WakefieldVillan

Voted Martinez but don't particularly like goalkeepers as captains so it's a tough one because I don't think Mings should be an automatic starter either?!

Maybe Mings club captain - Martinez on field skipper. I don't know tbh.. Will be interesting who SG goes for.

5 minutes ago, bobzy said:

So he's a striker doing what a striker should do?

 

Sounds awful...

Ha, fair enough - it may have come across that I was knocking him, I wasn't meaning to, just commenting on the goals last night - I'm sure he will do well like the majority of Klopp's signings.

Well the worst part of both kits (other than £) is the "Search.Drive.Smile" addition to the sponsor - other than that, I don't think either are too bad.

I'd rate the away 7.5/10 and the home a 7/10 and I don't mind Castore as a brand, they have a clothes section with Reiss that are quite decent (albeit pretty pricey).

If we have a successful season - they will get more popular in time - So up to the boys now.

35 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

Nunez scored 4 last night vs RBL

Worth watching, his penalty and 4th goal were very lucky, even his 3rd has a hint of fortune about it but his 2nd is a quality finish 

Yeah just watched, I agree - Heard he'd scored 4 so was expecting something special when in truth they were all a bit meh. 

2nd and 3rd goals were ok, but ones you'd expect your striker to score.

On pre-season so far I'd say order of performances is:

1. Chambers
2. Carlos
3. Mings
4. Konsa
5. Feeney
6. Hause

I think the game against Man Utd will be the telling indicator of who will be our first choice centre halves for the new season.

I'd currently go Chambers / Carlos - I think they've both looked calm and composed and error free. 

Thought Mings and Konsa were less composed today.

Great position to be in for SG - But I do hope he has the balls to play the two in form and not just Mings, because it's Mings.

1 minute ago, maqroll said:

At least Davies is also a name.

Beundia doesn't exist, anywhere.

 

Ha very true but I can forgive getting a couple of letters mixed up on a foreign name, but adding in a letter to a simple five letter name to form a different player (Ex Bolton) I can't handle 

4 minutes ago, maqroll said:

He's not a Gerrard signing and probably wouldn't have ever been a Gerrard signing, and because of this we can expect to see him on the bench more than we ever want to.

But to be fair Gerrard has been extremely complimentary of Buendia from the day he arrived so I'm not sure he's not starting him just because he wasn't one of his signings.

If anything Emi puts himself about as much as anybody and you'd think that this, more than anything would be the trait that Gerrard likes / wants from his players.

He had a good 45 minutes and I'd like him to start against Man U with Coutinho and Watkins/Archer.

2 hours ago, maqroll said:

How are people misspelling his last name?

Just saw it again on Twitter. "Beundia"

It's **** BUENDIA 

Davies instead of Davis is the one that gets me 

Nobody really knows whether there was any "intent" or not other than Lucas - but that didn't look good and was much worse than McGinn's tackle on Gray.

I don't think he even got a yellow card for it but I wouldn't have complained if he'd been given a red. It's a reckless challenge.

Obviously not at this level, but I know from experience playing that if I have over run the ball (like he did) and am frustrated going into a tackle immediately after then there's a good chance of going in more aggressively which can be dangerous if it is not timed right. I've seen it happen loads, the adrenalin is flowing and it's all in the heat of the moment. 

Of course, he may not have meant it - like I said, only he knows - But I personally think he did. I'd also say, we've been a soft touch for far too long so I hope we can start showing more aggression in our game (albeit within the laws of the game).

Different game, different opposition (I know) - but he showed more today than Guilbert did on Sunday. 

Better going forward than defending - one error towards the end which I am sure he will learn from.

If he bulks up a bit (whilst keeping the athleticism) then he can start to put some real pressure on Cash moving forward.

Think a lot will depend on whether Freddie stays or not as to whether KKH goes out to loan or becomes our second choice RB.

Looked very comfortable - great to see our (Villa) yoof making strides in and around the 1st team. 

2 minutes ago, The Fun Factory said:

Call me all old fashioned but I am quite a fan of strikers who are natural finishers. Other than Tammy who was on loan with us, I can't remember a Villa striker who has looked like this for years. Maybe Yorke in the 90s.

Without starting a Tammy discussion (but I am, apologies) - Tammy wasn't (isn't) a natural finisher either IMO. He also misses lots of chances. Dwight Yorke was though for sure.

Archer took his goal well and his overall game was decent enough. His pace caused their defence problems and on another day he may have had five goals - 1) Just failing to connect to Buendia's ball in. 2) One where he probably should have laid Watkins in but took the defender on and shot over the bar. 3) One he dragged wide (should have scored that). 4) One that deflected wide and the one he scored.

I think he's a more natural finisher than Watkins, but he's still quite raw. I wouldn't mind having him on the bench should we be chasing a game, but I would love if we sign another top quality striker and loan out Archer to continue his development.

9 minutes ago, Stephen_Evans said:

A tad too casual at key moments for me, including a couple of half chances.

5 minutes ago, PaulMcGrath_5 said:

Pretty awful.

Yeah I agree, he lost possession quite easily on a couple of occasions and didn't contribute anything of note.

Thing is with Traore he can produce moments of sublime play so probably has a place in the squad but not sure we will ever find real consistency from him (not being a regular starter obviously doesn't help).

4 minutes ago, Kingman said:

Sanson, Fred, Davies 

I hadn't realised these three were injured - Presumed just not involved (today) due to such a large squad ?

*Davis  

3 minutes ago, tomav84 said:

disagree on bailey. think he's looked quite bright in both games personally

I may be doing him a little disservice as I thought he was very good against Leeds, but just ok today (and I was hoping for more).  

Positives (from this tour)

• Two wins.
• Two clean sheets.
• No injuries.
• Match fitness for a large number of the squad.
• Youth players looking ready if called upon.
• Olsen more than capable back up keeper.
• Four very decent centre halves.
• Carlos looks a beast.
• Kamara will be a real asset.
• Squad harmony looks good.
• Luiz looks more comfortable as an 8.
• Archer can finish. (Yes, I know he missed a couple - but he will get goals).
• Buendia, Coutinho, Luiz showing glimpses of the South American flair. 

Negatives

• Sanson, Guilbert not really taking their chance (albeit minimal game time).
• Traore and Bailey remain a little unconvincing, particularly Bertrand. 
• Digne's challenge today was very poor - Didn't like that in a "friendly".
• Not clinical enough.
• Looked a little devoid of a real spark to the "low-block" - IE a Grealish type that draws 2 or 3 players in.
• Would've like 45 mins for Davis just to see a physical presence up top.

There's a few over reactions on here (not surprisingly by the anti-Gerrard brigade).

It's pre-season, it's all about fitness, getting minutes in the bank and not getting injured.

We are in control of the game - their one serious chance only came about because Kamara was body checked by the ref.

Ok, we're struggling to create against a well drilled low-block but I'm sure we will break them down in the second half.

Carlos and Kamara look very good - both new signings, so that's a positive for Gerrard.

We are trying Bailey and Traore out wide and neither are grasping the opportunity but they needed the opportunity.

The game against Man U will be totally different so no point worrying about that off the back of this one.  

13 hours ago, BigRed said:

 

we all hate Leeds scum is sang everywhere  and yes that’s at old Trafford as well for those who say it’s a one sided rivalry. 
 

 

 

. 

 

 

Don't flatter yourself. Teams sing it when they play you that's all (with possibly the exception if Man U, who sing it at other games too).

Like opposition fans sing "shit on the Villa" - no difference really, yet we wouldn't make anything of it, but Leeds fans do, it's their mentality. 

Truth is your hatred cos many of your fans are words removed

1 hour ago, TRO said:

Archie Gray was putting it about himself, and he got a yellow, for an earlier challenge .....If you are old enough to dish it out, you are old enough to receive it.

They are just playing on his age to gain the advantage.

It just looked an unfortunate tackle to me.

 

My site manger is a Leeds fan, he's just been in the office, so I brought the game up (smugly ) - His three comments were that it was a bad challenge, McGinn went to injure him and he's only 16 .

I responded by saying "if you're going to throw yourselves into tackles then you are going to get some back" - No comment back other than he thinks Leeds are in danger of relegation this season. (Let's hope so).

As Leeds fans go, he's actually not that bad (I know, I know) - He was a fan of the Dirty Leeds side in the late 60's early 70's, so his views are somewhat clouded in that they are the greatest team on earth when really it was just a few years  of success. To be fair we can be tarnished with that with our early 80's successes.

I stand by the tackle being no more than a yellow and would have said the same if it was the other way round. And to be honest the tackle by Gray on Buendia looked a harsh yellow for me. He won the ball and followed through (like McGinn) - but maybe in this day and age you can't do that - which says more about how the game has changed for the worse (IMO).

5 minutes ago, VillaChris said:

Benteke at his best scored goals out of little....that curler outside the box v Man. United, picking up the ball 40 yards from goal v Chelsea, making Cahill a mug and slipping it in near post v Cech. He also scored v Palace from similar run picking up ball near halfway line.

Not sure if there's a YT reel of all his goals for us but they weren't all headers from crosses and corners.

Indeed. He also scored the spectacular overhead kick at VP against Norwich - and later possibly bettered that with another one for Liverpool at Old Trafford. He was a monster with us.

I loved Dwight, but when we have the likes of Buendia / Coutinho zipping around and service from Digne, I think (a prime) Benteke would suit us better than Yorke would. 

If only Davis could score more, he has the physicality and the ability to keep the ball which is a frustratingly lacking at times with Ollie.

Back on topic - Still hoping for two more players before the window shuts. Definitely another real quality midfielder and I'd take another striker but I'd be less concerned if that didn't materialise.

53 minutes ago, It's Your Round said:

I’m always shocked when I wander in to this thread, I really don’t understand why so many are so down on Watkins. Some of the comments are ridiculous. 

I'm not down on him, I like him, he has some very good traits - he works hard, he harasses defenders, he's quick, athletic, gets into goal scoring positions, at times he finishes really well (Liverpool, Southampton, Everton goals just 3 off the top of my head) - the two things I want to see him improve on though is his hold up play and to be more clinical with his finishing.   

4 minutes ago, WakefieldVillan said:

Yeah was always part of the schedule.

I think it will be a case of giving game time to as many players as possible whilst trying to win this MASSIVE* trophy  

Probably two different teams for each half like we did against Leeds.

I'd like to see something like - Martinez, Guilbert, Konsa, Carlos, Digne, Kamara, Sanson, Luiz, Coutinho, Ings, Buendia.

Then: Olsen, Cash, Chambers, Mings, Augustinsson, Nakamba, McGinn, Ramsey, Watkins, Davis, Traore.

Also a run out for Bailey / Tim / Kesler.. (Our squad is pretty big!)

A nice mix. Win both halves, comfortably. No injuries.

*only massive if we win

First I forgot Tim and Kesler, then Bailey, now I've just remembered Archer  Think we need 3 x 30 minute teams 

Yeah was always part of the schedule.

I think it will be a case of giving game time to as many players as possible whilst trying to win this MASSIVE* trophy  

Probably two different teams for each half like we did against Leeds.

I'd like to see something like - Martinez, Guilbert, Konsa, Carlos, Digne, Kamara, Sanson, Luiz, Coutinho, Ings, Buendia.

Then: Olsen, Cash, Chambers, Mings, Augustinsson, Nakamba, McGinn, Ramsey, Watkins, Davis, Traore.

Also a run out for Bailey / Tim / Kesler.. (Our squad is pretty big!)

A nice mix. Win both halves, comfortably. No injuries.

*only massive if we win

22 hours ago, PaulMcGrath_5 said:

One or two decent moments but other than that, he was the main reason we turned the ball over so much in the second half. Buendia too but this isn’t his thread, so..

Correct. He seemed to want way to long on the ball and got robbed on more than one occasion for not playing the ball quicker.

That said, 45 minutes in a pre-season game, building up fitness, I can (& will) give him the benefit of the doubt and not write him off.

He did one lovely little run down the right touch line where the ref brought the ball back for a foul and Sanson was actually in the clear after evading three men quite nicely.

Hope to see an improved 45 on Wednesday once he builds up his fitness.

I'd love for him to sign a new contract (don't we all?!), he's obviously a fantastic talent - but I think the club / Gerrard are right by leaving him back in the UK and it not being a distraction to the rest of the squad.

I'll be honest and say I wasn't that impressed with JJ a couple of season's ago but he has come on leaps and bounds last season and I personally think Chuk has the potential to be better than JJ if he gets his head screwed on right.

I'm not going to lose any sleep over it though, it's all about A.V.F.C not the player, and if he doesn't want to be part of our journey then so be it.