Changes on a Sven Eriksson scale by both sides, so just a meaningless kick-about now. Provisional thoughts: Big Bob favours lots of long punts upfield. Phillips nowhere ready for league football. Nego looked OK We know what Church is like but he is still worth five of Parzyszek. Gomez as good as anyone at 17. Vetokele easily brushed off the ball. Harriott has bulked up but lost his speed.
Watched a bit near the end. Highlights were the commentator saying that Jacko "leapt like a salmon", and a lone Charlton fan singing "One Lawrie Wilson" when he got subbed.
Not fair to judge on this. Wait until we are back from Spain. Away to Swindon and Portsmouth around the end of the month will be the first real clue. Today was just a random bunch of unfit players thrown on the pitch and told to get on with it. These pre-season friendlies tend to be just that, friendly. No-one wants to get injured. As a result they favor the lightweight skilful players who would be kicked off the park in Championship football. Remember when we played in Spain two years ago and Ruben Bover-Izquierdo looked a hot property? Nego looked fine today, but I doubt if he could stand up to bullying in the Championship. I do have deep forebodings about the new season, but this match did not influence my thinking.
These wont be long standing judgements, just opinions based on what I saw yesterday. Phillips good reactions, poor distribution. Gomez looked quality, Bikey solid but would any work with somebody with Gomez's pace alongside him. Kadell Daniel, Jack Munns and Igor Vetokele all showed some nice touches but all were easily muscled off the ball. Cousins far more comfortable in the middle of midfield. Nego looked ok but still third in the RB pecking order, I suspect Solly's knee was not risked on the 3G surface.
Well, we won't be playing Swindon on July 30th. They have pulled out so they can play Leeds Utd on the previous day. Another indication of the contempt which our club is now held (not without reason). Now if they would have missed a chance to play Arsenal or Man Utd you could understand, but Leeds?
