Shamrock Rovers v Villa - Guinness & Goals Ginormous Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

I don't see how our pre-season is much different to anyone else.

All Premier League club's pre-season friendlies

[peter w]

They're not. Its only in 24 hour football coverage that they have even been given this much importance.

[Mazrim]

Yep, we're as ready or will be as ready as any other PL team. Simulating a competitive league game in pre season is next to impossible. It's all about working up to peak fitness as soon as the season starts and gelling as a squad in personal and professional terms. I doubt Vietnam are as good as Shamrok Rovers or Walsall.
And there's still Malaga to come too.

[Marlon's Hairy Wood]

Albrighton should look to move in my opinion, i put him in the same bracket as Whittingham quality wise.

I was never particularly impressed with him even when he was being adored to be fair. Not quite fast enough to be the winger he wants to be and his crossing was frustratingly inconsistent. The amount of times he couldn't put the ball past the first man despite being unchallenged had me pulling my hair out.

He's not a young kid, i'd have held more hope had he been 18-19 when he had his breakout season. He was like 21 and is 23 now. If I was Lambert i'd be thinking 'why do i need him?' i've got Weimann, Gabby, Tonev, bacuna and N'zogbia (last season at least) infront of him, with Burke, Carruthers and Grealish looking good.

I'm very surprised he's not in the bomb squad to be fair, must have a good attitude on the training field or something.

I know this sounds like i hate him, but Blues can't afford to sign barely anyone and they're absolutely no threat to us. If I was Lambert i'd send him to blues cost free and say 'go have a 6 month loan down the road, get a load of games under your belt and some form back, then we'll see what to do in january'

[Mortimer's Bear]

I'm not sure Albrighton was ever adored.

[steamer]

This all seems a bit harsh, He is a youngster if it is believed is a Villa Fan.
He has been injured for most of last season, Send him out on loan by all means to regain his match fitness and see if he can live up to his early promise.
It almost seems that some posters are gloating that an honest trier is not good enough.

[PeterWithesShin]

I haven't seen anyone gloating.

[OCD]

Bit harsh to send anyone to Blues for six months, let alone one of our own.

[CJ]

I'd happily send Ireland there

[TelfordVilla]

Albrighton is 100% a Villa fan. Always has been and always will be.

[Legion]

Albrighton is a Villa fan through and through.

[Marlon's Hairy Wood]

Albrighton is 100% a Villa fan. Always has been and always will be.

Indeed. Who have people suggested he supports out of interest, if not Villa?

[PeterWithesShin]

Does who he supports matter? As far as i'm concerned the important thing is how he performs on the pitch.

[SoccerHQ]

Malaga will be a good step up for us next week even if they've sold all their good players. La Liga starts the same weekend as the prem so they'll be at the same stage fitness wise.

[dave shelley]

Sitting on the train waiting to go home after the match.  Whilst not perfect I never thought we were ever in any danger, certainly our defending needs to improve but you all know that.  One thing is that Okore is definitely a prospect.  He looked very composed when he came on and I don't recall anyone going past him so lots to look forward to from him.

On the applause for Stan, I've osted that I feel it should stop but credit to all there today, they applauded to a man so credit to Rovers.

I was speaking to a Rovers fan after the game and he said that Rovers rent the ground from the council at 100k per year and that today's sell out would have netted them about 90k of that so that pleased me.

What also pleased me was seeing Paul McGrath sitting about fifty feet away from me looking well and happy.