Pre-season Friendly v Walsall

[N'ZMAV]

Heskey played because he had to. And everyone deserves a run out. If Ireland and Warnock deserve a shot, then surely Heskey does?
Ireland was encouraging. Warnock was solid. Obviously, opposition was poor. But, we did a decent Job. Bent, again, in the right place at the right time. Albrighton looked a bit rusty, he's going to have to get on his game sharpish, he's our only winger.
The worrying aspect from my point of view, was the complete lack of pace in the side.

[UsualSuspect]

what did we play then?

4-5-1 with heskey wide?

[N'ZMAV]

Heskey played wide left of a 4-3-3 with Albrighton on the right.
Ireland played more advanced of Petrov and Makoun.
I like Makoun. He likes short, first-time passes, the other players around him don't always seem to be on his wave-length though.

[UsualSuspect]

Heskey played wide left of a 4-3-3 with Albrighton on the right.
Ireland played more advanced of Petrov and Makoun.
I like Makoun. He likes short, first-time passes, the other players around him don't always seem to be on his wave-length though.

That formation I like - just not with heskey in it. let's be honest he aint going to trouble premier league defenders, would have prefered Fonz to start - he is the future not 32 year old ivanhoe

My only concern is petrov and makoun sittining deeper and only having Ireland in front of them, bearing in mind a decent team will steam roller straight through the middle

[PaulTheVillan]

Heskey played wide left of a 4-3-3 with Albrighton on the right.
Ireland played more advanced of Petrov and Makoun.
I like Makoun. He likes short, first-time passes, the other players around him don't always seem to be on his wave-length though.

That formation I like - just not with heskey in it. let's be honest he aint going to trouble premier league defenders, would have prefered Fonz to start - he is the future not 32 year old ivanhoe

My only concern is petrov and makoun sittining deeper and only having Ireland in front of them, bearing in mind a decent team will steam roller straight through the middle

Heskey was very good last night wide on the left, he was strong and running at defenders & some of his touches were very good.

Delfouneso was poor & missed easy chances.

[UsualSuspect]

lets be honest though Paul we all know Heskey aint going to do that in the PL

he is not the future.

The same as petrov isn't the future because we know his has an appalling fitness level - get Bannan in and if he's not good enough ship him out.

[Concrete John]

It's always difficult to know exactly how telling a pre-season game can be.  If we had lost then the more pessimistic would be all over it, but in truth the optimistic would then be playing it down as 'only a friendly'. 

What I take from it is more to do with the individual players:-
Bent scoring
Ireland playing well
Warnock getting a standing ovation
Dunne looking trim

Result aside, take those things into the new season and we'll be doing a lot better than some have predicted.   

[PaulTheVillan]

lets be honest though Paul we all know Heskey aint going to do that in the PL

he is not the future.

The same as petrov isn't the future because we know his has an appalling fitness level - get Bannan in and if he's not good enough ship him out.

Petrov played 78 minutes last night & did well. Albrighton was the one who looked fucked.

If Delfouneso is the future then he needs to take chances like he has last night else he'll never get in the team.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Just out of interest, did Makoun make any tackles last night or was he preferring to shadow his opponents?

[UsualSuspect]

Petrov has been breathing out of his arse after 60 minutes for 2 seasons and that isn't going to change. he should not be a starter bannan or delph should

Like I said before any win is encouraging but it was Walsall who are shit

[Risso]

How did Warnock do?

[PaulTheVillan]

How did Warnock do?

I thought he was Ok defending, wasn't really challenged. He was good going forward.

An improvement on last seasons Warnock, let's hope he can do it in the league.

[*shellac*]

How did Warnock do?

Must be at least 6/10.

What I take from it is more to do with the individual players:-
Warnock getting a standing ovation

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Thoroughly enjoyable. Well over 5,000 of that crowd must have been Villa.
Rather fizzled out as a spectacle as all the changes were made but you expect that.
Encouraging signs from Ireland, Albrighton needs sharpening up a bit if he is going to supply the ammunition for Bent (1st outing...I'm sure he will).
I think Petrov was on the pitch the longest and was pulling all the strings but I doubt he would get that much time in the Premier.
My advice to Walsall would be to get a right back, to all intents and purposes 1st half they didnt appear to have one.
That lad in the Walsall section should be ....errrrr sectioned.

[PaulTheVillan]

Thoroughly enjoyable. Well over 5,000 of that crowd must have been Villa.
Rather fizzled out as a spectacle as all the changes were made but you expect that.
Encouraging signs from Ireland, Albrighton needs sharpening up a bit if he is going to supply the ammunition for Bent (1st outing...I'm sure he will).
I think Petrov was on the pitch the longest and was pulling all the strings but I doubt he would get that much time in the Premier.
My advice to Walsall would be to get a right back, to all intents and purposes 1st half they didnt appear to have one.
That lad in the Walsall section should be ....errrrr sectioned.

Search for 'Kevin Walsall' on Youtube.