Nantes v Villa

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We won 0-1. Not a great performance. Nantes are a decent well-organised Ligue 1 outfit, and the small pitch favoured them. Think we may have trouble with small pitches this season.

The defence was pretty well OK, with no sign of Lescott, Guzan or Richards and no sign of their habit of giving goals away; Gollini in goal and then Hutton, Elphick, Baker and Cissokho (Bennett late on); both Hutton and Cissokho were lively down the wings. Midfield for first half was Veretout, Gana, Westwood and Bacuna; Bacuna surprisingly had a decent match, the others were pretty tame and Gana gave away passes which weren't there a lot. Up front Ayew was his usual energetic self, Gestede slow as usual. Various changes during the second half. It was a good goal, Grealish corner to beyond the far post, Baker downward header and Gestede finished it.

Amazed to see so many of the same faces, in the same places, playing the exact same way that took you down!

Hutton? He tries. But he is pront to too many mistakes. Squad player.

Bacuna? Like the British summer. Shows up now and then. Disappoints mostly. A trouble maker.

And so it goes on.

Ayew? A trier. But out on his own he needs some real support.

Gestede? A plan B player.

I cant see Villa doing much better than mid-table with that squad.

You need someone GOOD up front. And you need some leaders and real muscle on the pitch too.

Still a while to go before the window shuts.

We've been playing better in the previous friendlies. Defence wise this is a distinct improvement on last season. Gollini looked pretty good, none of Guzan's desperate charges and flapping for the ball; when Gollini came out he got the ball. Impressed with him. And the mistakes Richards and Lescott made last season were absent; Elphick and Baker aren't outstanding players but they are sound enough. This defence will concede far fewer stupid goals.

It was in the middle where the ghosts of last season appeared. It should be the engine room
of the team and it stutters. Veretout is going and was only played because he's ex Nantes. Gana can get the ball but his passes forward are poor, and he and Westwood are a poor match. I was surprised to see Bacuna, but thought he played better and looked fitter than for a long time.

You're right about up front. Everybody knows it, including the manager and the owner. Gestede is too slow; Bacuna hit a lovely cross and he couldn't get on it. Ayew would be fine if he was alongside a proper striker but he can't do it on his own.

All three current signings are good. Tshibola is much better than those who started. Ideally we need another signing to partner him. A good striker and good midfielder would make all the difference. No doubt RDM is working on it.

The best news was Richards, Lescott, Guzan and Gabby nowhere in sight.

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You've forgotten N'zogbia, man of the match in Sunderland's latest friendly, and possibly looking at a contract with them

Xia has said he expects 3 or 4 players to go this week. Whether they're the ones we really want out remains to be seen