So we weren't playing to win. Good excuse, not. It is only a pre- season game blah, only used to get players fit blah. Pre-season games don't matter blah. It's all a bit embarrassing though isn't it?
Embarrassing rubbish.....pre season friendly or not, they were wearing the shirt out there and that was just NOT acceptable. Hard to know where to start......but the final ball into the box was abysmal, over hit, under hit, too soft, too hard, straight at the defender, too near the keeper. You name it they repeatedly did it. Fuck me, I played in the Met League in my youth and I was a winger and believe you me if I had crossed like that for 90 minutes I would have been hugely embarrassed. I realise it's very very early days with this current squad but we are going to be deep in the shyte from the get go unless there is a dramatic improvement on what was served up tonight.
Not too worried. The pitch was atrocious but we tried to knock it around. If we'd been trying to win I'm sure it'd have been a more direct game (and we'd have defended with a bit more urgency). Obviously the players need some work still.
Leuth come on fella.....that was absolute garbage!
I feel obliged to hold fast on judgement until the first league game. However I can't believe I am writing this but at this stage last year in Austria we were better. There is a huge amount of improvement needed. The question remains whether Karl, Bowyer, Jacko, Duchatalet, and Meire can do it. At least last year we had Kevin Nugent around. The simple task is to win ag home and draw away
I feel obliged to hold fast on judgement until the first league game. However I can't believe I am writing this but at this stage last year in Austria we were better. There is a huge amount of improvement needed. The question remains whether Karl, Bowyer, Jacko, Duchatalet, and Meire can do it. At least last year we had Kevin Nugent around. The simple task is to win ag home and draw away
Come on, third game in three days after an exhaustive week in training. The games I saw in Austria last year we looked far worse, though admittedly the oppo were better. We weren't good today, but the scoreline flattered them.
I think it's a mistake having full TV coverage of these meaningless games, as people start treating them as meaningful fixtures
We've spent a week in Ireland doing intensive fitness training, not concentrating on tactics and finishing as the season doesn't start for 3 weeks. Whereas the teams we are playing are in the middle of their season and hence on top of their game.
If Dublin did beer, this would probably be UCD's most famous result since "July 2015, when they saw off Luxembourgish champions F91 Dudelange in the Europa League" [wiki].
Absolutely awful yet again from Clark. Was about 5 on 3 and he kicks it in to no mans land.
I was shocked when we signed him! Wasn't pulling up any trees at Crawley bit better for Bradford but totally not a Charlton type player more a fleetwood type really! Hope he proves me wrong but I feel like we are a to bigger club for him!
My overall feeling on this is "meh, oh well." Obviously not great today, but I think the doom and bloom is going way over the top. We looked decent for much of yesterday, and still looked alright at times today.
Phillips: Oh dear. Pushed it right into them middle for the first goal. Looked a bit slow off his line for the fourth. Don't think he could do anything for the other two. His distribution was largely very poor. For a young keeper who isn't brilliant on the ball, games like this are always going to be difficult. But Karl clearly wants to build from the back, and having a keeper good on the ball is crucial to that. Expect another goalkeeper to sign in the next few days. Solly: Looked sluggish and seemed to only be playing at half speed most of the time. Tex: Not great. Should have stepped out for the second goal. Looked to be playing at half speed once again Bauer: Stepped out of defense to win the ball a couple times. Would like to see him with Konsa who has the pace to cover for him (even though he and Konsa both like to step into midfield to win the ball). JJ: Not a left back. Had three good chances and didn't take them. Aribo: Not his best game. Went missing and gave the ball away too cheaply. Looked knackered. Kashi: Thought he looked good. Played a lovely ball over the top for Magennis to put just wide, then had a great cross in that Bauer headed across goal. Can play the ball with either foot. He's the type of player where everyone else on the pitch knows exactly where he'll be and that he's an outlet. Definitely tired as the game went on, and perhaps could have done better for the second--though he was the only one chasing the ball. Marshall: Had a nice volley just over. Has the ability to take set pieces with either foot. Other than that nothing really came off for him and he lacked a final ball. Was not alone in this. Clarke: Has all the makings of a Marmite player. Had one move to get inside and work a shot, but other than that final ball and finishing were desperately, desperately lacking. Ceballos: Class. Worked hard. Had some lovely touches and is the type of player who seems to both find space and make space for himself because of his technical ability. Had a wonderful volley just over. He created a couple of good chances, and importantly he won the ball back on a handful of occasions. Looked fitter than everyone else and half a step quicker. We should now go back to calling him "formerly of Spurs and Barcelona." If the season started tomorrow, I'd start him as the #10. Magennis: Looked out on his feet. Nearly scored a lovely goal but didn't have much service. Day 5 of training for him.
Last 30: Barnes: Look muted and gave the ball away sloppily a couple times. Also let his man inside of him for the fourth. Konsa: Looked a bit ropey. Let the player inside of him for the fourth--bad communication with Barnes on that. Pearce: Aggressive. Sarr: Rubbish. No wait, sorry. Not a left back but did alright. Had some tidy touches and good passes. Was apparently up against a greyhound but they stopped attacking down the right when he came on. Crofts: Meh. Took a very clever quick free kick. The game was stretched by the time he came on and he doesn't do well in games that are stretched (see Swindon away). Not necessarily his fault. Dijksteel: Had a couple flashes but mostly see above. Stewart: Showed really good patience to set up the goal and had another good opportunity blocked. RCC: Had a couple tidy touches. Deserves more time with the senior team. KAG: Largely frustrating apart from a really classy finish. To his credit he tracked back and looked to get at them and tried to make something happen--more than can be said for most. Watt: Nothing went right for him. Not all his fault as he's not a #9 but final ball was lacking, finishing was lacking, and at times made the wrong run. He looked like the same old frustrating Tony Watt.
Co-Commentary Team (Olly and Jamie): Let's just say if I were Greg Stubley and El Tel I'd be looking over my should right now...
I feel obliged to hold fast on judgement until the first league game. However I can't believe I am writing this but at this stage last year in Austria we were better. There is a huge amount of improvement needed. The question remains whether Karl, Bowyer, Jacko, Duchatalet, and Meire can do it. At least last year we had Kevin Nugent around. The simple task is to win ag home and draw away
Come on, third game in three days after an exhaustive week in training. The games I saw in Austria last year we looked far worse, though admittedly the oppo were better. We weren't good today, but the scoreline flattered them.
They are professional footballers! and it's not showing at all!
If it's just a matter of getting them 'match fit' then why not just play games against the reserves internally. What's the point of arranging an actual set of games that fans will pay money to go over and see.
Surely if our players had any pride they would at least make sure they put in 50% effort and win the match (that's probably all it would have taken against a side like UCD). At least have some pride in trying to get a result, even if it doesn't mean much. Surely there is no benefit out of losing any game 4-1, especially against this opposition!
@SDAddick having read your own report, I am struggling to understand your positivity!
It's not that I'm positive, it's just that I don't think today tells us that much. Just as Monday's win didn't mean we were going to win the league, today doesn't mean we'll be relegated. Most of them (Aribo, Solly, Magennis, JJ, and Clarke in particular) looked exhausted from about 20 minutes in. I think a lot of the heavy touches and sloppiness looked like tired mistakes.
There is a question of, is it wise to play three times in three days? I don't know, but we seem to be embracing sports science a lot more than I remember us doing in the past and that gives me hope. It's worth noting that if we weren't playing games we'd probably be doing two-a-day training sessions and whether or not that's better, again I don't know.
If it's just a matter of getting them 'match fit' then why not just play games against the reserves internally. What's the point of arranging an actual set of games that fans will pay money to go over and see.
Surely if our players had any pride they would at least make sure they put in 50% effort and win the match (that's probably all it would have taken against a side like UCD). At least have some pride in trying to get a result, even if it doesn't mean much. Surely there is no benefit out of losing any game 4-1, especially against this opposition!
Nobody forces the fans to go over, I would hope they are there as much for the craic as they are for the football?
The opposition may be less gifted players, but they are fully match fit which makes a massive difference. Someone like Josh is even further behind everyone in terms of his preseason
Comments
It's all a bit embarrassing though isn't it?
Hard to know where to start......but the final ball into the box was abysmal, over hit, under hit, too soft, too hard, straight at the defender, too near the keeper. You name it they repeatedly did it. Fuck me, I played in the Met League in my youth and I was a winger and believe you me if I had crossed like that for 90 minutes I would have been hugely embarrassed.
I realise it's very very early days with this current squad but we are going to be deep in the shyte from the get go unless there is a dramatic improvement on what was served up tonight.
There is a huge amount of improvement needed. The question remains whether Karl, Bowyer, Jacko, Duchatalet, and Meire can do it.
At least last year we had Kevin Nugent around.
The simple task is to win ag home and draw away
Paper thin on grass.
We've spent a week in Ireland doing intensive fitness training, not concentrating on tactics and finishing as the season doesn't start for 3 weeks. Whereas the teams we are playing are in the middle of their season and hence on top of their game.
Friendly or not. Getting thrashed by a student team like that should never happen if you're a professional player in the English leagues.
Phillips: Oh dear. Pushed it right into them middle for the first goal. Looked a bit slow off his line for the fourth. Don't think he could do anything for the other two. His distribution was largely very poor. For a young keeper who isn't brilliant on the ball, games like this are always going to be difficult. But Karl clearly wants to build from the back, and having a keeper good on the ball is crucial to that. Expect another goalkeeper to sign in the next few days.
Solly: Looked sluggish and seemed to only be playing at half speed most of the time.
Tex: Not great. Should have stepped out for the second goal. Looked to be playing at half speed once again
Bauer: Stepped out of defense to win the ball a couple times. Would like to see him with Konsa who has the pace to cover for him (even though he and Konsa both like to step into midfield to win the ball).
JJ: Not a left back. Had three good chances and didn't take them.
Aribo: Not his best game. Went missing and gave the ball away too cheaply. Looked knackered.
Kashi: Thought he looked good. Played a lovely ball over the top for Magennis to put just wide, then had a great cross in that Bauer headed across goal. Can play the ball with either foot. He's the type of player where everyone else on the pitch knows exactly where he'll be and that he's an outlet. Definitely tired as the game went on, and perhaps could have done better for the second--though he was the only one chasing the ball.
Marshall: Had a nice volley just over. Has the ability to take set pieces with either foot. Other than that nothing really came off for him and he lacked a final ball. Was not alone in this.
Clarke: Has all the makings of a Marmite player. Had one move to get inside and work a shot, but other than that final ball and finishing were desperately, desperately lacking.
Ceballos: Class. Worked hard. Had some lovely touches and is the type of player who seems to both find space and make space for himself because of his technical ability. Had a wonderful volley just over. He created a couple of good chances, and importantly he won the ball back on a handful of occasions. Looked fitter than everyone else and half a step quicker. We should now go back to calling him "formerly of Spurs and Barcelona." If the season started tomorrow, I'd start him as the #10.
Magennis: Looked out on his feet. Nearly scored a lovely goal but didn't have much service. Day 5 of training for him.
Last 30:
Barnes: Look muted and gave the ball away sloppily a couple times. Also let his man inside of him for the fourth.
Konsa: Looked a bit ropey. Let the player inside of him for the fourth--bad communication with Barnes on that.
Pearce: Aggressive.
Sarr: Rubbish. No wait, sorry. Not a left back but did alright. Had some tidy touches and good passes. Was apparently up against a greyhound but they stopped attacking down the right when he came on.
Crofts: Meh. Took a very clever quick free kick. The game was stretched by the time he came on and he doesn't do well in games that are stretched (see Swindon away). Not necessarily his fault.
Dijksteel: Had a couple flashes but mostly see above.
Stewart: Showed really good patience to set up the goal and had another good opportunity blocked.
RCC: Had a couple tidy touches. Deserves more time with the senior team.
KAG: Largely frustrating apart from a really classy finish. To his credit he tracked back and looked to get at them and tried to make something happen--more than can be said for most.
Watt: Nothing went right for him. Not all his fault as he's not a #9 but final ball was lacking, finishing was lacking, and at times made the wrong run. He looked like the same old frustrating Tony Watt.
Co-Commentary Team (Olly and Jamie): Let's just say if I were Greg Stubley and El Tel I'd be looking over my should right now...
Surely if our players had any pride they would at least make sure they put in 50% effort and win the match (that's probably all it would have taken against a side like UCD). At least have some pride in trying to get a result, even if it doesn't mean much. Surely there is no benefit out of losing any game 4-1, especially against this opposition!
There is a question of, is it wise to play three times in three days? I don't know, but we seem to be embracing sports science a lot more than I remember us doing in the past and that gives me hope. It's worth noting that if we weren't playing games we'd probably be doing two-a-day training sessions and whether or not that's better, again I don't know.
The opposition may be less gifted players, but they are fully match fit which makes a massive difference. Someone like Josh is even further behind everyone in terms of his preseason
It's all about how we play in 3 1/2 weeks time