Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Dave on July 28, 2014, 07:31:23 PM
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Wednesday 30th July, 7.45pm
Pre-match, match and post-match chat.
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I think this is the third from final friendly?
I wonder if we'll start to see some clues as to our starting first 11 and formation?
I'm really not sure how he's going to line up. We need some points on the board from the first three games given our September fixtures. We can't rely on beating the top 4 again so regularly - very unlikely to happen.
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Chesterfield, Groningen, Walsall, Parma.
If I remember correctly.
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From Heuston to Chesterfield. Beautiful.
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Houston,
We have a problem.
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Im looking forward to this one,nice drinking town,smart lower league outfit,not far up the road etc
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Was this arranged as part of the deal to buy this goal machine?
(http://i41.tinypic.com/2conc5c.jpg)
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3-0 Villa
Gabby 27
Weimann 66
Okore 82
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Would like to see Steer start again in goal. Think Richardson should play either at full back in just in front to try give protection and to build an understanding. Would like to see Cole play some part too, and think we should carry on with Bent and Weimann, with Gabby on the bench.
I am guessing Vlaar will be availble the friendly after this?
Will also go three nil. Richardson, Weimann and Bacuna to score.
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Surely it won't be the first team tonight as they only landed back from the US yesterday and were all tweeting how jet lagged they were/going to be.
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Guzan must be back by now?
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Guzan must be back by now?
Think he was part of the squad for the US tour, but didn't feature on the pitch. I don't think there is a lot of point using him too much in pre-season. We already know what he can do and that he is our number one.
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Will be interesting to see what team Chesterfield put out as they had a match last night and have another on Thursday. Surely their squad isn't that big?
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Guzan must be back by now?
Think he was part of the squad for the US tour, but didn't feature on the pitch. I don't think there is a lot of point using him too much in pre-season. We already know what he can do and that he is our number one.
I believe he returned to the USA for a holiday after the World Cup and was going to join up with the squad over there at some point and return home with them. He was training with a World Cup squad for a chunk of the summer so he should be fit and sharp. I would guess he would be given a game against Parma and maybe 45 minutes against Walsall.
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Guzan must be back by now?
Think he was part of the squad for the US tour, but didn't feature on the pitch. I don't think there is a lot of point using him too much in pre-season. We already know what he can do and that he is our number one.
I believe he returned to the USA for a holiday after the World Cup and was going to join up with the squad over there at some point and return home with them. He was training with a World Cup squad for a chunk of the summer so he should be fit and sharp. I would guess he would be given a game against Parma and maybe 45 minutes against Walsall.
That makes sense. This is a good chance to give Steer some much needed game time.
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Reading a Villa book at the moment, Chesterfield were our first ever opponents in the 3rd Division (we won 2-3).
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Will be interesting to see what team Chesterfield put out as they had a match last night and have another on Thursday. Surely their squad isn't that big?
http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/article/20140728-staveley-report-1788730.aspx
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Guzan must be back by now?
Think he was part of the squad for the US tour, but didn't feature on the pitch. I don't think there is a lot of point using him too much in pre-season. We already know what he can do and that he is our number one.
Yes, it will be interesting to see who will be no. 2 next season out of Steer and Given.
I believe he returned to the USA for a holiday after the World Cup and was going to join up with the squad over there at some point and return home with them. He was training with a World Cup squad for a chunk of the summer so he should be fit and sharp. I would guess he would be given a game against Parma and maybe 45 minutes against Walsall.
That makes sense. This is a good chance to give Steer some much needed game time.
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I can see us getting a 3-0 win here.
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Reading a Villa book at the moment, Chesterfield were our first ever opponents in the 3rd Division (we won 2-3).
They were also our last opponents in the 3rd division the following season when we won 1-0.
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On the goalkeeping situation I would have Given on the bench and try to get Steer a loan to a championship club.
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On the goalkeeping situation I would have Given on the bench and try to get Steer a loan to a championship club.
Think I would go for that. Had worried if Given was getting a little past it in recent seasons, but think that might because of him playing in struggling sides. Not a bad number two to have anyway.
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Will be interesting to see what team Chesterfield put out as they had a match last night and have another on Thursday. Surely their squad isn't that big?
They'll be playing their first XI. It's their final friendly before their season kicks off.
0-1 Villa win.
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Just a shame that we won't get to see the mighty Jordan Bowery bag a double hatrick against his former side.
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A courageous 2-1 away win . Delph and Gabby with a goal either side of HT.
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Reading a Villa book at the moment, Chesterfield were our first ever opponents in the 3rd Division (we won 2-3).
They were also our last opponents in the 3rd division the following season when we won 1-0.
I assume he hadn't got to that bit of the book yet. Way to spoil the ending for him!
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A resounding 2-1 win.
Bent and N'zogbia to score, wouldn't have the faintest idea who plays for Chesterfield so we'll go for Bowery for them
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VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Herd, Donacien, Bennett, Gardner, Johnson, Carruthers, Burke, Tonev. Robinson. Subs: Given, Bacuna, Okore, El Ahmadi, N'Zogbia, Grealish, Stevens.
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CHESTERFIELD: Lee; Darikwa, Evatt, Hird, Jones; Ryan, Morsy, Boco, Roberts, Humphreys; Gnanduillet. Subs: Wright, Raglan, O'Shea, Gardner, Doyle, Daly, Morrison, Dawes, Broadhead, Onovwigun, Clark.
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Hoping Johnson can have an impact. He looks like he could be a good player. Be interesting to see how Donacien plays too.
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Special night, tonight.
Tonev is going to bag a long range belter.
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0-0 draw
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Not really fancying the attacking midfield 3 of Tonev, Carruthers and Burke. I can't see us creating much. I'm looking forward to see if Robinson can terrorise their defence.
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Oh dear.
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link. anyone?
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Guzan's fault.
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Poor defending. 1-0 Chesterfield. Their attacking ghosting easily between Bennett and Donacien.
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Oops!
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link. anyone?
AVTV
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Guzan in no mans land.
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business as usual!, cracking defence! When Vlaar goes to Southampton we will really be in trouble!
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All Chesterfield
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How're we playing ?
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seems like the defensive coaching is the same throughout!
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Is anyone's sound playing up?
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Eh? What did you say?
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business as usual!, cracking defence! When Vlaar goes to Southampton we will really be in trouble!
A bit over the top really, unless you're being sarcastic.
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Is anyone's sound playing up?
Not for me.
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They're getting a lot of joy on Bennett's side. He's not very good is he? Not very good at all. There seems to be zero communication between Bennett and Janoi.
It's nice getting a footballing lesson from Chesterfield.
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Guzan looks a bit iffy so far.
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Guzan looks a bit iffy so far.
Possibly a bit of rust, but to be fair to him he's already made about 5 saves.
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Guzan at least has the excuse he's only just back in training.
The rest of them, though, I appreciate they're mostly kids, but they're looking firmly second best tonight. As said by others, Bennett is having a hard time. I am still of the opinion he's nothing like good enough.
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I'm not entirely sure what we gain by playing such a young side tonight. We need to be building the fitness and cohesion of our first team. There's a lot of our U-21's playing tonight, but we have U-21 games for them to play. I don't envision Burke, Donacien, Johnson or Carruthers being near the first team to be honest. I could understand giving 1-2 of them some game time, but not quite so many. We need to be building the fitness of Bent etc.
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I'm not entirely sure what we gain by playing such a young side tonight. We need to be building the fitness and cohesion of our first team. There's a lot of our U-21's playing tonight, but we have U-21 games for them to play. I don't envision Burke, Donacien, Johnson or Carruthers being near the first team to be honest. I could understand giving 1-2 of them some game time, but not quite so many. We need to be building the fitness of Bent etc.
I entirely agree. On the surface of it, it's a bit odd.
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I'm not entirely sure what we gain by playing such a young side tonight. We need to be building the fitness and cohesion of our first team. There's a lot of our U-21's playing tonight, but we have U-21 games for them to play. I don't envision Burke, Donacien, Johnson or Carruthers being near the first team to be honest. I could understand giving 1-2 of them some game time, but not quite so many. We need to be building the fitness of Bent etc.
In fairness, most of the first teamers have only been back in the country since Sunday and they all fly out to Holland at the weekend and there's still two friendlies to play after that.
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We're getting a grip now. Gardner is showing his quality and orchestrating. Could be a big season for GG.
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I'm not entirely sure what we gain by playing such a young side tonight. We need to be building the fitness and cohesion of our first team. There's a lot of our U-21's playing tonight, but we have U-21 games for them to play. I don't envision Burke, Donacien, Johnson or Carruthers being near the first team to be honest. I could understand giving 1-2 of them some game time, but not quite so many. We need to be building the fitness of Bent etc.
In fairness, most of the first teamers have only been back in the country since Sunday and they all fly out to Holland at the weekend and there's still two friendlies to play after that.
I'd have certainly been playing Richardson and Senderos for a half, to let them settle in the side. Particularly Senderos who joined up a little later. 45 mins wouldn't have hurt them I don't think.
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Definitely much better the last ten minutes.
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We're getting a grip now. Gardner is showing his quality and orchestrating. Could be a big season for GG.
With us having a really poor set of midfielders, if it doesn't happen this season for GG, I fear it never will.
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Perhaps he's having a final look at some of those younger players before deciding whether to keep them as part of the squad or loan them out.
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It's people like Okore and N'Zogbia who need game time more than anything and they're both on the bench so hopefully they'll get a run out.
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Perhaps he's having a final look at some of those younger players before deciding whether to keep them as part of the squad or loan them out.
On the basis of today so far he'll probably have made up his mind, if he hasn't already, that Tonev should get loaned out. Bennett's also been poor.
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Robinson has looked lively. He could have a part to play early season.
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Be interesting to see how Johnson gets on. Just like GG you get the feeling it's now or never.
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Guzan just made a worldy.
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2-0
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2-0 ouch!
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Great run to start that.
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Lambert out :-)
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I haven't decided whether it's a shame we don't still have Bowery, or whether Chesterfield still have Bowery.
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Some bad defending there.
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We've been pretty poor tbh.
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I think it's clear that Herdy isn't a defensive organiser. I think we'll look a lot more solid next half if Okore plays. A bit of quality and composure at the back.
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A decent ten minute spell, but otherwise, that was really poor.
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Well I am happy we will never play that central defense during the actual season.
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Poor first half. Gardners been okay, Robinson has been fairly lively. Everyone else has been a bit meh. The defending from set plays particularly has been shocking.
All change second half hopefully. I'd like to see a bit of quality from Grealish and Zogbia.
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Extremely poor. The performances of Bennett, Lowton and Gardner are very worrying.
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Wtf is going on, wtf is going on?
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I think Stevens coming on would be a good thing. He'll improve us on the left of defence...
yes...I really just said that.
We also need the class of Karim in the middle.
yes...I said that too.
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Extremely poor. The performances of Bennett, Lowton and Gardner are very worrying.
Lowton and Bennett were awful.
I appreciate their performances will be influenced by those of others, but if we start either of those two too often this season, we'll suffer. Not good enough.
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Hopefully an eye opener for Keane. Lots of work to be done still.
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The defence has been very poor, especially from set pieces. Some of Donacien's decision making has been particularly bad. Gardner looks well off the pace to me. Hopefully more games will see him head in the right direction. Robinson has been good though, he looks hungry and sharp. Without Guzan this could have been a lot worse.
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Jet lag??
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We miss Hutton
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Some very sloppy play all round.Robinson the only outfield player to emerge with any credit really.Only a preseason but once again you can't help but wonder about our defending or lack of it.
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Is it HT? Just got in, Jores Okore interview in Houston on atm.
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I'm not sure Richardson is enough for our left side. If Tony Moon has been dumped out in BOMB SQUAD 2- JUDGEMENT DAY, then I'm not sure Bennett and Stevens are adequate cover. Plus if Lambo decides to play Richardson further up, he may play Bennett.
I think we need to go full back shopping. I'd be happy to scrape by with Lowton, Hutton and Bacuna on the right for a season. But Richardson aside, our left side is shocking.
I think we're 3 players short still. A fullback and a couple of quality midfielders. One defensive, one attacking.
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Is it HT? Just got in, Jores Okore interview in Houston on atm.
Got it on now 8)
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Glad I didn't go to this
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Extremely poor. The performances of Bennett, Lowton and Gardner are very worrying.
Lowton and Bennett were awful.
I appreciate their performances will be influenced by those of others, but if we start either of those two too often this season, we'll suffer. Not good enough.
Indeed, they are both cementing that they should be third choice in their positions right now.
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We also need the class of Karim in the middle.
yes...I said that too.
That answers my GG and Johnson question....ye gods.
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I'm taking it I haven't missed much?
Now i'm watching we'll smash them in the second half.
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Glad I didn't go to this
So am I.
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Our boys are a little late back from HT. Keano probably hasn't finished yet.
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Teenage Kicks playing over the PA.
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Lots of changes..... Good
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Bacuna, Karim, Okore, Zoggy, Stevens and Grealish on.
Bennett, Lowton, Tonev, Burke, Herd and Gardner off I think.
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Gotta love Jack waiting for the announcer to help him with the subs.
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Good work by Zog before scooping it harmlessly over the bar.
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N'Zogbia was "electric" in the US, by all accounts.
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Nice move from Charles. He didn't try and take a man too many for a change.
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Gotta love Jack waiting for the announcer to help him with the subs.
He should have ended it by saying "Kiss my face!"
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Good stuff from Grealish there.
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Grealish and Zog have made a difference already.
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Lovely goal.
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2-1 Grealish. Was gonna stick a fiver on us at 20-1. :-\
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Nice move that.
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Lovely move and quality finish. And first ejection of the season.
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good goal
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Grealish. Well set up by Zog having been put through by Karim. All through have looked a class apart thus far.
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Lovely move and quality finish. And first ejection of the season.
Posting from outside the ground, are you?
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Nice ball by Bacuna
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Lovely move and quality finish. And first ejection of the season.
Posting from outside the ground, are you?
Arf!
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Nice ball by Bacuna
Yeah, lovely that. Surprised he is playing so deep today, he usually gets told to bomb forward more. Maybe a tactical training thing.
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Richie Humphreys? Fucking hell. Didn't realise he was playing today, or still playing full stop. Didn't he score an absolute belter against us for Sheff Wed about 18 years ago? Opening day I think.
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Lovely move and quality finish. And first ejection of the season.
Posting from outside the ground, are you?
V droll.
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A chip against someone?
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Richie Humphreys? Fucking hell. Didn't realise he was playing today, or still playing full stop. Didn't he score an absolute belter against us for Sheff Wed about 18 years ago? Opening day I think.
I was there. Surely it can't be the same one.
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Richie Humphreys? Fucking hell. Didn't realise he was playing today, or still playing full stop. Didn't he score an absolute belter against us for Sheff Wed about 18 years ago? Opening day I think.
I was there. Surely it can't be the same one.
It is
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Richie Humphreys? Fucking hell. Didn't realise he was playing today, or still playing full stop. Didn't he score an absolute belter against us for Sheff Wed about 18 years ago? Opening day I think.
I was there. Surely it can't be the same one.
Looks like the same one. Played for Sheff Weds 1996-2001, 36 years old.
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Richie Humphreys? Fucking hell. Didn't realise he was playing today, or still playing full stop. Didn't he score an absolute belter against us for Sheff Wed about 18 years ago? Opening day I think.
I was there. Surely it can't be the same one.
Looks like the same one. Played for Sheff Weds 1996-2001, 36 years old.
On his wikipedia page there's a photo of him, and he looks about 40. Taken in 2008.
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Richie Humphreys? Fucking hell. Didn't realise he was playing today, or still playing full stop. Didn't he score an absolute belter against us for Sheff Wed about 18 years ago? Opening day I think.
I was there. Surely it can't be the same one.
Looks like the same one. Played for Sheff Weds 1996-2001, 36 years old.
Thats pretty great to see.
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I went to watch The Spireites during a Peak District walking holiday in March. Richie was indeed huffing and puffing on the right of their midfield.
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Nice play from them there.
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Bit of ref pushing from Bacuna
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(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9b/JohnInman.jpg)
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Lovely ball from Bacuna
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Grealish's hair is worryingly similar to Lee Hendrie.
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Nice little spell that, till Johnson balls it up.
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Grealish looks a talent.
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Grealish's hair is worryingly similar to Lee Hendrie.
Mine is worryingly similar to Booby Charlton.
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Why doesn't Grealish wear shin pads?
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Grealish's close control is a joy to watch.
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(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9b/JohnInman.jpg)
I've got the tune to that bleedin show in my head now.
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Samir doing a "Tonev"
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Grealish looks a talent.
He does, doesn't he?
Obvious disclaimers apply, but he looks confident and happy in possession
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Grealish's hair is worryingly similar to Lee Hendrie.
Is the point I was also about to make. Tidy looking player though. Not disimilar to Hendrie at that age.
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Leandro needs to calm the fuck down.
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Grealish's hair is worryingly similar to Lee Hendrie.
Mine is worryingly similar to Booby Charlton.
mmmm...Boobies !
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Grealish's hair is worryingly similar to Lee Hendrie.
Mine is worryingly similar to Booby Charlton.
Is he any relation to Bobby?
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Grealish's hair is worryingly similar to Lee Hendrie.
Is the point I was also about to make. Tidy looking player though. Not disimilar to Hendrie at that age.
I only plagiarise the best.
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Only watched the last 20. Not too impressive. But grealish and Okore look good. Bacuna just does look better at right back to me at the moment
N'zogbia infuriating tho I understand he set up the goal?
Robinson doesn't look able to play the lone front role yet
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Grealish's hair is worryingly similar to Lee Hendrie.
Mine is worryingly similar to Booby Charlton.
Is he any relation to Bobby?
/Beijing Red reference
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How many balls has Tonev lost .
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Poor Sir Booby crying tears from Heaven.
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Grealish's hair is worryingly similar to Lee Hendrie.
Mine is worryingly similar to Booby Charlton.
Show some respect for the dead.
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How many balls has Tonev lost .
None since half time.
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(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9b/JohnInman.jpg)
I've got the tune to that bleedin show in my head now.
Dee dee dee dee dee...........dee dee dee dee dee......
Ground floor:
Perfumery, stationary, and leather goods, wigs and haberdashery, kitchenware and food. Going up...
Dee dee dee dee dee........dee dee dee dee dee
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Jesus Christ, Brad, what the fuck was that?
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Staggeringly shit from Guzan.
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996 of us here.
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Oh my.
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Dire stuff.
Dire.
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Not Brad's finest moment.
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Oh dear Brad!! Better to get that out of the way now.
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"Premier League? Your having a laff."
Maybe not for long chesterfield, maybe not for long. :(
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Been disappointed with Johnson today. He hasn't looked like he could translate his U21 influence to this level. Carruthers has been mediocre too. He looks heavier than when he first broke through and seems to lack a bit of zip and acceleration he had.
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"Premier League? Your having a laff."
Yeah but
"Have you won the European cup"
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Apart from the goal it hasn't been great to watch.
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Oh Bradley
Passing in the final third is shit isn't it? With exception of grealish. Both encouraging and concerning that he looks better than several of our senior pros
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"Premier League? Your having a laff."
Yeah but
"Have you won the European cup"
Heh true.
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Keane out!!!!
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We'll file this one as 'useful workout' then shall we?
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'It's all about fitness at this stage of the season,' said every football fan whose team were losing in a pre-season friendly.
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Big plus was Grealish. We also put a few good passes together, but just seemed too casual a lot of the time, even for a friendly.
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Typical Villa against Lower League opposition under Lambert really.
Grealish /Robinson / N'zogbia /Okore did well..on other hand Herd ,Bennent /Lowton and Gardner were all pretty poor
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Big plus was Grealish. We also put a few good passes together, but just seemed too casual a lot of the time, even for a friendly.
Grealish was only on the pitch half the match but did more than any other player, he looked really good.
Also thought CNZ and KEA did well when they came on.
Nothing about Carruthers or Johnson impressed me. Johnson has a terrible first touch.
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Who we got next ?
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"Premier League? Your having a laff."
Yeah but
"Have you won the European cup"
Heh true.
I hate that chant. Nothing screams 'has beens' more than that to me. Which is obviously true in many senses!
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Anyone think we should sell Vlaar?
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Pants.
Grealish looked good again. He wanted a lot more of the ball but why do that when you can hit the channels.
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I've never understood the hype about Daniel Johnson. He's been here for years, never really got close to the first team, was sent back early from his loan at Yeovil and generally I'm surprised he's still here.
Not too concerned about tonight, it was pretty much a reserve team and we know it's going to be a difficult season so losing to lower league teams shouldn't be that much of a shock!
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A few need reminding it's a friendly and probably 1, at a push 2 of the starting line-up will be the only ones playing a part in a competitive season.
Give it a rest, you're boring.
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Only saw the last half hour or so. No real punch. And one awful mistake at the back
Grealish the pic. N'zogbia and Robinson didn't do well in the bits I saw but I may have missed better bits. Carruthers and Johnson won't have our themselves anywhere bear the first team. Okore was good apart from one slip
Guzan shocking. KEA did well but in a game like this he's a class above. It's when the pace hots up his passing falls apart
Concerned about what I hear on Gardner, Lowton and Bennett. But didn't see them so can't comment
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It seems that if Richardson is playing further forward, our best left back is, wait for it, Enda Stevens.
Christ.
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I think you've all done very well.
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Meanwhile in another universe Everton have signed someone for 28 million.
Sigh!
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Big plus was Grealish. We also put a few good passes together, but just seemed too casual a lot of the time, even for a friendly.
Grealish was only on the pitch half the match but did more than any other player, he looked really good.
Also thought CNZ and KEA did well when they came on.
Nothing about Carruthers or Johnson impressed me. Johnson has a terrible first touch.
You have to say that as he is 22 soon you have to fancy that Johnson isn't going to make it. Carruthers has been disappointing since those promising appearances under McLeish.
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Meanwhile in another universe Everton have signed someone for 28 million.
Sigh!
To be fair we signed someone who's worth that much two years ago, for a quarter of the price.
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A few need reminding it's a friendly and probably 1, at a push 2 of the starting line-up will be the only ones playing a part in a competitive season.
Give it a rest, you're boring.
A good half a dozen of the starting lineup would be hoping to be involved in first team squads next season.
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Donacien, Carruthers & Johnson are candidates to be sent out on loan you would think.
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1-3 oh dear...
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A few need reminding it's a friendly and probably 1, at a push 2 of the starting line-up will be the only ones playing a part in a competitive season.
Give it a rest, you're boring.
Give us a chance, it's only a pre season match thread, we're not all up to full fitness yet.
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Ooh it's only a friendly. Yeah right, tell that to Roy Keane.
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Under Lambert our record against lower league teams is almost as bad as our home record...
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Can't get too upset. The first half team where the damage was done was a reserve side plus two first choice full backs who I don't think will be in the match day squad at the start of the year
Second half we were on top but looked toothless without a real centre forward and then gave away a stupid goal for no reason
Obviously can't read too much into a game like this. But it did remind me that ever since houllier left we've never looked good when playing without at least one fwd with a physical presence. So for me we just can't start Darren bent alone up top even with the two big guys injured
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A few need reminding it's a friendly and probably 1, at a push 2 of the starting line-up will be the only ones playing a part in a competitive season.
Give it a rest, you're boring.
Yeah. It's not like we ever lose to lower league sides is it? Complete one off
;-)
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I don't think there's too much to get worried about, really.
However, I would say that Lowton and Bennett both looked awful for me, and Carruthers, Johnson, Tonev showed absolutely nothing.
On the bright side, Grealish and N'Zog looked good. As did KEA and Bacuna.
Brad had a bit of a night to forget.
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I do think at this rate that grealish is going to be close to a place in the first 18 at the start of the season. He really is lovely to watch.
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Nothing to worry about... hmmmm hardly an improvement from last season. Results like this just remind me what a long and painful slog we are in for this season...
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I've never decided whether pre-season games give us an indication of what is to come. Some years we have had diabolical results in pre-season and gone on to have good actual seasons but then some have been the other way round - 1997 I think was a good pre-season but we had the worst start in living memory.
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The way it's going Grealish should be a starter. I know we need to be careful with him and we shouldn't get carried away. But he has it. Whatever it is. He has it.
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Nothing to worry about... hmmmm hardly an improvement from last season. Results like this just remind me what a long and painful slog we are in for this season...
And did winning the first 3 fill you with confidence?
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Not really. Perhaps I'm being pessimistic, but the players we have signed are totally uninspiring on top of a squad that was probably the worst we have seen in thirty years...
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The test will come at the annual bescot bunfest. Win handsomely and we are in for a shit season. Lose and we will have an exciting one.
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A few need reminding it's a friendly and probably 1, at a push 2 of the starting line-up will be the only ones playing a part in a competitive season.
Give it a rest, you're boring.
It looked very much like a reserve side, but it just goes to show that many of that starting XI just aren't up to the required standard. Let's hope we don't have to rely on them to feature too heavily this season. I think the line up against Gronigen will look a lot different.
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It also shows that our reserves cannot beat a league team who should be at least a week further forward with their fitness thanks to their league season starting earlier. never nice to see any defeat but really, no need to read too much into it. Didn't Newport do our reserves 5-2 last season?
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Time to dig in, get the tin hats out again, forget about summer and prepare for another "campaign" . Football is back. So are Villa.
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It also shows that our reserves cannot beat a league team who should be at least a week further forward with their fitness thanks to their league season starting earlier. never nice to see any defeat but really, no need to read too much into it. Didn't Newport do our reserves 5-2 last season?
And what a great season it turned out to be... ;-)
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It also shows that our reserves cannot beat a league team who should be at least a week further forward with their fitness thanks to their league season starting earlier. never nice to see any defeat but really, no need to read too much into it. Didn't Newport do our reserves 5-2 last season?
I think it was more the youth team.
Although, was it last year Luton beat us or the year before?
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I think tonight's result proves that our 'best' team is probably just about ok, whereas our squad is woefully short on quality.
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It also shows that our reserves cannot beat a league team who should be at least a week further forward with their fitness thanks to their league season starting earlier. never nice to see any defeat but really, no need to read too much into it. Didn't Newport do our reserves 5-2 last season?
I think it was more the youth team.
Although, was it last year Luton beat us or the year before?
Last year.
We've lost to some real dross over the years in pre-season. Sometimes it's down to the side we put out but over the last 5 years or so we have lost to the likes of Basingstoke, Oxford, Derby, Lincoln and Bohemians.
*Puts away the Friendlies book*
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Oh and thanks to that book is this gem of a friendly involving the Villa.
Played to celebrate their new floodlights:
Dec 20 1989 A) Nettleham 5-1*
*This game was abandoned due to floodlight failure.
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It also shows that our reserves cannot beat a league team who should be at least a week further forward with their fitness thanks to their league season starting earlier. never nice to see any defeat but really, no need to read too much into it. Didn't Newport do our reserves 5-2 last season?
I think it was more the youth team.
Although, was it last year Luton beat us or the year before?
Last year.
We've lost to some real dross over the years in pre-season. Sometimes it's down to the side we put out but over the last 5 years or so we have lost to the likes of Basingstoke, Oxford, Derby, Lincoln and Bohemians.
*Puts away the Friendlies book*
Could be worse. In 1940 we lost 8-4 to Revo Elect and the year after Wellington beat us five-nothing.
*Puts away "Midlands Soccer at War" book*
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In 1950 we conceded 7 against Merthyr Tydfil!
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Bollocks, I seem to have lost this game of Shit Results Top Trumps!
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Damn, I was waiting to pounce with my ultimate Top Trump of us conceding 7 against Stourbridge in 1882!
I didn't even know Stourbridge existed in 1882, never mind had a football team!
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Damn, I was waiting to pounce with my ultimate Top Trump of us conceding 7 against Stourbridge in 1882!
I didn't even know Stourbridge existed in 1882, never mind had a football team!
Dave w was there
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I think tonight's result proves that our 'best' team is probably just about ok, whereas our squad is woefully short on quality.
Yeah, probably just about ok to get us relegated.
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Not really. Perhaps I'm being pessimistic, but the players we have signed are totally uninspiring on top of a squad that was probably the worst we have seen in thirty years...
We`ve flirted dangerously close to relegation for 3, possibly even four seasons now (i firmly believe we would have gone if we hadnt signed DB). so while everybody else is buying and strengthening their squads, we sign has-beens/cast-offs and rejects, effectively we`re going backwards, anyone looking forward to this season is deluding themselves and swallowing the marketing bullshit that the Club, The Premiership, and Sky now trot out round the clock, me, after 40 years, i`m done with it.
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The way it's going Grealish should be a starter. I know we need to be careful with him and we shouldn't get carried away. But he has it. Whatever it is. He has it.
Grealish needs to be on the bench as a second half replacement for Joe Cole.
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Or even a first half replacement.
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From what I saw last night, Grealish can become a very good player if he keeps his feet on the ground and carries on working at it. Where they play him though will be interesting because he seemed to float around everywhere last night.
I've quite liked the look of Donacien whenever I've seen him, there's potentially a decent centre half there. I still don't quite get why Lambert seems to think Herd is a centre half though because he's not.
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We started with our 3rd choice 11 so can't be too upset with that.
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We should have put a stronger side out really. Some players need to really be working their fitness. Bent and Gabby look heavy and could have done with a half each. I know they suffer niggles and you have to be careful, but 45 mins each wouldn't have hurt them.
I'm not sure we'll see the likes of Carruthers, Johnson, Burke and probably Donacien anywhere near the first team next season. I see why we'd give Grealish and Robinson game time, as they'll most certainly have a part to play, particularly early season in Robbos case.
Ultimately the difference in quality between a L1 side and ourselves last night, particularly with the first half line up, was negligible.
Positives for me last night were Robinson who looked lively, though faded. Grealish looked very good. He's a very clever footballer and he just seems to glide with the ball. Never seems fazed with the ball at his feet. Will that translate to a big time Premier League game? I hope so.
N'zogbia showed flashes of why he'll be a useful player. As frustrating as he can be with blind runs, sloppy play and erratic end product, one run in five he goes on normally ends in a good chance, or in the case of last night, a goal. He's one of the few players we have who can do what he does at his best. He's comfortable running with the ball at speed and he's unpredictable. It may result in immense amounts of frustration, but the brilliance in between that can unlock games. I think he's going to be important for us in terms of survival. We can't just rely on Benteke for flair. We need another unpredictable element to turn a 0-0 into a much needed victory, or to grab a point when defeat looks on the cards.
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The dustbins and the
We started with our 3rd choice 11 so can't be too upset with that.
stewards sounds like!
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Its a blow, but not a big one. Was always going to be tough playing so soon after arriving back from the states. Will get a better picture maybe in the friendlies to come.
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I didn't have any problems with the side we put out, I half expected it. They've just flown to America, played two games in exhausting heat, sat on another 10 hour flight back and a few of them would have most likely suffered jet lag. Carting them all off to Chesterfield then flying them to Holland would have been too much. We don't want to knacker them out before the season starts.
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We should have put a stronger side out really. Some players need to really be working their fitness. Bent and Gabby look heavy and could have done with a half each. I know they suffer niggles and you have to be careful, but 45 mins each wouldn't have hurt them.
I'm not sure we'll see the likes of Carruthers, Johnson, Burke and probably Donacien anywhere near the first team next season. I see why we'd give Grealish and Robinson game time, as they'll most certainly have a part to play, particularly early season in Robbos case.
Ultimately the difference in quality between a L1 side and ourselves last night, particularly with the first half line up, was negligible.
Positives for me last night were Robinson who looked lively, though faded. Grealish looked very good. He's a very clever footballer and he just seems to glide with the ball. Never seems fazed with the ball at his feet. Will that translate to a big time Premier League game? I hope so.
N'zogbia showed flashes of why he'll be a useful player. As frustrating as he can be with blind runs, sloppy play and erratic end product, one run in five he goes on normally ends in a good chance, or in the case of last night, a goal. He's one of the few players we have who can do what he does at his best. He's comfortable running with the ball at speed and he's unpredictable. It may result in immense amounts of frustration, but the brilliance in between that can unlock games. I think he's going to be important for us in terms of survival. We can't just rely on Benteke for flair. We need another unpredictable element to turn a 0-0 into a much needed victory, or to grab a point when defeat looks on the cards.
I'm getting worried with all this reasoned comment and good sense evident on this site.
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I didn't have any problems with the side we put out, I half expected it. They've just flown to America, played two games in exhausting heat, sat on another 10 hour flight back and a few of them would have most likely suffered jet lag. Carting them all off to Chesterfield then flying them to Holland would have been too much. We don't want to knacker them out before the season starts.
To be fair, nobody should have to go to Chesterfield. Ever.
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Lambert's said that they have been suffering from Jet lag on the o/s, that's why he made the changes
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I think some of the reactions to a friendly defeat with a team of youngsters is totally out of proportion. Not just here but on other platforms too. Perhaps it's a generation thing but I'm really starting to hate what the game has become. It's just a sensationalist, instant gratification load of bollocks, which has turned into a closed shop for the few clubs at the top. Even if we get bought out we can't go crazy and repeat what Chelsea did because the financial rules and as Southampton have found, get a half decent team together and it gets ripped apart by the big clubs so really it's just a waste of time.
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Disappointed with Carruthers, Bennett, Lowton and Gardner...almost expected Tonev to be poor, and he was.
As others have said, Grealish looks good and N'Zogbia gives us a bit of hope if he can have plenty of the ball and stay interested. Still not convinced by Bacuna and could Guzan have had a worse game?
From what I've seen so far it looks like Hutton at RB (!!!!!) and LB still a problem if PL is playing Richardson further forward as he seems to have done so far. Come back soon Ron!
Took me nearly 4 hours to get there and back just before midnight.
Fun times!
Walsall will be a doddle!
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This should prepare us well for our exits from the cups this season...
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View from AVTV via the computer
Guzan: Some great saves and a glaring error. Bit rusty no doubt
Bennett/Lowton: Neither did anything to make you think they'll be starters this season
Donacien: Did ok
Herd: Not good at all
Gardner, Johnson, Carruthers, Burke, Tonev: None of em showed anything much. Was expecting more of the first three in particular. With squad spots limited I wouldn't bank on many of them getting one
Robinson: Thought he showed some decent moments in the first half. Felt a bit sorry for him ploughing a lone furrow.
Subs
Bacuna: Hit and miss (as usual)
Okore: Did ok, nothing more
El Ahmadi: Quietly comfortable but offers little other than a simple pass
N'Zogbia: Looked good especially for first period of the half
Grealish: Alright, can't say I saw much more than that
Stevens: Did ok
Result means nothing, but very few positives that I could see in all honesty
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This should prepare us well for our exits from the cups this season...
I'm hoping he's learnt and will take the cups seriously this season.
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This should prepare us well for our exits from the cups this season...
I'm hoping he's learnt and will take the cups seriously this season.
He took them seriously last season, we just wasn't good enough.
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This should prepare us well for our exits from the cups this season...
I'm hoping he's learnt and will take the cups seriously this season.
He took them seriously last season, he just wasn't good enough.
Fixed.
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He has no idea of how to set-up and motivate the team to beat lower league opposition - sad but true
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I think tonight's result proves that our 'best' team is probably just about ok, whereas our squad is woefully short on quality.
Agreed 100%
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I think tonight's result proves that our 'best' team is probably just about ok, whereas our squad is woefully short on quality.
Agreed 100%
Next season, ;ast season the season before and before that ad inf..and the one after next! Don't go Ron!
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This should prepare us well for our exits from the cups this season...
I'm hoping he's learnt and will take the cups seriously this season.
He took them seriously last season, we just wasn't good enough.
Sheff Utd game forgotten then ?
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This should prepare us well for our exits from the cups this season...
I'm hoping he's learnt and will take the cups seriously this season.
He took them seriously last season, we just wasn't good enough.
Sheff Utd game forgotten then ?
Blimey, are we going there again? We played a next to full strength team!
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This should prepare us well for our exits from the cups this season...
I'm hoping he's learnt and will take the cups seriously this season.
He took them seriously last season, we just wasn't good enough.
Sheff Utd game forgotten then ?
Blimey, are we going there again? We played a next to full strength team!
It's enough to want to bang your head against a brick wall repeatedly until falls off.
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This should prepare us well for our exits from the cups this season...
I'm hoping he's learnt and will take the cups seriously this season.
He took them seriously last season, we just wasn't good enough.
Sheff Utd game forgotten then ?
Blimey, are we going there again? We played a next to full strength team!
Not really and what about the managers pre match comments ? Took it seriously did he ?
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Not really a near full strength team? Vlaar was struggling with injury and played once for us in a month, Gabby needed a rest and KEA and Guzan were on the bench. It was our 4th game in about 10 days so was pretty much the strongest 11 we could put out bar Guzan.
13 Steer
14 Luna
24 Tonev
15 Westwood
06 Clark
34 Lowton
07 Bacuna
16 Delph
20 Benteke
12 Albrighton
10 Weimann
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You might have to take Albrighton off that list too..
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Happily
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This should prepare us well for our exits from the cups this season...
I'm hoping he's learnt and will take the cups seriously this season.
He took them seriously last season, we just wasn't good enough.
Sheff Utd game forgotten then ?
Blimey, are we going there again? We played a next to full strength team!
Not really and what about the managers pre match comments ? Took it seriously did he ?
The thing is he sent the wrong message with his press conference. Don't have too many issues with the team he picked, should have been able to beat a league one side, just didn't play well enough on the day, and that is partly down to the manager. We were unlucky to get Spurs so early in the league cup, but it was really a toothless performance which did nothing to get the home fans behind the team.
A cup run might be a plus, but since things maybe even more of a struggle this season than it may prove a destraction too.
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My ratings for the Prozac:
Guzan -worst showing for years; seemed to have trouble distributing the ball to his defence.
Lowton -abysmal -that bloke who was playing well eighteen months ago seems to have been replaced with his lesser-talented twin brother.
Bennett -out of position for the first goal and offered little going forward.
Herd -midfield? Full-back? Maybe, but please never at centre-back again.
Donacien -struggled a bit in the first-half but far more confident (with better defenders?) afterwards.
Carruthers/Gardner/Johnson -all slow or lacking impact and they're not young lads anymore.
Tonev -Awful, made about zero contribution.
Robinson -made some good runs and was unlucky not to get some reward. Needs to time his runs a little better to avoid running offside.
Burke -unlucky to hit the underside of the bar in the first half but didn't do a lot else.
Karim -looked neat in possession.
Zog -clever and skilful but clearly needs more game time to get his fitness levels up.
Okore -great to see a centre-back with real powers of recovery. The odd mistake but generally looked good. Like Zog, needs more games.
Bacuna -some good touches going forward and solid enough at the back.
Stevens -made his tackles, covered well and looked neat going forward; certainly an improvement on Bennett.
Grealish -looked good again, clever runs and a well-taken goal. Already superior to Tonev.