Barclays Asia Trophy (27th-30th July 2011)

[pablopicasso_10]

while understanding it was a friendly, i was not impressed overall with the team performance, and some of the tactics, ie, a right footed striker out at left wing, sticking everyone behind the ball and hoofing it up to the lone striker, (and im not impressed that if we take the manager at face value when he contradicts what general krulak has said on here that we wont be backing him financially to improve the current squad), but was impressed with given, gardner and makoun...

I really don't think you can read too much into it. The side was picked with half an eye on giving everyone a run out so you won't see that combination again. We didn't play well until the last 15 minutes but we were against a team that is probably worth 3 times ours - Drogba and Torres as subs!

indeed, and i stated as much in my comments, however, commenting on what happened out there, i was not impressed with some elements, but impressed with others...

im hoping gardner gets more chances...

[Dave Summers]

I'll go for this vs Fulham

--------------------------------------------GIVEN---------------------------------------------
--------YOUNG-----------COLLINS-----------------DUNNE---------WARNOCK-------

-----------------------------PETROV-------------MAKOUN--------------------------

--------------GABBY-------------------IRELAND--------------------N'ZOGBIA-------

----------------------------------------BENT--------------------------------------

SUBS: BANNAN, GUZAN, CLARK, DELPH, HESKEY, ALBRIGHTON, BEYE

Pretty close to what I think he will go with as well.

If it was me picking it I would have a midfield of Makoun, Delph and Bannan.  Delph was very poor today but there is something in him that makes me think he will be a top player.  I can't for one moment believe that Petrov won't start so I guess he will come in for Delph out of those three.   Wee Barry has been our most incisive passer for me in the three games, so I would hope he would start.

I know it goes against popular opinion on here but Gabby would definitely be one of my front three with CNZ and Bent.

Very impressed with Gary Gardner today and hope he is worth a place on the bench at Fulham.

Don't read too much into the result, I think we will be reasonably okay this season.

UTV !! 

[pauliewalnuts]

I'll go for this vs Fulham

--------------------------------------------GIVEN---------------------------------------------
--------YOUNG-----------COLLINS-----------------DUNNE---------WARNOCK-------

-----------------------------PETROV-------------MAKOUN--------------------------

--------------GABBY-------------------IRELAND--------------------N'ZOGBIA-------

----------------------------------------BENT--------------------------------------

SUBS: BANNAN, GUZAN, CLARK, DELPH, HESKEY, ALBRIGHTON, BEYE

I think that's probably right, but to be honest, it stands a chance as we don't have too much room to change the starting 11. particularly at the back.

That - starters and bench - looks pretty weak to me, and indicates how we really do still need to get a few more in.

[Klaus Katt]

From the evidence of those two games I would say that Bannan is our best midfielder and the Fonz will struggle.

Bannan kept the ball very well. Fonz didn't grab the chance this time, but it's nice to see him command respect. By the way, the climate was Chelsea's too.

[Clark W Griswold]

ireland was shite... not sure whether it was the tactics, or just him... although most were shite too...

i understand it was only a friendly, but it was poor... very poor...

given kept it to a respectful scoreline... he was excellent...

and he needed to be with that c*** warnock following on from his shite form from last year, petrov offering all the protection and mobility of the statue of david, and the chuckle brothers trying to fuck up at every opportunity when they werent booting it half the length of the pitch back to chelsea...

thought we looked better when makoun and gardner came on... gardner in particular looked very lively in both defending and going forward... nice to see a young lad actively look for the ball and want to do something with it...

although not sure if thats due to chelsea taking their foot off the pedal and we had some fresh face in difficult conditions, or whether it was him actually having some influence... having seen the lad for many years from the academy, i would think its the a mixture of the two, more leaning towards the latter...

i understand its only a friendly, however, from what i have seen, it was worst than i actually thought it was going to be with ginge in charge... still, we will be within the guidelines for the so called "financial fair play" rules, so woopdidoo for that... wont be making europe any time soon, so it wont matter, but hey, the books are balanced and at least we arent small heath!

every cloud and all that...

I agree with that post in every way except the dig at McLeish. We are going to really struggle defencively again this season unless we buy.

[Simba]

One thing that troubles me is the performances of Gabby. He doesn't appear to have a place in this team. And he seems to know it.

[KRS]

I'll go for this vs Fulham

--------------------------------------------GIVEN---------------------------------------------
--------YOUNG-----------COLLINS-----------------DUNNE---------WARNOCK-------

-----------------------------PETROV-------------MAKOUN--------------------------

--------------GABBY-------------------IRELAND--------------------N'ZOGBIA-------

----------------------------------------BENT--------------------------------------

SUBS: BANNAN, GUZAN, CLARK, DELPH, HESKEY, ALBRIGHTON, BEYE

Completely pointless exercise playing either Gabby, Fonz or Heskey on the wing. As seen in the preseason friendlies so far, they have pace but neither can cross the ball so a decent move ends with a back pass or holding up play allowing their defence to get back into position.

Bannan or Albrighton should start on the right as they can at least cross the ball for Bent to get on the end of. Gabby, Fonz and Heskey are looking only really useful in a different formation (442?) or back up if Bent gets injured...problem is neither of them are particularly sharp or confident in front of goal. We will struggle for goals without Bent so we'll be relying on the likes of Ireland and N'Zogbia to pitch in a few.

Again repeating what I and everyone else has said...we urgently need a new CM captain to lead the midfield otherwise Given will be player of the season before we even get going.

[pauliewalnuts]

There's no point really trying to read too much into today's game. It was our third friendly, played in stifling heat, against a very good team indeed. Just as there was no point getting over the top about the Blackburn game, either.

The only things to really take so far are a few general pointers.

The positive ones that spring to mind for me are that we can pass the ball around very nicely when we try, we have some technically accomplished players, that we've signed an excellent goalkeeper and that McLeish is at least going to try to use all the resources he has available to him.

The negative ones are that we got a reminder today that we can still be pretty poor in defence (which scares me a little if we're going to rely on these players) and that the squad looks a little light.

On a side note, I look at Delfouneso and think that in the few chances he's had to show he can do it, he hasn't really shown a great deal.

[Clark W Griswold]

I think Gabby would be ok on the right. It's where he played when he broke in the team originally, and playing that formation you need 2 wide players to cut in, which would suit him and Zog.

[Clampy]

The first half was frustrating to watch at times, too many long balls from the back and the defending was'nt good. We struggled basically and could'nt seem to do anything right.

The last half hour or so was much better once we had the better footballers on the pitch. Makoun i like anyway, but i could watch Bannan all day at the moment, he  did more in the time he was on the pitch than Ireland did. He is looking like a really good footballer. He seems to know where people are before he's even laid the ball off to them.

[KRS]

Part of the defensively problem can be addressed by improving the midfield. Its no easy task being under constant pressure when the opposition slice through our midfield so easy and the only option for the defenders is to hump the ball towards our forwards giving away possession, inviting more pressure, until we eventually concede...its a vicious circle and needs to be addressed from the midfield first and foremost.

[The Situation]

People need to remember Delfouneso is only 20. Would be a bit silly to start losing hope on him.

He's a very talented player, he just has never been given a consistent run of games. He's got the ability, we can see that, he just needs to be able to make more of an impact on the team to get more recognition.

He played superbly against Fulham away and Blackpool at home last season.

[Clampy]

On a side note, I look at Delfouneso and think that in the few chances he's had to show he can do it, he hasn't really shown a great deal.

In fairness to him today, he did well down the flank, but he's a finisher. It should have been Gabby out wide if anything.

[Nastylee]

It's worth mentioning that was Chelsea's sixth pre-season game while it was our third. It showed me that we're not fit enough at the moment. However, with games against Derby and Braga I'm wondering whether our pre-season format is sufficient to see us start the season at the right level of fitness.

[PaulTheVillan]

The worry for me is that Fulham have played a few Europa qualifiers already & will be fitter than us.

Although the heat will be different to what they've played in HK, so could make a difference.