Villareal played with the fervor of a full bore league game, conversely we were still on the training pitch and backed off from the inevitable contact necessary to compete in this game.
My observation was that with the right personnel 4-4-2 could work but not with the yesterdays make up. I know injuries forced our hand but Siggy, was totally wasted on the flank and Montero looked clipped.
Ki and Shelvey didn't compliment each other at all imo. Both looked confused as to what the other was doing neither asserting themselves in front of our defense. They played between CM and DM neither taking responsibility for either role. This gave Villareal enough room and time for a picnic in midfield. Between them I'd expected a flow to their play with some forward motion, some positivity to their play but this didn't happen. Both looked out of sorts walking in each others foot stepts and neither going anywhere, back or forward. Just goes to show how good a player Leon is. This is an issue that can be fixed with Ki and Shelvey playing together more and with Leons imminent return but yesterday, as a pairing they offered nothing at all.
What can't be fixed though is our fragile defense. While Bony and Gomis look to be an exciting pairing, any advantage they afford us this season will be thrown away unless we sign a bona-fide, defense only CB, and RIGHT NOW!
Bartley and Amat remain good prospects but its unfair on them to think they are the answer to our defensive frailties. We desperately need a ready-to-go CB as our combined incumbents are not tight enough as a unit to be able to absorb, cover and teach a young defender effectively.
There were few positives yesterday, other than it was a friendly so in reality cost us nothing more than a slap to our pride, a wake up call at best. Britton, Dyer and Routledge are a week closer to full fitness, Bony and Bafe look capable of creating chances, and Fabianki looked good, phew! But, a major negative was the Ki- Shelvey pairing which imo, was the catalyst to our poor performance.
I commend your support of Monk, but we were dogsh** from 1 - 11 yesterday.

Complaining about things that are suppose to happen in friendlies and that is trial and error to see what works and what dont...do you think we should of abandoned our pre season and should have beaten Villarreal 3-0 because if you do then you have no concept of what pre season is all about....we experimented playing two up front that some fans were calling for so monk tried it in the only game left and it did not work.....So what! chelsea lost 3-0 experimenting so expect them to be relegated with us this season..