FC Groningen vs Aston Villa

[Morten]

From the Mail coverage:

"Desperate stuff from Villa. Agbonlahor gives the ball away, then Weimann gives it away, the Clark hoofs it away and Villa's midfield stands still. Clark bellows his frustrations."

Sound familiar ?

[silhillvilla]

Who's captain today ?

[Morten]

Perhaps this is a cunning plan to panic Lerner into signing a decent player or two?

I hope the cunning plan works ! We simply have so many average players, it is hard to take.

Let the spending begin ;-)

[David_Nab]

Who's captain today ?

Bent ....

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Boos from the Villa fans.

[PeterWithesShin]

Richardson the only player who can take any credit from that first half. And maybe Hutton going forward gets a bit. Otherwise that was very very poor.

[Tayls_7]

Personally don't give a toss if we lost every friendly 6-0...means jack shit.

No you are absolutely right. Getting schooled by shite mid-table Dutch opposition in no way indicates the possible hell that may follow for the coming season. Bring it on. We're ready.

[Morten]

Paul Lambert said he was relaxed about villa's 4-1 defeat at the hands of Dutch side Groningen: "it's all about fitness at this stage" he said. "We've still got Ron, Joe and Jores to come in. We'll be right at it for Stoke".

Lambert also said their were signs for encouragement, with pressure from Darren bent forcing a 90th minute own goal. "To be fair to him, Benty's come back for pre season and he looks right at it. I thought our front three were a right handful today. They were unlucky not to score".

Lambert dismissed suggestions that villa's 19% possession and no shots on target were a cause for concern. "I don't worry about the stats. There's only one stat that counts - the score. We didn't have the rub of the green today, but if we keep doing what we're doing we won't go far wrong. I see the improvement in training every day. We'll be right at it for stoke."

Very good, made me laugh. Yet also slightly sad...

[olaftab]

Why isn't Bacuna playing?

Never mind Bacuna it's the 11 on the pitch not playing that is more worrying!

[NorthYvillan]

Who's captain today ?

Bent ....

I thought it was Gabby

[Clampy]

Feel sorry for the 400 or so villa fans who have travelled to watch this rubbish.

I know 15 who have gone over and if I know them lot, they'll have a good time regardless of the result.

[PeterWithesShin]

Who's captain today ?

Bent ....

I thought it was Gabby

Who knows, neither touched the ball so they were never on camera to see who has the armband.

[Matt Collins]

I'm concerned that he doesn't seem to see Richardson as a left back unless it's in a 352 - and we've not played much of that in pre season - though he might be scared into going that way

That means Bennett, Stevens or Clark. Jesus wept

Gabby is the only fit fwd we have who can play up top on his own

[JPartington]

Watching Bent makes me want to cry. His gait is so strange these days, it's like he is running at a 45 degree angle. He has a remarkable ability to pretend to close the defence, but never quite get close enough to have to put any sort of tackle/block/shoulder charge in. He can't jump to time a header. He has no interest in coming short for the ball, and, if by accident he finds himself in that position, he looks like a rugby player trying to trap the ball. Just awful.

Whilst I'm on a little rant, how on earth has Baker managed to stay in and around the first team of a premier league club for over 2 years, when it is so obvious to all that he isn't good enough. More than anything perhaps, his continued presence in the first team sums up events at Villa Park over recent years.

[PeterWithesShin]

Ron looks well impressed.