Pre-season Friendlies Match Thread

[TheSandman]

There does seem a bit of a malaise around the club lately but I think the results of pre-season friendlies provide very little idea of what will happen come the season.

The pro-MON support at the end of the season at away games was as strong as it was when he first arrived in my opinion and that was in drastic contrast to the mood on here.

I'd therefore argue that while there is a definite malaise around the club ON HERE, we the H&V posting public make up a VERY small cross-section of the Villa support and aren't necessarily reflective of the whole. I know my mood has benefited from my self-imposed restriction as to the time spent on here since the end of the season. Que sera, sera and all that.

I definitely agree with what you say and when I was at Wembley there was a great deal of support for the manager. I also agree with what you say about here and that websites like here are far more likely to draw in the unhappy.

I'm not in particular referring to the manager when I say malaise though. I'm talking more about the building Milner saga and some of the claims (which I don't for one second believe) of their being a sell to buy policy at the club (in that we have no money rather than we have to get some people of the wage bill) which means the mood around the club and from the supporters is less buoyant.

[murgsy]

Saw Everton demolish PNE today. Without most of the WC players. They looked sharp. And Beckford will pay off as a gamble.

[PaulTheVillan]

MON out.

[Guy M]

I definitely agree with what you say and when I was at Wembley there was a great deal of support for the manager. I also agree with what you say about here and that websites like here are far more likely to draw in the unhappy.

I'm not in particular referring to the manager when I say malaise though. I'm talking more about the building Milner saga and some of the claims (which I don't for one second believe) of their being a sell to buy policy at the club (in that we have no money rather than we have to get some people of the wage bill) which means the mood around the club and from the supporters is less buoyant.

Dunne doesn't look less buoyant, Ashley's interviews have seemed pretty chirpy and I quite like the fact that the team are socialising (and being allowed to socialise) during the trip to Dublin.

I suppose it all depends on what you prefer to focus. I'm quite excited at the prospect of this summer seeing a bit of an overhaul while retaining Wee Martin as our manager. Others clearly aren't. At the end of the day, it'll still be a Villa side, playing in claret and blue that I'll be able to watch with my bro, my Dad and my mates and for me, that's all that really matters.

[pauliewalnuts]

There does seem a bit of a malaise around the club lately but I think the results of pre-season friendlies provide very little idea of what will happen come the season.

The pro-MON support at the end of the season at away games was as strong as it was when he first arrived in my opinion and that was in drastic contrast to the mood on here.

I'd therefore argue that while there is a definite malaise around the club ON HERE, we the H&V posting public make up a VERY small cross-section of the Villa support and aren't necessarily reflective of the whole. I know my mood has benefited from my self-imposed restriction as to the time spent on here since the end of the season. Que sera, sera and all that.

I don't know where you sit, Guy, but around where I sit the moaning at the manager at least matches, and possibly exceeds, anything on here.

[Irish villain]

I am just back from the game. We didn't play well but the Bohs keeper was in superb form. He made a couple of great saves. Marc Albrigthon and Barry Bannan showed they have great potential while some of the more established villa players looked unfit and sluggish.

A few of them seemed to be carrying a bit of weight.

 Bohemians played a League game on Friday evening and so rested some of their players. They played really well and on balance were worth their win. However, you'd expect us to beat a second string Eircom League side...

 Big contingent of villa fans at the game, maybe 1,5000 to 2,000. Nice to meet some brummies there too.

[PaulTheVillan]

Is Gabby looking fat?

[bob]

Dunne doesn't look less buoyant, Ashley's interviews have seemed pretty chirpy and I quite like the fact that the team are socialising (and being allowed to socialise) during the trip to Dublin.

I suppose it all depends on what you prefer to focus. I'm quite excited at the prospect of this summer seeing a bit of an overhaul while retaining Wee Martin as our manager. Others clearly aren't. At the end of the day, it'll still be a Villa side, playing in claret and blue that I'll be able to watch with my bro, my Dad and my mates and for me, that's all that really matters.

You seem in a good mood Guy!

Good posts btw, I have been keeping my distance from a lot of football "news" lately, it's definitely the way to go as far as I am concerned.

[Irish villain]

Is Gabby looking fat?

Well they all looked like they just weren't sharp, and one or two looked like they had a couple of pounds put on. I wouldn't say fat just, in need of a couple more weeks training!

[JJ-AV]

Is Gabby looking fat?

I thought this from the training pictures, but I thought it at the start of last season and it turned out to be about a stone of muscle.

Picture on the OS looks like he's had an arse transplant with Barry though.

[villa1]

Is Gabby looking fat?

Well they all looked like they just weren't sharp, and one or two looked like they had a couple of pounds put on. I wouldn't say fat just, in need of a couple more weeks training!

Downing?

[PaulTheVillan]

Lots of teams looked sharper and fitter than us last season. Do we even have a fitness coach?

[SO Villa]

Most of our players are probably still knackered after being flogged last season.

[Toronto Villa]

didn't even know we were playing. Friendlies are run abouts and nothing is taken seriously. Nobody wants to get injured, and everything is controlled. If anyone thinks that this would be a similar performance or score if we played them in competitive match then I suggest you see a doctor and quickly.

[Karl Bridges]

Saw the action on SSN earlier. First goal was a Friedel mistake, bad clearance ended up being lobbed back over him. Their keeper pulled off a reasonable save from a Bannan piledriver, nice cross from Albrighton put it on a plate for BJC and the winner looked like it was a break but was a great finish from 25 yards.