Gulasci looked good, not as big as i thought he would be. Basso bit nervy. Rosenior looks class, Im worried someone will come in for him, we have a genuine £5 million player going by £20 mil for Downing. Dudgeon looks class. Mcshane played like it was his last game ever, happy for him but over a season no thanks. Chester was excellent, i still think his lack of height will cost us in this league. Koren is just class. Evans and Cairney worked well together. TC has bulked up and knocked Aquilani over twice. I thought he controlled the game, it would be madness to send him on loan. These two are our CM partnership for me. Brady looks class, confident and cocky. Fryatt touch and control is there, Mclean no thanks, just not got it. Second half: Mckenna, is he a proper midget?? Not for me, lost the ball once in the middle of the park, could have been costly. Harper again not for me. Simpson looked great his touch and control were excellent. Adebola, did a good job as a target. Good chest control. But did anyone see when Devitt put him through? He could not run at all. He is 20 mins at most in a real match. NB looked leggy too but still got class. I saw no point in bringing Kilbane on, we dont want him and he isnt good enough. Loads of positives, i hope Hobbs isnt a serious injury is it? I didnt notice it at the match but watching the replay in the pub later did anyone notice like a lump between the shoulder blades on the City players shirts? Looked like padding?
Have to agree on Rosenior, there will be plenty of interest should he consistently perform at the level he's shown so far. Evans and Cairney also looked excellent as a central midfield partnership - you have to think NP will have McKenna as a mainstay in midfield though. I disagree on Chester however. Through all of the games last season, his height was not an issue, and with the man mountain Jack Hobbs alongside him, that will surely compensate? You're also being harsh on Killer, who didn't do anything wrong at all. Obviously we're actively seeking a new club for him, but should he stay I've got no problem with him being cover for a number of positions. Also, the Adebola incident you mention was very amusing
@Chazz. I'm not sure I agree on McShane. There are signs of real improvement. He looks fitter and faster and he seems up for it. There is no better fighter (not literally) in the squad and if he had the full backing of the fans I think he could be a different player from the one we have seen so far. Also remember that he has recently captained Ireland and was successful on loan at Barnsley. The only sticking point is his wages, but he could be one of those players we get rid of just as they are reaching their prime.
I think you have to remember the pace of the game though Craig. Macca goes into panic mode when under pressure, anyone remember the Villa game? This game was three quarter pace at most. Its part of my worry about TC. It was ideal for him as he had time and space, when the tempo picks up i am hoping he has improved too.
I don't get the big love in for Gulasci already - he didn't have much to do to base this on. His one big save he palmed it out and if Joe Cole wasn't so useless yesterday, he'd have probably put it away. I thought Basso looked good. Everyone keeps mentioning he looked 'nervy'. He had one or two nervy moments with a backpass, and where he came out then realised he was in no man's land, but he made 2 top class saves that looked certain goals. I don't think Fryatt really got into the game. Simpson showed what he is capable of doing with a bit of confidence. Adebola looks like he's getting paid thousands of pounds per week for being tall. He looked very flat-footed. Kilbane actually had a really good game I thought... there was one were he tracked back and put in a last ditch effort to deny the Liverpool player a clear shot on goal and did well up against Kuyt. Agree with most of your other points. Chester looking more of a bargain by the game.
One other random thought. Did anyone else nearly miss kick off because all those with tickets had to queue up at one ticket counter while the other one was empty for "paying customers" only for which there was a trickle. I got there at 2:45 and didnt get in till dead on 3. I had a word with the jobsworth and he said they didnt estimate this many were coming!! Really when we had bought tickets?
for me "Dudgeon looks class" bit is wrong, i thought he was caught out a couple of times and looked lost who to mark when liverpool went on the counter attack. but in all, really happy with team and puts us all in a good positive mood on us going into the CC
I don't think it's a 'love in', people are just recognising that he's a fantastic young prospect who is likely to be our number one for the whole season. I think some people are over analysing the game though - the fact is that it is pre-season, we can't make negative comments about players at this stage. Adebola did look incredibly immobile, but we know what to expect from him. He isn't going to charge about and run the channels like McLean. Dele did assist Simpson's goal by the way...
agree with dazzar about the keepers, 1st time ive seen both and it was round 1 to basso for me..that save was class..
I like all the excuses from Liverpool fans that it was a mixture of new players, youngsters and people they're trying to put in the shop window... At one stage, our back 4 was: East--Chester---Bradley--Kilbane and £100 million worth of players still couldn't score. That's a youngster who hasn't played a full competitive league game for us before, Chester who only completed his first half season of competitive football last season, Bradley - same as East and Kilbane who we shipped out on loan to League One Huddersfield last season.
I thought both keepers did a good job, I'm happy to see either between the sticks. I thought the entire squad looked good, with the possible exception of Adebola, who I've now seen twice and didn't rate on either occasion.
think adebolas a good option to bring on but he ruined our passing play on multiple occasions when it came to his feet yesterday. on another note, i thought east going forward was awful, ok defensively though.
You've been a bit iffy with some of your comments here. Firstly the Evans and Cairney partnership. You're quite right, Cairney played very well but Evans on the other hand was dire. Gave away the ball several times with his awful first touch and his lack of passing ability yet you've slated Mckenna (who I thought was pretty good) for giving it away once. He didn't make a tackle and to suggest he should be one of the starting midfielders is laughable. Mckenna played well. Got stuck in and made some good tackles. Read the game pretty well and I think he'll have a good year here. He also looked to be the man that got everyone going in the secong half with his leadership skills. He'll be starting against Blackpool. Dudgeon was ok, but he did get caught out a couple of times. Luckily his pace saw him able to get back and block the resulting crosses. And finally Kilbane was fine. He wasn't awful and I thought he made a couple of good tackles. Plus his cross to Adebola for the Simpson goal was spot on. A lot better at left back than anywhere else. Otherwise I agree with what you've said.
My 10 cents: GKs- Bit harsh to critique Gulacsi when it was the City defence which kept Liverpool at bay.. Basso showed early nerves (normal) but settled well.. RB - Rosenior superb LB - Dudgeon, done enough to make Dawson second choice, he's got more pace and attacking intent & with Brady we will have the best left side in the division CB - Chester - club captain in the making, he's my favourite player, good guy too. McShane may be on big money but he's showing the kind of attitude that JB would if he were half the man Macca was. East was commendable, not got much previous has he but a clean sheet against LFC's "better" players isn't too shabby. Kilbane - did OK but won't feature much. DM - McKenna - tigerish, needs to pass quicker to avoid trouble, he's not as vocal as Ashbee who's got more "presence". Cairney - think we're seeing evidence of a "new" improved TC and I like it, Harper shouldn't be first choice now I'd hope. AM - Koren - on his day our best player, Brady - instant hit, big future (hopefully with us but if he carries on like this back at Man U maybe), Evans was a bit anonymous, he's like that sometimes but does pop up with goals now and again. Devitt - will play second fiddle to Brady. Barmby will be played as a super-sub, he knows it we know it. F - Fryatt - first choice striker no question, Mclean - got a shot in not on tatget, not top level, Simpson - well he scored but second half it was LFC who had more play, Adebola - causes problems, wins free-kicks, no pace Hobbs - hopefully just rested as a precaution Dawson & Bradley will have a part to play this coming season Ghilas, Olofinjana & Bullard won't have a part to play Atkinson, Holohan & Oxley won't see much action apart from Carling Cups maybe. Emerton not sure about. Cullen & Cooper on loan Garcia we'll see after his injury is healed Stewart - will be back on RW when he's fit.
I must have missed Evans' awful first touch. I thought i was pretty positive, i certainly didnt slate Mckenna. All i said was not for me and got caught in possession. Which is what the Forest fans were saying about him. Evans misplaced passes yes but he didnt get caught in possession. As a pair i would take TC and Evans as they balance each other well. I think NP will pick Mckenna, i hope not as it'l be back to negative Nigel. I didnt slate Kilbane either. I just said i saw no point. He wasnt good enough last year and we got rid. We have Dudgeon and Dawson for LB
i'd like to see mckenna and cairney with evans coming in the odd game. mckenna and cairney were great on the ball but i can see evans coming in, high workrate and a good engine and scores more than the other two.
I missed it by a minute or so. Don't agree with Chester lack of height being an issue, he has plenty of other assets to his game which outweigh this.
