Aston Villa v Man U pre-season friendly thread

[Axl Rose]

Time for some culling of sacred cows McGinn Mings Ings Watkins.

They've been below par for some time.

Ollie I still think has goals in him. The other three are extremely dodgy at times. Can't remember the last time McGinn had a decent game.

I think his place is going to come under real pressure.  Mings was poor yesterday as well. The problem with the pair of them is constantly losing possession. We just can't afford to do that.

I don't know why Mings has to hoof it and give it away as much as he does. I always thought he had a nice left foot. Maybe I imagined it.

I want more composure from a captain.

He has got a nice left foot. I think maybe sometimes he’s a bit too ambitious with it.

That's fair enough mate. I remember that great run in the Championship where he was pinging balls about the pitch.

More of that please, Ty.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

I think the problem starts with  the lack of movement by the rest of the team ie. options for an easier pass!

[Chris Smith]

Time for some culling of sacred cows McGinn Mings Ings Watkins.

They've been below par for some time.

Ollie I still think has goals in him. The other three are extremely dodgy at times. Can't remember the last time McGinn had a decent game.

I think his place is going to come under real pressure.  Mings was poor yesterday as well. The problem with the pair of them is constantly losing possession. We just can't afford to do that.

I don't know why Mings has to hoof it and give it away as much as he does. I always thought he had a nice left foot. Maybe I imagined it.

I want more composure from a captain.

He has got a nice left foot. I think maybe sometimes he’s a bit too ambitious with it.

That's fair enough mate. I remember that great run in the Championship where he was pinging balls about the pitch.

More of that please, Ty.

If we do the same thing every time, i.e. short passes out from the back, it becomes predictable to defend against. The odd long ball, even if it doesn’t come off, ensures that we keep that bit of uncertainty in the minds of the opposition.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I thought we played better when Ings and Watkins were both off the pitch, really impressed with a couple of the youngsters, They kept the same side for the start of the second half which the commentator deemed to be their best line up and yet we dominated. What Gerrard cannot do is to leave out those that show they can and want to play and keep playing the usual suspects.

Agree with this, it should always be the case that if you play well, you keep the shirt. Think for too long we’ve played people based on previous performances rather than current form, with the squad we now have there’s no excuse to continue with this policy.

[olaftab]

I remember that great run in the Championship where he was pinging balls about the pitch.

More of that please, Ty.

In the Championship he was better than all attackers up against him and he had more time. The competition has changed drastically for Tyrone. He has not developed enough to be dominant in this League and after 3 seasons it is clear he will not get better. So time to move on I  am afraid. Tyrone can do this season on the  and he should provide good back up option.

[Risso]

If we do the same thing every time, i.e. short passes out from the back, it becomes predictable to defend against. The odd long ball, even if it doesn’t come off, ensures that we keep that bit of uncertainty in the minds of the opposition.

Yes, giving them the ball straight back should really perplex them, I can't think why more teams haven't thought of this obvious tactic.

[Dante Lavelli]

Time for some culling of sacred cows McGinn Mings Ings Watkins.

Not sure whether it is luck or design but selling Mings next summer having been a mainstay this season makes sense.  He’ll be thirty and we can sell at close to his ceiling price, i dunno, £30m.  In the meantime we will know whether Carlos is decent and Feeney will be a year older, possibly with a loan under his belt. 

[Chris Smith]

If we do the same thing every time, i.e. short passes out from the back, it becomes predictable to defend against. The odd long ball, even if it doesn’t come off, ensures that we keep that bit of uncertainty in the minds of the opposition.

Yes, giving them the ball straight back should really perplex them, I can't think why more teams haven't thought of this obvious tactic.

It doesn’t really change the point though, it’s only got to come off once. I agree that in some games it’s over done but predictable teams are easier to defend against.

When it’s worked well it’s because Watkins or McGinn run into the channels. If the fullback drops off because of it then next time there is the potential for space in midfield. It’s like a bowler setting the field for the short ball but then bowling full.

[cdbearsfan]

Chris is right that we need to have the option to play the ball short or long. When we just do the former, teams have got wise to it and started leaving more players up and we struggle to get out of our half.

[Dogtanian]

One of the key differences between first and second half was the pressing. In the second we pressed them further up the pitch and Buendia and Bailey were more aggressive in pressuring than Coutinho and Ings. Watkins was our best presser in the final third in 20/21, but he’s not doing it so well lately. In the first half Maguire lost possession twice under pressure, but we too often left him with plenty of time and didn’t take advantage.

[Risso]

One of the key differences between first and second half was the pressing. In the second we pressed them further up the pitch and Buendia and Bailey were more aggressive in pressuring than Coutinho and Ings. Watkins was our best presser in the final third in 20/21, but he’s not doing it so well lately. In the first half Maguire lost possession twice under pressure, but we too often left him with plenty of time and didn’t take advantage.

I think the presence of Grealish in top form made it easier for others including Watkins to press.

[Brend'Watkins]

Chris is right that we need to have the option to play the ball short or long. When we just do the former, teams have got wise to it and started leaving more players up and we struggle to get out of our half.

He is. It’s classic keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. Mixing it up with a bit of movement up top when going long is a useful tactic.

[Ian.]

Chris is right that we need to have the option to play the ball short or long. When we just do the former, teams have got wise to it and started leaving more players up and we struggle to get out of our half.

He is. It’s classic keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. Mixing it up with a bit of movement up top when going long is a useful tactic.

Also every now and again one goes over the top for a good old fashioned route one classic. Didn’t Coutinho score a corker from a Mings punt toward the end of last season?

[LeeB]

Chris is right that we need to have the option to play the ball short or long. When we just do the former, teams have got wise to it and started leaving more players up and we struggle to get out of our half.

He is. It’s classic keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. Mixing it up with a bit of movement up top when going long is a useful tactic.

Also every now and again one goes over the top for a good old fashioned route one classic. Didn’t Coutinho score a corker from a Mings punt toward the end of last season?

Yes, and Watkins goal at Brighton was from a right hail Mary.

[ChicagoLion]

Leicester built a title winning season on the ball over the top, it’s a bit different to the hopefull punt which we seem to do many times in a game.