Derby v Villa Friendly

[Greg N'Ash]

Starting to worry now. I know it is only a friendly, but I would expect what is with the exception of N'Zogbia likely to be our first choice midfield and attack this season to be able to score goals against Derby County.

I don't that. Petrov, Gabby and N'zogbia are all likely to start I reckon.

First half we were OK, tried to play football and the passing was quick but lacking a little in the final third.  Bannan was our best player by a mile, I think he's put himself to the front of the queue. Ireland started slowly but had a good last 25 minutes of the first half but faded after being switched wide after half time. Makoun had a good game, Carke and Herd were decent at the back, Delph was neat and tidy but I thought Albrighton other than 2 or 3 early crosses was poor. None of the subs impressed.

I really wouldn't read any significance into a team that probably had only three players in it who will start at Fulham.

Great turn out, watching from the box at the opposite end they were still coming in at 5 past 8. Highlight, other than the hospitality of our hosts, was our lot taking the piss out of the music after the first goal.

forwards?

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

was delph any use - assume he got a yellow card, pretty much a given - but did he do anything??

No yellow card but taken off after 60 odd minutes, I thought he looked quite good and appeared to be coming into the game more before he went off. Bannan used the ball well but sometimes tried to over play, Ireland didn't really get much of the ball and when he did it wasn't far enough up the pitch. What with his lack of games over the past year we are taking a risk by placing a lot of our attacking va va voom at his feet. Bent looked isolated and Albrighton looks reluctant to take on his man.

Just heard on the TV that McLeish said we need to strengthen. I'd agree that we need a few more options and I think to get the best out of Bannan he may have to play behind Bent as he's got a great eye for a pass.

Was impressed by Herd at r/b.

Lack of chances created was a concern but a nice evening out all in all.

[Greg N'Ash]

heh! AM reckons we need to strenghen...no shit sherlock. GOOD NEWS AT LAST.

[Chris Smith]

forwards

Bent worked hard but we didn't really create a lot. The one opportunity he did have he was on his left foot and wasted it by cutting back inside. ND suffered even more from a lack of service.

The most obvious thing we were missing was any attacking intent on the left. Several times the space was created for them to feed a man in on that side but there was no one there.

[Greg N'Ash]

forwards

Bent worked hard but we didn't really create a lot. The one opportunity he did have he was on his left foot and wasted it by cutting back inside. ND suffered even more from a lack of service.

The most obvious thing we were missing was any attacking intent on the left. Several times the space was created for them to feed a man in on that side but there was no one there.

cheers

[PeterWithe]

Delph showed a little drive in the midfield, Bannan will be a very fine player though maybe not for us. Herd looked like he will play regularly at this level, Baker (?) Doesn't look like he will. Not too many of our second string looked like they wanted to put much pressure on the manager to pick them for the Fulham game. MOM Makoun. Great turn out, must have been 4500 there.

[Hoppo]

"its going to be a long long road.." shit wrong club!!

[villajk]

Great turn out, must have been 4500 there.

The crowd was around 8,000.  Jon asked the steward how many the stand we were in held and he said 4,000, so I reckon there were at least 3,000 of us there.

[PeterWithesShin]

My concern from the games so far is the lack of goals, and it doesn't seem as though we are creating a great deal judging by what people at the games are saying.

[pooligan]

Lack of goals,not creating a great deal, where have i heard that before said about a Alex McLeish team?

[Caiphus]

Delph showed a little drive in the midfield, Bannan will be a very fine player though maybe not for us. Herd looked like he will play regularly at this level, Baker (?) Doesn't look like he will. Not too many of our second string looked like they wanted to put much pressure on the manager to pick them for the Fulham game. MOM Makoun. Great turn out, must have been 4500 there.

Baker is at the under-20 world cup.  I think you meant Llowry.

[Toronto Villa]

just watching Barcelona vs Chivas. Barca getting beaten 3-1, and they had most of their first team (except Messi) for about 50 or so minutes. Iniesta is still on as is Pedro. Two absolute corkers from a Chivas player Marco Fabian, especially his second - a Tony Daley-esque vs Everton flying volley. It's a pre-season friendly and the first teamers just don't look that into it, probably a bit like our boys tonight. They have a young lad on the left (number 30). Don't know his name, but he is horrific with the ball at his feet. Very un-Barca like player.

Edit: Barcelona lost 4-1

[Phil from the upper holte]

We started hoofing it towards the end. I'm just hoping we see a different style at fulham. I'm worried albrighton does not want to take on his man he'd rather knock it and try and run past. It's not going to work against experienced prem defenders

[eastie]

New Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish was abused by a group of Birmingham fans at Villa's pre-season friendly against Derby.

McLeish infuriated Second City tensions when he swapped relegated Brum for arch-rivals Villa in June.

And three City fans went to see Villa lose 2-0 at Championship Derby last night.

They then waited until after the game for McLeish to emerge for post-match interviews at Pride Park before taunting the Scot with abuse, chants of "Judas" and a medley of Birmingham City songs.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Aston-Villa-news-Alex-McLeish-booed-by-Birmingham-fans-in-crowd-as-Villa-lose-2-0-Derby-friendly

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Great turn out, must have been 4500 there.

The crowd was around 8,000.  Jon asked the steward how many the stand we were in held and he said 4,000, so I reckon there were at least 3,000 of us there.

I did a seat count of the Villa end (sad I know).
37 rows x 122 across = approx 4,500. All the rear sections looked fairly full to me, and the front sections where they put fans when they realised  how many were turning up looked about 75% full. The official crowd I think they said was just under 9,000.
On that basis, looking at how many were on the other 3 sides I would estimate a minmum of 3,500 maybe approaching 4,000.
A quite staggering turn out for an away friendly. 

Incidentally, do they always open the exits at half time so the smokers can have a wander out ? First time I have seen that.