Pre-Season Friendlies

[Matt Collins]

Is it possible to win the title as underdogs throughout? I guess Leicester sort of did. But im not sure this is true of hull - wouldn't the have been one of the favourites?

[PeterWithe]

Well we werent completely useless, more lacking in any kind of insperation going forward.

The positives, Terry and Samba were very solid with Terry looking after the ball very well, I thought Gabby did ok up there on his own with none of the midfielders seemingly in the same postcode as him. The full backs were ok in posession although both were caught out once each for a chance to Walsall. Johnstone was very commanding on crosses and looked very confident, thats a great move to get him back for the season.

The negatives. Well, everything in front of the defence really, Landsbury tried hard to make something happen but was far too deep and his fitness is a big worry, he looks trimmer but he still starts to make poor decisions, passes and tackles after half time. The other two midfielders were garbage, lightweight and ineffectual, Houlihan in particular needs to get some sweat on the shirt before swanning about thinking hes the bees knees, not at all impressed with him. The other kid is a trier. But shit, really shit.

The two wide lads tried but had games to forget, no one to hit crosses to and their touch looked ropey under any kind of pressure. Lyden looked to have good energy and aggression when he came on.

MOM, Terry or their no10 who looked exactly the kind of player we need, if he was a foot taller.

[PeterWithe]

PS who was no40 for us, came on as one of the first subs?

[PeterWithesShin]

PS who was no40 for us, came on as one of the first subs?

Hayes.

[PeterWithe]

Ta, never heard of him before. He probably is coming through at a bad time where he looks pretty similar to all the other midfielders we have, hope he does it.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Lyden looked to have good energy and aggression when he came on.

Good report and great to hear, not that Bruce will notice. He'll probably buy 5 defensive midfielders as cover for Jedi this week.
Nice bloke that he is, he's no McLeish.

[PeterWithe]

Tishbola came on for the grand total of 4 seconds. I checked.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Tishbola came on for the grand total of 4 seconds. I checked.

You're just trying to cheer me up, aren't you?

[cdbearsfan]

Tishbola came on for the grand total of 4 seconds. I checked.

And won the Man of the Match award.

[PeterWithe]

McCormack came on and was immediately positioned wide left next to their fastest player. OK, Ill stop now......

It was a lovely balmy evening though.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

McCormack came on and was immediately positioned wide left next to their fastest player. OK, Ill stop now......

That's what I love about pre-season - the hope.

[eamonn]

Seriously, only a friendly/players building-up fitness etc. caveats aside, can they not be doing that and also just occasionally look threatening in an attacking sense?
Why is it we outplayed Brighton for large parts of both games last season, the best team in the division (Brighton and Fulham played much better football than Newcastle imo), yet most of the time we don't have a bull's notion how to look imposing in the final third? By the law of averages you think we'd manage it more than twice a bleedin' year. 

[Nelly]

That was really boring. We never seem to have any creativity in the middle, we just shove it out wide to Green or Amavi and say beat 3 players on your own. We could do with a creative player playing behind the strikers.

Samba played well again.

I agree with the bit about Green adn Amavi and would say it's also worrying how none of our players go to support them either.  3-4 times Amavi had it on the left agianst 2-3 Walsall players and there wasn't a Villa player within 20 yards of him.  it means he either loses the ball or sneaks half a yard of space and has to try to pick out the one player we have in the box.  Bree got a bit closer to Green but there was still a huge gap inside them.

This is why I don't get on Hutton's back. He is always trying to provide an outlet but no one ever, ever supports him. It must be a coaching issue, surely!? Hutton doesn't have the trick that Amavi or Green do either. We need a midfield that looks to provide an option for our players.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Ok just rewatched the first half (which I did not see live). I think I was too harsh. Plenty of attacking intent and chances in the first half.

[Matt Collins]

Ok just rewatched the first half (which I did not see live). I think I was too harsh. Plenty of attacking intent and chances in the first half.

Yep, I still think we were decent but let down by poor finishing and a weak Thor-Gabby partnership