Preseason 2014

[Bedfordspurs]

Reply to Naija

On what basis is that our current first choice line up?
]So far in pre season, elements of that lineup have looked quite solid.

Vertonghen is yet to start a preseason match
True but the alternatives are Kaboul Daws together or one of those two alongside 19 year old Veljkovic or Fryers. Also the World Cup players need to get some gametime.

Naughton has played about 4 times as many minutes as Walker if not more
And by all accounts looks to be up for sale. If he's not seen as part of the long term future then I'd like to see the player who would be starting.

Rose has played more minutes than Davies and Davies in the minutes played has not shown he is a superior option although he may do so in the future
Davies so far has looked solid yet unspectacular. Good distribution and defensively solid. Rose has looked better going forward but also has made more mistakes. Personally I'd like a solid back line first of all.

Based on Preseason form I would suggest Holtby has done at least as much as Lennon to be in the starting line up, i.e. in one of the 3 behind a central striker.
I also have liked Holtby so far, but the Lennon, Lamela, Eriksen unit has so far looked the most cohesive. Not only that, but Lennon has looked quite adept in his new role. If Holtby were to get in ahead of anyone it would actually be Eriksen imo.

I bet 3 weeks ago none of you would have had had Ryan Mason in our first choice line up
Correct. However in pre season he has looked extremely good alongside Capoue. He has been disciplined but also offered a tremendous range of passing and started many good moves.

I heard from various sources at the club over the last 5 years (but not in te last 18 months) how highly they rate Mason. Technically one of the best players we have produced but some own called him fragile (can't remember who) and I thnk they were referring to his injuries. He is classy passer of the ball and I know at Swindon they rated him incredibly high too but again he suffered Injuries

I'm all for signing schneiderlain but if Mason can develop and do a great job for us why not give him the chance

 

[Kandi1977]

I'm disappointed with the level of games we've had this preseason. United, Liverpool, Arsenal are playing the likes of Roma, Real, Milan, Benfica etc... And us, three MLS sides who are taking it easy and a very weak Celtic side where we may as well played against our own youth or reserve team.

I prefer it when we play other PL teams in preseason too. It gets plays like Lamela, Eriksen game time against PL opposition which they'll be facing week in week out. Having said that it's given Poch the opportunity to implement his methods. Just hope we go in as aggressively v West Ham come kick off in2 weeks

Would also have like us to have some "better" opponents in preseason. That said, I don't think there is much difference between playing MLS teams and PL/European teams on 50%.
"Lesser" teams usually take friendlies a bit more serious, as they want to beat a bigger team.

 

[billyiddo]

I'm disappointed with the level of games we've had this preseason. United, Liverpool, Arsenal are playing the likes of Roma, Real, Milan, Benfica etc... And us, three MLS sides who are taking it easy and a very weak Celtic side where we may as well played against our own youth or reserve team.

I prefer it when we play other PL teams in preseason too. It gets plays like Lamela, Eriksen game time against PL opposition which they'll be facing week in week out. Having said that it's given Poch the opportunity to implement his methods. Just hope we go in as aggressively v West Ham come kick off in2 weeks

I really don't think it matters - the importance of pre season, in my view, is to build fitness and an understanding of the tactics. Teams don't play at anywhere near the levels they do in competitive football so what you'd gain from playing stronger teams would be minimal

 

[benp]

can anyone help me out with a link to the full match download? first preseason game i miss and it's 6-1... typical

 

[Rossi22]

So, team for West Ham

LLORIS
XXXXXX XXXXXX VERTONGHEN XXXXXX
CAPOUE XXXXXX
LAMELA ERIKSEN XXXXXX
XXXXXX​

I think those five are nailed on as it stands. Right back will be Walker IF he's fit, is he injured again? Vertonghen's partner will most likely be Kaboul if no one else is signed by then, I certainly don't see Dawson playing and it seems Poch has already made his mind up on Vlad? Left back I don't think is as clear cut as people think, it's 50/50 between Rose and Davies imo. Capoue's partner could literally be any one of about six. The player making up the three behind the striker is most likely to be Lennon I think, closely followed by Holtby. Striker could be any of Ade/Soldado/Kane, largely depends if Ade's 100% recovered by then.

 

[SpurMeUp]

So, team for West Ham

LLORIS
XXXXXX XXXXXX VERTONGHEN XXXXXX
CAPOUE XXXXXX
LAMELA ERIKSEN XXXXXX
XXXXXX​

I think those five are nailed on as it stands. Right back will be Walker IF he's fit, is he injured again? Vertonghen's partner will most likely be Kaboul if no one else is signed by then, I certainly don't see Dawson playing and it seems Poch has already made his mind up on Vlad? Left back I don't think is as clear cut as people think, it's 50/50 between Rose and Davies imo. Capoue's partner could literally be any one of about six. The player making up the three behind the striker is most likely to be Lennon I think, closely followed by Holtby. Striker could be any of Ade/Soldado/Kane, largely depends if Ade's 100% recovered by then.

Yes exactly.

Filling in the blanks, I would go for:

LLORIS
Walker Kaboul VERTONGHEN Rose
CAPOUE Dembele
LAMELA ERIKSEN Hotlby
Ade​

I like the Capoue-Dembele pair. Very strong defensively, can easily and happily fill in for full backs or even CBs getting forward. Its makes our back line very flexible (something I think Poch likes). Then Capoue can rifle vertical passes and show his ability. Dembele can maraud forward and dribble around defenders. I know Dembele and 'maraud' are not really terms used to together, but he can hold off players and run through midfields when he's confident and there's a little space. At the least he can dribble the ball across the areas in front of the box to make space for a pass or shot. With the forward well drilled to expect a through ball from him...

Hotbly over Lennon is a tough call. Lennon has more pace, and can get to the line, but with Rose in the team he can fulfil that role on the overlap, allowing Holtby to get busy, with 1-2s to Rose etc, closing down and scoring. Ultimately, I think Holtby will score more goals than Lennon. But having both, having Lennon off the bench is a massive bonus. He can come on around 65 mins as Holtby tires himself out, and destroy flagging defenders.

Ade just has more to his game. Is more of a handful than Soldado.

 

[billyiddo]

Soldado to start i think - has been more involved preseason and Id imagine Adebayor is someway behind the others due to his malaria scare - so to me that seems pretty nailed on also

 

[Kandi1977]

Yes exactly.

Filling in the blanks, I would go for:

LLORIS
Walker Kaboul VERTONGHEN Rose
CAPOUE Dembele
LAMELA ERIKSEN Hotlby
Ade​

I like the Capoue-Dembele pair. Very strong defensively, can easily and happily fill in for full backs or even CBs getting forward. Its makes our back line very flexible (something I think Poch likes). Then Capoue can rifle vertical passes and show his ability. Dembele can maraud forward and dribble around defenders. I know Dembele and 'maraud' are not really terms used to together, but he can hold off players and run through midfields when he's confident and there's a little space. At the least he can dribble the ball across the areas in front of the box to make space for a pass or shot. With the forward well drilled to expect a through ball from him...

Hotbly over Lennon is a tough call. Lennon has more pace, and can get to the line, but with Rose in the team he can fulfil that role on the overlap, allowing Holtby to get busy, with 1-2s to Rose etc, closing down and scoring. Ultimately, I think Holtby will score more goals than Lennon. But having both, having Lennon off the bench is a massive bonus. He can come on around 65 mins as Holtby tires himself out, and destroy flagging defenders.

Ade just has more to his game. Is more of a handful than Soldado.

Agree. Replacing Ade with Soldado in that line-up, the front 4 will pose no threat what so ever in the air. Ade is also very useful in defence from dead balls. That alone might be crucial vs wet spam.

 

[Rossi22]

I don't like the idea of Soldado on his own against the likes of Tomkins and Reid, I'm pretty sure he'd just end up being a bit of a passenger.

 

[jimmyb]

Soldado to start i think - has been more involved preseason and Id imagine Adebayor is someway behind the others due to his malaria scare - so to me that seems pretty nailed on also

Yep. On yesterday's evidence, Ade is quite a long way off being ready.

 

[jimmyb]

I don't like the idea of Soldado on his own against the likes of Tomkins and Reid, I'm pretty sure he'd just end up being a bit of a passenger.

Not the way that Poch has the team playing. This isn't an AVB team where the lone front man gets little support and / or no one making runs beyond him. What we've seen in pre season is that the likes of Lamela, Lennon and Holtby will be buzzing all over the place, dragging defenders out of position and giving Soldado options - something he lacked last season. Not to mention that this is all done at pace - also sorely lacking last season.

Soldado up front on his own, with fluid movement all around him would be a nightmare for a centre back pairing like Tomkins and Reid, I imagine.

 

[Kandi1977]

Yep. On yesterday's evidence, Ade is quite a long way off being ready.

You must be one hell of a scout to be able to makes such statement and judgement based on 45 minutes in a preseason friendly, where both teams could not be less bothered.
Surprised you're not working for one of the top clubs in europe.

 

[Storky]

You must be one hell of a scout to be able to makes such statement and judgement based on 45 minutes in a preseason friendly, where both teams could not be less bothered.
Surprised you're not working for one of the top clubs in europe.

Really? You are aware this is a football forum where people have opinions and post them right?

What you're supposed to do is offer a response as to why you think he did indeed look ready for opening day against Spam.... Without being insulting if possible.

 

[Raziel]

Soldado to start i think - has been more involved preseason and Id imagine Adebayor is someway behind the others due to his malaria scare - so to me that seems pretty nailed on also

This .. no way Ade starts probably the first couple of games

LLoris

Walker Kaboul Vert Davies

Capoue Holtby

Lamela Lennon/Townsend Eriksen

Soldado

 

[Rorschach]

Really? You are aware this is a football forum where people have opinions and post them right?

What you're supposed to do is offer a response as to why you think he did indeed look ready for opening day against Spam.... Without being insulting if possible.

Moderator wannabe

Edit: 100% correct I should add.

 

[The Fatman]

Was yesterday game played on grass, or fake? Only asking if fake then why Walker didn't feature, if grass that means his injury is worst than we all thought.

 

[Modric THFC]

Would also have like us to have some "better" opponents in preseason. That said, I don't think there is much difference between playing MLS teams and PL/European teams on 50%.
"Lesser" teams usually take friendlies a bit more serious, as they want to beat a bigger team.

But instead we ended up against mls reserves and Celtic reserves because every team we faced was already into their season. We learned nothing about our players ability against these kids. Yet people are judging players already on their session performance as if you could gauge anything against the kids we played.

 

[jimmyb]

You must be one hell of a scout to be able to makes such statement and judgement based on 45 minutes in a preseason friendly, where both teams could not be less bothered.
Surprised you're not working for one of the top clubs in europe.

Back in your little box, scrappy-doo.

I was expressing an opinion based on empirical evidence. You disagree with it, fine. Tell us why instead of embarking upon a lame and unnecessary effort at sarcasm.

Perhaps you might like to consider that, in addition to yesterday's evidence and the good week of pre season that Ade lost, he himself said that his bout of malaria had left him absolutely drained. There can therefore be little doubt that he is behind in his preparation for the season.

 

[jimmyb]

But instead we ended up against mls reserves and Celtic reserves because every team we faced was already into their season. We learned nothing about our players ability against these kids. Yet people are judging players already on their session performance as if you could gauge anything against the kids we played.

Pre season games are all about fitness and becoming familiar with the manager's preferred pattern of play. While levels of fitness can't be gauged in games like this - especially when most players are only playing 45 minutes - it's perfectly apparent that the pattern of play is being grooved in.

It's also my guess that the players will have been working far harder and with far more intensity in training.

 

[jimmyb]

Really? You are aware this is a football forum where people have opinions and post them right?

What you're supposed to do is offer a response as to why you think he did indeed look ready for opening day against Spam.... Without being insulting if possible.

This.

:tim: