Barclays Asia Trophy (27th-30th July 2011)

[Klaus Katt]

Don't see why we need a dcm, Makoun will play deep, pick the ball off the centre halves and keep the play ticking over, we also have Petrov for this role.  We need a box to box player alongside them, a Parker or a Milner imo, Delph is one option  here but we need one more experienced player too.

That probably is my view as well, but I raised the question yesterday if our weakness in midfield stems from poor possession upfront. Maybe we miss the qualities that Carew undoubtedly had.

[fredm]

Don't see why we need a dcm, Makoun will play deep, pick the ball off the centre halves and keep the play ticking over, we also have Petrov for this role.  We need a box to box player alongside them, a Parker or a Milner imo, Delph is one option  here but we need one more experienced player too.

One small problem with that is the fact that Collins appears obsessed with playing 40 yard balls out to the winger.  Yes, when it comes off it is good but there was one particular instance yesterday when Makoun was 10 - 15 yards in front of him wanting the ball but he ignored him and was looking for who he could play the long ball to.  Dunne I don't think is too bad at playing it out but if we have Makoun in there then the ball needs to be played up to him far quicker than we have been doing to enable him to slide it on to the strikers.

[Clark W Griswold]

Despite Collins obvious ability to defend well in the air, i have serious concern still about his ability on the deck. I also thought that Dunne looked laboured at times as well. All this bearing is mind hardly anything was thrown at them yesterday. On that evidence, if we do not get a new CD pair, it will all end in tears. I think maybe Dunne could turn it around, but i'd love to see us sign Samba and / or Dann and keep Cuellar, i think against even half decent teams let alone top quality ones, we will have problems if we don't. In terms of midfield, call it what you want, ball wining midfielder, midfield general etc, we need someone with a real presence in there to replace Petrov who didn't show anything yesterday to convince me he's not peaked. We have a good link up player in Makoun and Delph as back up, and hopefully a good forward minded player in Ireland with Bannan as back up. Good width also with N'Zogbia / Albrighton, but as far as the midfield general goes, its a choice of Petrov or Hogg which clearly we need to improve on.

[johnc]

BarBQ in Kowloon Cricket Club appears to have been a bit of a PR Disaster. Players did not engage with fans or journos. Maybe they were tired!

[Hookeysmith]

There's a city up north between Beijing and North Korea called 'Dalian'.  That's our starting place for a campaign ending in overall dominance of Asian football affinity with the Premier League and especially the Villa.

Clicky

God, sorry - no idea it was this complicated.  I just saw a map and identified a city!

Tell you what.  Google: China map.  you'll get one big one and 5 smaller ones.  Go for the first of the smaller ones from Lonelyplanet.

And thanks to the mods for the clickything!

Have been to Dalian many times with work - 3rd largest shipping port in China after HK, Shanghai

Very good sea food and a huge techno area where all the pc / PS  /Nintendo games are manufactured

[TheSandman]

A good performance against Chelsea will go a long way to appease my fears over our defence.

[Toronto Villa]

A good performance against Chelsea will go a long way to appease my fears over our defence.

It's going to be a bloody tough test, but the way our lads threw themselves about yesterday to go along with a lot of the discipline they showed, I'm relatively confident. My concerns aren't so much with their forwards as it is with their midfield players coming through in support. I expect us to play two holding midfielders again, and I think they'll be in for a hard game. If we can come through this then it will give everyone a massive boost in confidence.

[villajk]

BarBQ in Kowloon Cricket Club appears to have been a bit of a PR Disaster. Players did not engage with fans or journos. Maybe they were tired!

What exactly went on then?  The Tuesday night questions and answers with Ian Taylor didn't go as planned but was an excellent night for those who were there to enjoy the evening.

[villajk]

Let me expand there.  The 280 hong kong dollars each that we we were supposed to pay on the night to include food and drink was knocked on the head.  It cost us over twice as much as that.  Good thing is, Ian was fantastic with all fans and found out he was staying at our hotel.

[Matt Collins]

How did the team line up against Blackburn? Was it 4-2-3-1? And who was playing in the central role in the 3? I initially thought it was Bannan but was it in fact Gabby?

If so, I can't see that being the answer this season! Hardly your archetypal number 10 is he?

[spangley1812]

How did the team line up against Blackburn? Was it 4-2-3-1? And who was playing in the central role in the 3? I initially thought it was Bannan but was it in fact Gabby?

If so, I can't see that being the answer this season! Hardly your archetypal number 10 is he?

The number 10 position I presume is where Ireland will play

[Matt Collins]

Yes. Who played there against Blackburn?

[pedro25]

From what I saw it looked like Gabby there, Heskey left and Bannan right.  I think Delfouneso played in the hole later in the 2nd half too when he came on for Gabby.  I think Gabby and Delfouneso are capable of playing there but that Ireland will be 1st choice for that role.

[johnc]

From VillajkWhat exactly went on then?  The Tuesday night questions and answers with Ian Taylor didn't go as planned but was an excellent night for those who were there to enjoy the evening.

My brother and his family amongst others were invited to BarBQ at Kowloon cricket club where they were told they would have a chance to meet the players. Initially just for him and his lad. He met two ex players onTuesday who are very highly thought of on this site. They extended the invite to his wife and two daughters.
When they went to Kowloon today Paul Faulkner asked all the civilians present not to disturb the p,ayers as they had had a very busy day. (they ran a training session for some expat kids)
After about 30 mins my brother asked wud it be possible just to get a picture taken? Again PF said they were eating even though they had no food in not of them. My brother being my brother walked over to the team and talked to Shay Given about a match his GAA team are in his weekend. Politeness personified he chatted.
A few others emboldened by my brother walked over to the players who then en masse got up and walked away and refused to talk to anyone or have photos taken.
 My brother approached an ex player and said he was disappointed  by the players attitude. The ex layer said he was very sorry and was there anything he could do. My brother asked was there any chance of his son getting his photo taken with Bent. The ex layer apologised and said he could not make this happen and stated again he was embarrassed by the actions of the players.
As a parting shot Paul Faulkner was told to put my brothers season ticket somewhere you wouldn,t normally put season tickets

[eamonn]

Oh dear. Had they come over from Ireland especially for the pre-season tour?