All about fitness and gelling so I dont think its been too bad. Opposition haven't been top class but its important the team learns to play to its strengths and we will suffer from this for a good few months. The blessing is the team looks on paper experienced enough and we know Warnock will bring a level a head with a 100% work rate in the mix so lets hope thats enough to get us through that period. Still think we will bring in a couple of quality signings and if we do we will right up there but lets see them in before the January transfer window
Lets hope that Austin is the spark in midfield, the guy who runs at them scaring the opposition to death and when we haven't got the ball he is the player who nothing gets through. We desperately need that flair player by the sound of things but I am happy with peltier
Fingers crossed mate. I was reading one of the reggae boys forum and they described him as just that. A few reckon he will thrive in the combative environment in the Championship.
Warnock wouldn't want to lose a game of tiddlywinks to his lad. Dont think those boys were instructed to have a run around, they would have been told there fighting for the shirts & not to get hurt but that's about it.
----------------------------Kenny---------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Peltier-------------Lees------------Pearce--------------White -------------------------------------------------------------- Varney/another----------Green----------Austin-------Rogers -------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------Bechio---------------McCormack------------ And with two (hopefully big signings) on there way, surely this starting line up, with the strength in depth of Norris, Drury, Brown etc, the squad looks a lot better than last season (apart from our wide players)
I know, I'll probably get shot down, and I know we have sold some of our best players, BUT, if we can get this team to gel, maybe, just maybe p..., pro...., nah, can't say it!!!!
Just back and we were outplayed by PNE for large periods. The midfield looked shi1te, Apart from Aidy we look like a team of donkeys. A big up to us fans though. 2/3 of croud was leeds and the Paddy Kenny song rang out all game. lol
We are expecting a lot of Austin then to turn the middle of the park around - Not what I wanted to hear but not a surprise I thought the midfield sounded very unbalanced. Someone else felt Brown was brilliant - guess we all see things differently.
Totally different view of it, chip van man (but I did and still remain completely sober). Paddy Kenny looked excellent at stopping shots and coming out for crosses, but lost his head at one point and was storming out of his penalty area and left us wide open when there was no need. Paddy Kisnorbo looked like he was just getting a runout - I gave him 10 minutes at rthe start of the game, but taken off after 30. An ok runout but he has lost pace and awareeness, and needs to be loaned to a League 2 team. Sam Byram came on for Paddy, straight into right back, wit hLees switching to centre back, and had a full hour. Looked excellent prospect, and his volley to make it 3-1 was so sweet. He's strong, fast when needs to be, links up well, and happy to go forward. Pearce looks a strong leaader but does a lot of pulling and tugging - some he will get away with, others he will be pulled up on. Lees was a bit non-descript really, but his goal was stunning. Header back fro Becchio to Lees central 12 yards out with a defender on his back, takes it on his chest, spins and volleys it in. Superb. Looks like he has added a little more strength to his game, and nice to see him get time at centre back once Paddy had gone off. White played at left back, but seemed out of sorts, not really knowing what he was doing. Then he picked up a stunning strike from the edge of the area, super goal after a shot across goal from (I think) Varney rebounded out to him. Brown in midfield was an engine, he was everywhere and cut everything out, experrienced brain on him, everything was done with composure, stamina is probably better than most. Excellent. Green, Varney and Norris showed some glimpses but clearly need a bit of time to gel togetehr with Brown or Austin, and then with defence and attack. Solid enough altogether, but it will take time. Of the three, Green looked the most out of sorts. Time will improve this, as will Austin, and then Peltier in defence will solidify things and allow White as another option in midfield. McCormack buzzed about with some nice flicks, while Becchio looks a little stronger, a little faster, and still keen to put his body on the line against big defenders. Drury came on at some point and looked ok, as did Pugh. Poleon, Turner and Rogers never really got any time. I can see promise but it will take time. And boab, we scored three. All were excellent, as was Preston's goal, absoilutely stunning, great build-up play and strike. As a team, we were solid enough to snuff out most of Preston's threats and kept them to shots from the edge of the box or outside, one they scored and two hit the bar. We had a 10 minute phase in the second half where they had a bit of dangerous domination, but we always looked like we never got out of second gear really. It will be good to see this team in a couple of months and see how they have developed.
PNE passed the ball through us every time they went forward, shoulld have scored first and after they equalised they were murdering us. We got lucky from a corner and the ball got tucked away well for 2-1 and aidy scored a good third. as 3-1 wins go we were flattered
The PNE overhead kick that hit the bar deserved a goal if you are honest about it, a bit pissed off because after buying two tickets NW got off the coach and handed out a large bundle of free tickets to anyone who wanted one. lol
We also had some other excellent efforts and shots that some might say "deserved" goals. The two shots that hit the bar were good shots - but they were not on target, so did not add to the tally. Every goal was excellent today. You say PNE passd the ball through us - but they did not get through us much! The defence or midfield always snuffed them out before they got near goal. We can't expect to have 100% possession and we can't expect that the opposition will just roll over and die because they are playing LUFC. This was a good pre-season runout - whether we are anywhere near ready for the Championship is somethign different
The midweek friendly will be important for Austin and Peltier and another game for the rest to gel a little and it looks like the Shrewsbury cup game could be a blessing in disguise. 13 days to hit the training ground hard and maybe a new winger brought in - I am not feeling confident but we shall see.
