Must seen a different game to me as I thought he put in a shift tbh, he's not up to scratch yet but didn't stop running and trying to create thing all night.
I don't want to be too negative about it and I suppose my frustration comes from me looking forward to the game and then not really enjoying it other than us going through. As much as some of the younger players did well there wasn't one I thought ready to step up and then there was the senior players who are supposed to be ready if we need them in the first team and only Milner looked ready. I can let Keita off as he's coming back from injury and I don't think he missed a pass all game. I suppose match fitness is important and the game will sharpen them up but the lack of performances from the seniors worried me.
I agree but we should blend the team with a few of the bigger performers yesterday..... Gomez Elliott jones Kelleher or perhaps an Allison return! Milner And Keita and Ox will be fitter In fact, play VvD Fab and 2 of our forwards and we should be good
Harvey Elliott looks like an incredible talent but we are going to have to be patient. I was also impressed with Jones. I’d like to see them played in the first team with our best players occasionally this year.
Too early for Elliott imo, an experienced PL Defender would clear him out in the first 5 mins and have him in their pocket.
He just looked like he knew what he was doing. Some of the runs he made were smart, came to the ball. Knew when to pass and when to dribble. Got into good areas and was unlucky not to score a couple. Would personally like to see him in the squad for the first team
I thought he played really well but at 16 I think it would be different with experienced PL defenders. I can see him playing at 10 min the future.
As I said, a good team is like a machine, and that takes time to achieve. Those senior players will function better with other experienced players around them. The young lads did well enough, mostly, but the gap between that line-up and our preferred one is quite obvious. They're there for the future, which is why they're being used sparingly atm. Similar to the senior players, they would probably be better with better around them. They need to be introduced into the senior team one or two at a time, and learn that way. Did we really expect more of them? The only one I was disappointed in was Brewster, but we need to give him more than one chance. It wouldn't have shocked me if we'd lost, tbh. The thing about lower league teams is that they can be organised and efficient and do the basics of football rather well - it's in the area of creativity where they are left wanting. They also make more frequent mistakes than top-level teams, but that might not show in a one-off game. It's why we get some cup upsets most years. It's all very well commentators banging on about us being 50-odd places above them, but that's not the team we put out last night.
It was the desire and intensity that disappointed me or the lack of is what I should say, that seemed to change in the 2nd half and there was more effort from everyone. With it being The Gooners next we can't put a team like that out we will need more first team players so that there is that understanding.
That line-up will get stuffed by Arsenal, unless they too put out a second-string. This game will be won or lost before it starts, imo - it all depends on who wants it enough to play a strong team. I don't think we're bothered - will they be?
