Mansfield Town v Aston Villa all singing and dancing thread

[PeterWithesShin]

So, hands up anyone who thought they'd see Bent and Hutton in the same Aston Villa side again?

[ciggiesnbeer]

All about fitness, but... clark's decision making still scares me. He did some baffling things that half.

[supertom]

We tailed off disappointingly in the last 15 mins of the first half. I think Carruthers seemed to drift out the game having started well. Lost a bit of concentration at times and became sloppy. He's got to improve that.  Delph was a little sloppier than usual but still showed plenty of drive. Tonev was Tonev. Bacuna's final delivery was ropey.
Cole showed touches of class and generally at the heart of our best play. Gabby looks heavy and seems to have lost another yard of pace.
The back four generally have done well. Okore in particular looks very classy. I think he'll be a very good player. I'll go as far as saying, if we don't have a takeover in the next year, a big club will poach him. Given, like the rest of the backline has been solid bar the goal.

Looking forward to seeing the second half as we've got Zogbia who can offer some flair and drive, and a couple of poachers in Bent and Weimann. I'm hoping we look more dangerous in attack.

I'm not a fan of this mixed up line up thing we often do in pre-season. I'd like to see one half with a full line up of what Lambo think is our best available 11, then switch it to the back ups in the second half. I'd like to have seen Bent or Weimann in for Gabby and Zogbia in for Tonev for a start. Probably Westwood in place of Carruthers.

Blimey that's a bit long winded for a first half pre-season friendly.

There's no such thing as a friendly! This is the first of many battles toward the ultimate goal of scraping to 40 points. Cole and Okore made it through 45 mins injury free. That's one battle won.

[kippaxvilla2]

What side is out

[Clampy]

So, hands up anyone who thought they'd see Bent and Hutton in the same Aston Villa side again?

Bent maybe because of the injuries to Kozak and Benteke but definitely not Hutton.

[supertom]

So, hands up anyone who thought they'd see Bent and Hutton in the same Aston Villa side again?

So, hands up anyone who thought they'd see Bent and Hutton in the same Aston Villa side again?

Somewhere in the World, or possibly within this Galaxy, Villa Kicks has his hand up.

[PeterWithesShin]

What side is out

Steer, Herd, Westwood, Baker, Hutton, El Ahmadi, Gardner, Richardson, N'Zogbia, Bent, Weimann. Subs: Grealish, Stevens.

[kippaxvilla2]

Thank you.  Worryingly close to a first eleven then.

[PeterWithesShin]

Thank you.  Worryingly close to a first eleven then.

Well only if you discard Richardson, Guzan, Gabby, Benteke, Kozak, Cole, Clark, Okore, Delph, Bacuna, Vlaar, Lowton etc *winky*

[ciggiesnbeer]

hah, he literally dragged richardson two yards there.

[Clampy]

Where's Tony Moon? Is he injured?

[PeterWithesShin]

Where's Tony Moon? Is he injured?

Supposedly on the brink of selling him so guessing that is why he isn't included.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Darren Bent has one of the most distinctive gaits in football.

[kippaxvilla2]

Thank you.  Worryingly close to a first eleven then.

Well only if you discard Richardson, Guzan, Gabby, Benteke, Kozak, Cole, Clark, Okore, Delph, Bacuna, Vlaar, Lowton etc *winky*

Exactly :-)

[pauliewalnuts]

Darren Bent has one of the most distinctive gaits in football.

i know what you mean.