Preseason

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One player that's impressed preseason is Sam McQueen, particularly on Wednesday. His switch to LB seems to have suited him well.

Sounds like he and Targett are the LB's of choice with Bertrand out injured. What a difference to hear the academy players names again. If they come good this season, even one or two of them it will be confirmation that Koeman needed to go for me.
 
Sounds like he and Targett are the LB's of choice with Bertrand out injured. What a difference to hear the academy players names again. If they come good this season, even one or two of them it will be confirmation that Koeman needed to go for me.

I agree Koeman wasn't a fan, however he did use Matty Targett a lot last season and initially in place of an injured Bertrand. I'm not one to defend the lying Dutchman, but this is no different to what LD did at start of last season. Time will tell if he really starts to use the kids. I think he will.
 
Did anyone else notice JWP's turn of speed yesterday? He ran half the length of the pitch at speed when a Bilbao player got away with the ball. Never seen him run like that....he must have borrowed some of Shane Long's elastic. Surprised the Bilbao player, but not half as much as he surprised the fans in the Kingsland.
I think all of them had a bit of extra speed yesterday - I'm guessing the reinstated double training sessions are already starting to pay off.
 
Just got back to the car. Decent first half, some of the attacking play was good, Redmond looked lively although he kept the ball too long at times and lost it.

Second half ran out of ideas when Tadic went off. The only thing that slightly worries me is we only really looked dangerous when putting good balls over the top for Long to chase.

Highlight for me - VVD going on a rampage in midfield, winning the ball back on halfway, knocking it past their centre back and sprinting into the box, couldn't quite pick out long in the middle though.

On another day Redmond could have had a hatrick. Shout out to the Bilbao fans in the very top of the Chapel end, I was sat in the Kingsland and could hear them.

Nailed it, Jaidi. Exactly what I thought - pity VVD didn't just put his foot through it when he broke through. We wouldn't have minded if it had gone into Row Z, it would have been worth it!! :emoticon-0100-smile
 
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I agree Koeman wasn't a fan, however he did use Matty Targett a lot last season and initially in place of an injured Bertrand. I'm not one to defend the lying Dutchman, but this is no different to what LD did at start of last season. Time will tell if he really starts to use the kids. I think he will.

On Sunday, I thought Targett had gone up a level, with his attacking play and decision making when on the ball.
The cross that picked out Tadic was superb, because he was looking for a late arrival in the box, rather than hitting it into a mass of bodies and hoping.
This may be natural progression, in his game, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility that the new manager is giving confidence to the young'uns, and improving them as a result.
 
I was impressed with Targett and how he gave us width. It will keep the opposition busy trying to watch Cedric on one side and Targett on the other. He got so much room against Bilbao. I'm quite excited to see some of our youngsters making progress this season.
 
On Sunday, I thought Targett had gone up a level, with his attacking play and decision making when on the ball.
The cross that picked out Tadic was superb, because he was looking for a late arrival in the box, rather than hitting it into a mass of bodies and hoping.
This may be natural progression, in his game, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility that the new manager is giving confidence to the young'uns, and improving them as a result.

Couldn't agree more, very impressed with his crossing when he had the chance.
Also he is very good in the air. A large majority of Forsters clearances picked out Targett and he won nearly every header
 
On Sunday, I thought Targett had gone up a level, with his attacking play and decision making when on the ball.
The cross that picked out Tadic was superb, because he was looking for a late arrival in the box, rather than hitting it into a mass of bodies and hoping.
This may be natural progression, in his game, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility that the new manager is giving confidence to the young'uns, and improving them as a result.

I do hope so!!
 
Has this actually - and perhaps worryingly - been our best pre-season for donkey's years? Not that I ever pay much attention, but 5 wins out of 6 with one draw and no losses seems ominously good to me. We're going to win the League aren't we?