Aston Villa played against Luton yesterday and lost 2-0. Shaw scored after Culllen’s cut back cross met the forward. And John Howells scored after miscommunication between Clark and Vlaar saw the forward escape the defence and go clear on goal, chipped the ball passed Guzan. Benteke played his first pre-season game and came close to scoring. Just missing after Delph’s slide pass. Gary Gardner came close with a free-kick. Callum Robinson came on for Benteke at half-time and came close to scoring on two occasions. The 18-year old played his first game for Aston Villa after a very successful NextGen campaign. Robinson missed a close range header and had a spinning shot, which was saved. Grealish and Gardner were the players that impressed the most during the game.
Villa (for first hour): Steer, Donacien, Baker, Herd, Webb; Delph, Sylla, Gardner; Carruthers, Benteke (Robinson 46), Burke.
Villa (for the final half hour): Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Luna; Westwood, El Ahmadi, Johnson; Bacuna, Robinson, Grealish.
Aston Villa will be playing against Crewe this weekend. Later, the team plays against Shamrock Rovers and Malaga before Aston Villa plays against Arsenal.
Aston Villa are yet to win a pre-season game, but let’s not forget; these games are all about fitness and we have a lot of first team players out injured. But I still think that defence is a worry and I personally think that Clark and Vlaar should not be playing together. You can argue that Vlaar and Baker was a much better partnership and I’d like Lambert to try in the next game.
Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtKHMudHYK8
Image Courtesy of Daily Mirror
i don’t like losing but this is nothing 2 when villa lose iam worse ~ but this was a training session, u could compare this 2 losing the toss b4 a premier game ~ reaction on fb last nite was nothing less than a over reaction ” one person was cry out for a return of dr venglos
relax and be patient ~ we are gonna be playing some good football this year ~ lets not run b4 we walk let the boys train and prepare 4 the season
Well said Nath mate, bang on
I thought that Karim played very well yesterday! He is so comfortable on the ball and enjoyable to watch! Wouldn’t mind seeing him playing more often next season!
Luna looked decent getting forward and I am glad to see benteke back!
Everyone’s been saying that sylla is our defensive midfielder, however last night I saw him link up with benteke a few times and did wonder if lambert does actually consider him sitting infront on the defense or more of a free role really!
Didn’t think bacuna played particularly well really
Delph and gardener looked good too which is promising
Little worried some of the signings are not up to standard to be honest but will reserve judgment agree about Clarke and vlarr don’t think they are up to it just hoping another good cb is brought in before start of season
Spot on muzzvill they are definitely not up to it only lambert can’t see it ffs
I was at the Wycombe match and saw the Luton one on AVTV last night. I think Luna looks good, and I suspect the manager told him and Lowton to press forward more, something they won’t be doing so much in PL matches. Clark looks incredibly confident but just doesn’t play well, I’d put the order of selection for CM now as 1. Vlaar 2. Baker 3. Herd 4.Donacien 5.Clark. I don’t know what Okore is like but he should be starting once fit instead of Vlaar or Baker. Clark likes hugging people, his positioning is poor and he makes mistakes, plus he seems to pause on the ball sometimes and either lose it or make a panic pass. I’d like him to get better and succeed but if he needs more game time I don’t want to see it in a Villa shirt. Can he not be sent out on loan in the Championship for a while?
Sylla looks great at the moment, Gardner is getting better, Delph is starting to get back into it and Westwood I reckon will be captain before the season is out. He’s getting better at deadballs and the free kick against Wycombe was just superb. I also really like watching Grealish play, hard to imagine he’s just 17. He looks so comfortable on the ball. I’m not sure about El Ahmadi, his choice of passes haven’t always been so good and he shouldn’t be in the first choice 11. I want to see Gabby, Andi and ooooooooooh Christian Benteke play up front again though, and wish Helenius, Tonev and Albrighton had been fit so they can hit the new season running. Fast. As long as Luna starts and Clark doesn’t I think we have a pretty competent team with the potential to finish around 10th.
I agree with everything you’ve said about Clark, he’s just not the same player he was.
Sylla looks good and I’m excited with Garnder as well. I hope that Delph can grow into a great player, we did pay a lot of money for him.
In terms of Albrighton, this is his last season to impress Lambert and I hope that he can do it.
We’ll see who will get offered renewed contracts and who won’t. Baker and Lowton have new and presumably improved ones, as do Westwood, Benteke, Wiemann etc. Bennett and Vlaar don’t. What’s curious is that Clark does have a new one, which suggests there’s something about him the management likes, or can see potential in. It could of course only be a short contract, or performance related. What’s clear is the message that even though you come in on relatively low wages (or have moved up from the academy) if you work hard and do well you’ll be rewarded. If you go the other way you end up in the doghouse like Ireland. The assumption is that new players brought in have talent and Lambert reckons he can make them play well. It’s worked with a good few of the players brought in last year and there’s still the potential for Vlaar and Bennett to come good. I think it’s going to work out rather well.
I think Vlaar maybe offered a new contract at the end of this season. However this very much depends on whether or not he would like to remain in the Premier League. Vlaar could potential go back home to Holland.
If he did sign, it would be only 1-year or 2 year extension.
I don’t think that Bennett deserved a new deal. Clark’s deal was running out next season so it had to be done.
Delph and Sylla could also earn contract extensions if they play well
Sylla could be a surprise package this season
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The fact is we lost 2-0 to a non league side that does not bode well for the coming season. We still lack premiership. quality in key areas if Lambert does not fix our crap defence we will struggle again tgis season.
Vlaar and Clark together is just asking for trouble – they’re both like headless chickens. Vlaar and Baker looked much less vulnerable. Baker is a defender and Clark isn’t. I think Okore could help to get the best out of Vlaar when he’s fit.
I’ve got a horrible feeling Lambert sees Clark in his first choice CB partnership with Vlaar. That’s a real worry. Why can’t he see what seems so obvious to everyone else? I think Clark must be a positive influence in the dressing room to be so favoured.
Even with a second-string side, we should be beating Luton. Pre season or not.
I don’t know what to think.
I’ve always rated Clark as our best upcoming defender, but now I’m not so sure.
I’d definitely agree that he doesn’t click with Vlaar though.
That said, I’ve always tried to stay posoive about Vlaar, but I’m not madly convinced there either.
He needs to step up a gear, which hopefully he will., this term.
I think the actual result is not a problem, like ive said before freindlies often see 20+ players taking to the pitch you cant really worry about results. the Malaga game may see a more settled line up and give us a real idea of where we are at.
im sharing concerns on Clarke though, he’s displaying exactly the same problems as he did last season, dithering and getting robbed, lack of communication and this holding and hugging players allowing him to be turned easily and potentially giving away free kicks and pens.
im also sharing concerns on Vlarr too, personally I didn’t rate his performances last season and am still no where near convinced about him(although he did improved toward the end of last season). I think the problem with Vlarr is he just looks like he should be great and a great captin too but the performances don’t match up.
all that said please don’t worry about these results, we’ve got a really tough start to the season and im expecting a shit storm before the end of September.