o Nien CANNOT play there he will make mistakes, we need a proper defender in there like Johnny evans. Griggs miss though how long will this go on and Stewarts, we need Wyke's replacement in fast.
I said that too but it was more to do with doing whatever it took to keep him on than a sign of the future imo. Think one of our ITK's said he signed a new contract on the basis that he'd be playing CM.
Taking into account the opposition and yes things will be a lot harder I have no qualms about this bunch more than holding their own in the league. No McGeady, Gucchi and a couple of others out, a few still to come in and players needing time to gel into a unit. The style of football LJ is trying to instil will more than get the fans rocking again in the Sol. Doyle is going to be a superstar. Him n Younger could be a decent CB pairing. The others all looked good. We have pace and we press and harass teams.
Its just what we wanted to see a few of our academy in action and im very impressed with the Progress they have made, no one looked out of place, and the energy level and speed is good ,
think that was just to keep him on and get him minutes, never really looked 'at it' today but good to see him get time on the pitch. overall, a very good work out i think, lads looked sharp and following on from what @Smug posted earlier o'brien looked a very useful player when he dropped deeper...cant really fault any, the young lads that came in (no good with the names like) on the right looked a decent size as well, easily able to hold their own. only real downside if being picky, strikers failed to score again but with stewart you get the feeling once one goes in he will be off, grigg missing the target with the header will not make him a fans fave, benji is a lively little bugger like, as danny said, would like to see him on with stewart.
Convincing win albeit against a poor side. Really impressed with Neil and Embleton, a few other decent performances dotted about today too. Now to add more quality, hopefully we see this as the breakthrough week and get three or four in!
Central defence is about partnerships this would have been an opportunity to see how Almond is shaping up and if he and Younger could move up a notch together, but I think LJ is already bookmarking the defence to be built around Flanners, with Doyle being so good he might just get away with it, but if we loose Doyle we will be in big trouble imo.
player ratings by the chronical https://www.not606.com/threads/harr...ly-2021-ko-15-00.394335/page-11#post-15052817
'll start passing judgment and will start getting annoyed/ecstatic once a ball is kicked in anger against Wigan Just cannot get hyped up either way with pre season friendlies One thing I do observe is that from what Ive seen so far , more physically is needed But Im not hyped up or owt....................
The running off the ball has obviously been coached into the players and there was a real team style in the first half. The players seem to be following LJ's instructions and enjoying it ... ... just the start of the beginning but significantly better than anything I've seen under the previous few managers.
think we were all a bit sick of the past 3 seasons of 'pass to the side, side again then back...hooof and lose the ball' type of play...so far in pre-season we have seen a definite change to forward passing and movement, yes there is some passing backwards but first half this was complimented by playing out from the back again, second half and i think burges first three kicks went to their keeper, although he did venture off his line a few times to collect a cross/forward ball which was good to see.
