Pre-season 23/24

Not seen Roberts play so couldn’t comment if he’s up to it or not. I expect he’ll be more agile, however, with keepers you do need some experience.

We do need to invest in the squad though. We need those quality players in key positions. They would make a huge difference and would elevate our prospects dramatically.

This is where Manga and co have to deliver. So far, the transfer window rating is an F

 

Thank you @PowerJugs for the excellent opinion post

I have to confess to being relentlessly negative back in May about Ismael, as I really wanted Farioli. I’m not stubborn or entrenched enough in my (unimportant, anyway) opinions to say that I’m warming to what he’s doing so far. There’s a lot to like.

Today we looked like a work in progress, and only the coming months will show us how much progress is possible. (If any)

The starting line-up today did look underwhelming and very much ‘of last season’. But I’m sure come August it will look quite different, with the new signings already made and the promise of more to come.

Get the stupid mistakes and the misses out of the system now, when they really don’t count. Nobody will remember today in a month’s time.

 

I was also huge VI skeptic, especially because of his spells at West Brom and Bestikas. We've se often been burned by the club either disenfranchising manager's authority, or the players doing that to the manager. But his messages have been consistent, clear and you can see it translated onto the pitch that he does have the respect of the squad and the heirachy so far.

 

Several reasons why I even mentioned Adeyemo.

He's played a part in pre-season already. The great and the good on here have suggested a number of times VI likes a big fella up top to play off. Bayo isn't really that and Healy even less so. The rumours from yesterday of Wesley signing suggests it may be the way we go. Adeyemo is the closest thing we have at the club right now to that hold-up type player so, even at barely 18 years of age, if VI is looking to implement that style I was mildly surprised he wasn't included in the subs. There will be up to 9 subs available this season too so to have him chasing for the last 5 - 10 minutes wouldn't be something I'd be against. I say this because, again, many on here have said VI wants his players to run themselves into the ground so Adeyemo could be a big bloke option in the closing minutes for some games with the players we currently have at the club. The finances of the club also suggest we'll be utilising the younger players more so again, a bit surprised he wasn't named on the bench.

What I didn't say was Adeyemo should start, that I wanted him starting or him even be second choice at any time. He is so raw it hurts at times but what he does do is chase, chase and then chase again. As I said, he's barely 18 years old. He's developing and will need time both on and off the pitch to do so.

As for the game today, we can now all see why Kayembe was out for so long - he's had a right foot transplant. Lovely strike for the goal. Let's hope he's got it for keeps and it's not just a loan from the NHS.

I also thought it interesting Morris occasionally moved into that inverted full-back position(?is that what it's called?) which saw him take up a left-central midfield place with Martins dropping deeper or Hoedt moving wide and FS dropping into the back line.

Another take away from the squad today is the keeper situation. Bachmann 1st choice, Hamer 2nd and it looks like Roberts will be 3rd choice. A good way of keeping a promising goalie at the club and none of them take up a non-home grown spot. Also, providing another keeper isn't brought in, and I don't see that happening, it suggests because our finances are super tight it's another example of looking towards the players developing in the academy and who have been out on loan in the last season or two.

I also think Shaq Forde is an interesting one. Played a lot as a wide attacker at under 18 level, occasionally central and sometimes would drop deep into a playmaker role in midfield, though that was very rare from what I've been told. His loans seem to have seen him play wide attacker once more while last season he appeared to be more central for Halifax. Now, in pre-season, he appears to be playing deeper and not looking too out of place in the few minutes he's had. I just wonder if the club and maybe even the player himself are trying to find his best position. He looks strong so I imagine he could play with his back to goal but I don't think he's very good in the air, so not exactly competitive in that aspect. I just wonder if the club are looking to get him facing forward with the ball and use his skill on the front foot rather than having him getting bumped and barged around and not having the chance to either take on players or pass the ball early.

 

What is 'apparently it's Kone' based on?

 

Intuition and reading between the lines. They’ve pretty much alluded to it. Got to be Sarr or Kone wouldn’t you think? No doubt we’ll find out soon enough. I think it’ll be a loan to Udinese.

 

Udinese have just sold a centre back plus if it is Kone it is of no advantage for us to loan him. If not needed sell him and use the money to buy players we need. The only reason to loan Sarr is to get some of his wages off the books

 

Even a below average finisher will score a decent amount of goals if they consistently take high xG chances.

Which was kinda my point compared to our options last season. I'd rather a striker get in good positions, take lots of high xG chances and have a relatively low conversion rate than our strikers last season who don't get into good positions, don't take high amounts of shots/good quality chances and also have a low conversion rate

 

I thought it was our goalscorer today with another healthy 16m coming out way

 

Or Kabasele

 

We looked decent today, in my opinion. I was pleasantly surprised with our build-up play. I expected we would be more direct in our approach. We looked coached, and the shape and our pressing were impressive throughout the game. We made it extremely difficult for Palace to play out with the ball in the first half.
I thought Morris did the basics well, but I would be concerned if he is our first choice left back at the start of the season. I like Jeremy Ngakia, but he looked like a weak link. I am not concerned about Ngakia, as he will or should be below Feriera and Andrews. When he came on, Ryan Andrews looked impressive again and caused a few problems for the Crystal Palace backline with his pace when he bombed forward; he is lightning-fast. I am unconvinced by Ben Hamer, even as a number 2. That was a good finish from Kayembe, who also did well breaking up play a few times. This will be an unpopular opinion here, but I didn't think Livermore was bad.

 

Who is they?

I guess it could be any of Kone', Sarr, Kabasele, Kayembe really

 

Hopefully Kabasele

 

I said before todays game there was also a friendly with Basingstoke and that I wouldn't have been surprised to see either Kabasele or Ince playing with what was reported to be a youthful Watford side. I was wrong, totally under 21s and under 18s with no senior pro's catching up on fitness or whatever. So Kabasele could well be the one moving away and Ince seems to be keeping away. Should someone be ringing around the local hospitals?

Anyway, this was the starting XI - Macaulay, Eames, Stallard, Davis, Abbott, Holding, Adu-Poku, Fraser-Grante, Torres, Collins, Trialist
and the subs were - Sikiru, Morris, Hamiga, King, Massiah-Edwards, Mullins, Trialist

Finished 2-2. We led twice with Basingstoke equalising in the last couple of minutes. Torres scored our opener with an overhead kick and Hamiga got the second.

 

Exactly, it makes little sense to pack Kone off to Udinese. We're struggling already to fill the 4/5 spaces we're already after on our virtually non exsistent budget with out also having to potentially replace Kone. It must be either Sarr or Kabs. I would be disappointed if it does turn out to be Kone.

 

It’s Kabasele

 

Uncle Ron believes it’s Kabasele.

 

Local man won't be happy.

 

That’ll be 3 CB’s to have left the club. Cathcart, WTE, Kabs.

Only have Hoet, Porteous, Sierralta (who is playing in midfield) and Pollock. Screwed if we get an injury.

 

DNSYE have tweeted a Belgium flag before that.

 

If it is Kaba then this instantly becomes a 10/10 window

 

Agreed

 

Uncle Ron also says dogs can't look up

 

I was there, thought Adu-Poku had a great game, Abbott comfortably the better of the two centre backs, and Davis (I think Davis was number 4 correct me if I’m wrong) was particularly impressive. Albeit against 7th tier opposition.

 

Gino doesn’t do CB’s.

 

Uncle Ron is barely one level above "My mate Dave down the pub says..." when it comes to authenticity, integrity and intelligence...but on this point he is absolutely correct.

Dogs cannot look up.

 

Rob Edwards is not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy.

 

Looks like 2 are gone.

 

Thanks for the info! Do you know who the trialist(s) were?

 

The goals from yesterday's main event (415) BTFC 2-2 WATFORD | GOALS & INTERVIEW - YouTube

 

With the expected transfer of Kabs to Udinese, together with the releasing of Cathcart and Troost, it's left us very short at CB. We now only have 4 on the books, including Pollock. Seeing as Ismael is using three in pre-season, surely we're looking at bringing in a couple more? I'm surprised we've let all three go without any replacements.

 

We have been playing 4 1 2 3 in effect. So while sierralta has been playing it’s not as a cb. So alls spends if he stays there or drops into his natural position. As 4 is enough when playing with 4. We have other areas that need cover