Pre-Season Friendlies 2012

[luke25]

Good to see that the few on here that reguarly see the reserve and youth play have high hopes for Johnson.

[Mazrim]

Different types of player. Gardner is more like a Glen Hoddle and Johnson more like a... Scholes. They can play in the same team, they have done and worked well together.
With Carruthers. Delph and Bannan we have a group of young midfielders who are very tidy and smart with the ball. Lambert will love them.

[Le Lapin]

By the sounds of things Stephens had a good enough game. Can anyone verify of this  was the case?

[Merv]

I went to the game last night. Le Lapin - Stevens was steady, nothing to get excited about but looked sound enough. Lichaj was good on the other side of defence.

The stand-out player for me was Daniel Johnson. The goal was a simple finish, albeit from a tight angle, but I was impressed by him. Very quick feet, very fluid player, extremely comfortable on the ball, and I like the way he was switching from right midfield to centre to left. He looked happy playing anywhere in that midfield.

Ireland was decent, some good breaks forget. Carruthers neat and tidy on the ball, though I was surprised he was almost playing in a deepish central role.

Herd played CB alongside Baker but took a knock after climbing for a header from a corner, played on for about 15 mins more and came off before HT. Lowton replaced him and played CB.

Holman took his goal very well - left foot, top corner from 15 yards - and Delfouneso was very positive when he came on; showed more pace than I've seen from him in a while. CNZ was a bit hit and miss.

[Concrete John]

I'm getting the distinct feeling that Bertie isn't a CNZ fan.

[Percy McCarthy]

Well it seems he's giving him every opportunity to win him over. He's played in nearly all our games so far hasn't he?

[Merv]

CNZ played 65-70 mins last night. He wasn't poor - he just didn't have that end product, but got himself into some good positions and was unlucky with a couple of efforts. It'll be interesting to see where he fits in; given our striking options I can see him playing off a centre-forward. But I also wonder whether it'll come down to him or Holman in the starting X1.

[Brend'Watkins]

Just watched the highlights on the Villa site.  From what I've seen it looks as though Ireland is more involved and that may be down to the fact we can now keep the ball for longer periods.  The Premier will be a sterner test but it does bode well.

[fredm]

CNZ played 65-70 mins last night. He wasn't poor - he just didn't have that end product, but got himself into some good positions and was unlucky with a couple of efforts. It'll be interesting to see where he fits in; given our striking options I can see him playing off a centre-forward. But I also wonder whether it'll come down to him or Holman in the starting X1.

Looks as if he is continuing from last season.  He just seems to run into positions where there is no end product or if a couple of defenders get near him instead of moving the ball seems to want to take them on and thus loses it.  As said, it looks as if PL believes there is a decent player in there as he is giving him plenty of opportunities but there seems to be very little end product.  Will have to see if he makes the starting line up at West Ham.

[Concrete John]

Has he been playing wide or more central?  His most effective game for Wigan seemed to be when he had a free role and was mainly behind the main striker.

[fredm]

Just watched the highlights on the Villa site.  From what I've seen it looks as though Ireland is more involved and that may be down to the fact we can now keep the ball for longer periods.  The Premier will be a sterner test but it does bode well.

Watching those highlights, I can see that a few who sit near me are going to go mental this year - "get it in the bl**dy box!!" is all I hear.

[not3bad]

Has he been playing wide or more central?  His most effective game for Wigan seemed to be when he had a free role and was mainly behind the main striker.

It seemed to me he was playing more centrally last night.

[Hookeysmith]

anyone have a link to the highlights?

[Malandro]

I went last night:

Ireland: Ok, not sure where people get man of the match, great performance:
Nzogbia: Very poor, 10 million pound player! Crikey his final pass was dreadful
lichaj: My man of match, up and down all evening, did his job very well
Delph: was he playing?
Enda Steevns: Had a good game, Shay was giving him plenty of encouragement
Baker was pretty solid.

We looked much better with the later subs, thought Karim looked great again. A real find by the looks of it.

If we start the season with that starting line-up, we will be lower than mid table.

[not3bad]

Ireland: Ok, not sure where people get man of the match, great performance

To me he deserved that accolade because everything came through him and he barely put a foot wrong, apart from one sloppy moment in the second half that the person sitting behind me made a meal of.