Pre-season friendly thread

[Throbber3]

Basically stuffed them 1 1 . Far more positives than negatives about this way of playing.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Maybe Cutrone likes working with Lage and might feel reinvigorated?

 

[Kenny]

Basically stuffed them 1 1 . Far more positives than negatives about this way of playing.

The negs are hangovers from last season (defending set plays and not having the legs to cover the space between defence and mid, although we do seem to plug that a bit when Donck comes on). We only sort out those issues in the transfer market for me

 

[AndyWolves]

I think there is a role for Cutrone in this squad if he wants it.

Did I imagine that someone said Trincao could play down the middle? If so, I don't think he could

 

[YoungWolf]

Maybe Cutrone likes working with Lage and might feel reinvigorated?

Gone by Monday then I reckon

 

[Kenny]

Maybe Cutrone likes working with Lage and might feel reinvigorated?

or busting a gut to get his move and impress people watching. Either way, its good to see.
So easy for a player who wants out or told they can leave to stroll through these games and give zero shit (looking at you Joe Mason)

 

[Dire Wolf]

Thought for the most part we looked like we were a team very comfortable in possession, quite quick at regaining the ball when we lose it and potential for quick strike attacks. Quite positive, albeit against a Championship side. MGW looks a different player, very encouraging if he can maintain this.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Easily the best we've played in pre-season.

Pressed very high, I think there were five times we robbed Stoke of possession inside their own back third, should have made better of those opportunities. Passed the ball much better than we did in Spain, maybe the pitch was at fault in those ones as we were horrible in possession, very smooth and controlled today.

Raul was excellent throughout, a very good 45 minutes from MGW (is this finally his time?) and Adama was a cut above in his time on the pitch. Semedo quietly impressive too.

On the negative side, we still don't create enough clear cut chances and our set piece defending remains a serious weakness, even allowing for Boly not being in the team. Central midfield still doesn't look right to me. Marçal is decent enough but not really a wing back and does weird things sometimes. Coady looked rusty (to be expected I suppose). Trincao needs to toughen up a bit, you can't just keep falling over, he looks too like he's someone who's going to drift in and out of games.

Happy enough with the performance, we should have won. Still plenty to do though.

 

[Kenny]

Happy enough with the performance, we should have won. Still plenty to do though.

Would say 2 weeks before our season, we are in a good place. Just hope our transfer targets start arriving in the coming week.

 

[The Bear]

Club tweeted about the tickets a few days back saying they were still waiting on the Government guidelines for the game. Presume the tickets will contain the info so can't release them. Probably get the info late Friday night or have to guess it as they get nothing.

Btw, I got my PAH ticket through around lunchtime. BW Upper. Right behind the directors box. Should get some good pics of the back of Jeff's head.

 

[The Bear]

Incidentally, here are the T&Cs on the ticket. No masks once in your seat thankfully.

 

[Kenny]

Going in the posh seats! Throw some £20 notes at the paupers around you

 

[Kenny]

"Expect and recommend"
Why do our Government use such bollocks. Just say you have to wear them. Some won't, stewards will approach them and get told to fook off as nothing says they have to

 

[big mean bunny]

My worry is goals, if you are finding goals hard to come by now then I can't see that getting easy against Leicester, Spurs, Utd. Otherwise very pleased with what I saw, similar to a lot of others.

I am very unsure on what I think of Sa though currently. It's very early but I am not seeing anything to suggest he is an upgrade as a keeper, other than his distribution with his feet doesn't look like the first time he is kicking a ball, like Rui seemed to have.

 

[Deano]

My worry is goals, if you are finding goals hard to come by now then I can't see that getting easy against Leicester, Spurs, Utd. Otherwise very pleased with what I saw, similar to a lot of others.

I am very unsure on what I think of Sa though currently. It's very early but I am not seeing anything to suggest he is an upgrade as a keeper, other than his distribution with his feet doesn't look like the first time he is kicking a ball, like Rui seemed to have.

He didn't have anything to do today to judge him on anything other than kicking.

 

[Throbber3]

My worry is goals, if you are finding goals hard to come by now then I can't see that getting easy against Leicester, Spurs, Utd. Otherwise very pleased with what I saw, similar to a lot of others.

I am very unsure on what I think of Sa though currently. It's very early but I am not seeing anything to suggest he is an upgrade as a keeper, other than his distribution with his feet doesn't look like the first time he is kicking a ball, like Rui seemed to have.

I thought he has looked very smart off his line and a willingness to do a sweeper keeper job if needed. Early days but to me he looks decent business or, dare I say it , cheap.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

He didn't have anything to do today to judge him on anything other than kicking.

I wasn't mad keen on his efforts on the goal. Ok, it's bouncing around and others had the chance to clear it, but he didn't take any command of the situation. Also a bit of a Hennessey effort off a set piece a few minutes later, half came for it, backpedalled onto the line and would have got nowhere near the header if it had been on target.

I was expecting him to be a downgrade though.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

My worry is goals, if you are finding goals hard to come by now then I can't see that getting easy against Leicester, Spurs, Utd. Otherwise very pleased with what I saw, similar to a lot of others.

I am very unsure on what I think of Sa though currently. It's very early but I am not seeing anything to suggest he is an upgrade as a keeper, other than his distribution with his feet doesn't look like the first time he is kicking a ball, like Rui seemed to have.

Were you expecting an upgrade in Sa? I think most would be very happy with him being broadly similar in effectiveness (clearly not a line for line) given the fees and wages involved.

 

[Lycan]

He didn't have anything to do today to judge him on anything other than kicking.

Apart from the fact that he patted the ball out for their goal?

 

[Kenny]

Sa is as quick as Rui coming off his line. As we saw in the game last week in Spain
His position when we push up is something Rui would never do.
Hasn't really been tested though in terms of saves. Corners in haven't been ones he can come for, nor would I want him too to be honest. Jumping over 4 players doesn't help anyone.
Can see there is an issue with our defence doing things they would do with Rui there. One example was a low cross 12 yards out that Sa came for but Coady cleared. Thankfully Sa saw and stopped or they clatter into each other.