There was enough to be encouraged about, a couple more signings in the right places, could make it enough to possibly get excited about. Really won’t know until we are full tilt against league 1 teams as to where we really are. No reason to panic though.
Feel as though there are two or three positions up for grabs at max for next Saturday...
(1) - Who joins Morgan and Fraser in Midfield (2) - Who plays on the opposite wing to Blackett-Taylor (3) - I suspect it'll be Stockley, but might yet be Aneke
Stockley is not a scapegoat at all. He just can't play football on the floor. His first touch is awful. Great in the air from balls in the box and can hold it up sometimes but doesn't suit tika taka football.
Na he is though isn't he?
Is it the best of his game? No
Can he do it? Course he can and has showed he can.
It's just easier to give him grief.
I don't think you understand the word scapegoat
Scapegoat or not, Stockley is our only out and out goal scorer, that's got to be a concern.
Its been a good month of friendlies... Certainly got my £7 worth
Plenty of positives for Garner to take into the Accrington game next week
Lots to work on and improve though, not the finished article by a long way yet, which makes me think we'll ultimately fall short in our quest for the top six this season - Think we'll see a lot better than what we got last season though.
Indeed.
Now, anyone know how to cancel the subscription? There isn't an option I can obviously see on the website.
Unlucky to lose, but lots of positives...are we the finished article - No! However with a few additions (especially up top) I like the look of the new squad and we have some depth now as well.....so all on to next Saturday and lets see what transpires.
I enjoyed that. So many positives. It's a very noticeable difference performance and shape wise than the last couple of years. We will need reinforcements, I'd say 1 left footed CB, a LB, and 2 forwards. I'm looking forward to the season , more than the last few.
Its been a good month of friendlies... Certainly got my £7 worth
Plenty of positives for Garner to take into the Accrington game next week
Lots to work on and improve though, not the finished article by a long way yet, which makes me think we'll ultimately fall short in our quest for the top six this season - Think we'll see a lot better than what we got last season though.
Agree in principle FA, but the window is still open and feel we must have plans to add some quality up front...hopefully..
Yeah I agree with the majority on here that we do need to strengthen with a new Striker (I just get tired hearing it every five minutes, its like having a kid in the car going: "Are we there yet, Are we there yet") - If we can get the right players in before the window closes, then I think Play-Offs become a stronger possibility.
Stockley is not a scapegoat at all. He just can't play football on the floor. His first touch is awful. Great in the air from balls in the box and can hold it up sometimes but doesn't suit tika taka football.
Na he is though isn't he?
Is it the best of his game? No
Can he do it? Course he can and has showed he can.
Clare looking good again. Albie looks decent too. Interesting the coaches constantly shouting simple to him, so we might see a more simplified approach from him now.
We know from his MK days how good he is, but to me Fraser has not done enough to be this shoe in most on here think he is. Gives the ball away carelessly - and I am not talking about when attempting defence splitting passes. Tbh Morgan and Gilbey have played then him in pre season.
Stockley shown to be part of the problem last year. Just so slow and has no football brain. Pleased that the goalie impressed after the Kilmarnock performance. Some good saves.
Lost the link a few times but Morgan was very comfortable and had a solid game with a good range of passes including LONG passes. The amount of goals we are going to give away at the back from overdoing the pass backs is going to be high. The thought that Inniss is going to turn into Van Dijk just isn't going to happen. The positives are CBT is going to be focus on attacking down the flank, good job. It won't work having Stockley and Leaburn in a front 3. I thought Miles played as a central striker ? Does any other team play a 6ft 5in striker wide ? The answer is no.
We are League 1, so no surprise we eventually were chasing shadows against a Higher class MK Dons team.
They were some positives with more game time for players with Morgan MOM by a mile.
I hate back passes and RB playing LB, So my frustrations continue but I did enjoy the OG from Swansea. How Swansea didn't score 2 goals from our cock ups !
A very encouraging showing, especially when you consider the players that had an outing last night, and the warm weather which should have meant a much slower paced game than the one we’ve just enjoyed
Enjoyed that as I did with all our previous friendlies. Just find this brand of football so much more palatable. That £7 was great value for money for me.
So many positives for me across all those games. I will defend Stockley as I think he is a lot better than people give him credit for, and the role he has been asked to do in this team - drop deep and link up attacks, as well as press high - I actually think he is done well. However I would rather see a more tricky forward thinking striker who can interchange with the others up top in that position.
Be interesting to see who goes in that midfield. Everyone is impressing me.
Wollacott ok Clare MOM Inniss Looked tired towards the end O'Connell pretty good Sessegnon out of position Morgan good Fraser poor McGrandles/ Payne Both ok, but no upgrade on JFC CBT electrifying Leaburn Not ready, missed our only real chance Stockley Stockley
Sorry to bang on about it, but we need a goalscorer
Good game in the sun against Championship side with some quality players. First half was all Charlton. They changed system second half and it worked for them.
Thought both MacGrandles and Payne look very promising. Clare was good at right back. Morgan had an excellent game particularly in the first half. Our keeper made three terrific saves in the second half.
God help any right back against CBT this season.
Not sure if Inniss and Stockley fit the manager's way of playing.
They all need to do more shooting practice. Gilbey showed how to do it against Welling.
Bit of a mixed bag, a good first half, then the weaknesses of trying to play this system came through playing a much better team.
Showed me if Sess get a knock we’re stuffed , on the left in defense, and we still need another striker who can press and play the system , but a lot of people have been been saying that for weeks.
I guess some players will thrive playing this system, and some won’t be up to it.
Wollacott ok Clare MOM Inniss Looked tired towards the end O'Connell pretty good Sessegnon out of position Morgan good Fraser poor McGrandles/ Payne Both ok CBT electrifying Leaburn Not ready, missed our only real chance Stockley Stockley
Sorry to bang on about it, but we need a goalscorer
Amazing how people can see games so differently. I’m no expert so you may well be right with your thoughts, but I thought in that first half Morgan, Fraser and Mcgrandles were all excellent.
Clare was good but positionally struggled a bit on the defensive side meaning he had to produce a couple of Hollywood tackles to get him out of trouble, which to be fair to him he did.
Sessignon and CBT showed a really encouraging connection.
Leaburn tired but showed enough signs to show he’s definitely ready to be on the bench for the first time to make an impact. Was really impressed by his pace.
I think Stockley may well come good in this formation in league one battling against league one centre backs.
Still amazed at how many people just shout “forward” and “get it up”.
Football has changed. Possession based and high press football is the fashionable style at the moment - it won’t win every game but if you get it right, you’ll get the result more often than not.
I do smirk at the contradictions though when it is “hoofed” and the same people shout “keep hold of the bloody ball, keep it simple.”
Comments
Indeed.
Now, anyone know how to cancel the subscription? There isn't an option I can obviously see on the website.
We will need reinforcements, I'd say 1 left footed CB, a LB, and 2 forwards.
I'm looking forward to the season , more than the last few.
I think in part he was strong because Mcgrandles looks a real all round player.
Keeper excellent in that second half too.
Bring on next week!
Friendly: Performance > result.
So by all accounts a decent showing.
Stockley shown to be part of the problem last year. Just so slow and has no football brain. Pleased that the goalie impressed after the Kilmarnock performance. Some good saves.
Wondering if his performance is because he’s asked for a transfer or perhaps being sold.
The amount of goals we are going to give away at the back from overdoing the pass backs is going to be high. The thought that Inniss is going to turn into Van Dijk just isn't going to happen. The positives are CBT is going to be focus on attacking down the flank, good job.
It won't work having Stockley and Leaburn in a front 3. I thought Miles played as a central striker ? Does any other team play a 6ft 5in striker wide ? The answer is no.
We are League 1, so no surprise we eventually were chasing shadows against a Higher class MK Dons team.
They were some positives with more game time for players with Morgan MOM by a mile.
I hate back passes and RB playing LB, So my frustrations continue but I did enjoy the OG from Swansea. How Swansea didn't score 2 goals from our cock ups !
So many positives for me across all those games. I will defend Stockley as I think he is a lot better than people give him credit for, and the role he has been asked to do in this team - drop deep and link up attacks, as well as press high - I actually think he is done well. However I would rather see a more tricky forward thinking striker who can interchange with the others up top in that position.
Clare MOM
Inniss Looked tired towards the end
O'Connell pretty good
Sessegnon out of position
Morgan good
Fraser poor
McGrandles/ Payne Both ok, but no upgrade on JFC
CBT electrifying
Leaburn Not ready, missed our only real chance
Stockley Stockley
Sorry to bang on about it, but we need a goalscorer
Thought both MacGrandles and Payne look very promising. Clare was good at right back. Morgan had an excellent game particularly in the first half. Our keeper made three terrific saves in the second half.
God help any right back against CBT this season.
Not sure if Inniss and Stockley fit the manager's way of playing.
They all need to do more shooting practice. Gilbey showed how to do it against Welling.
We lost that because we ended up with Chinn and Kanu on the left hand side. No blame attached to them either BTW.
Showed me if Sess get a knock we’re stuffed , on the left in defense, and we still need another striker who can press and play the system , but a lot of people have been been saying that for weeks.
I guess some players will thrive playing this system, and some won’t be up to it.
Clare was good but positionally struggled a bit on the defensive side meaning he had to produce a couple of Hollywood tackles to get him out of trouble, which to be fair to him he did.
Sessignon and CBT showed a really encouraging connection.
Leaburn tired but showed enough signs to show he’s definitely ready to be on the bench for the first time to make an impact. Was really impressed by his pace.
I think Stockley may well come good in this formation in league one battling against league one centre backs.
Football has changed. Possession based and high press football is the fashionable style at the moment - it won’t win every game but if you get it right, you’ll get the result more often than not.
I do smirk at the contradictions though when it is “hoofed” and the same people shout “keep hold of the bloody ball, keep it simple.”