Pre-Season Friendly Match Thread Compendium

[Steve67]

Tim sees what we see. He knows who he can and cannot rely on. Baker ain't one of them. Two points dropped if this was a league game! Please get in a proper centre back.

[Nastylee]

saw the last 25 mins. Gueye looked good, Robinson is taking over Gabby, Amavi (or someone else) looked good going forward but got absolutely skinned for their first, Libor looks like he could still turn out decent, Baker is a numbskull.

[andyh]

Two really shit goals to concede.
Firstly, Sinclair defending in the left back position.
Amavi should have told him to get the fuck out of there.

Secondly, a nail in the coffin of the future of Baker at the club, I suspect.

[paul_e]

The only thing to add is that Steerman could've been sent off twice if that was a proper game, proper clugger.

[aj2k77]

Let's hope the link to Burnley for Baker is real, he's never a Premier centre half.

[leylandalbion]

I think we have the defensive unit.  but baker will be sold. I'm glad

[Clampy]

Westwood has been very good tonight

I'm not a massive fan of him, but he kept the midfield ticking over nicely at times.

Gueye looks like he might be a really good buy once he properly settles in. Kozak was great and Richards I thought was great at the back.

Overall, really promising. We definatley won't struggle again anyway.

[andyh]

Westwood looks like he has stepped up a level.
He seems to be thinking and playing the ball the ball a lot quicker.

[Nastylee]

Westwood looks like he has stepped up a level.
He seems to be thinking and playing the ball the ball a lot quicker.

Could it be that there's more movement around him which in turn allows him to dispatch the ball more quickly and into more threatening areas. Under previous regimes it's gone backwards because it was the only option bar a punt into space.

[N'Zimidy]

Bunn 7 - Did pretty well. Good saves from Dicko. Came out to claim the ball plenty of times. As good as Given at a 1/4 the price.
Amavi 7 - Looks pretty great going forward. Tidy on the ball.
Clark 7 - Solid enough as always.
Richards 8 - Really dominated aerially and put a good shift in.
Hutton 4 - He's a bang average full back, made some mistakes and is typically crap going forward.
Westwood 8 - Really excellent from him. Never misplaced a pass and got us going forward.
Gueye 7 - Nothing extraordinary from him today. Just a really solid performance, intercepting plenty of passes and getting stuck in,
Bacuna 6 - Flashes of brilliance but pretty average otherwise. Not very good on set pieces.
Sinclair 5 - Not a great game.
Gabby 5 - Typical Gabby.
Kozak 9 - Really impressive stuff. Great goals, bullied the defenders and held the ball up brilliantly.

Robinson 8 - He's definitely got something about him. Tricky and nippy.
Ayew 7 - Didn't see much of him but he definitely looks better than Gabby.
Baker 1 - As much as I like him, he is pretty naff isn't he.

[LTA]

Still look too vulnerable at the back for me.  Always looks like there's a mistake in our back line waiting to happen.

[Steve R]

Westwood looks like he has stepped up a level.
He seems to be thinking and playing the ball the ball a lot quicker.

I wonder if Wilkins is starting to have an influence. Westwood's body shape as he received the ball suddenly seems to allow him time to make a decision and play it on. His overall technique looks a lot better.

Gueye looks like he could be a really good player, Amavi looked good too,as did Richards. Bunn played out of his skin and could be bagging the no.1 spot if that is his usual standard. Nice cameo from Ayew.

We should have won easily but didn't, but there's still plenty to be optimistic about.

[paulcomben]

I have never ever rated Baker. Sell him to a northerly Championship club hoping for a play off place. Has been option A since MON blooded him and he got sent off.

[not3bad]

Baker was pretty good at times last season. Bit harsh to dismiss him completely on the basis of a pre-season friendly.

[dave.woodhall]

Westwood looks like he has stepped up a level.
He seems to be thinking and playing the ball the ball a lot quicker.

I wonder if Wilkins is starting to have an influence. Westwood's body shape as he received the ball suddenly seems to allow him time to make a decision and play it on. His overall technique looks a lot better.

Gueye looks like he could be a really good player, Amavi looked good too,as did Richards. Bunn played out of his skin and could be bagging the no.1 spot if that is his usual standard. Nice cameo from Ayew.

We should have won easily but didn't, but there's still plenty to be optimistic about.

I think a few of Lambert's signings would benefit from not having Lambert managing them. Anywya, tonight was better than Walsall, a similar improvement on Saturday and we might start looking something like.