Pre-Season Friendlies

[andyh]

Was in the home end.   Very cold in the end.  Not T shirt weather.  We looked slow and lacked invention.   Poor quality on both sides.  Jack looked lively but didn't seem to want to take on and beat players.  Same old shit TBH.

I know it's only a friendly, and it's all about fitness, but it's quite disconcerting to read a report like this.
So many players looking for a fresh start, new management, fresh approach, so much to pay the fans back for......I'd have hoped we'd seem some intent from them.

[itbrvilla]

We need a clearout - this has been obvious for a very long time.  And quick.  The season starts in what two and a half weeks.

The only way we can clear out is by selling players, and the only players who other clubs want will be the ones we want to keep.
Do we accept offers below what we want or hold out for more, as is reported the situation with Sinclair?
We'll be offering BOGOF deals by the end of August and throwing in Green Shield stamps as well.

A spectacular losing mentality doesn't become a winning one all of a sudden.  There are half a dozen or so players that have a serious attitude-ability issue.  They need to be moved on and at a loss if necessary.  As for the ones we want to keep then ultimately it's entirely up to us (with the possible exception of Gueye) as to whether we cash in or not.

I agree. No idea why everyone thinks well piss it next season. Our squad is mostly shit and/or lacking confidence. We need wins quickly when the season starts. I got the feeling Sheff Wednesday will be a reality check. By then we might not have time to get in and integrate them.

[Clampy]

Was in the home end.   Very cold in the end.  Not T shirt weather.  We looked slow and lacked invention.   Poor quality on both sides.  Jack looked lively but didn't seem to want to take on and beat players.  Same old shit TBH.

Most friendlies are like that though. I can't think of too many I've been to where we've played teams off the park and looked brilliant.

[Steve67]

Those players left out, do we know why? Kozak, Agbonlahor, Amavi etc. Gil and Veretout are off so that's understandable. Richards and Traore injured.

[kippaxvilla2]

Traore injured you say?

[Clampy]

Those players left out, do we know why? Kozak, Agbonlahor, Amavi etc. Gil and Veretout are off so that's understandable. Richards and Traore injured.

Maybe he wanted to look at other players. The squad that flies over to France at the weekend will tell us more maybe.

[UK Redsox]

A few more thoughts

Jack still won't shoot and cant take corners

Ayew either needs a strike partner or to be told to stay further forward (nicely taken goal though)

Joe looked good going forward and can take a decent corner (would have liked to see him still on the pitch after JustHead came on)

Some nice moments of skill from Andre

Gana is fine at breaking up play but I don't rate his passing

Okore would not be one of my first choice centre backs

[CT]

Briefly saw our goal this morning on SSN.

I thought Traore had scored - It didn't look like Ayew at all to me until they showed a closer shot as he turned round - I guess he's still not quite "match fit".

[aj2k77]

Going from a friends words we are still almost exactly the same as last season, there's no invention or pace in the team and the defence and midfield still soft as shit.

No revolution yet. Just more of the same with a bit more leadership behind the scenes. We need to really step it up the next few weeks, on the pitch and behind the scenes with some transfers to inject what's missing in the team. This team is not good enough to get promoted.

[kippaxvilla2]

I still think half a dozen need to be shipped out.  Gabby, Richards, Lescott, Bacuna, Guzan, Westwood.  There should be no forgiveness or revisionism when it comes to Gabby.  At the time we needed him most, as the so called club captain, he saw fit to be filmed looking like a complete gobshite in Dubai, followed by a piss up in a hotel bedroom in London on the day we got relegated. 

[cdbearsfan]

I can give any of them a chance except Gabby. That ****** has to go.

[Skerra]

I keep seeing this name re-appearing on here...Traore Injured... is that his real surname!!!!

[Hookeysmith]

I know all the clichés about "Only friendlies" "only a fitness assessment" etc

Did not stop me looking at the phone every 5 mins for an update

Now disappointed because we did not win and reports are we are still crap 

[Dave]

Now disappointed because we did not win and reports are we are still crap 

We weren't. We looked like a team playing a friendly against a bunch of players who were more excited about playing against us than we were about playing against them.

We might be rubbish this season, but last night offers no evidence to either back it up or refute it.

[Pat McMahon]

A few more thoughts

Jack still won't shoot and cant take corners

Ayew either needs a strike partner or to be told to stay further forward (nicely taken goal though)

Joe looked good going forward and can take a decent corner (would have liked to see him still on the pitch after JustHead came on)

Some nice moments of skill from Andre

Gana is fine at breaking up play but I don't rate his passing

Okore would not be one of my first choice centre backs

Plus ca change eh?

Gana reminds me of Boateng or Reo Coker in that he is better without the ball than with it.