I understand it's a pre season game and we played a team in a higher league that's us, but these are my thoughts. The Keeper made a lot of mistakes which will cost us points. I know he's young and I suspect he will improve. The central pairing defended well but the distribution from Lyndsey was poor. I think the full backs worried me tbh, nothing going forward and distribution poor from Cavare and he was poor going forward. Out wide I thought Thiam was more dangerous than Isgrove which was a real surprise in all honesty because Thiam isn't a natural winger. Moore looked a real danger with a great goal, I thought Bradshaw worked hard but fluffed a chance on the break in the second half. I think mowatt looked tidy but nothing too dangerous going forward and Potts loves to run with The ball. Over all the high press worked well for the majority of the time and we did keep our shape well. We made too many mistakes with our distribution witch gave them a few chances. We won,t face that level of quality week in week out. I think we need, a new keeper, a striker and some real trickery out wide. If I could have a fourth player I would love a Scowen type player to add some Steele.
Fairly similar to how I saw it. Except thought Lindsey pinged some great balls out from defense. Only other thing is I would make a Scowen type CM (or Morsy) the priority. Then Winger, Striker, Keeper in that order.
What was the line up late on, I struggled to work it out when all our subs were on but by then it sounded like the competitive edge had gone. What impact if any, did Adeboyejo have ?. Im interested because I think we might have to chat a bit with Bradshaw this week about whether he really does want to be here for the season.
Looked a bit like 4-3-3 to me. With McGeehan, Bird and Moncur midfield - Adebedajo and Bradshaw wide and Moore in centre. Victor looked tidy enough. Not really threatening but was up against some decent defenders. Bradshaw has potential to be brilliant at side of Moore. That was close to being premiership quality team we were up against.
I think we did well against a very strong team. I came away feeling we can do OK, I agree a few signings are needed though.
Yes Ive admitted that in another thread, the Baggies were a Premship team last season and Daz Moore picked a strong team for them. That 3 up front thing does worry me though, it makes me think hes reading Morais's scrapbook when strikers get stuck in that attacking wide role.
It will have been a good game for Stendel to pinpoint where we maybe lack some quality, previous games against non league sides make it hard to judge, and are more fitness related. These tougher tests are better for gelling to the pressing game. Distribution and passing needs to improve, one of the things that cost us last season. Looking forward to the Oxford game!
Some of the one touch passing was quite nice in the opposition half but we looked soft in the centre of the park and defensively we caused ourselves more problems than them.... It was a decent performance though and obviously it's just a friendly but there were more positives than negatives. Keeping the same squad mainly means we should be able to hit the ground running in August if the players take on board what Stendel is trying to do.
Obviously this is subjective but I don’t think Thiam offers much and I think that we need to develop a system that doesn’t rely on 2 wingers. This in turn would accommodate Potts, Moncur and a deeper lying midfielder with Izzy or Hedges out wide. Agree that the fullbacks are a concern - I think McCarthy is a better proposition than Cavare.
