Pre-season Friendlies Match Thread

[Olneythelonely]

Are there not enough Emile Heskey pisstake threads?

Why not discuss his positive contributions to the team tonight? Anyway, I happen to know he does a tremendous 'Robot'.

[TheSandman]

I've thought of something as depressing as the many hackneyed jokes about Hesk to do in response.

That said I do laugh at some of them.

[pauliewalnuts]

Are there not enough Emile Heskey pisstake threads?

Why not discuss his positive contributions to the team tonight? Anyway, I happen to know he does a tremendous 'Robot'.

He does it every time he sc.....

Well, wait a minute, I oughta ... *shakes fist at sky*

[MattW]

As SoccerHQ has said a couple of times, I still fully expect us to line up 4-4-2 against West Ham.

Me too. Good to know that another formation exists though, should we need it.

I'm not so sure. If we line up in every pre-season game as 4-5-1, I think it suggests we'll start in that formation against West Ham.

[Grande Pablo]

Nice viewing -

[pauliewalnuts]

^^ those highlights (

) are awfully put together.

I've watched about 15 times and still can't distinguish any of our goals.

[Matt Collins]

I've been an advocate of 4-2-3-1, but it sounds like we looked better with the 4-4-2? Or is that just because Gabby is off form?

[Toronto Villa]

By Sandy Macaskill in the Algarve
Published: 11:13PM BST 31 Jul 2010

 
In the dark: Martin O'Neill (centre) admits he is unsure where James Milner will be playing his football next season

Sources close to the deal have admitted that the protracted nature of negotiations is becoming increasingly exasperating, for despite the season being two weeks away no one seems to be any the wiser over where Milner will be playing.

“Who knows what might happen in the foreseeable future,” Martin O’Neill said. “I’m not even sure myself.”

With everyone in the dark there is a danger of reading too much into the most insignificant of matters, but it certainly seemed symbolic when it emerged that there was not enough room for Steve Sidwell, Luke Young, Milner, and Nicky Shorey (another of those out of favour), to join O’Neill in the dugout during Saturday night’s 3-1 against Feyenoord in Vila Real de Santo Antonio in Portugal.

Fuck me, that really is piss poor journalism. If you're actually in the Algarve, and not writing this report from your kicthen, how does Sandy completely miss the bit where Shorey played in the the 2nd half, and Sidwell scored a screamer.

[Somniloquism]

Yet the shitty piece in the Milner (soon to be) novel says Minler and Young were in the dugout albeit at the other end. (Unless there was a secondary row of seats they had to sit on)

[MattW]

This one is better:

[BannedUserIAT]

Late to this thread and not seen anything of the games except the above highlights (thanks to the posters) but I have to say that Albrighton looks/sounds like he could be our David Beckham. I really hope MoN gives him an extended run this season. Preferably in his favoured position!

[Risso]

What a screamer by young Albrighton, good to see.  And a great header from Heskey, and a rather nice effort from Sidders.  Fair play to them both.

[JJ-AV]

Only saw the goals, Albrighton - bladdy 'ell, where'd that come from?

[Percy McCarthy]

^^ those highlights (

) are awfully put together.

I've watched about 15 times and still can't distinguish any of our goals.

Agreed. The ones they're showing on SSN just after the start of the hour are a bit better.

[PaulTheVillan]

What a goal by Albrighton.

Lovin' the Orange ball.

Cracking defending for their goal.

Great cross and header for Heskeys goal.

Cracking shot by Sidwell.