First half was ok as far as pre-season friendlies go. We were aided by a very poor Welling side. Hopefully there won't be any hysterical over reaction to Pigott. Yes he seems to know where the goal is, but have to say I will be very surprised if he is involved this year.
Wood looked ok, but doubt he will bring anymore to the table than Taylor.
Second half was the closest I have actually come to falling asleep at a football match. Was absolutely dire.
First half we looked good, second half not so good.
If Piggot finishes every chance he gets like he did today throughout pre-season then he will be involved. Was clinical. Smith played well as well considering the zero support he had.
Players looked good though, decent energy and a lot of nice touches from various individuals.
First half we looked good, second half not so good.
If Piggot finishes every chance he gets like he did today throughout pre-season then he will be involved. Was clinical. Smith played well as well considering the zero support he had.
Players looked good though, decent energy and a lot of nice touches from various individuals.
Twitter said he had one on a plate and smashed it out of the stadium?
Really impressed. I usually hate friendlies but this was really enjoyable . Especially the first half . Piggot looked composed , Jacko looks trim and Solly was sublime as usual. How the players managed to play 45 minutes in that heat was beyond me. I was melting .
I have been saying for months that Pigott is the real deal. Yes he is raw, but he has good hold up play and can finish. If he was a new signing we would be purring over his performance.
Only concern today was where was Wiggins? He went off injured in the last game of the season, so concerning given his career injury record (2011/12 apart).
I agree with BB. Pigott has looked class every time I've seen him. Also. As I've said before, if we DON'T start playing some of the kids, we will lose them.
I was particularly disappointed with Stephens today. He didn't look interested at all.
Dervite looked strong, and was pleased with Evina's contribution.
In the 1st half, Yann played just behind Pigott, and used the space very well.
In the 2nd, I think Cook was supposed to do the same thing behind Smudger, but ended up playing too deep, and left Smith isolated...
Liked that first half side moved the ball well and we looked sharp! Pigott finished very well yann very good jacko looks sharper and harriott quicker than a cheater! Button made great saves second half green and Wilson combined well and gower pasted nicely ! Same can't be said for Stephens shocking on way out i think! Hollands hmm bring back his double who played in league one ;-) evina hmm thought he lefted us not wanting to sign new contract! Well done lads that was hot out there
Can only really echo what has already been said. A game of 2 halves, or it could be said, 2 different games.
1st half it was all Charlton, with Welling having just a couple of shots that Pope coped with easily. Yann seemed to play off Piggott and sitting a bit deeper was our best player - super passes and made 2 of Piggotts goals. Not sure if Piggott is the real deal as this is the first time I've seen him, but if he was "A Trialist" or Joe Smith from Biggleswade Town I would certainly want to see more of him as he was composed and clinical with his 3 goals.
2nd half was completely different - Welling upped the pace and were unlucky not to get a couple of goals, whereas our attacking threat seemed non-existent. Can't really fault Michael Smith as he was given little service. Jordan Cook started up front with him then went wide left as our midfield was poor.........can't believe we had Hollands, Stephens & Gower out there as there was little movement or creativity.......didn't think I'd ever say this but we missed the pace of Pritch and surely Stephens & Hollands wont be featuring much this season.
MOM - Kermy...........he was our best attacking midfielder by far.
I have been saying for a while that Pigott has improved out of sight in the past year. It is all well and good to say that he had Kermy feeding him but you still need to finish and he took the chances really well. He makes some clever runs and he makes up for a lack of pace with some great anticipation. He is also a big physical unit and is not shaken off the ball easily. I think you will see him as an occasional substitute this season, maybe feature in up game. But make no mistake this boy will only get better.
A game of two halves Brian! Piggot looks a very good prospect had great service from Yann who sat just behind him took his goals well! Smith was in a 451 but looked like he could step up, battled hard I would like to see him play in the team from the first half! On that showing Morgan Fox is not good enough made too many elementary errors, But it's the first of a very long season. So may well improve. Same for Wood who looked nervous Solly Yann and Jackson outstanding Pritch still needs some muscle ! Good day out!
I have been saying for a while that Pigott has improved out of sight in the past year. It is all well and good to say that he had Kermy feeding him but you still need to finish and he took the chances really well. He makes some clever runs and he makes up for a lack of pace with some great anticipation. He is also a big physical unit and is not shaken off the ball easily. I think you will see him as an occasional substitute this season, maybe feature in up game. But make no mistake this boy will only get better.
Agreed. Joe has always scored goals and will score a few more. Smith is a good player but is not a natural finisher like Pigott. In some ways he reminds me of our groundsman.
We've put a few quid in Wellings back pocket & the lads have got 45 mins game time under their belt. Take the game with a pinch of salt. Always good to see the youngsters out and I was keeping an eye on Fox, Piggot and Smith. Piggot (who I've never seen play before) took both goals well and made some good runs in behind the defenders. Both Smith and Fox were average today and I was disappointed we didn't see more of an attacking threat from the later. Smiths been out on loan a few times and I think the club will be hoping/expecting him to make some progress this sesson. I'd like Powell to give a few youngsters a run out in the CC game. Standard first pre season game for me, livley opening then the game died a death towards the end.
Pope: not much to do, seems very vocal and likes to come and collect. Fox: Shaky, wasn't great on the ball and got outpaced a couple of times, didn't think he showed the promise people have said he has today. Wood: a couple of misplaced passes in dangerous areas, but covered and tackled well. Morrison: Calm and assured at the back. Solly: Got forward a couple of times, defended well a couple of times, Standard for him. Harriott: Ran a lot, tried a couple of flicks and backheels, one of which came off well, still looks very raw but will always worry teams. Jackson: Looked leaner (and darker) than usual and played some decent football without ever changing gear. Sweats a lot for someone who is, shall we say, efficient in his movements and exertion. Hughes: played a lot of 40 yard punts to clear the ball, also kept the ball moving well Pritchard: Got forward well, looked more like a winger than before, but needs to have a shot every now and then, let a rocket loose today but we don't see it often. Kermorgant: Showed his class, took his goal well and played a couple of lovely balls through for Piggy. Pigott: Bigger than I thought, touch isn't amazing but he's awkward to play against. Took all his goals well and seems very assured on the ball
2nd Half
Button: Had more to do than Pope, done it well, got beaten once but the crossbar saved his clean sheet. Wilson: Surprise captain pick, industrious and can defend well, but he looks more comfortable as a winger than as a full back, put in a decent couple of balls. Cort: Sloppy in clearances, didn't handle their pacey forwards very well, still very good at set pieces though. Dervite: Our best centre back with the ball, his positioning could be improved though and sometimes he was pushing forward with the ball and leaving gaps in the defence. Evina: Looked lively, had a great moment of control on the wing only to overhit the cross by 20 yards. Seems to be playing for a contract (or for agents eyes) Green: Put in some great crosses for Smith, his dead ball delivery is also good and took his penalty well. Needs to support the striker more. Gower:Loves a cross-field pass, doesn't love a long range shot though from what I have seen, too busy looking for a pass when it opens up in front of him Hollands: Seemed to be fit again compared to early last season, sat deep and swept a lot of balls up and played them on, no fuss, just consistency. Stephens: Possibly the worst of the 22, gave the ball away, didn't look up for Smith's runs and was being out-muscled all the half. Cook: Bit hot and cold, clearly has pace and technique but he kept drifting really wide or sitting back when he should be pushing up. Needs to up his game to compete with Harriott for LM. Smith: Isolated up front, snatched at a couple of chances and didn't look great as a sole striker. Has a decent turn on him and heading is decent too.
Overall, Kermorgant showed his class and demonstrated how to play killer balls from deep, whilst Stephens showed why he was dropped last season, and these two are probably the difference in the teams, if they swapped and played again I think you'll find Smith would have scored and Pigott would have struggled
I'm one of Stephens biggest critics but in that heat yesterday I thought he looked pretty mobile to me. Looked for the ball a moved it around well. My one criticism is he still hasn't got a decent forward pass in him.
Comments
Wood looked ok, but doubt he will bring anymore to the table than Taylor.
Second half was the closest I have actually come to falling asleep at a football match. Was absolutely dire.
If Piggot finishes every chance he gets like he did today throughout pre-season then he will be involved. Was clinical. Smith played well as well considering the zero support he had.
Players looked good though, decent energy and a lot of nice touches from various individuals.
Smith on the other hand was isolated in a 451.
The first half team was close to our strongest side currently so understandably looked much stronger.
The 2nd half team took a long time to get going, especially Cort. Leon did get better but WU had a few chances.
As ever it means little. It was very hot and it was a friendly work out, no more.
But we looked good, Wood and Piggot (the two "unknowns") both did well.
IMHO Piggot will be a player. Maybe this not season but he will make it.
Only concern today was where was Wiggins? He went off injured in the last game of the season, so concerning given his career injury record (2011/12 apart).
I was particularly disappointed with Stephens today. He didn't look interested at all.
Dervite looked strong, and was pleased with Evina's contribution.
In the 1st half, Yann played just behind Pigott, and used the space very well.
In the 2nd, I think Cook was supposed to do the same thing behind Smudger, but ended up playing too deep, and left Smith isolated...
1st half it was all Charlton, with Welling having just a couple of shots that Pope coped with easily. Yann seemed to play off Piggott and sitting a bit deeper was our best player - super passes and made 2 of Piggotts goals. Not sure if Piggott is the real deal as this is the first time I've seen him, but if he was "A Trialist" or Joe Smith from Biggleswade Town I would certainly want to see more of him as he was composed and clinical with his 3 goals.
2nd half was completely different - Welling upped the pace and were unlucky not to get a couple of goals, whereas our attacking threat seemed non-existent. Can't really fault Michael Smith as he was given little service. Jordan Cook started up front with him then went wide left as our midfield was poor.........can't believe we had Hollands, Stephens & Gower out there as there was little movement or creativity.......didn't think I'd ever say this but we missed the pace of Pritch and surely Stephens & Hollands wont be featuring much this season.
MOM - Kermy...........he was our best attacking midfielder by far.
Pigott for me...
Piggot looks a very good prospect had great service from Yann who sat just behind him took his goals well!
Smith was in a 451 but looked like he could step up, battled hard I would like to see him play in the team from the first half!
On that showing Morgan Fox is not good enough made too many elementary errors, But it's the first of a very long season. So may well improve. Same for Wood who looked nervous
Solly Yann and Jackson outstanding
Pritch still needs some muscle !
Good day out!
Smith is a good player but is not a natural finisher like Pigott. In some ways he reminds me of our groundsman.
Piggot (who I've never seen play before) took both goals well and made some good runs in behind the defenders. Both Smith and Fox were average today and I was disappointed we didn't see more of an attacking threat from the later.
Smiths been out on loan a few times and I think the club will be hoping/expecting him to make some progress this sesson. I'd like Powell to give a few youngsters a run out in the CC game.
Standard first pre season game for me, livley opening then the game died a death towards the end.
Pope: not much to do, seems very vocal and likes to come and collect.
Fox: Shaky, wasn't great on the ball and got outpaced a couple of times, didn't think he showed the promise people have said he has today.
Wood: a couple of misplaced passes in dangerous areas, but covered and tackled well.
Morrison: Calm and assured at the back.
Solly: Got forward a couple of times, defended well a couple of times, Standard for him.
Harriott: Ran a lot, tried a couple of flicks and backheels, one of which came off well, still looks very raw but will always worry teams.
Jackson: Looked leaner (and darker) than usual and played some decent football without ever changing gear. Sweats a lot for someone who is, shall we say, efficient in his movements and exertion.
Hughes: played a lot of 40 yard punts to clear the ball, also kept the ball moving well
Pritchard: Got forward well, looked more like a winger than before, but needs to have a shot every now and then, let a rocket loose today but we don't see it often.
Kermorgant: Showed his class, took his goal well and played a couple of lovely balls through for Piggy.
Pigott: Bigger than I thought, touch isn't amazing but he's awkward to play against. Took all his goals well and seems very assured on the ball
2nd Half
Button: Had more to do than Pope, done it well, got beaten once but the crossbar saved his clean sheet.
Wilson: Surprise captain pick, industrious and can defend well, but he looks more comfortable as a winger than as a full back, put in a decent couple of balls.
Cort: Sloppy in clearances, didn't handle their pacey forwards very well, still very good at set pieces though.
Dervite: Our best centre back with the ball, his positioning could be improved though and sometimes he was pushing forward with the ball and leaving gaps in the defence.
Evina: Looked lively, had a great moment of control on the wing only to overhit the cross by 20 yards. Seems to be playing for a contract (or for agents eyes)
Green: Put in some great crosses for Smith, his dead ball delivery is also good and took his penalty well. Needs to support the striker more.
Gower:Loves a cross-field pass, doesn't love a long range shot though from what I have seen, too busy looking for a pass when it opens up in front of him
Hollands: Seemed to be fit again compared to early last season, sat deep and swept a lot of balls up and played them on, no fuss, just consistency.
Stephens: Possibly the worst of the 22, gave the ball away, didn't look up for Smith's runs and was being out-muscled all the half.
Cook: Bit hot and cold, clearly has pace and technique but he kept drifting really wide or sitting back when he should be pushing up. Needs to up his game to compete with Harriott for LM.
Smith: Isolated up front, snatched at a couple of chances and didn't look great as a sole striker. Has a decent turn on him and heading is decent too.
Overall, Kermorgant showed his class and demonstrated how to play killer balls from deep, whilst Stephens showed why he was dropped last season, and these two are probably the difference in the teams, if they swapped and played again I think you'll find Smith would have scored and Pigott would have struggled
Paaaaaannnnniiiiiiiiccccccc
He was wearing a "Goodbye I'm off to Palace T-shirt" though, same as Wiggins : - )