Just got back from the Parc Y Scarlets after watching Swansea Reserves 3 Newcastle Reserves 5. Bit of a crazy game: Newcastle 3-0 up after 20 minutes following some shocking defending from ourselves and the two new centre-halves not looking too happy. A goal from Luke Moore and two from Stephen Dobbie pulled it back to 3-3 just after half-time. Then a penalty and a blunder from Moreira made it 3-5. Well, i can see why Moreira is our no.3 keeper being responsible for two of the goals - a spilled free-kick and a pathetic flapping punch which backfired. Liptak and Vangelis both did pretty well after the opening 20 minutes. They're both good in the air, prepared to play the ball out on the deck and hit some long-range passes. Of the two, maybe the Greek just shaved it for me. Get one of them in for Sunday to deal with Crouch!
Can I ask why they didn't look happy in your opinion ? It's very difficult to tell if they will fit in with just one reserve game, still we have very little option as we need cover.
Perhaps uncomfortable would be better than unhappy. Just a case of new defenders gelling, I guess. Alfei (I think it was him at right back) also had a poor game.
Tough to judge from Swans Player highlights what the breakdowns were at the back. However, Dobbie scored two nice goals and showed just what he can do from outside the box. Moore did well on Dob's second goal with 3 Newcastle players around him to control it and lay it off.
The question with these two is ... are they better than what we have ... and without playing players that are under-21 that are probably not ready for the step up at this point, we have nobody. So are they better than nobody? I would have to think yes, and then you get into what type of contract can we structure to minimize our exposure in case they are a bust and we can find better in the Jan window. Also Caulker is now slated to be returning November-ish, so let's say December maybe January before he's back at match fitness. This is our window of exposure.
Watched the game last night and aswan. the greek did play the better of the two. Just felt that he looked more comfortable on and off the ball. On another note Daniel Alfei was appalling. Gave the ball away constantly and missed his tackles and agree regarding moriera just not good enough. Dobbie did ok with 2 good finishes. Felt a little sorry for jazz as he was out of his depth in the centre of midfield and should have be given time at full back.. Sounds like we were very poor from all this. but there were positives to come out of it, in terms of dobbies goals and the trialists getting some football. I think that we need to sign one of them if only on a short term contract. The kids are just not ready yet. I think in time we have some great young players who will step up. But for now we need a little more experience.
Liptak has been cut. So that leaves Moras under consideration. There's a reason Liptak was a free agent despite is highlight video and I guess we figured that out.
