I was really looking forward todays game , but at ten to three this afternoon I was blessed with my seventh grand child so understandably missed the game .which i think puts everything else thats happened recently into perspective .
Some miscellaneous points from the game: Warm-up different from previous seasons and was more like a training session. They played "Let's Go" before the game started (someone listens to me). I sat in the lower tier for a change and it was interesting to hear Williams impressively command the back line. A different type of play - less of the short passes and more longer balls instead; which meant that the ball was given away to the opposition more often. Wings used less. First half was very lacklustre but second half started much brighter. Itay Shechter came on for Graham - when he knows the team maybe he'll shine. Leon was my man of the match. Kemy Agustien did well when he came on.
Well done Bony. Hope everyone's in good health. Couldn't make the game today but my son went and he confirms the above really. Much more direct, Graham looks sharp and Agustien good when he came on.
I was at the game with KJ's son and it's a fair assessment. I thought Kemy looked very good when he game on - unfortunately for De Guzman, he overshadowed him. I'm sure that De Guzman will start the season, but we've got healthy competition for that place. Leon was incredible in the second half though - ball control, showboating skills, pass weight and selection, and tackling tenacity was all on show. Far and away the best player on the pitch in the second half. A few more comments to add - Sinclair went off very slowly when substituted and was clapping above his head all the way off. He stopped half way off, turned and acknowledged the East stand before making the rest of his way off still clapping the West stand. None of the other players made such an effort. It almost felt like he was saying goodbye, but I could be looking into it too much. Either way, Sinclair was as predictable as ever on the pitch, and his replacement Routledge, with virtually his first touch, knocked the ball past the right back and sprinted past him on the outside; something that Sinclair had failed to do all game. Dyer was fantastic in the second half as well and his link up with Rangel was excellent. First half, they were both poor. But so was everyone really. Michu really puts himself about! However, he seems to have a very free role. In the first half, it looked more like a 4-4-2 set up with Graham and Michu pushed forward. I feel that this is why we were overran and easily out-passed in the first half - Leon and De Guzman were just outnumbered in the middle. We had better shape in the second half, and we were able to defend better and move the ball quicker once Michu was more disciplined in his midfield position. Finally, credit to Stuttgart. Fantastic side that knocked the ball around as good as anyone. I'm glad they aren't in the Premiership.
thanks for the full summary Big, I really appreciate reading these when I miss the game or it's not on streamed. Your comment on Sinclair sums it up perfectly. The story for much of last season, predictable, doesn't make the back work anywhere near hard enough, and others seem to make more of an impact. This makes the speculation on Man City's interest near impossible to understand for me ... I just don't get it!
Great to see DG becoming a goal machine. It's going together harder starting next Sat, but this has to have him feeling top of the word.
Thanks all , mother & baby doing fine , baby boy (again ) I've now got my own 5 a side team now with one sub
