Sitting at home this morning, I planned the time I was going to leave in the afternoon for the Wycombe game, but then thought do you know what, fk it, lets go to both. So we did.
Oxford - Funny little ground, car park cracked me up, although parking there I kept thinking about what player was gonna smash the window. I could see my car throughout the game though so that was a positive lol
Anyways
Oxford
Interesting starting 11 and bench options, incredibly messed up side in regards to positions, so you knew from the announcement of team this was not going to be pretty, and it didn't disappoint on that front, so let's just ignore the performance overall as it was never gonna be pretty.
The thing i kept thinking about at HT and then again at FT was lets put team performance aside and look at the individuals and this was what was concerning. It wasn't about being out of position things like that, end of the day they were all over the park playing roles that weren't normal, but it was evidently clear however that some seriously lack the technical brilliance of the latter announced team.
Wes.. not sure what's happening here, I didn't feel last game he was his usual self and today he seemed to play within himself, not really taking anyone on, kept coming back, very placid.
Across the park, Egeli and Clarke showed some glimpses of themselves, Clarke we know what we get, is that enough in the prem? im not entirely sure. Egeli, another game another mix of pitch covering, all will aid his development. He had a torrid time coming deep to get the ball from the keeper early on, but soon got a handle on it.
Kipre - honestly he scares the crp out of me, he's slow ponderous on the ball, limited footwork and feet like cement, it's something for me that the RCB youth player ( where has he come from btw?) looks a more solid player than Kipre. Although the youth player did overhit passes to the keeper a bit at the beginning, but what a future he has, reminds me of that man city CB. Can't remember his name.
Keeper, interesting one. On the ball he seems quite good, although at times he was slow to kick it which almost cost him. I did notice though in the warm up, he's pretty terrible honestly with catching the ball, don't know if it's his footwork which the coach was trying to help with but he kept dropping it. I can see why we are sending out on loan, and despite me having my concerns on Palmer, if it's between the two as back up, Palmer has to stay.
Not much to say on others, Button, less said the better lol.
I do wonder though if for a very large % of this lineup are on the potential 'to go/loan out list' not all, but many.
Many times O'neil would turn to walk back towards the dugout and he didn't look happy. He seemed to encourage some but others ignore, don't know if that's a sign of something or if it's his coaching style?
Wycombe
So, lovely view, people didn't care where they say so I managed to sit in a nice high up position. Pitch looked perfect.Burger was nice
Lineup looked great, and made me think more about that first game one.
This was a level and above what we saw in that first game. No not everything came off, and yes we only won 2-1 late on, but we hit the woodwork 3 times, a change cleared off the line and a great GK stop to keep the score low.
But similar to the first game, talk about individuals....
The differences between the two lineups became apparent early on, the ball being zipped in different area's, players trying things, nice flicks, 1-2's long balls etc
But the technical quality of this latter lineup compared to the first game just seemed a different level altogether imo at least. No it wasn't perfect, yes it was Wycombe, but individually you can just see the differences in the way players were playing.
Humpreys - not sure what we do with him. 2 goals, i've always liked him for what he does up the pitch, but I don't think we get much from him centrally, all to simple imo.
Nunez, pretty solid, nothing fancy but again simple.
Fatawu and Mehmeti footwork was great, Fatawu will be a star this season I think, as too perhaps Mehmeti if he plays more like the 2nd half version.
Emersson, hold up play sometimes is incredible, so is his ability to find a team mate with a simple toe poke pass. I don't think we will see him score 30 goals, but he might contribute to 30.
Maeda - what a talent, fast, direct, everything we need down the left, when you think back to how often clarke earlier kept stopping, coming inside, slow, side to side play and then compare it with maeda, it's again different level. Hit the post with a diving header too
Mendel, I have to mention him. I enjoyed his performance off the bench, about time to see him and he did really well imo. Came on, showed great footwork but also awareness - he set up no less than 5 crossing opportunities for us after he came on.. keep him here and develop with first team please
Anyways thanks for reading if you have. You've missed out if you haven't
Onto the next friendlies :)
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