Pre-season Friendlies Match Thread

[Monty]

There is an amusing level of weeping going on over the pre-season. It serves us all right for being on the internets though so often and being so engrossed in it.

I think it's more the lack of any change. I'm not quite succumbing to the Misery, but if nothing changes by September I might start following with less chance of being let down. Like ballet. Or snooker.

[pauliewalnuts]

There is an amusing level of weeping going on over the pre-season. It serves us all right for being on the internets though so often and being so engrossed in it.

It's not about the preseason, though, is it?

It's not as if we've suddenly started endlessly twatting it out to the wings and hitting hopeful balls into the box while we've been in Portugal.

I don't really care that we lost tonight or against Bohemians, that's by the by, it is pre-season. But we're seeing the same tactics we've seen for a long time now, and it doesn't augur well for the new season.

Unless something amazing happens in the next two weeks, but short of lightning strikes and huge quantities of mind bending drugs, I can't see Martin changing his style between now and then.

[KevinGage]

He's messed about with a 4-4-1-1 earlier in the summer, so maybe he is looking at different ways and means.

Gabby out tonight removes a vital part of our play. Even if he doesn't always look effective the opposition are wary of his pace.

I'm holding fire until early Oct. Then we'll get a clear picture of where we're heading - for good or for ill.

Our results and performances so far this summer have been a mixed bag. I'm OK with that. If we were getting turned over continuously I'd be a wee bit concerned. If we look like world beaters that's generally a prelude to a bad campaign.

A good few of those players tonight probably won't even be anywhere near the first XI in a few weeks. They'll either be on the bench or plying their trade elsewhere.

[Ads]

Hawkeye and the web
No joy for him; joyless man
Weep with him- or not.


This is what the internets is about. Tits and haikus. Oo-rah.

[Monty]

One thing that MON has in his favour - he is so right to sell Luke Young. You really notice how poor his positioning is.

[Villafanalways]

Hi all,im a long term reader of this fantastic site,a long term passionate fan and just wanted to join this site to add to all the 'interesting' discussions that go on here pretty frequently!
 Well i followed the game tonight and as disappointed as i am with the result and performance i would like to put everything into perspective.We lost to a better team,who also have player's that are technicially of a higher standard than the player's we have,so all in all it should not be all doom and gloom going forward for us Villa fans.We will not be facing sides in the premier league of the calibre of benfica every week so i feel that we should not over analyse the loss on that front,but one thing for me that's worth looking at,and i have noticed other posters saying similarily,is the passing and movement.
Tonight and also with teams that like to pass it,i noticed that player's make small angle's to collect the pass,what i noticed tonight and previously with us,was that instead of coming short and looking for a pass player's wanted a long punt instead,that's simply not good enough against teams of Benfica's standard or better,i do believe that the player's are trying to evolve the way we play,but too often it's always the safe and long punt forward,which we have to change.
 I believe that Mon is trying to adapt a different playing sytle,so i guess it's going to be a slow process trying to change the current player's mentalities to what he has drilled in to them over the last few years,im willing to see how Martin approaches this season before i make judgement on him,but im encouraged to see in pre-season at least that he is persisting with a lone striker and player's following in behind and a passing style also,i still have question marks over his use of substutions and his stubborness,but im looking forward to the season to see if there is a different mentality and approach coming from the manager and players.VFA UTV!!!!!!

[Monty]

Welcome to the site, and by and large well said. Our players don't move towards the man in possession, they run away, downfield. It's all very territorial, and a bit 1970s.

[Ads]

I’d also say excessive heat and two games in 24 hours as another factor to consider.

[Monty]

I’d also say excessive heat and two games in 24 hours as another factor to consider.

Heat is never a good excuse, because it shows up an over-reliance on running and a lack of technique to fall back on. However I take your point about the two games in 24 hours.

[Villafanalways]

Hi monty,i feel that the players that we currently have are too afraid to express themselves and take some responsibility,and instead of seeking a pass and making a short move forward they are happier to hit it long instead of keeping the ball,and as you rightly say,the approach we have at present is about 20 years out of date.I have noticed some signs in pre-season that somethings are changing,but i guess that at present we unfortunately don't have the players to help us evolve into a different playing style,so i guess for now at least,unless we get in a few players that like to keep possession and pass it around,things may not improve to the extent that us Villa fans would like unfortunately.VFA UTV!

[Ads]

I’d also say excessive heat and two games in 24 hours as another factor to consider.

Heat is never a good excuse, because it shows up an over-reliance on running and a lack of technique to fall back on. However I take your point about the two games in 24 hours.

Testacies . I’m a fit bloke, but when I'd walk up three flights of stairs to my hotel room on holiday at night, I was damp with sweat. Compare that to the Thai’s who were running around in suits like it was the middle of October. That was just walking and I had bum stew like a fat person. If you're a Portugeezer and conditioned to the heat then it will have less effect on you.

And the very best players work the hardest. So there's another nad for the set.

[Monty]

The fear thing may be a factor. Someone mentioned earlier about Downing's one-footedness, and I think that might have something to do with fear. He definitely has a right foot he can use, but maybe he's a bit fearful of doing so.

Ads, you may be fit, but are you the level of fitness of a Premier League footballer? If you are I apologise. But I do think it's all too easy to blame the heat.

[dave.woodhall]

I have noticed some signs in pre-season that somethings are changing,but i guess that at present we unfortunately don't have the players to help us evolve into a different playing style,so i guess for now at least,unless we get in a few players that like to keep possession and pass it around,things may not improve to the extent that us Villa fans would like unfortunately.VFA UTV!

There's an obvious flaw in your thinking there.

[Villafanalways]

The one approach i would like for the upcoming season and Martin has shown it in pre-season at least,is a more flexible attitude towards our formation,so instead of consistently going for 4-4-2,he has experimented with a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-5-1,i hope he continues with this into the season,by doing this at least he may have opposition manager's having to figure out how we might approach them,instead of knowing what formation we will play week in week out,so that's the short-term hope anywho!

[Ads]

Ads, you may be fit, but are you the level of fitness of a Premier League footballer? If you are I apologise. But I do think it's all too easy to blame the heat.

I’m the fitness of a rugby player- so fitter. ;)