Pre-season 2023/24

[nordenvillain]

Given the premier league advertising event in the US, I think this is the highest quality set of sides we've ever played in pre-season, and the results and performances - on the whole - have been excellent.  Fingers crossed we can carry this form into next weekend and beyond.

As for who will start against Newcastle, Christ knows. Barring Martinez, Oli, McGinn and Mings, it could be anyone else.  Brilliant to have so many genuine choices in the squad!

Think you can add Luiz and Kamara to those names

[Beard82]

Dont see a lot wrong with Archer, we know there is a big drop off in experience from Watkins to our other strikers but I think he did fine with his chance.

To be honest, I think Diaby didn't do much, and Torres looks out of place at on the left - I wouldn't be in a rush to right off any of the 3 of them

[pelty]

Does today make people feel better, worse, or unchanged about where we stand for next week? I feel a little worse if this lineup stands.

[Smithy]

Given the premier league advertising event in the US, I think this is the highest quality set of sides we've ever played in pre-season, and the results and performances - on the whole - have been excellent.  Fingers crossed we can carry this form into next weekend and beyond.

As for who will start against Newcastle, Christ knows. Barring Martinez, Oli, McGinn and Mings, it could be anyone else.  Brilliant to have so many genuine choices in the squad!

Think you can add Luiz and Kamara to those names

Maybe, but that means no Tielemans, and I'm not entirely sure which two out of those three he'll choose for Newcastle. I think you're probably right, but only 100% that McGinn will play.

[Somniloquism]

So will Unai be flying over to Villareal to watch Newcastle tomorrow before coming home?

[PaulWinch again]

I’m pretty positive - we’ve just beat two big European sides. Also Valencia tried to kick us off the park and we saw them off.

[Olneythelonely]

Does today make people feel better, worse, or unchanged about where we stand for next week? I feel a little worse if this lineup stands.

I’m not going to judge today in isolation. 2nd game in 48 hours and we still comfortably won. So unchanged really.

Taking the pre-season as a whole, I’m as excited about a season as I ever remember being.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Desperate for Archer to do something, but it just doesn’t seem to be happening for him.

That run he went on and beat a couple of players before having his shot blocked is a great example of his talent and what we need. He gave their defenders something to constantly think about. Great shot from Watkins but he rarely looks a threat. I don't think it helped having Diaby up front so narrow and close. Neither were running the channels looking for a through ball but then they didn't have Coutinho doing the magic.

Emery has put together a great squad and he will need to get them working effectively as a team. He can't play everybody and he'll need to work on how we get the best from the strikers as the keeper, defence and midfield look good enough for what we want to achieve.

This new FIFA law allowing for a more physical game will need to be far better managed by the referees we've seen in the last two games.

Nice to see we've been unbeaten all pre-season and for John McGinn to lift his first trophy of the season. Let's hope it's the first of many. FA Cup next please lads.

[MalcolmP]

Desperate for Archer to do something, but it just doesn’t seem to be happening for him.

No, he’s been a bit underwhelming tbh.

Yup. Needs to improve fast if he wants to be part of this squad.

He's been given very little time to impress. 15  mins here and there is not enough. Give him a chance.

[VillaTim]

I’m pretty positive - we’ve just beat two big European sides. Also Valencia tried to kick us off the park and we saw them off.

Valencia came 16th last season. They aren't that good

[Olneythelonely]

I’m pretty positive - we’ve just beat two big European sides. Also Valencia tried to kick us off the park and we saw them off.

Valencia came 16th last season. They aren't that good

You’re right. We should have just lost instead.

[pelty]

Does today make people feel better, worse, or unchanged about where we stand for next week? I feel a little worse if this lineup stands.

I’m not going to judge today in isolation. 2nd game in 48 hours and we still comfortably won. So unchanged really.

Taking the pre-season as a whole, I’m as excited about a season as I ever remember being.

That is very fair; I was thinking of today being more the “starting lineup” and neglected to think of the “two games in 48 hours” piece which could makes anyone sluggish. That said, we need to be able to handle the quicker turnaround. Unai will handle it, so that does not worry me. Just was unimpressed by the Torres-Bailey axis and concerned about that being the lineup on Saturday.

I agree that I am more excited than ever about this season!

[Ducksworthy]

I’m pretty positive - we’ve just beat two big European sides. Also Valencia tried to kick us off the park and we saw them off.

Any time there’s a big push-and-shove silliness, I like seeing Tyrone just march through a rabble with people bouncing off him, calm as anything, to settle things down.

[Risso]

Ignoring Walsall which was just a leg stretcher, we’ve scored at least two goals in every match pre-season, stayed unbeaten and deserved to win every match.

[alan_clarke]

Imagine being Archer and having just played in front of the Boro midfield for the last 12 months, and now having the prospect of this lot serving him up this season. He’ll be desperate for more minutes.