Deadbat
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I watched it as I was trying to work so some brief thoughts on the 45 mins of action...
Conditions were awful and it probably should not have started. I was not shocked it was abandoned as the ball was getting stuck in some places but shooting off in others. The pitch was in decent nick too but was non stop rain as has been the case for much of the UK as the affects of storm Francis (Joseph?) took its toll.
We of course have heard reports of a few testing positive for Covid. I know Baldock, Lundstram and O'Connell were on the same Greek Island so guessing it's a few of them and maybe the other has been told to isolate too maybe? I saw McGoldrick had a knock and is Mousset in quarantine coming back from France (Saw photos of him with fans near the St Paul's hotel so not sure that is even right?). No idea on McBurnie.
Hopefully by next week they will all be back.
It's not ideal prep with no new outfield signed players and also the internationals next week. Think it is going to be a bit all over the place for the next few weeks and then just hope it comes together v Wolves. It certainly won't be like normal pre seasons but other teams will be in same position.
It meant we had a number of youngsters there and Slater got a start at RWB as we literally have no-one else in that position. I don't want to criticise them as individuals but having the likes of him and Graham in first team squad is concerning when they were not regulars at Scunny and Notts County. We are that short we had like of Bryan and other youngsters Hackford, Brunt, Gordon and Broadbent on the bench. None of these you think will be near the first team squad to commence the season although hearing good things about Brunt and Hackford (only 16). Suppose it’s all good experience and as I said with around half a dozen out we had no choice but shows we do need 4 or 5 more signings ideally before the window closes and hopefully most in before the season starts.
We started with J. Robinson in place of JOC and Slater RWB with midfield that finished the season. We had C. Robinson and Sharp up top which most would have as strikers 4/5 in the current pecking order really. Again, if the rumours of Robinson leaving are true then him starting even in a friendly makes little sense as WBA know all about him. Maybe it is just rumours. We had no other senior strikers on the bench.
Onto the game and we knocked it about well. Despite the weather our passing was crisp save for a few dodgy under hit (Ramsdale) and over hit (Norwood). Fleck looked decent and C. Robinson's touch and movement were decent but Berge stood out a mile and was the best player on the park. He had an early driving run that saw him invite a mis-timed tackle to win a pen. Sharp sent the keeper the wrong way but not the post. Berge continued to shine running at men and showing strength and power as he surged past opponents a few times. His play set up another few decent chances.
Robinson got in good positions but missed a good chance hitting the keepers’ legs and firing over. Sharp also headed wide from a decent Slater cross. Dundee had their second string out but did not have much of the ball. They had one free kick (never a foul) just after the pen miss and a few other crosses and things blocked but saw little if the ball. We dominated the ball and chances and scored when Berge hit a low shot. The keeper made a bit of a mess of it and Sharp tapped home. He may have been offside but no VAR here and the flag stayed down. Half time came soon after but of course the ref and managers spoke and agreed to call it a day.
Players - no marks (only a friendly and 45 mins at that!)
Ramsdale - Little to do. A few dodgy kick outs but handling sound from through balls.
Slater - A few nice bits on the ball but got beat once and positionally (understandable) struggled I thought. Surprised he is still around as despite promise a few years back he has not convinced at Carlisle and Scunny right at the foot of the League. He is certainly not a wing back but needs must today as we were so down on bodies but Wilder will surely add in this area. I expect him to go on loan for one last shot (contract expires next summer).
Stevens - Fine. Got forward well and looked comfortable on the ball. Linked well with Fleck a few times.
Robinson J - Got forward quite a bit today and was very advanced at times.
Egan - Little action as hardly any balls came in the box or down the middle.
Basham - Usual all action running performance. Linked well with Berge a few times and also quite high up the pitch. He did get turned once and lost his feet another in the sodden conditions.
Norwood - Looked to struggle more than most for us with the conditions. Ok on the ball at times bit sloppy other occasions. Bit sluggish running wise.
Berge - Excellent and what I want to see from him. The best player on either side by a long way. He got on the ball and progressed, mostly via individual dribbles and drives. Used physique and running stride to get past opponents 2 or 3 times. Touch was really good. Looked determined, albeit from a small sample size today, to make his mark this season.
Fleck- After sub par return after lockdown he looked more like his old self. More involved and a few times he carried/dribbled it forward well. Had a few deep runs and one shot into the net (disallowed for handball - which he did twice oddly)
Sharp - Never ever been convinced when he takes pens but he had been more successful in recent times but thought Norwood was the current taker (Watford?). Suppose we only got one last season so not an issue! Apart from hitting the post from the spot, he headed a decent chance wide and was offside a few times as standard. He did make a couple of decent runs with the ball actually and then tapped in a typical Sharp goal.
Robinson C - I have never been convinced of him. A lot is made of his role and position but I think that over complicates the argument. Good players thrive regardless. I see many say he is not a striker who plays with his back to the goal but I would argue he is also someone who does not run onto it particularly either as not that fast. Today he did ok in general play and his touch and link up was ok. He missed one really good chance and a few other half chances. I think he will move on but whether it is for Burke or outright I'm not sure. If we get close to our money back though it's a no brainer. He seems a great lad but not even sure WBA are convinced by him (offered half what we paid?) at this level. Hear a lot saying we should give him a chance but not for me. We will see but don't expect him to be around by October.
We now have a week till the next game although they may put another fixture in maybe now they lost 45 mins bit guess most would only have done 60 anyway. Shame we did not get to see few of the young lads though.
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Finally, thoughts on the kit? Like it with white socks but the shirt material being very thin means don’t wear it when it rains as it gets see through very quick...unless you want people to see your naked torso.
Conditions were awful and it probably should not have started. I was not shocked it was abandoned as the ball was getting stuck in some places but shooting off in others. The pitch was in decent nick too but was non stop rain as has been the case for much of the UK as the affects of storm Francis (Joseph?) took its toll.
We of course have heard reports of a few testing positive for Covid. I know Baldock, Lundstram and O'Connell were on the same Greek Island so guessing it's a few of them and maybe the other has been told to isolate too maybe? I saw McGoldrick had a knock and is Mousset in quarantine coming back from France (Saw photos of him with fans near the St Paul's hotel so not sure that is even right?). No idea on McBurnie.
Hopefully by next week they will all be back.
It's not ideal prep with no new outfield signed players and also the internationals next week. Think it is going to be a bit all over the place for the next few weeks and then just hope it comes together v Wolves. It certainly won't be like normal pre seasons but other teams will be in same position.
It meant we had a number of youngsters there and Slater got a start at RWB as we literally have no-one else in that position. I don't want to criticise them as individuals but having the likes of him and Graham in first team squad is concerning when they were not regulars at Scunny and Notts County. We are that short we had like of Bryan and other youngsters Hackford, Brunt, Gordon and Broadbent on the bench. None of these you think will be near the first team squad to commence the season although hearing good things about Brunt and Hackford (only 16). Suppose it’s all good experience and as I said with around half a dozen out we had no choice but shows we do need 4 or 5 more signings ideally before the window closes and hopefully most in before the season starts.
We started with J. Robinson in place of JOC and Slater RWB with midfield that finished the season. We had C. Robinson and Sharp up top which most would have as strikers 4/5 in the current pecking order really. Again, if the rumours of Robinson leaving are true then him starting even in a friendly makes little sense as WBA know all about him. Maybe it is just rumours. We had no other senior strikers on the bench.
Onto the game and we knocked it about well. Despite the weather our passing was crisp save for a few dodgy under hit (Ramsdale) and over hit (Norwood). Fleck looked decent and C. Robinson's touch and movement were decent but Berge stood out a mile and was the best player on the park. He had an early driving run that saw him invite a mis-timed tackle to win a pen. Sharp sent the keeper the wrong way but not the post. Berge continued to shine running at men and showing strength and power as he surged past opponents a few times. His play set up another few decent chances.
Robinson got in good positions but missed a good chance hitting the keepers’ legs and firing over. Sharp also headed wide from a decent Slater cross. Dundee had their second string out but did not have much of the ball. They had one free kick (never a foul) just after the pen miss and a few other crosses and things blocked but saw little if the ball. We dominated the ball and chances and scored when Berge hit a low shot. The keeper made a bit of a mess of it and Sharp tapped home. He may have been offside but no VAR here and the flag stayed down. Half time came soon after but of course the ref and managers spoke and agreed to call it a day.
Players - no marks (only a friendly and 45 mins at that!)
Ramsdale - Little to do. A few dodgy kick outs but handling sound from through balls.
Slater - A few nice bits on the ball but got beat once and positionally (understandable) struggled I thought. Surprised he is still around as despite promise a few years back he has not convinced at Carlisle and Scunny right at the foot of the League. He is certainly not a wing back but needs must today as we were so down on bodies but Wilder will surely add in this area. I expect him to go on loan for one last shot (contract expires next summer).
Stevens - Fine. Got forward well and looked comfortable on the ball. Linked well with Fleck a few times.
Robinson J - Got forward quite a bit today and was very advanced at times.
Egan - Little action as hardly any balls came in the box or down the middle.
Basham - Usual all action running performance. Linked well with Berge a few times and also quite high up the pitch. He did get turned once and lost his feet another in the sodden conditions.
Norwood - Looked to struggle more than most for us with the conditions. Ok on the ball at times bit sloppy other occasions. Bit sluggish running wise.
Berge - Excellent and what I want to see from him. The best player on either side by a long way. He got on the ball and progressed, mostly via individual dribbles and drives. Used physique and running stride to get past opponents 2 or 3 times. Touch was really good. Looked determined, albeit from a small sample size today, to make his mark this season.
Fleck- After sub par return after lockdown he looked more like his old self. More involved and a few times he carried/dribbled it forward well. Had a few deep runs and one shot into the net (disallowed for handball - which he did twice oddly)
Sharp - Never ever been convinced when he takes pens but he had been more successful in recent times but thought Norwood was the current taker (Watford?). Suppose we only got one last season so not an issue! Apart from hitting the post from the spot, he headed a decent chance wide and was offside a few times as standard. He did make a couple of decent runs with the ball actually and then tapped in a typical Sharp goal.
Robinson C - I have never been convinced of him. A lot is made of his role and position but I think that over complicates the argument. Good players thrive regardless. I see many say he is not a striker who plays with his back to the goal but I would argue he is also someone who does not run onto it particularly either as not that fast. Today he did ok in general play and his touch and link up was ok. He missed one really good chance and a few other half chances. I think he will move on but whether it is for Burke or outright I'm not sure. If we get close to our money back though it's a no brainer. He seems a great lad but not even sure WBA are convinced by him (offered half what we paid?) at this level. Hear a lot saying we should give him a chance but not for me. We will see but don't expect him to be around by October.
We now have a week till the next game although they may put another fixture in maybe now they lost 45 mins bit guess most would only have done 60 anyway. Shame we did not get to see few of the young lads though.
---
Finally, thoughts on the kit? Like it with white socks but the shirt material being very thin means don’t wear it when it rains as it gets see through very quick...unless you want people to see your naked torso.
Been trying to find out who the "wonder kid" CW mentioned in one of the interviews post lockdown they were nurturing that he was hoping would make a couple of first team appearances maybe it is Brunt or Hackford you mentioned.
