A bit like last season, lots of good possession, plenty of opportunities with no goals and defensive errors being punished virtually everytime Da ja vue!
Yep, the defence looks very sluggish to me and not well organised, but there has been promising signs going forward. The attacking football had a nice rhythm and pace about it.
Have we? We started sluggishly and we seem to struggle to keep possession trying worldy through balls. We did grow into the game and we have had shots but they have been long range and defensively we look vulnerable against a middling Spanish side who have only just returned to preseason.
I mean we should have scored twice and we are missing players so it is not a disaster but it is concerning.
My brief summary: Saints have had lots of nice bits of play without looking hugely dangerous Celta Vigo have had 3 good chances and scored 2 of them. Armstrong gets in some excellent positions and looks to make things happen. Gabbiadini making some good runs, Long struggling to get into the game but did hit the bar Bertrand and McQueen getting forward from wing-backs, McQueen's lack of a right foot is causing attacks to lose impetus a little bit Davis and Romeu far too happy to pass backwards and sideways. They need to propel the team forward more than they are currently doing Defensively, we look sloppy
Some positives, but as said...defensively poor. A team like us has to build from a solid defence....though of course I don't want or expect anyone to risk injury at this stage. Mainly this is about fitness and MH getting an idea of his starting eleven for the season. However, CV are under the same restraints and have managed to get 2 goals. The final score may not matter in the scheme of things, but would hope we could at least score sometime.
Gabbi has had some good moments, but for a striker he is not getting forward. Is he now a midfielder.
Old dog, new tricks, and all that. I'm not sure that even Pep could turn them into Shelvey. Or Drinkwater, apparently currently available from Chelsea. Thumbs up for Armstrong and Bertrand.
What a shame, same old, same old. Banjos and Barndoors at one end and a slice of Gauda at the other. I cant help thinking (Sentimentaly) that with SRL we would have been at least 3 goals up. Oh well, lets have alook at the second half.
Agree with that. We have some nice players who can play some nice football but I am concerned about our current lack of identity. We can no longer compete in the top 8-10 and sides below that may be limited but have a game plan that yields more than I fear we could muster. Far too early to be really worried and at least we start with a manager who won’t look like a rabbit in the headlights but I’d really welcome a marquee signing to get the place rocking.
How many times have you lot reminded yourself it is only pre-season and its just about fitness... im up to 6!
When we're in possession both Armstrong and Davis are pushing up, and Gabbiadini dropping deep. That's fine, but we're easily pressured in the final third, and as soon as we're under pressure in a real match there will be 50 yards between our midfield and attack. I haven't seen much of our front two working together yet, but we'll see. Most people think we have a striker problem and a centre back problem, so I don't understand how this tactic is supposed to fit. PS: 5 crap shots from 30+ yards. Perpetrators should be booked for time wasting.
Not sure if mentioned previously mentioned.... no Fraser.... not sure if the Burnley thing happened.... I know they asked for dispensation from uefa...?
