the nest of vipers just as it appeared to be scattering.
Forceful management might have brought about an end to defeatism. My opinion is that Pearson could have done it. Based on last last Saturday's capitulation RDM seems not to have done.
If the failed players are clearly unable or unwilling to change their ways so the only alternative is to give fresh players their chance. I was at Worcester and Cambridge and it looked to be working. I was at the Boro game and the same old losing mentality proved that it is still alive and well.
If you want to highlight any of this highlight the words about the common denominator of failing players is Aston Villa managers.
I'm not trying to string out an argument. I've got far better things to do.
I am, however, interested in trying to understand what you're saying as you usually talk a lot of sense.
You're right that the players have failed, I just don't see why you try to make an excuse for them by blaming weak mangement. They are largely incapable of doing much better, regardless of the management.
The main problem has been a weak chairman who ran out cash and ideas, who then appointed weak CEOs and expected a series of managers to perform alchemy and turn base metal into gold. As a result we've got arguably the worst squad in our history.
Its becoming increasingly clear that Xia hasn't got the budget to write off the deadwood which is incapable of performing at this level, let alone the premiership and so there's scant progress.
Is this weak management or is RDM operating within reasonable constraints?
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Tony Xia is happy with the 20,000 or so Season Tickets sold. But where is the investment? Looks like RDM is having to operate within a tight budget.
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Tony Xia is happy with the 20,000 or so Season Tickets sold. But where is the investment? Looks like RDM is having to operate within a tight budget.
How many times are you going to come out with this? You sound like a stuck record.
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It doesn't look like RDM is doing the necessary shake up and ship out. We are looking at another painful season.
Short of shooting them, I imagine it's a bit difficult to get rid, i.e. persuade other clubs to buy only the players he doesn't rate. They might not rate them either.
I am hoping that some end up going as second or third choices for other clubs as the end of the window approaches and the first choices have fallen through.
Finally a decent suggestion to deal with the unwanted members of the squad.
You'd only have to off the first couple and the rest of the ne'erdowells would soon be offering to buy out their own contracts or play somewhere else for nothing to get away
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I for one am amazed that all the players who were utter shit for all of of last season as we got relegated with seventeen points haven't been snapped up by other clubs.
Terrible management from Di Matteo. If we'd appointed Pearson, he'd have kept shouting until Real Madrid signed them all.
Zidane would probably have bought them, just to get Pearson to shut up.
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I for one am amazed that all the players who were utter shit for all of last season as we got relegated with seventeen points haven't been snapped up by other clubs.
Terrible management from Di Matteo. If we'd appointed Pearson, he'd have kept shouting until Real Madrid signed them all.
Well said. This ship won't be turned around in 5 weeks that's for sure. I always thought it would take us two seasons to get out of this league (upwards!!) tho the playoffs mean there's always a chance
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Yep, we all want things to improve, but have to be realistic. Tony has owned us for 6 weeks, it's going to take a lot longer than that to fix the last 5+ years of fuckups on and off the pitch.
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The Stripey Filth lost to Torquay last night. LTA must be gutted.
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but delighted if we loose against Wednesday .
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It doesn't look like RDM is doing the necessary shake up and ship out. We are looking at another painful season.
Short of shooting them, I imagine it's a bit difficult to get rid, i.e. persuade other clubs to buy only the players he doesn't rate. They might not rate them either.
I am hoping that some end up going as second or third choices for other clubs as the end of the window approaches and the first choices have fallen through.
Finally a decent suggestion to deal with the unwanted members of the squad.
You'd only have to off the first couple and the rest of the ne'erdowells would soon be offering to buy out their own contracts or play somewhere else for nothing to get away
Firing squad, last request, last cig.?
Or
A Capricorn One scenario, where they are given 30 minutes' start to scatter in all directions from VP and then hunted down with helicopters?
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Callum o'Hare makes it Tamworth 1 - 3 Villa young uns 80 gone
The Russian got the other 2 didn't he!!
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I for one am amazed that all the players who were utter shit for all of last season as we got relegated with seventeen points haven't been snapped up by other clubs.
Terrible management from Di Matteo. If we'd appointed Pearson, he'd have kept shouting until Real Madrid signed them all.
And if still they hadn't signed he could have strangled the opposing manager on the sideline to until they submitted.