Quick summary: Mersin solid, good saves, no mistakes!! Defence solid and uncompromisingly, no ball players but defended well. N'Gala could do a job in first team, strong, no slouch and wins aerial battles. McNerney often played long( probably why HK didn't like him) with reasonable accuracy and looked solid. Central midfield overun at times and gave ball away too often, Bulman disappointing. Young's delivery massively inconsistent but assisted goal. Galach on second half, good touches and movement, both his shots made the keeper work. Poleon looked neat and tidy but no where near the goal. All others ok
Post by townmeadleftover on Sept 5, 2018 7:28:46 GMT
I know some people don't like this competition but it does have some upsides to it, Mersin got 90 minutes and saved a penalty and you don't get that experience at training or sitting on the bench, McNerney and Randall got back on the pitch, Maguire made his debut, Allarakhia, Galach and Sesay all got some time, 5 players got the pressure of taking penalties including Palmer after his miss at Oldham and N'Gala sounds as though he's worth an immediate contract extension, the downside? we desperately need someone other than Palmer who can score goals, this was U21 opposition and we still couldn't put the ball in the net
Quick summary: Mersin solid, good saves, no mistakes!! Defence solid and uncompromisingly, no ball players but defended well. N'Gala could do a job in first team, strong, no slouch and wins aerial battles. McNerney often played long( probably why HK didn't like him) with reasonable accuracy and looked solid. Central midfield overun at times and gave ball away too often, Bulman disappointing. Young's delivery massively inconsistent but assisted goal. Galach on second half, good touches and movement, both his shots made the keeper work. Poleon looked neat and tidy but no where near the goal. All others ok
All pretty much spot on.
I would add to this an interesting (for me at least) point from sitting behind the home dugout last night that Morais was instructing the back line NOT to play out from the back for the "first few minutes" of the second half. A marked change from the past season and a refreshing step towards common sense.
One other point of note was that whilst Selim popped down to the home dugout on a few occasions he only did it after Morais turned round and called him down. Read in to that what you will, but I thought it was noteworthy.
Generally though, I enjoyed last night. It was a good opportunity to see some less familiar faces and I thought they all equipped themselves pretty well. Really enjoyed watching Galach (just keep reminding yourselves that he's only 17...!) and thought his passion and enthusiasm was infections on those around him.
Was nice to see a couple of fringe players start to put a bit of pressure on those ahead of them. Whilst not directly challenging for games immediately (with the possible exception of N'Gala, who quite frankly must have scared the living shit out of a bunch of U21 players) I thought that those given the opportunity took it.
Really enjoyed last night, I couldn’t quite figure out a way to put it but they played with more freedom and pressed for the attack more instead of passing round the back. Thought they all played great and Galach and Sesay loved it. I think the club 100% need to offer a long term contract to Ngala after that performance last night.
I was otherwise occupied last night, but interested in the comments.
Whenever i see Poleon i feel he has real talent but is almost trying too hard - a bit like Akinde when he was with us - dunno how you coach it but he needs to think less, play his natural game & just let the goals happen.
Last season our so called 2nd string would have lost that game - these players are a marked improvement and will press for a first team place - played a better style of football which they all seemed happy with - the only bit of sloppy play let to their goal.5 great penalties to win the shoot out and a great save by Mersin - really enjoyable game to watch
Good to see some positive comments from this game, as Alain said, in the last few years we'd have limped towards a lame defeat, sounds like a positive performance in a cup game for once, the last few years we've been absolutely awful in all cup competitions- FA cup, League cup and Checkatrade trophy.
Hopefully nobody much will turn up as our fans finally cotton on to this further attempt by the PL to trash all football outside their exalted level. Some hopes, I am sure there will be loads of deniers there.
Irrespective of any future damage to lower league & non league footy from the ongoing and insidious march of the super rich PL, it amazes me that we basically play our reserve side (as much of our squad as we have anyway) against a kids side and we draw getting on for 3/4 of our league gate. The power of Sky and the super rich!
I know some people don't like this competition but it does have some upsides to it, Mersin got 90 minutes and saved a penalty and you don't get that experience at training or sitting on the bench, McNerney and Randall got back on the pitch, Maguire made his debut, Allarakhia, Galach and Sesay all got some time, 5 players got the pressure of taking penalties including Palmer after his miss at Oldham and N'Gala sounds as though he's worth an immediate contract extension, the downside? we desperately need someone other than Palmer who can score goals, this was U21 opposition and we still couldn't put the ball in the net
The competition would be fine as a means to give our squad a run out IF it didn't include the kids teams because the PL are too bloody busy conquering the world to run a proper reserve league of their own (such as the Football Combination and the Central League which they pretty much killed off and which were fantastic "all age" competitive leagues used by the big clubs to bring in youngsters to play against old scroats).
I know some people don't like this competition but it does have some upsides to it, Mersin got 90 minutes and saved a penalty and you don't get that experience at training or sitting on the bench, McNerney and Randall got back on the pitch, Maguire made his debut, Allarakhia, Galach and Sesay all got some time, 5 players got the pressure of taking penalties including Palmer after his miss at Oldham and N'Gala sounds as though he's worth an immediate contract extension, the downside? we desperately need someone other than Palmer who can score goals, this was U21 opposition and we still couldn't put the ball in the net
The competition would be fine as a means to give our squad a run out IF it didn't include the kids teams because the PL are too bloody busy conquering the world to run a proper reserve league of their own (such as the Football Combination and the Central League which they pretty much killed off and which were fantastic "all age" competitive leagues used by the big clubs to bring in youngsters to play against old scroats).
Calm down, Mick - you’re heading for a cardiac arrest 😜
Shocking error from Bulman a player of his experience should not be passing the ball across the face of the goal, he looked up as well, inexcusable mistake.