Kiko was probably the only of the "second team" players out there who I thought significantly outperformed their respective player on the "first team". In terms of comparing the "first team" and "second team" where people were actually playing in position: Gray > Deeney (although Deeney had a worse team behind him) Richarlison > Success Hughes > Sinclair Sema = Lukebakio Masina >>>>>>> Holebas Kabasele + Cathcart >>>> Mapps + Britos Janmaat < Kiko I thought this was a great illustration of quite how sharp the drop off in quality in our defenc is when one of Craig or Kabasele is injured. Britos and Mapps looked pretty poor. Prodl and Kaboul are still to be assessed, but they are very different players (and neither are great). Wilmot had some good moments but still looks a little lightweight. Hard to judge Hoban on 45 minutes out of position after such a long way out, but he looked a little more than just rusty. Underlined the need for another quality centre back and reinforced my view that renewing Britos contract was madness.
I missed the second half but I thought Janmaat was very good in the first half and I'm not his biggest fan. He defended a couple of set pieces well and got forward as usual. Were any subs made in the second half? Did Rodwell, Peneranda, Navarro, etc get any minutes? Sent from my G3311 using Tapatalk
My issue is really with characterising the first half team as the 'first team' and then drawing conclusions from it regarding the second team. It's not like the first half team wasn't missing several of our most important/best players, and there's absolutely no way that Femenia is considered 'second team' by anyone at the club. That's not to say that I can make any kind of heads or tails of what those two teams were, particularly the second half, apart from literally 'get everyone registered on the pitch, regardless of position'.
Less Janmaat's fault, and more the fact Kiko just looked a cut above everyone else. No all the changes were at half time. I'd assume some of that lot will get a run out on Saturday.
It was an opportunity to get 45 minutes into the legs of as many players as possible. Nothing can be read into selection or performance. Physically the players wont be fit, and match sharpness non existent.
With him on the pitch it's as if we were playing with 12 men. But unfortunately two of those men were sharing the same shirt and had their legs tied together.
Yesterday's opposition looked a lot stronger than the teams if I remember correctly we played our first friendlys against last season, usually we play lower grade teams to get in the wining habit! Last season was a stroll in the park compared to what I saw (only last 60 minutes) of yesterday's game!
I can confirm that Doucoure, Navarro, Cleverley, Deulofeu and Chalobah were all left out of yesterday's match after breaking a curfew to visit a sausage museum. Remember, I pretend to have a controlling financial share in the kibbutz in Australia where this game was played, so I get to hear about these things first.
Yeah they did. Their season also starts a week before ours so they should be slightly ahead in their preparations. Having said that, they finished bottom of the Bundesliga last season, so we should still be a level above them (and in the first half we generally were, just).
I don't believe you... there's no way members of our squad would be sneaking in to a sausage museum without Deeney being involved.
True, I just meant in the way most of the players in that first half were competing for a place in the starting 11, whereas most of the second half were competing for a place in the squad. I just don't know whether Javi rates Kiko as highly as a right back as the fans and Silva. Did Javi ever actually play him there or always Janmaat?
Older readers may recall that our best-ever run of pre-season results was when Dave Bassett had just taken over. And then..... Alternatively, with Everton scoring 22 against a pub team, we should be gutted that we didn't score 23
Yeah, of the relatively few games he was available for under Gracia, he only played right back once. Another potential source of frustration as the whole world and his dog can see he's our best right back, particularly as he can actually defend somewhat, unlike Daryl, the career fullback. He's also less effective as a winger, and obviously Deu would be there whenever fitness allows. Really hope he doesn't make a stupid decision like that.
I didn't watch but I can only imagine the scenes on the pitch at the end probably reminiscent of France at the weekend. Presumably there was mass confusion between the players about what to do when they scored ?
Relegation kit. Relegation performance . Relegation squad . At least the season tickets will be cheaper next year .
Well, if the players read this forum, this post will give them great inspiration and confidence for the coming season. I wish the disguised L***n supporters would clear of from this forum.
I know FC Koln were terrible in the 1.Bundesliga last season, truly dreadful team, but it is just a run out for Watford in the fresh air of Austria, eat some Vienna Schnitzel and free Red Bull for all. The kit is decent. 10/10 in certain reviews of Premiership kits. Ok, it will not make us play any better, but we will look good on our down to the Championship. I do hope for the best for 2018/19. I do think JG will be out before Christmas, if not sooner. We need a quick centre half and a striker asap. Then again, most of the other strugglers are also looking for the same thing. One thing that was noticeable was that Richarlison was looked totally uninterested during the game. No change from the end of last season.
