Clasie Mcqueen and gallagher on. no idea what the formation is now and by the look of that goal, neither did mcqueen
Leaving a player unmarked on the penalty spot isn’t a good idea, despite McCarthy saving his shot. Only a Derby player looking for rebounds though.
The only pre-season matches that I will remotely care about will be Celta Vigo and Borussia Monchengladbach...
I couldn't be persuaded to even attend our home friendlies for free. I went to the friendly against Espanyol back in the day, purely to welcome in the new stadium. But I've never been to a friendly since. It's not just the outcome of a friendly that I couldn't care about, it's also attending them (although no doubt the former is one reason for the latter).
I don't mind taking in the odd home one just before the season when you're likely to see the strongest line up but would never go out of my way to go. Never done an away friendly either but would if the ground tempted me, was gutted to not get to Brentford last year for example. Also wouldn't bother watching one unless I'm there, tbh without this place I wouldn't have a clue what has gone on in pre season.
I seem to remember us winning most of our Pre Season games last year, and that turned out well. Either way the results don't really matter.
I like Lampard so this doesn't bother me. What would you do if you were Hughes? Play your strongest team and go hard for a win when you know everyone is not yet match fit or do you give everyone some game time to get match fit and tell them to pace themselves and not get any stupid injuries?
Not a good performance. First two goals due to the centre backs going to ground and the third due to the whole defence going missing. No clear cut chances created from open play, iirc, and just one from a free kick. I suppose this ranks up there with our performance at West Ham, Hughes first game, for ineptitude. Worrying that we had to change our formation to try and contain them first half only for us not being able to contain them second half. All credit to Derby. Very cool on the ball, very athletic which left us chasing shadows, good inter passing and good movement going forward. Thoroughly deserved 3-0 win.
Starved of possession really. we couldn't get control of the midfield at all and we were stubbornly trying to play through them. probably had our best chance in the first half when he got on the end of a ward prowse cross but it was blocked and nothing came of it.
Don't remember really seeing him given the ball in the right areas all too much. What I did notice from his limited involvement was that he spreads the ball wide to his wing-back faster than Redmond does.
