Aston Villa v Malaga Hyperstupendous Thread (post-match from page 16)

[Mister E]

I don't really understand the praise for Tonev. Outside a couple of decent passes he's been woeful.

Well, apart from his neat first touch, his turn of pace and his set-piece delivery ... he does need to improve his decision-making.
Tonev will get better and I do think his role is likely to be as an alternative to Gabby andWeimann.

I was a little surprised during the game how people were so keen to trash him: he made some poor decisions but there's definitely a decent player there.

[bobdylan]

Were Sylla and Bacuna injured?  They seem to have good engines and I think we need at least one of them in midfield at any given time.

[Percy McCarthy]

I think Gabby and Weimann will be better in more intense games, KEA, Tonev and Luna might be worse. Benteke would be class in both a kickabout in the park or a World Cup Final. Thought the whole team except Vlaar were good first half, and the opposite in the second.

Lovely day, enjoyable match, always nice to say hello to my beloved Villa Park after the summer. She looked magnificent as always.

[Gompedyret]

2. Ron Vlaar. Honestly he is no good IMO.

Suddenly I envisioned the season ending with Okore and Baker as our main defenders.

[Virgil Caine]

I could see that some work is being done but have they finally got round to putting in some private boxes above the Doug Ellis upper?

[Percy McCarthy]

I could see that some work is being done but have they finally got round to putting in some private boxes above the Doug Ellis upper?

No, not yet. Don't think they will either. I was in the upper North and it all looks a bit rickety up there. Can't see it taking the weight of the facilities and a few hundred fat bastards like Digby Jones.

[SoccerHQ]

I'm not going, I just can't summon up the enthusiasm. I've got my ST and looking forward to the proper stuff but happy to put it off for a few more weeks.

Yeah same. I went to Oldham-Walsall today to tick off another ground and watch some competitive football. Still I'll be at Arsenal next weekend.

What's certain is we're not going to be boring this season, I feel it will be a bit like 07/08 without us finishing quite as high as 6th but we'll be involved in some terrific matches.

[richardhubbard]

Tonev creates 2goals, plays first game at home and gets written off!!!

[olaftab]

Benteke was different class for that first goal the power and strength he has is something else.  That guy for Malaga (Weligton) who collided with Benteke during the first goal fractured his collar bone.

I think a continental referee would have awarded a foul against Benteke for what was a brutal but proper shoulder charge.

[supertom]

Tonev creates 2goals, plays first game at home and gets written off!!!

Yep its ridiculous. He's not gonna get it right all the time, and he hasn't had as much pre season as others either. I thought he looked threatening throughout. His decision making wasn't always brilliant, but this was friendly, and your more likely try something a bit more elaborate than necessary at times. I think he's gonna be very useful. He certainly has more about him than N'Zog offers, and certainly a hell of a lot more than Ireland.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Were Sylla and Bacuna injured?  They seem to have good engines and I think we need at least one of them in midfield at any given time.

Both were on the bench.
I think Sylla and Westwood will start next week and Lambert was just seeing how KEA, Delph and Tonev behind the front 3 worked. He will probably use them in certain games, utilising the whole squad, as and when.
Interesting that Bacuna played midfield/wide in the early friendlies and then full back in the later ones. He did well in both positions and like Tonev has two good feet.
Tonev was much more of a threat today than Gabby, who looked a bit jaded and uninterested. A pity as so many of us love him to bits.
Great when he's on form/in the mood; only providing work for the laundry when he's not.
Although Luna was at fault for letting their no 19 get past him to cross for their 1st, I thought he did a better job than Lowton when the Malaga guy switched sides in the 2nd half. He was often in acres of space and I couldn't help thinking that having Sylla in there would have cut a lot of this down.
Malage chipped an awful lot of balls over Vlaar and he struggled with almost all of them. Not a criticism, just an observation that they had a simple plan and we didn't seem able to cope with it too well.
All said and done can't wait 'til the Arse game next Sat!
UTV!

[pauliewalnuts]

People seem to forget Tonev has missed a big chunk of pre season.

I also don't see how it is possible to be woeful yet set up two goals - clearly not that woeful.

As for the game, we were three up and slowed down for the rest if the game. Wouldn't really read too much in to the non event of the second half.

People saying we are not going to be boring this season are spot on. We can be unstoppable going forward and dreadful at the back, I don't think much has changed there.

There are a few things I like about Vlaar but he's far from convincing defensively.

[silhillvilla]

Is Vlaar good enough to anchor this team ? And captain it?
I didn't see today's game but saw enough last season to raise this question .

[Toronto Villa]

Compared to what we had become under TSM I love what we've become under Lambert. Fuck me TSM's Villa was utterly shit. Yes, we need to address a few things but when a player that sets up two goals is deemed woeful it tells you how far we've come. We'd have given our left nut for two goals in a game in 2011. Let's not be too critical when we have players that create chances and help us score goals.

[ozzjim]

Anyone who watched the side McLeish put out at Norwich, then the first Benteke goal today, would say it is not possible to go from one to the other inside 14 months without having spent stupid money. Lambert has done it on a shoestring even compared to some of the fees being paid out by the newly promoted sides. He has worked wonders to assemble what he has so far, and I hope the attacking verve we have found is carried on through to next weekend, as it could really hurt Arsenal.