Walsall vs Aston Villa Pre-season friendly

[SoccerHQ]

Delph is a class above really, only dynamic central midfielder we have.

[DeKuip]

We looked solid but toothless. Thats a step up. I will take it.

Sounds like the woman next door. She's got nothing up front nowadays either.

[PeterWithe]

Pretty unremarkable performance, only Delph looked a class above Walsalls level.

A long season beckons.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Find it hard to believe that he took Gabby off and pretty much replaced him with Bacuna...no significant reshuffle, just take a bloke off and put another bloke on to replace him!
A wing back () to replace Gabby???

Even I would have the sense to muddle 'em about a bit!

An enjoyable (!!??) evening out at the Banks's Stadium where you can drink anything but Banks's! 

[Dave Cooper please]

Gabby's shot that landed somewhere near Wednesbury was the best thing ever.

[peter w]

He scores at Anfield.

If that's the only requisite lets bring back Ian Olney.

You asked for one thing. There's one thing. You created the requisite thing so you may hoist your own petard forthwith. Or ask for another thing. making two.

Or bring back Ian Olney.

[Olneythelonely]

Let's.

[Olneythelonely]

I apologise for the Alan Hutton/Proclaimers song. First chant I've ever started, he seemed to enjoy it.

[Olneythelonely]

With regards to the game, I thought we were dreadful. Delph was decent and N'Zogbia had his moments but that's about it.

Playing Grealish up front on his own for 15 minutes was a stroke of genius.

[tomd2103]

Just got back in after a few post game drinks.  That's the first time I have seen us this pre-season and unfortunately, I have got major concerns.  It seems we haven't really made any progress and the same problems are still very apparent.  First half we played 3-5-2 and looked a bit disjointed.  We played a flat three in midfield rather than have that more advanced player to link things up.  Westwood did OK in the main and Delph had a good game, but KEA still really doesn't offer much at all.  Okore looked sharp, but Clark was patchy at best and Baker was really poor (terrible passing and giving away stupid free-kicks in dangerous areas).  Richardson did fine on the left and although Hutton didn't look completely at ease at wing-back, he did OK.  Gabby and Weimann posed little threat really and without Benteke, I can't really see where the goals are going to come from.

I thought we looked more comfortable in the more familiar 4-3-3 formation after the break.  N'Zogbia looked sharp on the right, but didn't really produce anything of note.  Apart from being beaten once, Senderos looked solid and surely will be an unpgrade on the aforementioned Baker and Clark.  Lowton and Stevens didn't really have too much of a test at full-back and the amount of substitutions had nullified the game by the time Bacuna and Grealish came on (substitutions which left us playing without a striker for the last 15 minutes).

My concern is that the same problems from the past few seasons are still there and haven't been addressed.  The midfield isn't creative enough and KEA and Westwood are too similar.  We are so light in that area now.  If KEA, Westwood or Delph are injured, we've only really got Gardner to bring in and the jury is still out on him.  Without Benteke, we don't really pose a goal threat and with Benteke, Kozak and Bent out, we've only got Gabby and Weimann.  Okore looks solid and hopefully Vlaar will stay, because Senderos apart, the other options aren't good enough for the top flight.  After seeing that tonight, we've got to replace Baker and possibly Clark in the squad because neither have improved and are still making the same mistakes.       

[pauliewalnuts]

I love Delph. I particularly like that thing he does when he quickly flicks the ball from one foot to the other then back, then moves into the space he's created.

I thought that was actually our best pre season performance (missed one of the US tour games, mind).

I thought CNZ looked good, as did Grealish when he came on (he's so happy on the ball). I barely noticed Westwood, thought KEA did OKish at least, and thought Gabby and Weimann looked like fans who had wandered onto the pitch, awful, both of them.

[tomd2103]

I love Delph. I particularly like that thing he does when he quickly flicks the ball from one foot to the other then back, then moves into the space he's created.

I thought that was actually our best pre season performance (missed one of the US tour games, mind).

I thought CNZ looked good, as did Grealish when he came on (he's so happy on the ball). I barely noticed Westwood, thought KEA did OKish at least, and thought Gabby and Weimann looked like fans who had wandered onto the pitch, awful, both of them.

If he can add a few more goals to his game (which I think he is capable of) he will be a top player. 

[SoccerHQ]

Weimann continues to run around without actually doing anything of note...Gabby well there should be a sign on the M6 warning motorists of low flying footballs.

Kozak and Benteke can't come back soon enough.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I apologise for the Alan Hutton/Proclaimers song. First chant I've ever started, he seemed to enjoy it.

Which song? Didn't come through the stream. He seemed very happy overall today.

[tomd2103]

I apologise for the Alan Hutton/Proclaimers song. First chant I've ever started, he seemed to enjoy it.

Which song? Didn't come through the stream. He seemed very happy overall today.

Proclaimers 500 miles song - the "da da da" bit after the chorus.  Insert Alan Hutton instead of the "da da da"!!