Match Day Thread Pre-season discussion

Fair enough

 

Pre-season Game 2 at Wolfsburger

Conte goes 442.

Looks great tbh. Bertrand Trarore pairing with Costa in the attack.

Lot of good bits. Oscar replaces Mikel - which is great position for Oscar pairing Matic.
Giving fluidity & solidity for the team.

Moses & Oina good. Trarore got the goal with a nice little run.

 

Brilliant friendly tonight.

the young lads played really well, Aina in particular played very well. I think he might be ready to take the RB slot this year.

The formation really, really, really works. expansive in possesion, but the way we close the space down and win the ball as high as possible was great to see as well.

the play was fast, and attacking at all times. Switching from left to right QUICKLY seems to be the plan, with 1 touch blind passes to the wings and also into the middle a massive feature tonight.

And up front, with the two buzzing around, and the wide players squeezing in, we regularly had 3 in the box (with matic or oscar-who btw is going to be a centre mid from now on, making late runs too), we look more potent than ive seen in YEARS.

I was really happy to see what saw tonight, a note for anyone who didn't watch, RLC was deployed as a second striker, and he did quite well. He scored from a corner yes, but he dropped deep well, switched the play well, and put himsef about, this may be his year, as conte seems to like him.

very happy

 

"The formation really, really, really works. expansive in possession, but the way we close the space down and win the ball as high as possible was great to see as well."

The fitness of the players is totally dependent on this method,if I could put 1 reason as to how Leicester won the league last year this would be it. I don't think Mikel will last too long, but hey he has wooed over a lot of good coaches in the past. I know one person who will be glad if he doesn't. Happy day's. "Forza Azzure are on fire they are going to destroy you."

 

Only watched the first half (turned over to watch Liverpool v Huddersfield), you looked ok, no worse but no better than that.

 

Thanks for the positive review, you be careful not to watch too much of them scousers mind they are like a drug. Get to you and ruin everything you thought good about football. (get's tin hat and hides in basement).

 

Wasn't meant as anything, it's pre-season friendly's we are talking about with lots of kids playing for everyone. No judgements to be made right now

 

No worries mate just a bit of banter, it seems a lifetime since the season ended and after last year, just playing better will do for me, trophies will be an unexpected bonus, and a win at OT like xmas and birthday all in one.

 

No Ivan & Mikel (olympics) are great statement in preseason, but

Diego is benched by Conte due to arguments against Pool & Real.

Conte is already warning about repeat of last season. I am worried already.

I repeat - if someone gives top 6 today, I would happily take top 6 - given lot of Youth players get picked.

****ing hate these few days, please start the season already and prove me wrong.

 

**** me Stan you're such a pessimist, you won't get a repeat of last year with Conte, thats why his here!

 

So he will just bin the trouble makers and bring in who?

 

Oz - just like you - I wish (HOPE) I am proved wrong.

Not too concerned about Diego, but

Our Defense worries me - CBs nothing to say. Also Dave cannot play LB, he is suspect there.

 

I was more interested in our formation when we didn't have the ball against Madrid. I saw two upfront with one slightly deeper as traditional and then a big space to the midfield four sat five yards behind the halfway line. The transition from winning the ball to attack was very clunky. Deciding to pass to space of feet seemed to up to the individual and meant the front two didn't always know where to be. The 4 4 2 hasn't been picked up well by the full backs well with the exception of Dave. They got caught out when attacks broke down far to often. First half we played wide and many players seemed isolated. Second half was more compact and narrow and it helped. If we play narrow then the full backs are going to have to be the fittest guys on the planet. I have no idea if the remaining friendlies will iron all this out, but time seems short.

The worry was it all went to pot after the goal against. Madrid, a team with fewer pre-season games, move up and notch and we didn't, in fact some panicked others appeared to accept a defeat was coming. I saw some spirit but it was individual, the team didn't pull together. Pre-season yes, but same for RM.

 

Intelligent goal from Traore to put us 1-0 against Milan in Twin cities.
Aina throw in from right field to Matic half way across the pitch, Matic does brilliant feeding pass to Moses on the left side - Moses fires at goal - Traore 3 yards out to head in the rebound.

US bank feels like Bridge. Lots of Chelsea fans.

 

By far the best two teams in pre-season have been Real and PSG, even with second string and kids in they have looked way beyond the rest.

 

Any team without hand brake (Ronaldo) will be fluent & united - ask Portugal

But serioulsy PSG look class - Real a distant second may be.

 

That is the order I would have put them in

 

superb freekick from Milan gets them to 1-1.
tbh Matic ducked during that free kick.

Aina robs Niang and almost gives us lead again.

 

HT, bed time. See, I do sleep sometimes

 

GN Mate, my bed time is at FT - I am across the pond mind.