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[Albion] Villarreal friendly 10/8/24



Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash
Jul 6, 2003
71,965
You don’t learn much from the four easy games we have had in our pre season. I would rather have seen them pitted against at least one better side , to see what they are really made of . We have some difficult games in the early season - a few games in we will know more.
Pre season games can never be anything much more than glorified training sessions. We'll learn so much more v Everton and ManU in the full glare of competition. Two very different opponents, both highly challenging, who'll want it every bit as much as we do. Bring it on!
 




BevBHA

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2017
2,304
My grandson said Villarreal were shit - fair point, but I replied that probably our performance was that good that we made them look shit. The proof of the pudding will of course be how we fare against Everton next week.
Important to remember it’s our last pre season game and one of their first. La Liga starts later than the Premier League so you’d expect us to be sharper
 






el punal

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2012
12,349
The dull part of the south coast
I had the same thought. They looked fairly poor, much like QPR did last week. It got me wondering how much that was them or down to us?

I've been focusing, perhaps wrongly, on the weaknesses within our performances. Maybe I should be putting more weight on the positives. We've played five games that I'm aware of, won them all and scored 17 goals in the process.
Pre-season friendlies can be so deceptive. If we do badly and lose then we are ill prepared and all is wrong. Play well and win then the opposition is poor and everyone starts being hypercritical about any weaknesses within the team. As you rightly pointed out to win five games and score 17 goals in the process shows a degree of optimism. Whether this promising start can be carried forward into the League campaign we will soon find out - hopefully the answer will be yes.
 








Mr deez

Masterchef
Jan 13, 2005
3,535
Not this year. Villarreal are playing Atheltico Madrid next weekend.
Yeah they have played plenty of pre season matches, a mixed bag -

2-1 loss at home v Leicester
3-1 win v FC Sion away
0-0 v Forest away
3-1 loss to St Etienne away
2-2 v Borussia Dortmund away. Gross played well in this game apparently.
 




Is it PotG?

Thrifty non-licker
Feb 20, 2017
24,968
Sussex by the Sea
Are we judging the new manager, new players, new system on one game then? I will give it my usual ten games to see how things are progressing.
I think that my post got lost in translation. Of course a few games are needed, what I was clumsily trying to say was friendlies tell us sod all.
 


heathgate

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Apr 13, 2015
3,798
Why do people come on here and just post complete bullshit?

La Liga actually starts on Thursday, a day before the Premier League.

:shrug:
Indeed, I thought the Spaniards looked fit and strong, but really couldn't cope with the intensity of our press,... however, we are certainly in need of a couple of defence minded options... not convinced Webster or Baleba(in that position) are going to cut it longer term... I do like the double threat going forward on the flanks, could do with a fit and functional Ferguson as backup to DW and JP..... midfield, looked ok but a more robust midfield in opposition will test our shape more, particularly in transition from attack back to defence.
 
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thedonkeycentrehalf

Moved back to wear the gloves (again)
Jul 7, 2003
9,179
Why do people come on here and just post complete bullshit?

La Liga actually starts on Thursday, a day before the Premier League.

:shrug:
Let’s say they are misinformed to be more polite.

However, there is this thing called Google, available on the same device they will have posted on, which would allow them to check their ‘facts’ before posting 🙄
 




el punal

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2012
12,349
The dull part of the south coast
How old is your grandson @el punal?

If he's 18, that's a little different than if he's 6.
He’s 16 and his first Albion game was ten years ago when he was . . . 6! Like many of us he’s looking forward to the Everton game next week to see how the success of the pre-season programme can be replicated in the League. Match tickets and train tickets at the ready - Merseyside here we come! :albion2:
 


Farehamseagull

Solly March Fan Club
Nov 22, 2007
14,849
Sarisbury Green, Southampton
Around 18:40, Mitoma showed profound world class. Again.

Just a little thing, but he was running towards the far line, the ball was passed to him high and it fell over his shoulder from behind him. Not only did he instantly control it, but he spun as he did it. I don’t think any other player in our squad could do that. Beautiful.
That was crazy skill! The reaction to it around us was brilliant. He’s still not at 100% as he showed with the one on one chance in the second half when he took a heavy last touch which gave him a bad angle to then shoot from, but when he is 100% again, good luck to all other PL defences!

Minteh, Joao Pedro and Mitoma playing together week in, week out in our attack is a mouth watering prospect!

I really enjoyed yesterday, it felt really refreshing and positive after the drudgery of the last few months of the previous season. After the first 10 minutes we comfortably outplayed a decent Villareal side. Our press was superb all game and Wieffer looks like an excellent signing, our centre midfield will not be bullied this season like it was so often last season. Minteh also a superb piece of business. Barco was excellent and I really enjoyed Sarmiento’s perfornce too - so much confidence and desire.

Only two negatives for me really - Veltman who was better in the second half but really struggled in the first, we do need a new right back in this system. The difference with Barco on the left was huge.

And the second was Dunk who looked rusty, understandably as it’s his first game back but is he ready for next week? I don’t know if it’s the new shirt but he also looked massive like he’d been lifting heavy weights in the gym when not playing for England this summer?! Looked heavy. Hopefully they have a behind closed doors game for him and Joao Pedro this week.
 








Flounce

Well-known member
Nov 15, 2006
3,721
Important to remember it’s our last pre season game and one of their first. La Liga starts later than the Premier League so you’d expect us to be sharper
I think they have played more pre season games than us!


Some guy called Pascal Gross made his debut against them :smile:

 


Couldn't Be Hyypia

We've come a long long way together
NSC Patron
Nov 12, 2006
16,472
Near Dorchester, Dorset
He’s 16 and his first Albion game was ten years ago when he was . . . 6! Like many of us he’s looking forward to the Everton game next week to see how the success of the pre-season programme can be replicated in the League. Match tickets and train tickets at the ready - Merseyside here we come! :albion2:
You lucky chap. I'd love it if my son still came to Albion games.
 


chaileyjem

#BarberIn
NSC Patron
Jun 27, 2012
14,565
You don’t learn much from the four easy games we have had in our pre season. I would rather have seen them pitted against at least one better side , to see what they are really made of
Agreed - pre season is what it is. Don’t invest too much in it. But Villarreal are a top ten La Liga side who played in Europe last season . Struggling to now be in an Albion world where they aren’t at worst an equivalent or perhaps a better side.
 




PILTDOWN MAN

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 15, 2004
19,360
Hurst Green
Important to remember it’s our last pre season game and one of their first. La Liga starts later than the Premier League so you’d expect us to be sharper
Tosh
 


Machiavelli

Well-known member
Oct 11, 2013
17,520
Fiveways
Low block will be the true test of Albion this season. Can we move quickly enough and decisively enough to create opportunities? Or will we be passing the ball backwards and forwards ad infinitum in front of a back 10 waiting for them to inevitably score on the break?
You're right of course about the low block. What was very much in evidence against Villareal (less so against QPR) was that the one-touch interchanges in the final third looked very encouraging.
 


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