Pre-Season Friendly Match Thread Compendium

[silhillvilla]

Goals. Them be the problem, innit?

We've sold our goal machine so it isn't going to take a genius is it . Tim / Butch / Paddy over to you (oh and Randy)

[Phil from the upper holte]

Still early days, we all know we need a forward, will Judge it when season starts

[silhillvilla]

I'm probably warming to the Adebayour idea. We need something for sure , Austin and Adebayour ?

[Goldie.7]

Sinclair needs to dramatically improve for me. I have been watching him closely and i've noticed he'll do something really good with the ball, then do something really dumb with it a few touches later, just watch him.

I still firmly believe his Swansea days are long gone, never to return. I hope i'm wrong though!

[Matt Collins]

I've literally never seen bacuna play well in midfield. I worry Tim looks at his crossing ability sees him there

We've played 4411 / 4231 every game so far so perhaps that's how we'll set up. I'm not sure Westwood can play that way. Either way we need at least two new players in the forward  / wide positions

[tomd2103]

I've literally never seen bacuna play well in midfield. I worry Tim looks at his crossing ability sees him there

We've played 4411 / 4231 every game so far so perhaps that's how we'll set up. I'm not sure Westwood can play that way. Either way we need at least two new players in the forward  / wide positions

Bacuna looked lost at times today in a more advanced role. 

[KRS]

Not exactly a confidence inspiring display today other than the fact that the new signings all showed that they are or will be genuine quality players for us (Richards, Gueye and Amavi).

Hutton and Bacuna down the right look clueless, and can't cross a ball between them.

Sinclair and Kuzak look way off the pace.

Really need an injection of genuine quality up front otherwise we are going to struggle...there aren't any goals in this team at the moment.

[Matt Collins]

Bacuna can cross a ball. But much better coming into it from full back

Agree we're weak down that side.

[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?

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

Lovely stuff, well done to them.

And thanks TSOV.

[silhillvilla]

Probably Cannock Villains, they're normally good for a banner and fair play with it.

[Matt Collins]

I've heard both that Richards was the best player on the pitch and that he was repeatedly out of position. I am worried about his positional play - never been a strong point.

The season starts two weeks today and if we put anything like today's team out I can't see anything but a good shoeing.

Minimum of two genuine quality players in the next week. Ideally four more in the next few weeks.

It might be consistent disappointment but at the moment I've really got a feeling that the start of the season is going to be horrendous.

[SoccerHQ]

Richards played alright I thought, won plenty in the air (as did Clark). Worry I have is he won pretty much all his one v ones against Bradshaw by just being physically stronger, that won't always work in the prem.

Idrissa Gueye looks excellent, great energy, can get forward and good taclking. He dosen't lack confidence on the ball either.

Amavi struggled to get into the game, didn't get forward a lot.

Kozak tried hard but not a starter at this moment in time, better as impact sub imo.

[darren woolley]

We really need to buy a striker.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

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. 



                           

Agree with all of that tom.
Thought young Sellars looked very enterprising in the 15 minutes he had...a bit cocky (in a good way) and shaped a decent shot for himself  (well over the bar, but at least he had a go).
Thought Sinclair was in a couple of really promising positions second half but then bungled or fumbled it.

[silhillvilla]

I don't think Westwood is PL quality.