saintant

Well that was depressingly familiar and I'm sure Ralph learned nothing more than the rest of us which will come as no surprise. Waste of 45 minutes other than a welcome run out for Perraud. Zero creativity and we look a side totally lacking in shape or direction. Armstrong buzzed about a bit and tried hard but with no support from the midfield. He hit one glorious pass out to Redmond and when the ball eventually arrived in the middle Armstrong was on to it and got a powerful shot away but too close to keeper. If any of these are trying to stake a claim to a first team spot it isn't showing. Turgid stuff again. Sideways, backwards, sideways rinse and repeat - nothing we haven't seen a million times before.

Typical. Waste of time.

Maybe. Let's see if he starts the second half with a strong line up.

Thanks

No but I thought we'd go with a strong mix in each half tonight.

Makes sense, Spurs away coming up in 10 days so field the B team.

Who do we have on the bench?

I might be wrong but wasn't Ralph quoted as saying this about Romeu playing up with the forwards and knowing how to score goals after one of the friendlies?

With just two pre season friendlies to go we need to see the intensity ramping up. No point strolling around in these two matches and then expect to hit the ground running against Spurs. We should be seeing signs that the starting line up is taking shape and beginning to gel. I'm hoping for a more dynamic approach, would like to see us getting the ball forward much quicker, pressing high up the pitch, creating some presentable chances and scoring some goals.

Yes but, as someone else mentioned, we've been left exposed down the flanks and Ralph will not want that in league games.

I fear Ralph is going to go with 5 at the back. My other fear with this formation is that he will instruct the two wing backs to be ultra cautious about venturing forward so, in effect, we'll be playing with a back 5 which will cut down the little supply we provide for the strikers even more.

Think Djenepo will start against Spurs at left wing back.

Agree, looks super talented but maybe a little outside our budget.

If we want a dynamic, creative midfielder who can carry the ball at speed and beat player then maybe Luka Ivanusec is the answer. Leeds are reported to be interested and he looks a brilliant player just the type who would get our static midfield moving. Worth checking his skills video - the one that's 7m35 seconds long titled 'He was born to dribble' is the best and the title sums him up. Looks as though he'd be a good fit for the Prem and our philosophy of selling on for profit. Wouldn't cost a fortune. Would love to see him playing for us because we have nobody who can carry the ball and dribble like him and that is often what creates chances. Go get him Joe.

Yeah, forgot about work permits. Not sure of the rules or how long they take to sort out but wouldn't have thought it's anything like two years?

Young 20 year old Dion Drena Beljo looks a prospect. He's Croatian, 6'5" tall but has a very deft touch. Looks good in his skills videos and would probably cost under £5 million. Seems the sort of talent we should be looking at. Yes, Delap maybe a better player but I think he's a big gamble at the money City are talking - might be better to look at other young strikers with potential.

I guess most of those were direct shots form JWP?

Merci beaucoup!

Can't believe we aren't breaking the bank to sign Hungarian wizard Domonik Szoboszlai. One of the most gifted midfield players around. He has the lot including Ward Prowsesque free kicks. I know he'd never come here but his skills video is well worth a look - he's an absolute magician.

A small price to pay 🙂

One day, when he's banging in goals for fun at a top European side we'll wistfully look back and say, 'why didn't we sign Kelvin Yaboah when we had the chance?'

He's far better than we've got 🙂

Kelvin Yaboah

How about a cheeky bid for Kelvin Yaboah from Genoa? He joined them in January and they were relegated - didn't score for them in around 17 games . However, looks big, strong, quick and powerful in his skills videos, plenty of tricks, strong finisher and good in the air. Think he's Tony Yeboah's nephew. Would be well under 10 million so not a huge gamble.