McCallum has made a few poor errors today. Should be ok in the Championship, certainly a good back up
Omobamidele looked good. A midfield of McLean, Cantwell and Sinani was quite exposed at times - not enough defensive capability with those 3 - although we may be able to get away with it in games where we will dominate the ball.
McCallum has looked like a weak link every time I've seen him play in pre-season. Poor in possession, poor positioning, and questionable decision making. Cantwell the only regular creative influence, perhaps somewhat shackled by the midfield setup we were forced to employ today. Couple of flashes of quality from Sinani, but it needed to be one or the other playing, not both. McLean, Aarons turned in performances of their regular quality. Sargent, I'm still not getting. Seems a passenger most of the time.
To me, that match was a non event. There was nothing to get happy or despondent about. One very offside goal and one major mistake from a young defender, but otherwise they created very little against us. Fair enough neither did we.
Atm my starting lineup would be: Krul Aarons Omobamidele Hanley (Sorenson) Giannoulis Mclean Sinani Cantwell Rashica Idah Hugill Unless we get another CM (or two, really) we are woefully short in that area. Im still not convinced by Sorensen there. Ideally, id have Hayden there. I also feel we have looked much more dangerous getting balls in the box for Hugill as we have no-one seemingly capable of spotting Pukki's runs. If we aren't going to play to his strengths, he is literally as useful as Sargent... i.e. just running the ball down. That's not having a go at Pukki btw, just feel we aren't helping him. Idah and Hugill's physicallity is well suited to Championship play.
I could just about see the point of playing Sargent in the PL because we were often on the back foot and his nuisance value could break up the play of the opponents. But when we play in the Championship, and we probably need to dominate games rather than be reactive, I really cannot see what he will bring to the team.
I was very unconvinced by the 4-3-3 formation with Cantwell in midfield where his creative skills were largely wasted. IMO a 4-2-3-1 would be more effective: Krul/Gunn Aarons Hanley Gibson/Omo' Giannoulis Hayden Sara/McLean Sinani Cantwell Rashica Pukki Cantwell here is an attacking playmaker coordinating the other attacking players and carrying a threat himself. Again today he was back to his old self with strong commitment on both sides of the ball. I'd like to see more of Sinani at WR as I think he carries a greater goal threat and also defends well. Much will depend on the impact of Sara and Hayden in midfield, so we still have that to see.
It was an adequate performance against a side which was probably much better than anything we are going to face in the Championship. It reminded me of many of our games last season against mid-table PL teams (which is where I believe Celtic roughly stand) - lots of huffing and puffing, no lack of effort, but a lack of creativity and a midfield that is easy to play through. I have to admit that it wasn't hoofball, however.
Second-half v Cambridge on Tuesday night we dominated the game and Sargent "brought" three goals. To quote the match report on the club web site: "Sargent’s cross from the right wing made it all the way to Hernandez on the left, who cut inside and picked out Gibbs. He side footed it past Mitov for his first goal with the City senior team.................Seven minutes later, Hugill notched another pre-season goal when Sargent capitalised on Cambridge giving the ball away.................Hugill then got his brace after Sargent won the ball in a deep position, allowing Cantwell to play a lovely pass forward to Rashica. He set up Hugill, who turned inside and laced the ball home for 3-1." I think DS described Sargent's performance that night as "terrific".
A lot of that was Sargent "Winning the ball back" early in the move. No one could argue that you need players who do that to set up counter attacks, but Sargent is not in the side to do that. Yes, he is a huff and puff player and we wanted someone who would track back, but he is creatively inept (at the moment). The fact that the first quote says " Sargent’s cross from the right wing made it all the way to Hernandez on the left" tells you everything. His cross was aimed at Hugill, but was crap. Hernandez picked up the pieces. I hope he comes good, but for me, atm, Sargent should be nothing more than a desperate punt if everyone is injured
IMO, if you stop looking at Sargent as a striker and see him as an attacking midfielder, his role is clearer. He has the ability to steal the ball or force mistakes and create attacks. Like Rashica, he can also play as a second striker in a 4-4-2 but doesn't suit the lone striker role. Hugill and Idah do that better. Rowdy is right about the cross that 'made its way' to Onel, but many of his passes were effective, particularly in and around the box. Had Cantwell been further forward in a number 10 role, the movement and interplay could have been more effective. The reality yesterday was that we were playing with a makeshift formation to hold back enough players for today's game. With PLM now gone, we're desperately short in midfield until Hayden and Sara are available. The loss of Hanley also meant that Sørensen had to be drafted into defence, which will leave us even shorter in midfield today.
We played OK yesterday The game changed after the ridiculous off side goal . Pukki is a shadow of his former self reluctant to shoot and often runs into a dead end . Sargent isn't a winger . For me Hugill should have started he's been our greatest attacking threat . Idah is running out of time to prove he's potentially a 10'-20 goals a season striker. We have a week to go and already have a centre back crisis and no new recruits even though we conceded the most last season and the same striker options that scored the least in all 4 English divisions. It was pretty clear we needed a new centre back , new defensive midfielder and new striker option. Whilst attempting to fill the giant hole left by Buendia with Sinani. We will probably have enough quality to compete at Championship level but yet another season heavily reliant on Pukki to stay fit and get the goals is a bit foolhardy .
And the reality is, if Hayden is to become our "kingpin" in the middle, he isnt likely to be at 90mins fit until middle to late Sept, having missed pre season. Hopefully, as DS said, we will get another CM in. Just hope it's someone who can challenge for a place, rather than "fill a hole".
