Watched this game last night with all 4 of our players getting a game. YT was sensational and controlled midfield. Timmy Chestnuts was solid as a RIGHT wing back. Dennis Praet came on as a sub on 56 mins and pulled out of a challenge on Kasper - who was faultless for the 2 goals he conceded. I get so bored watching Englands slow build up play so it was enjoyable watching Belgium and Denmark having a go at each other last night. Especially after watching the friendly against Blackburn which was appalling as far as entertainment went.
Just to clarify in case anyone gets over excited, it's only the matches in September that have been confirmed as being televised. I personally can't see how any fans are going to be permitted by the scheduled October date, especially given the additional restrictions reintroduced tonight and the considerable increase in cases. Although 2 EPL League Trophy matches did have supporters attending tonight. Hopefully the tv coverage will be extended.
The proposal for fans to attend matches is under review https://www.bbc.com/sport/amp/54094363?__twitter_impression=true
Great result in the type game where we struggled last season or since Christmas anyway. Castagne looks great. Although Ricardo, JJ and Castagne are all able to play both sides, it is a shame Castagne isn’t naturally left footed as imagine him and Ricardo on either side on their natural foot! Ndidi looked at home as well with Mendy tidy in his place and apart from Perez who was not really visible, everyone looked good.
Tentative start but dominated after that, decent performance considering some square pegs in round holes and missing key players. Great to get off to a winning start, hopefully reinstalling confidence and kept a clean sheet. Timmy looked solid on his debut, fitted in well. Joint top
Great to see us back in marauding mode ... fine debut from Castagne, clinical from Vards, rapid from Harvey (still needs to relax when he gets in on goal - but what potential) Wilf and Cags looked great at the centre of defence but special mentions needed for Dennis Praet and Papy Mendy who barely put a foot wrong in defensive midfield ...
Not complaining, but what has Praet got to do to get 90 mins. Controlled the game after the first 30 minutes and fully deserved the 3 points. No keeper would have got either pens and a great header from Lasagne Need the same again against Burnley before the free hit against Man City.
Agree ... should have been Youri to give way ... but it was a very professional performance all round.
Agree with all of the above. Ndidi looked a bit nervous to start with and gave Kasper his hardest work of the afternoon. Once Barnes gets a couple of goals his confidence will go sky high and he will start banging them in. He cant always hit them straight at the keeper. Have to say I do like the new away kit, wasn't sure at first but thought it looked great.
It's probably fortunate we were playing WBA as the first game. The way we started we could have been well behind against a better team. But after the first 30 minutes players were looking more comfortable in their new positions and we started looking sharp with our short interplay. Agree that Praet deserved the full 90 minutes. Only disappointments for me were Perez and Barnes. Both were anonymous for large spells of the game. Barnes is frustrating because he has a real turn of speed but his lack of composure is woeful. We keep thinking that a goal will transform him, but he's done that in the past and still hasn't improved long term. It's time for him to deliver. A special mention for James Justin from me. Not easy switching from the right side to the left. Everything comes at you from the opposite direction you're used to, and having to tackle and distribute effectively with your weaker foot isn't ideal. He'd started to look reasonable on the right at the end of last season but had some real problems early on on the left. But he stuck at it, and I just love his heart and determination to not concede. He will come up against better opposition, so he could still be the player that they will target, especially as Barnes doesn't provide him with much cover.
Think you are being a bit harsh on Barnes ... he had two chances in the first half which he hit with plenty of power and on target ... admittedly the first would have been better hit to a corner with less power ... but in the second half he had the West Brom defence in constant panic and our atracks were predominantly flowing dowm the left .. his run beyond the last defender forced Bartley into dragging Vardy back ... he certainly wasn't anonymous.
All I’d say re Barnes is that he seemed to have built a streak of momentum up before the season stopped, a good goal at Burnley I recall and the double against Villa. Quite likely the sudden break halted him. Obviously that doesn’t take away from the fact everyone can see where he needs to improve but that is on the coaching team as well.
Just watched MOTD2 ... Jermaine Jenas singles out Harvey Barnes performance and they do a cameo ... not sure what Bucks was watching but Barnes had a part in just about all our key moments
A right winger is a must for me. I know we are linked with multiple targets, and there's probably some truth in some of them, but Perez looks like a fish out of water out wide. He looks more effective behind the striker but you get the feeling he's picked to justify paying £30m for him. Do we know why Gray wasn't in the squad? Is he injured or being lined up for a move?
