A lovely warm 'shorts and sleeves' night at the Pirelli for 700 or so as Walsall provided the opposition for the latest of this year's low key warm up games.
For me, this was the first look at some of the new faces, having missed the Derby game in favour of a few days on the South Coast, and very good they were too!
Four in the starting eleven, and it was Chris Hussey that caught my eye. Playing in a left side midfield role he showed good strength on the ball, a good eye for a cross, and the ability to match vision with execution, not least after just 100 seconds, when he put one on a plate for Rene Howe.
Howe also looked accomplished. Strong and willing to battle, though there were signs that he will pick up a number of yellows, with several incidents where his use of his arms to push and pull his defender might have tested the patience of the ref in a competitive environment.
I was on the wrong side of the ground for a close up view of Rory Delap, though his influence from right back was limited.
Adam Reed picked up an early knock, which may have played in part in restricting his contribution. I will give him the benefit for now, as little else to recall of note.
Phil Edwards came on for Delap at half time and was far more impressive, looking a proper right back and proving difficult to get around.
Finally, a late look at Dominic Knowles. Charged around with gusto, but nothing that sticks in the mind by way of telling contribution.
Elsewhere, few surprises. MacDonald and Phillips managed to show the same mix of good ideas and moments of sheer frustration. Lyness did all that was asked of him, Sharps and Holness mostly solid, McCrory linked well with Hussey.
Bell sat deep, Weir full of energy and unlucky not to score with a one on one that he ought to have put away and another on the outside of the post.
Matty Palmer again showed good touch but was muscled out of it by a combative and slick Walsall midfield whilst Michael Symes and Jack Dyer barely had time to break sweat with very late cameos.
1-0 doesn't mean a lot at this stage, and if the visitors had a decent finisher it might have been a different outcome but to be positive I thought we looked well organised, determined, and keen to play football and get forward.
Counts for nothing next Saturday, but with the promised addition of a second keeper, another attacker, and the likes of Diamond & Kee to come into contention, there are reasons to be optimistic
First Impressions
posted on 27/7/13
Thanks for a great report Steve ,i missed the game so it was interesting to hear your thoughts on the new players and our general performance. I am at a bit of a loss to understand why we have left it so late in the day to sign a quality keeper ,unless Gary has total faith in Lyness who to me is still learning his trade at this level .Whoever he signs now will have a maximum of oner game against Mickleover Sports to show what he can do before the real action starts ! .As for the extra striker well i rest my case ,im sorry but this is poor pre season planning and will cost us early doors starting on saturday .... rant over
posted on 28/7/13
Am i right to assure that you have strengthened the defence (delap > o'connor , edwards > ??) replaced zola with howe and replaced mags with hussey? And still need a keeper to replace tommo. Any other significant changes lads?
posted on 28/7/13
We have brought in Delap for O`Connor shame he has not resigned for a further season but im happy with maybe a season long replacement , Edwards for Stanton , that i think will be an improvement but Stanno was good on his day when fit , Howe for Zola.. well difficult one but in all honesty Zola would have probably been sat alongside me for the most part so i will say an improvement just as long as Rene stays on the pitch ,Hussey for Maghoma , not sure the Coventry man has the skill to excite me quite like mags did but we will see ! , the replacement for Tommo is the bug bear and maybe Gary will produce a rabbit out the hat next week or we will sign Chis Dunn and gamble on his butter fingers !! i remember him at Nothampton !
posted on 29/7/13
Unfortunately I missed this one. Thanks for the great write up Steve1210. A win is a win and we badly needed one even if it is only pre-season! Sounds like Hussey and Edwards are going to enhance the squad this season.
I do not feel that Howe will emulate Zola at all, but I will take my hat off to him if he does! Still think his temperament will be the main factor as to the amount of goals he will score this season.
Jacs is irreplaceable, his form last season was sublime and in no way will Hussey replicate it, so he cannot be seen as a direct replacement.
Goalkeeper is a major concern, heard this morning that maybe Legs could make a return, would be fantastic if he did.
Disappointing it sounds as if MacDonald isn't quite up to the mark yet or Symes or Reed. That said it sounded like Sharps had another good game, that is an added bonus as I did not rate him that good last season.
I will keep agreeing with Burton Boy as well, when I look at the bench and think who can I bring on to change a game for me I see nothing - Paterson is still I believe in 'limbo' and hasn't signed for anyone else, so I would think he is still available and would be a great addition, if not we need anther striker with his ability.
Lots of ifs and buts still for me. Interested to see GR's first starting 11 and bench.
posted on 29/7/13
Thanks stuart44, Hussey may be a more consistently 'reliable' left sided midfielder than the talented Maghoma, particularly in away games?
posted on 29/7/13
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 29/7/13
I think our squad is stronger this season than last.
The biggest losses are;
Calvin Zola is a great player..... but he played two-thirds of a season and an hour of the games he did play.
Maghoma was garbage in 3 of the 4 seasons he played for us and last season he was anonymous in many of our away games (as Marco astutely pointed out above).
posted on 30/7/13
Otep I usually agree with you, but on this one I don't think I can!
I think we are woefully short of a squad to challenge for promotion. Edwards and Hussey look like decent players, but our squad just does not have any depth.
Players like Symes, MacDonald, Reed, Knowles and Phillips who GR has big upped were nothing short of embarrassing at Mickleover last night. GR seemingly went off on one at half time and ripped them apart.
We have not replaced the goals of Calv/Mags/Pato - Howe will be suspended or injured for half the season, that leaves Billy needing to score all the goals - won't happen, no matter how good he is.
I am worried, I hope the lads group together and show a similiar team spirit that we had last season, but I just don't see it with this lot, not yet anyway.
Sorry
posted on 30/7/13
Hey, no worries Burton Boy. We're all friends on here and I respect the opinions put forward. The reality is that none of us know whether we are stronger or not as the real business starts on Saturday.
Without comment, let's document the summer business to date. Please correct me if I have forgotten someone.
OUT
1. Macca (Released)
2. Ronnie (Retired)
3. Stanno (Released)
4. Calvin (Aberdeen)
5. Yussuf (Lincoln)
6. Maghoma (Sheff Wed)
7. O'Connor (Returned to Blackburn)
8. Aaron (Released)
9. Tommo (Retired)
10. Patterson (not known)
IN
1. Symes
2. Macdonald
3. Sharps
4. Edwards
5. Hussey
6. Reid
7. Knowles
8. Delap
9. Howe