Aston Villa vs Parma Pre-Season Friendly

[olaftab]

If only Benty's bum weren't so big as it unbalanced him when it hit that shot!

[N'Zimidy]

Bent hitting the crossbar in the last minute.


Last 20 minutes have been far better. Grealish, Vlaar and Okore have to start. I'd start Gardner too over Westwood. Bent over Gabby every day of the week.

[UK Redsox]

The thing about gabby is we only have one other option to play the number 9 role - and bent does a pretty good impression of lazing around doing fuck all as well

I'll keep on repeating it but a centre forward on a two month loan is a top priority for me. Even more than strengthening the midfield

I just can't see us scoring many at all with these players

What's Grant Holt doing these days?

[silhillvilla]

0-0

Hmmm . I'd take that next Saturday too . Won't happen of course.

[Pete3206]

Turgid.

Gabby - shit or get off the pot.

[Tuscans]

This made me laugh. Look at the expressions on the faces of the players.

Brilliant, Keano completely out of his comfort zone. The happiest I've ever seen the staff and players...possibly ever.

[N'ZMAV]

I'm losing my belief in Agbonlahor.

[CJ]

Gabby doesn't deserve a place in the team. The worrying thing is he played exactly the same all last season and Lambert still picked him week in week out. My guess is he'll still get the nod for the Stoke game. If he does, I'd play Grealish instead of Weimann

[Clampy]

Pluses were Hutton, Delph, Grealish and keeping a clean sheet. I thought KEA did ok when he came on as well.

[Matt Collins]

He will because I don't think there's a credible alternative

[N'Zimidy]

--------------Bent---Weimann-----------
----------------Grealish-----------------
Richardson--Delph----Gardner---Hutton
------Senderos---Vlaar----Okore---------
-----------------Guzan-------------------

I'd chuck that team out against Stoke. You have to start 3 at the back against those orcs IMO.

[PaulWinch again]

Gabby should be benched, he used to be inconsistent but pull out great performances on occasion. He just doesn't seem to play well at all now.

[Tuscans]

Considering it's his club he always looks half arsed about the situation, shrugging and smirking at the ref.  Bring back Marlon to fire him up.

[Toronto Villa]

Hopefully when Benteke and Kozak get better it is Zog and Grealish either side of one of them up front. Gabby is now an impact player coming on late in games. Love him for what he has done. He just isn't doing it right now.

[supertom]

Better in the second half. Grealish looks a real talent and most of our best 2nd half moments involved him. I don't think a Villa youngen has excited me quite as much since Darius to be honest. Grealish has skill, he glides with the ball at his feet, and he's clever with it too. I say we chuck Grealish in early season and see how he does. He looks more than able enough to get into this side. It did Everton no harm with Barkley. Jack looks every bit as comfortable a footballer as Ross, even if he lacks his physique, and well shorn hair. We need a spark. We need someone to brighten things, and a lad like Grealish getting a good chance to shine, might just be that.

Hutton was okay again. Looks like he's first choice RB at the moment.

Westwood was poor. Too contemplative on the ball and not quick witted enough. I think KEA has actually looked better than him in pre-season and possibly should be pushing to partner Delph in the opening game.

Stevens did alright and actually looks like he may have stepped ahead of Bennett in the pecking order. He's poor going forward but he's less frightening at that defending lark than Gordon Bennett.

Okore always looks composed but he chances his luck a little too much at the back when he's on the ball. I think Senderos will get the nod to partner Vlaar next week as I suspect Lambo will opt for experience. Philippe was okay today to be fair.

Gabby and Weimann were poor. Bent got almost no service when he came on, but you expect Bent to be quiet. He almost nabbed the game at the end, which would have been typical of him.

Creativity is a big problem. For me, I'd load our midfield. 3 in the middle, two flair players (Zog and Grealish) and leave Bent up on his own. I don't think we can afford to play Gabby and Weimann together as neither really creates much, or looks like getting on the end of chances and scoring. I'd replace them with an attacking mid and Bent in the side. Bent has a part to play I think, but you can only afford one striker who does nothing all game. For me, of the three, it has to be Bent because he's the one most likely to find space and tuck away a chance. 4-3-2-1, Bent through the middle.