Very powerful header from Gomis from a very good Taylor cross and some nice link up play between Ki and Bony to set up Sheenan.
I've read several times people rating Ben's crosses as better than Taylor's. Never held that opinion myself. Montero seems to be able to control the ball at whatever height it comes to him. Couple of great traps with his chest in there.
Its funny when I watched he looked quite awkward and runs strange, but had a good touch. Small legs big upper body. How good was Bony's ball through for the second. We did seem to be hitting an awful lot of long diagonal balls.
As it stands my starting XI would be; -------------- Fabianski -------------- --------- Chico ----- Williams ------- Rangel ------------------------ Taylor -------------------- Leon ------------- ------------ Shelvey ----------------- --------------------------------------- Routledge ----- Siggy ----- Montero ------------------ Bony -------------- Subs; Tremmel, Tiendali, Bartley, Amat, Ki, Dyer and Gomis. Gomis looks like he's got all the tools just not on the same wavelength yet. As Leon's injury shows, we need a defensive midfielder urgently.
Sign cover (long term replacement) for Leon and possibly Rangel and that's a bloody strong squad we have.
We also need either cover or a better LB imo, Still not convinced by Taylor, prone to silly errors and rash challenges, whilst I think Kingsley will be his long term replacement not sure he is ready yet.
Have faith Trunds, Taylor will show once again he's good enough Just watched the highlights on my PC (much bigger screen to my ipad), and could see that Ki was very forward and attacking thinking in his passes. If he can put through balls like that into, Montero, Routs, Dyer, Gylfi, Gomis and Bony this season, we could be in for a real treat.
Did you also see how easily their winger got inside Taylor. I know i have to keep the faith, but that is the one area that concerns me and will cost us.
I share your thoughts but Premier League defences won't be anything like as naive as Exeter's. Ki (and others) will be under pressure on the ball and won't have the same amount of time to pick their passes and defenders will go with our runners. I accept that we can only play what's in front of us, which is why I would have preferred somewhat tougher games than Plymouth and Exeter. A Championship, or at least a top League One club, would have been my choice of games at this stage. Still, it was good to see what might be and, if we succeed in doing it in the PL, we will indeed be in for a real treat as you say.
We've got tougher games coming up now. This is how we've always done things - some easy games to get some minutes on the pitch, then ramping up with more challenging games as the season gets near. Reading and Villareal will be more stiff opposition.
I would have prefered a coule more sterner tests to make sure we are ready for Old Trafford. My tickets arrived today, Hotel booked. cant wait.
I think these games are good to bed in a new system and new players and improve match fitness/sharpness etc. Reading and Villareal will bring a different level of popposition faced so far and they will be better benchmarks of where we are at going into the Utd game. I also like these types of games as it gives some promising youngsters a chance too.
And thats what a L2 winger can do. I am am sure with more gme time he will get better. But he is my one concern and I cant stop worrying about it. Sorry. Dont forget Valley we ae praising the good stuff done in the friendlies so lets point out the issues as well.
Hopefully it was just a bit of naivaty from him given the level of opposition. I'll be looking forward to seeing how he performs against Reading and especially Villareal.
