Missed the first 15 minutes or so but from what I've seen, a comfortable half for us without creating too many chances. Hearts are probably at a bottom half championship team, ala Cardiff and Millwall, which will give us a better indicator than the first game against Monaco. Hjede having a much better game than the Monaco one, Sini has been quiet. Looking a much better outfit than anytime since Bielsa, well done Farke.
We are playing the equivalent of a L1 club but deserve to be in front yes. James and Summerville both pants and Sinisterra through the middle not working yet. Rutter was ok but unlucky. Ampadu in control. We need urgency and some crisp accurate passing. Lose the ball as easy next week and trouble
1st half was pretty dominant from us. Back 4 look pretty composed and both Ayling and Hjelde have looked good supporting our attack. The middle of Ampadu and Gray look good. Played well as a partnership. Gray looking to get forward a little more with Ampadu just sitting deep. I'm not too sure about Gray taking corners though. The wingers (or attacking midfielders) of James on the left and Sinisterra at 10 and Summerville roaming that inverted right role look decent but all three have been guilty of giving it away cheaply. James has played like an orthodox wide left winger and I think has looked dangerous. His one error was letting the ball go under his foot when he would have been clear on goal Sinisterra at 10 has looked ordinary. He doesn't have the passing range. He looks much better when he drifts out left to support James. Wasteful in possession at times. Summerville gets his assist and has been fouled a couple of times as he threatens to break through. Other than that, he too has lost it cheaply. Rutter off injured but I thought he looked a handful and was starting to grow in to the game. Shame he went off. Bamford has looked really sharp when he has come on. Great movement and some nice touches.
Hearts have been terrible. We've controlled the game well and could be further in front. We've been a bit sloppy in the final third.
All good so far and please remember guys that it's just a friendly so bound to lack intensity at times.
Afternoon all. I only caught the 2nd half, which became disjointed with all the changes, but we look much better. I thought James looked better than Gnonto on the left. He was much more direct, Gnonto seems to want to face up the defender which allows the others to get back. I thought Gray was good. I think he could be a starter for us. Poveda looked lively again when he came on. He seems like he wants to show all his tricks when he gets the ball but if he could just calm it down we will have a player in there. Ampadu was again impressive. We do look better at the back but I think that could be Cooper. I don't think we've conceded in pre season when he's been on the pitch (I could be wrong). I'm much more positive for next week and delighted if we can perform with the squad we have, Bielsaesque
Emus first player ratings of the season. Nothing too serious. Its just a friendly. Meslier - 5. Hope he leaves. Had one save to make and he pushed it back in to the danger area. Also had two shocking passes out to wide areas which put us under pressure. Still a mistake waiting to happen. Ship him out. Ayling - 6. Really good game, scored the goal (given as an og but harsh). Worked hard on the wing and got forward well. The one black mark was a strange cross field volley to nobody in particular that gave Hearts their only real chance. It's **** like that which costs you points. Hope Dramah gets fit and plays. Struijk - 6. Did OK. We had possession alot and he just had to pass it around. He still worries me defensively. He gets out of position and doesn't commit the foul to stop the game. Squad player at best. Cooper - 7. Led the back line well to be fair to him. Solid enough. Hjelde - 7. Got forward fairly well and defends as simple as possible. Certainly didn't let anyone down. Ampadu - 7. Fairly quiet on the ball but his positioning off the ball really stopped anything Hearts did. Vocal too. Gray - 8. Surely has to start next week. Got stuck in, covered the ground well, very economical with the ball and maybe was our most creative midfielder. Not sure on his corners though. A couple of shockers in there. James - 6. Pace always provided an outlet. Let one under his foot that put him through on goal and sliced one wide with his wrong foot. Great finish was disallowed for Bamfords needless encroachment on the keeper. Will be a handful in the Championship. Sinisterra - 7. Played more centrally in a free role. Drifts in and out of the game but he always looked more dangerous when he drifted out wide in to his natural position. Sloppy at times. Summerville - 6. Fouled a few times when he got away. Picked up the ball in good positions and provided the pass for Aylings goal. Too often, certainly 1st half, he was sloppy in the final third. Rutter - 6. Unlucky. Thought he was just getting ahead in his duel with the centre backs when he suffered a rib injury. Played a couple of lovely weighted passes including the one James ****ed up. Could he be the playmaker we need? Subs. Bamford - 6. Came on early for the injured Rutter. Looked really sharp first half and hit the outside of the post after a great first touch. Really good. 2nd half was very very quiet and disinterested until he sprinted after a ball, got kicked in the face and (maybe) pulled his hamstring. Poveda - 7. Thought he played well as the playmaker in a central area. He dropped deep and pinged a few passes but also popped up on the wing at times. Hearts had to resort to wrestling him to keep him quiet. Once he was shifted to the right wing to accommodate Gelhardt in the middle his influence wained hugely. Gnonto - 7. Leg heavily strapped. Got 20 minutes and looked very lively. Some great touches and passes but he kind of lacked a bit of energy to me. Either he's carrying a knock or he wants out. Gelhardt - 5. I saw him come on at 10. That's the only time I saw him. Shackleton - 5. I saw him come on at RB. That's the only time I saw him. Byram - 6. Steady away at left back. Did a couple of decent interceptions and overhit a pass. That was it. Sign him as a squad filler. Cresswell - n/a. Only got 10 minutes. Joseph - n/a. Only got 10 minutes. Ran around alot, missed a sitter and then had a fight with the net for a couple of minutes. Gyabi - n/a. Wasn't given the time to get involved.
We have no idea who starts at the back until next week. Hjelde and Byram have both been ok, Cooper will probably start with Cresswell, but who starts at RB. Ampadu is first name on the sheet but Gray has done well. the wingers is a joke problem because today we saw a wasteful Dan James, a greedy Summerville, Gnonto who wasn’t at it and looks like a leaver and Sinisterra who isn’t a 10. Poveda is the only winger who looked at it again but probably as a 10. FARKE and the club need to get rid of a couple of wingers this coming week. we also need a striker because the biscuit up front broke again. He’s done
Agree with the majority of that mate but I think Struijk has been a positive this close season, I've liked his attitude, took up some great positions, where he's read it well, not perfect but good enough for this season imo
