Caporegime
- Joined
- 9 Mar 2006
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What is this Barry guy doing lmao
2025/26 Preseason Thread
- Thread starter Tombstone
- Start date
Dalot has been rubbish. We know he's not a wing back. If he wasn't Portugese he'd be shipped out.
Heaven, Yoro and De Ligt all look solid.
Midfield hmmmm
Dorgu another good performance. Cunha strangely quiet. Decent debut from Mbuemo.
Amorim will ream them and good on him.
Back to OT on Saturday
Heaven, Yoro and De Ligt all look solid.
Midfield hmmmm
Dorgu another good performance. Cunha strangely quiet. Decent debut from Mbuemo.
Amorim will ream them and good on him.
Back to OT on Saturday
We are generally looking quite good but there are still the glaring holes in the team.
Dalot isn't good enough. Bayindir isn't good enough and we haven't got space in that team for two 10s and Bruno. Bruno isn't a guy you can play in a 2 man midfield. Casemiro is still slow and too rash. Ugarte gets caught too often and isn't capable of dribbling or breaking into space effectively. Their first goal came from a poor run at the edge of our box.
I think with the right CM signing we should have a good season. Not spectacular but good. I still think thats more of an issue than a CF even though Amorims system looks better with a proper forward.
Looking forward to the season now. Think Dorgu could have a cracking season. Looks fast and aggressive and is going to cause defenders all sorts of issues. Only question is how he will do in games he is asked to defend more.
Dalot isn't good enough. Bayindir isn't good enough and we haven't got space in that team for two 10s and Bruno. Bruno isn't a guy you can play in a 2 man midfield. Casemiro is still slow and too rash. Ugarte gets caught too often and isn't capable of dribbling or breaking into space effectively. Their first goal came from a poor run at the edge of our box.
I think with the right CM signing we should have a good season. Not spectacular but good. I still think thats more of an issue than a CF even though Amorims system looks better with a proper forward.
Looking forward to the season now. Think Dorgu could have a cracking season. Looks fast and aggressive and is going to cause defenders all sorts of issues. Only question is how he will do in games he is asked to defend more.
I just feel like preseason is almost worthless in terms of where we are, the pattern and quality of games is usually miles away from the league itself. Always has been.
We all know Cunha and Mbeumo are going to be an improvement, but there are still plenty of issues. No proper (good) striker, central midfield looks very patchy, and the defence seemed shaky in the full back areas.
I agree that Dorgu looks very promising. Goalkeeper is a very problematic area too - we have to hope Onana sorts himself out, which I don't think is impossible...
If we don't get Sesko then I think Mbeumo needs to play as a striker, with Cunha and Bruno behind.
We all know Cunha and Mbeumo are going to be an improvement, but there are still plenty of issues. No proper (good) striker, central midfield looks very patchy, and the defence seemed shaky in the full back areas.
I agree that Dorgu looks very promising. Goalkeeper is a very problematic area too - we have to hope Onana sorts himself out, which I don't think is impossible...
If we don't get Sesko then I think Mbeumo needs to play as a striker, with Cunha and Bruno behind.
This is probably what I would be doing. Well, if Hojlund and Obi aren't doing anything. Bruno is the big issue really. He isn't a CM that can handle the PL unless we are completely on top against teams. Hes a 10. Having bought 2 10s though he won't be played there.
Ugarte isn't doing much to cement his place in the middle of the pitch either. Its a real problem area and I think Amorim has basically said that we are bypassing it at times. Thats not good.
As you say, time will tell if we have improved much when the league starts. Everton were decent at times in the first half from what I saw (didn't stay up for the second). We need more control against teams like that. Better teams would just slow the game down and hold onto the ball if the likes of Everton started to get a bit more of a toe into the game. There doesn't seem to be much control from our side. Its all very fast and death or glory at times.
i'll take that over the slow creeping death performances of last year any day of the week. might not win us anything and i doubt it keeps amorim in a job for the season but at least we'll be entertaining to watch
i'll take that over the slow creeping death performances of last year any day of the week. might not win us anything and i doubt it keeps amorim in a job for the season but at least we'll be entertaining to watch
Unfortunately against decent teams it becomes all death and no glory. There were a few times last night where we were playing little hopeful balls around the corner and 1 touch passes where we were hoping our man would get the ball rather than there being any certainty to it.
We still need a few more signings IMO before we start the season but I don't know if we will get them.
There was a lot of regression last night despite the optimism from seeing Mbuemo's debut.
As @fez comments, we saw the best and worst of Fernandes. He makes the Mount goal with a pass that a lot of players can't play but his overall performance I found very irratic. First half he was everywhere and as a result I felt that we sacrificed Cunha. Second half his play becomes more and more desperate and not the calming influence you need in a tight game. Good teams exert controlled pressure to force openings, we give it Bruno and hope. The second goal was all about him losing possession high up the pitch and then for added good measure he tries ti hack down the Everton player.
The midfield didn't adjust to the Everton tactics. They don't play out from the back like Bournemouth so the high press wasn't used and instead they fell back. Ugarte had a shocker really but it's not his first shocker. Physically he gets bullied too often. Kobbie is an enigma. Brilliant in tight spaces, showed some better passing range but his reading of the game is poor, his physicality is mediocre and he jogs back too often. I really don't know how we develop the undoubted raw talent that is there and make him a regular. I'd be interested in others opinion on Kobbie but maybe that's for the club thread.
You can't play this system with one side of the pitch containing Dalot and Shaw. Shaw nearly always turns back and passes square, Dalot has no idea how to play the wing back role on the right nevermind the left. He's just not a good enough carrier of the ball, passer, crosser or finisher. Dorgu has completely schooled him.
I was never convinced we needed Sesko over midfield re-inforcement. No one thinks the answer to CM is Bruno. We haven't seen hardly anything of Collyer so we have to assume he's not up to it and it's very clear why PSG chose to offload Ugarte after a season. He's just not good enough.
What's good is that Amorim has seen a clear contrast in performances which is far better for learning purposes.
As @fez comments, we saw the best and worst of Fernandes. He makes the Mount goal with a pass that a lot of players can't play but his overall performance I found very irratic. First half he was everywhere and as a result I felt that we sacrificed Cunha. Second half his play becomes more and more desperate and not the calming influence you need in a tight game. Good teams exert controlled pressure to force openings, we give it Bruno and hope. The second goal was all about him losing possession high up the pitch and then for added good measure he tries ti hack down the Everton player.
The midfield didn't adjust to the Everton tactics. They don't play out from the back like Bournemouth so the high press wasn't used and instead they fell back. Ugarte had a shocker really but it's not his first shocker. Physically he gets bullied too often. Kobbie is an enigma. Brilliant in tight spaces, showed some better passing range but his reading of the game is poor, his physicality is mediocre and he jogs back too often. I really don't know how we develop the undoubted raw talent that is there and make him a regular. I'd be interested in others opinion on Kobbie but maybe that's for the club thread.
You can't play this system with one side of the pitch containing Dalot and Shaw. Shaw nearly always turns back and passes square, Dalot has no idea how to play the wing back role on the right nevermind the left. He's just not a good enough carrier of the ball, passer, crosser or finisher. Dorgu has completely schooled him.
I was never convinced we needed Sesko over midfield re-inforcement. No one thinks the answer to CM is Bruno. We haven't seen hardly anything of Collyer so we have to assume he's not up to it and it's very clear why PSG chose to offload Ugarte after a season. He's just not good enough.
What's good is that Amorim has seen a clear contrast in performances which is far better for learning purposes.
there was talk of him going out on loan this season to get him more minutes under his belt, something i think he desperately needs.
just watched the highlights - both goals were shockers from our midfield. but the second really does highlight the major flaw in bruno's game. he seems to struggle to focus his anger and just becomes a snidey little rat sometimes when things aren't going his way - he'd rather kick someone at that point rather than chase them down. brilliant brilliant player when he's 'on it' but as i've said for quite some time, when his heads goes, he is an issue all of his own the club needs to address.
He does indeed...another goal. He MUST get some proper game time this season, too good not to
Thought Nunez was off to Al-Halil and Elliot's probably on the move?I know its preseason, but thats a weird 11, got no actual centre backs in it
Is there just a 'For Sale' banner missing off the top?
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You know.....Ngumoha , 16 years old.. Nwaneri , 18 years old...Tyler Dibling, 19 years old...Max Dowman, 15 years old...Lewis-Skelly, 18 years old, Trey Nyoni, 18 years old... the England team in 4 years time should be blessed with a bunch of talent
Cant see Nunez still be here at the start of the season but I am beginning to believe that Elliott may well still be here (fingers crossed)