Pre-season Friendlies Match Thread

[john e]

anyone that thought Downing had a good game tonight, will not be disappointed with him next season, cus thats what you are going to get,

i would want to see a lot more for my 12 mill, but everone to there own.

dont like NRC but he played well tonight thoight he had a great game,
 as did allbrighton, who is already a far better player than Downing will ever be.

good all round performance for friendly, bit better than i was expecting,
now if we go and get Ireland in and maybe Keene, we will be far more entertaining than we were last season.

still got to dump Downing though, he is a complete waste of space

[john e]

just re re read my post, and it gives the impresion i dont like Downing,
which is correct

[Monty]

Reasonably encouraging display, especially from Beye. As for NRC, he's showed just why he's so frustrating. If he plays like that all the time - absolutely no problem, valuable squad member, worthy of fighting for a place. Problem is that's the first time he's played like that in any game since Liverpool at Anfield last year.

Stan surely convinced the doubters of how good a footballer he is, he really is by far our best technician. John E, I have to completely disagree about Downing, I don't know which sport you're watching. Downing was very bright and full of ideas, and the free kick at the end of the game was a superb effort, to get it to dip like that from that sort of range is not easy. Albrighton was very good, but Downing is better right now.

[sid cowans10]

i for one dont think we will miss milner if of course we bring in a good replacement as we didnt play that bad tonight and didnt really miss him and the sooner he goes now the better now

[Monty]

i for one dont think we will miss milner if of course we bring in a good replacement as we didnt play that bad tonight and didnt really miss him and the sooner he goes now the better now

Looking at the team tonight, it did seem to me at least that Ireland would be a far better solution to our problems than Milner.

[JUAN PABLO]

i for one dont think we will miss milner if of course we bring in a good replacement as we didnt play that bad tonight and didnt really miss him and the sooner he goes now the better now

Looking at the team tonight, it did seem to me at least that Ireland would be a far better solution to our problems than Milner.

agree with u there Monty but I thought Albrighton was better than Downing tonight,,,  at least he gave us some impact at times...  hopefully he can progress and be a good player for us

[Monty]

I thought Albrighton was more consistent but Downing more imaginative - which is strange as you'd figure, with their ages, that it would be the other way round.

I have high hopes for Albrighton. Looks so assured on the ball and explosive in the right areas. Our future looks ok, doesn't it?

[JUAN PABLO]

Our youngsters look good , If MON spends the Milner money well and then
our future will be ok ....       I do think we will be a better team next season without Milner, this move is good for us..    

and forget McGeady, stick with Albrighton.

[Monty]

100% agree, JP.

[eamonn]

Why did Little think Albrighton would struggle? I was impressed with him today.

Going from memory, and I probably didn't qualify it earlier - he was saying that Young and Downing will be crucial to Villa this season. He said he's in regular contact with Bryan Jones (?), the academy director at Villa who often mentions  Albrighton. He thought Albrighton did reasonably well tonight but expressed reservations about him being able to perform consistently in the league. ''Does he have the extra bit you need to be a Premiership player? I think he would find it difficult.'' were more or less his words.

By the way, Monty reminded me, yes, Petrov was excellent tonight. The same touch of class as always but he seemed more dominating in the middle than usual.

[Guy M]

I know it doesn't seem too likely at this stage, but I do hope we keep hold of NRC. He really could be such a valuable player for us as a defensive midfielder in a central three.

I really don't see him going anywhere. Was made captain for part of the game again last night and I think he'll play quite a bit this season as part of a 5-man midfield.

I still think he'll probably be off in 12 months once his contract is up, but I think MON likes him as a player even if they did have a bit of a falling out and both parties seems happy enough with the uneasy truce.

Anyone wish they'd gone?

No, because I watched the game with a couple of friends with some drinks and nibbles, paused the match at half-time to be able to have a proper dinner and then returned to the game at our convenience. If they could do the same at Wembley, maybe those posh middle tier seats wouldn't sit empty after half-time. And don't think Richard Scudamore's equivalent hasn't already considered it.

I did however really quite enjoy the game. League and cup football is over-rated. Sorry Mr McGregor, but friendlies with nothing at all riding on them are what do it for me nowadays. Pre-1888 never mind pre-1992 is where it's at.

[Walmley_Villa]

Thought we played more football, more on the floor and certainly better to watch. Not sure about AY up front as he is out of the game too much.
I'd forgotten Sidwell had come on - he offers nothing.

Albrighton stood out and Clark looked solid out of the youngsters. I hope they get their chance this season.

[olaftab]

Good game last night and  fair work out  for the team ahead of next week. From the team that started:
Best performance:
Albrighton, Reo-Coker, L Young, Beye (yes)

Improving:
Clark

Adequate:
Carew, Friedel, Dunne,  Petrov

Must improve:
A Young, Downing (very disappointing)

[sfx412]

From reading the above there is more faith in Albrighton than shown by his manager and most other pundit.

I liked Ireland 2 seasons ago but last season he did not impress me. Or his manager and fans.I appreciate he's the face saving part of the Milner loss, but like Sidwell, the better than Barry midfielder,I'm not expecting him to be the wonder player many are proposing. Assuming he moves of course.

[pauliewalnuts]

Regardless of how good McGeady is or is not, I certainly wouldn't see the point in buying him for such big money when Albrighton has done such a good job pre-season.

Actually, what I mean by that is, I wouldn't see the point in making that kind of player a priority in these times of more limited funds. There are other areas of the pitch which need the money far more.