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

[Toronto Villa]

It's worth mentioning that was Chelsea's sixth pre-season game while it was our third. It showed me that we're not fit enough at the moment. However, with games against Derby and Braga I'm wondering whether our pre-season format is sufficient to see us start the season at the right level of fitness.

Hong Kong was mainly about fitness. The heat would soon show those that aren't up to speed. Braga will be a tough game. They're no pushovers. Personally, I think it's an idea game to get us up to speed in preparation for Fulham.

As for today's game, I really need to see it again, that's if I can be arsed. Chelsea were a class apart, so physically strong, they really impressed me. Midfield is our problem. The only player to impress me there has been Bannan. We really need a leader.

we played with lead boots on Mark. Now, it doesn't help if Chelsea take the lead with their first attack, but even if they hadn't done that I imagine the final score would have been close to the same. The players were tired, and actually if you watch the press conference with Collins the day before he looked knackered there. Having played the previous game against PL opposition, in what was a physical encounter in the late afternoon heat, plus training did them in.

They'll know they have a lot to do between now and Fulham. It will have given the club a good idea where they are, and having Faulkner out there with the team, he'll have hopefully seen the same thing as the manager. Too early to judge what we are capable of, but even AM hinted at it at the post match interview, we probably need a little more quality. Good to see some of the young lads get a touch, though Fonz and Albrighton need to pick it up a little.

[richard moore]

Sorry for the rant but this afternoon in Hong Kong was the future of football and I dont like it!

All those home fans in Chelsea shirts, a marketing mans wet dream, but I bet none of them would have a clue who Tambling, Osgood, or Bonetti were. The joy of the English leagues includes having a sense and respect of history. The Scudamore lot will have the big name clubs traipsing round the world hoovering up wodges of dough to pay ever more obscene amounts to a bunch of mercenaries mascarading as sportsmen. The Villa should never have agreed to be part of it.

I know this was only a friendly but with alien conditions (to us) in future world cups becoming the norm I am sure that this is just the beginning.

I like Randy Lerner (after all Doug could have sold the club to a Hong Kong hairdresser!) but with the club shirt extolling the virtues of betting and Greek and Turkish football tainted with gambling scandals, how far we have moved from having Acorns proudly on our shirts.

I am a grumpy old man who has supported the Villa for close on 50 years, but this season I am not renewing my season ticket. Money is the root of all evil and football has sold its soul to the devil.

 

With you on this, buddy. Welcome to the future.

And me. Ten years ago, there would have been a handful of chelsea 'supporters' in the ground and they would all have been ex pats or similar. To see a Hong Kong resident in a Chelsea top waving a spanish flag and going ecstatic when Torres came on made me despair at what the game is becoming...

[KRS]

Fonz and Albrighton need to pick it up a little.

A little? If they are going to be an integral part of the squad then thats understatement of the season so far!

[Toronto Villa]

Fonz and Albrighton need to pick it up a little.

A little? If they are going to be an integral part of the squad then thats understatement of the season so far!

Stop being so dramatic. They are young players still learning their craft. They are going to have bumps along the way, but with the right attitude, support and coaching they'll come through this as better players.

[KRS]

Not being dramatic TV...just stating a fact. I'm all up for bringing them through and giving the kids a chance but they need to learn fast and up their game A LOT given the current circumstances. Albrighton provided some great highlights last season but there are serious question marks over his ability at the moment, and the same can be said of the Fonz.

[ROBBO]

Makoun and Bannon showed exactly the the way we should play, both had the skill to retain the ball and lay it off to teamates in space. Ive always said Barry is too small but his skill level is excellant. Pity is midfielders have to tackle and defend and both are not that good at it. We have needed a top midfielder for three seasons now it should be top priority, if we don't get one we will struggle this season.

[garyshawsknee]

Sorry for the rant but this afternoon in Hong Kong was the future of football and I dont like it!

All those home fans in Chelsea shirts, a marketing mans wet dream, but I bet none of them would have a clue who Tambling, Osgood, or Bonetti were. The joy of the English leagues includes having a sense and respect of history. The Scudamore lot will have the big name clubs traipsing round the world hoovering up wodges of dough to pay ever more obscene amounts to a bunch of mercenaries mascarading as sportsmen. The Villa should never have agreed to be part of it.

I know this was only a friendly but with alien conditions (to us) in future world cups becoming the norm I am sure that this is just the beginning.

I like Randy Lerner (after all Doug could have sold the club to a Hong Kong hairdresser!) but with the club shirt extolling the virtues of betting and Greek and Turkish football tainted with gambling scandals, how far we have moved from having Acorns proudly on our shirts.

I am a grumpy old man who has supported the Villa for close on 50 years, but this season I am not renewing my season ticket. Money is the root of all evil and football has sold its soul to the devil.

 

With you on this, buddy. Welcome to the future.

And me. Ten years ago, there would have been a handful of chelsea 'supporters' in the ground and they would all have been ex pats or similar. To see a Hong Kong resident in a Chelsea top waving a spanish flag and going ecstatic when Torres came on made me despair at what the game is becoming...

Seeing the smug snake Schudamore in the crowd was worse.

[phantom limb]

The thing is though that we'll probably still beat Chelsea at Villa Park.

[HK Villan]

I wouldn't read too much into today's game.  Yes, Villa were poor on the whole, but I have never seen what I would consider a good game of football in the summer months in Hong Kong... the heat is one thing but the humidity is always off the scale and it's impossible for players to play their normal game.  Our guys looked knackered before kick off, let alone in the game - perhaps because they played Blackburn rather than Kitchee?
 

[ADVILLAFAN]

I read today that Chelsea's average player wage is 73K a week. No wonder we struggle to compete.

Did anyone else get pissed off with the commentator constantly going on about them beating us 7-1. He could mention the fact that they've only won at Villa Park once in over a decade, but strangely he doesn't.

[Caiphus]

Maybe AM sent the boys out knackered to exagerate our deficiencies to milk a little bit of extra cash out of Randy.

[Matt Collins]

Definitely a mistake to read anything much into this friendly, and I didn't see the game anyway. But I am worried about the lack of options. What do we do if:

- warnock plays anything like he's done for the last year? Clark I presume.
- ditto for Ireland? I guess either bannan in midfield or gabby / heskey up top with bent. That's more of an unproven answer. Indeed gabby's form's been poor for just as long and despite his technique nobody really knows if bannan's going to make it. He doesn't get picked in the championship.
- ditto for albrighton who I fear has really hit the wall. Gabby could play wide in a 3 man attack but not if we play 442. I guess then the options are Ireland, bannan - See above -or perhaps Gardner?
- we really lack energy and getting around the pitch in central midfield. That's why I'd have definitely kept NRC. Petrov was excellent at the back end of last season but otherwise looked gone last season. Makoun isn't the dcm I thought he would be, he's more creative and less destructive. A lot of pressure on delph then. A Scott Parker would make a huge difference to that side but it looks like we'd need to ship out cuellar, plus at least one more to get him. I'm not sure we have anyone else who'd fetch cash that isn't going to be first choice

[willywombat]

- we really lack energy and getting around the pitch in central midfield.

Have you ever tried running around at full pace when it's over 35 degrees with 100% humidity? Of course we lacked energy

[Matt Collins]

As I said, I didn't see the game. The statement was an assessment of our current squad. We missed milner's energy hugely last season and I thought it made a big difference when nrc came back. We've now sold him. I've seen petrov play dozens of times and makoun far less, but he hasn't really got aroun the pitch when I have. Hence the statement.

[PeterWithe]

Just watched it.

Cant say I was impressed, only Bent looked sharp, if anything happens to him fitness wise or he gets itchy feet at Xmas it could be a long old end to the season.

Agreed with what the manager said, we looked off the pace and unfit. Who do we play after Derby, is there another frielndly?