We are surprisingly garbage on the ball for a top flight side. Not really sure that we are defacto one yet.
Will need to rely on energy on the break, and emotion, to smuggle results again.
Chelsea/Fulham. Fulham might be the first competitor I've seen this pre-season who should be within range.
Chelsea, rather annoyingly, have assembled a collection of big strong technical quick young lads. If it comes together quickly, and they can iron out the naivety and inconstancies, they might be quite something. They look quite capable of playing at real pace.
So, two more friendlies before Arsenal. Not sure it feels much like we are honing in on a team. Unlikely to have a goalkeeper in place for those games, unless we're stuck with Horvath. No sign (as far as I can recall) of Richards, Johnson or Biancone obvious doubts over Niakhate and Awoniyi. Hwang our current back-up striker.
Not too fussed about Arsenal - anything less than 5-0 is a step forward - or ManU and, hopefully, we ought to already be good enough to beat Sheffield United at home. But we are going to be building a team during the season again.
I can’t ever remember us looking any good in pre season.
But really need to sort the keeper situation out now. We won’t get any wins with Horvarth in goal.
Last time I remeber getting excited about pre-season was when we started with Nigel Jemson and Teddy Sheringham upfront.
I remember getting excited when we beat Toon 3-1 in pre-season. Think it might have been a play-of heart break season.
Horvath! Elanga! Ui Jo!
I'm correct in saying that none of the friendlies have been on Partridge .... Right?
Is Felipe injured? He doesn't seem to have played in preseason.
Apparently he hasn’t played preseason games for the last few years.
Is it 4-2-3-1?
1-0 down. Penalty. Fairly even game. Aurier let someone cut inside then put his hands on the guy, who went down softly.
Crap backpass by Hwang. Compounded by a stupid challenge by Worrall to try and win it back when he couldn't. 2-0.
Now 2-0 down, a second penalty. It's all pretty underwhelming. Silver lining is Aina who's looking sharp again. Looks like a useful player.
...and so of course it's Aina being out of position that leads to the third Rennes goal...
4-0...
