Keeping in mind.. it was our 2nd PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY there are some definite positives to come out of the game but I'll start with the negatives.. Unimpressive performance by Cowie however i'm thinkin he's been signed us an inside right midfield player to play in a 3 man central midfield with Whitts and Gunn-show.. There's more to come from Cowie and he was highly rated by Watford fans, as I recall he pulled the strings against us in the middle last season. So playing out wide trying to offer width clearly isn't his strength. Jon "the Beast" Parkin - poor performance, heavy touch, gave away needless free kicks.. as much as the Beast is a crowd favourite (and I wouldn't say this to his face), but he was bloody useless last night.. That will have to change, i'm not convinced Malky will play with a traditional target man.. but even if he wanted to, Parkin is not that man.. He did look slightly quicker than last season but then that may have been just 3 Clarksies for lunch rather than 5.. Taylor looked slightly lacklustre going forward but let's be honest he's been signed as a LB not a LW, but he seems willing to take on a player. The positives..Gunnarsson looked as I expected to be, hard tackling, pain in the backside, getting his foot in and breaking up play and then dispersing the ball again to keep the move flowing. Not sure who said Gavin Rae in disguise.. absolute balderdash..talking out of your backside to be fair.. again, 2nd game into pre-season aganst Celtic, please get a grip?Alongside Whitts (who suddenly became a generalissimo midfielder) I think this could be a good pairing.. not sure if it'll work every game with whitts being so lightweight and going missing every now and then and I do think he's better on the wing but let's see how this pans out. A manager who is a lot more animated on the touchline is great to see. Not once did I think Celtic looked overly comfortable on the ball, Malky's builiding a team that works for each other.. something we haven't seen in a few years under DJ.. i'd rather a team of dogs than a team of primadonna.. Joe Mason, boy with a bit of fine-tuning could turn into a fine prospect, holds the ball up well and his runs were quite clever.. definitely one for the future.. Couldn't agree with Iggy's post last night about the game, it was a little too negative for me.. Sorry Ig mate, but it's what forums are all about, so fair enough.. I understand the concern, but a 1-0 loss 2 games into pre-season against a big club like Celtic who have established players who are at the end of the pre-season programme and raring to go for their season next week is NOT the end of the world, there's work to do sure, but are we alone? Nope.. Getting a team to gel at this level after just 2 games is nigh on impossible and we didn't have Conway, Earnie, Macca or Quinn available last night.. Optimist Prime again perhaps.. but i'm happy with the rebuilding job so far, relegation? Not a prayer! Promotion, work to do, but it's not impossible. Keep 'em coming Malky!
Fair summary Benni. I agree with your comment about the other remark on the Gunnar. I thought he looked very good and will give us something we have not had in midfield for some time. Drinkwater tried last year but didn't succeed and Rae was similar when he first arrived but his legs were on the way out for the last 2 years. The Gunnar didn't even let us see one of his long throws - used to some effect at Cov. I have reservations about Cowie though. I didn't go to the away game at Watford so he may have shone there. When i have seen him, albeit always at Cardiff, he has struck me as something of a luxury and if not at the top of his game, the potential to be a liability. But point taken about him being more effective in the centre rather than on the wing. At least we have new players to talk about, 6 so far, 2 more likely this week and Malky wants another 4 - unlike another club I could mention.
Sounds a bit like Whittingham I tend to agree with Benni more than Iggy, a work in progress, but some good signs, couple more players in and we can kick on and perhaps strengthen in January if needed. I don't think we will know what kind of squad we will have until the premiership teams have finalised their squads and we have had a look who might be available, as for Parkin, well has anyone noticed that "Wee Burkie" has not featured anywhere for Brum? I reckon he wasn't transferred the fat bastard ate him
The only believable match report I have read so far, everything else has just been negative rubbish, written by chaps jumping the gun. Cheers for it mate. Other threads did mention that the defence did look tight, what are your views Benni?
Proph your last paragraph did make me chuckle. Yeah Beast i's going to go from cult hero to cult zero unless he's sold I think.. He was bloody useless last night! Cheers for the comments lads Drew mate, defence looked ok, I'll be far happier when Malky reverts to Taylor instead of Naylor at LB but on the whole, they played well. Hudson made 1 or 2 mistakes but that's just lack of game time. Gerrard covered well for him and looked a far better player than he did at this stage last season.. He was unfit and woeful against Burton in the LC last term. But Hudson and Gerrard look solid together. I've a feeling Malky will stick Marshy in goal to begin the season, I prefer Heaton as the all round better 'keeper but I think Marshy is a better stopper if that makes sense? But Marshy, McNaughts and Taylor (attacking fullbacks) and Hudson and Gerrard looks a mean defence at this level.. Whether they can gel is down to Malky.. The goal we conceded was sloppy, he got between Naylor and Gerrard for the header, Gerrard lost his man but the cross should've been dealt with by McNaughts.. Just pre-season slopiness.. Erm.. I hope?
Cheers mate. I too should imagine the mistakes were just sloppiness from not enough game time. I reckon to only lose 1-0 against a team who are well up to speed having completed there pre season, and who start there season on Sunday is quite a coup. They are no mickey mouse team either. I did see a save by Marshy on SSN when a Celtic player was clean through, was a cracker tbf. We all know McNuggets is class, Hudson was much improved last season and Gerrard did awesome at Hull so if Taylor can fit into that easily we should have the makings of a solid back four. Good times ahead
Its a friendly. i think people have a tendancy to over analyse them, i think we should only judge them after seeing them play a few competitive games
