Pre-Season Friendly Match Thread Compendium

[Matt Collins]

We've not got our three most creative players out there either .

But 100% agree that we need more quality

Sounds like it should have been two or three up at half time though?

[dave.woodhall]

FT: 1-1. Att: 6,606.

[Louzie0]

Thanks!

[cdbearsfan]

Sherwood Out.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Chilling with the fans 

Lol, awesome!

[curiousorange]

This from Vital Walsall on Twitter: "That was a strong Villa line up and they were gash. They're going to struggle next season."

[Toronto Villa]

Some decent performances. Kozak, Amavi, Gueye all impressive.

Slight concern re where our goals are going to come from though.

Assuming Ayew is the Weimann replacement, we absolutely have to replace Benteke too.

I like the direction overall. Yes we must find a forward and it might be a combo of Ayew, Kozak and Robinson with an Adebayor on loan. I'd rather off course we made one more significant investment in that area. But when you add in Gil, Grealish to return then we should be able to create chances.

[Matt C]

I'd be very surprised if any of that front three start against Bournemouth.

[Matt Collins]

I'd be very surprised if any of that front three start against Bournemouth.

Sinclair maybe

I do think we're currently facing a pretty ropey start tho.

[Toronto Villa]

One thing for sure is that Gabby isn't the answer. But as an impact player off the bench to add pace late on he could be an asset.

[Percy McCarthy]

Glad to hear a few are up for it. Class banner from the Villa fans.

Shame I can't find a stream for the game.

What's the banner?

[LTA]

As things stand, next season will be a real struggle to stay up next season regardless of the other teams.  We have to get some strikers in damn quickly.  Kozak is going to take a while to get up to speed after such a long lay off, and we can't rely on Gabby to be consistent.  Robinson took his goal well, but he's still learning his trade.

Have to say Gueye and Amavi look really promising and Richards will be a good leader in the back line.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Glad to hear a few are up for it. Class banner from the Villa fans.

Shame I can't find a stream for the game.

What's the banner?

Villa fans showing their respect for the three Walsall supporters who died so tragically in Tunisia.

[paulcomben]

Goals. Them be the problem, innit?

[tomd2103]

Just got back from Walsall.  We didn't create much, but they created noting at all and their goal was a massive deflection from a free kick after our wall came apart. 

We started with a 4-2-3-1 formation and the keepers had very little to do.  Hutton was solid enough, Richards (who was captain) looked in a different class to almost everyone else on the pitch, Clark had a shaky first half and Amavi also had a few nervy moments (very quick though).

In the midfield, Westwood was his usual self and Gueye looked promising (very mobile and decent on the ball).  Sinclair, Robinson and Bacuna were pretty ineffective (Bacuna in particular had a poor afternoon), and Kozak still looks off the pace.

Any ideas who the 22 and 27 who came on were?  Thought the 22 in midfield looked pretty sharp, if quite similar to Westwood.