Match Day Thread The Germany files.

Game 2 starting line up

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18 year old Daniel Barden on loan at Bury Town gets his chance to impress

 

It doesn't matter what I say Duncan; the defensive stats over the three seasons DF has been in charge are what you should be listening to. We're hearing a lot of talk about how lessons have been learned, and our defensive frailty is going to be addressed. The proof of that will come when the season starts.

 

I have been screaming out for money to be spent on 2 Premier League centre backs since we signed Klose.
In Farke's first season we had a pretty good defence with most games going 1-0 either way or 0-0 really boring to watch though.
When he changed the style of play we won the league convincingly scoring and conceding lots of goals .

Last season we were ridiculously unlucky with centre back injuries so difficult and unfair to judge much of the season .

If we don't bring in at least 1 decent centre back this window then that would be extremely risky and foolhardy.

Zimmermann and Godfrey are decent but we need someone even better than that.

IMHO

 

This one is a bit more competitive young Barden having to make a few saves

 

Thought Barden was the pick of the bunch. Very calm and composed, accurate with his passing, and made at least one first class save. Well done to him.

 

Not surprisingly fatigue was a factor late in both games but they were certainly a means of building match fitness. We have a much better idea of the new players now and the strength in depth they'll bring to the new season. Four wins and a draw with four clean sheets is a good outcome and should boost confidence throughout the squad. Huddersfield will be the first real test, but DF now has a lot of options to choose from.

 

Josh Martin was my pick of the bunch

 

He also earned the 'golden boot' with his 3 goals. I've also been impressed with Dowell who looks like a classy player who's also willing to do his share of defensive work. Brilliant closing down of the keeper to enable Placheta's opening goal. Mumba looks promising with good defending, pace and confidence on the ball as he moves forward. Sinani quietly impressed again and Skipp and Sørensen seem to be growing into the pivot role and Quintilla looks to have settled as well. Hugill didn't have much to work with but the effort and application were there.

 

Sørensen clearly has class but, compared to Skipp, who is two and a half years his junior, doesn't look to have the physicality we were told was needed.

 

Mostly agree with that, Robbie. Skipp is already a specialist DM, but as yet lacking in experience. Sørensen is primarily a CM who DF wants to convert to DM so his passing skills can enhance that position. Both will require time to develop and we'll have to see how that plays out.