Not the result we wanted or probably expected. But I console myself with the thought that it was only a friendly, things can only get better and some of our players excelled.
RV were organised, hard working and stifled us at every turn.
Stars in gold were the two center backs, who both played the full 90. Superb throughout, especially Yerson Mosquera.
Rodrigo worked his socks off ,Ait Nouri was a little lethargic at times,giving the ball away. Larson didn’t waste any chances as he didn’t really get any. Tommy Doyle too was superb after he came on in the second half.
The rest had mediocre, up and down performances from which we fans learned very little. Hopefully Gary will learn more before next week.
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Disagree with the assessment of the centre backs, Mosquera made one or two or three very dubious tackles on the opposition that would have been yellow cards in the premier league. If he playes like this against Arsenal I forsee a red card and Wolves losing 5 goals to nil. The back line played better when Doyle came on and marshalled the defense from midfield, he was telling them how and when and too whom to play the ball.
Perhaps Dawson should be called upon to provide this role at Arsenal.
The thing with 4 at the back, you need pace.
Toti and Mosquera have it and used it. Not sure Dawson still has enough of it, though experience helps of course.
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Started the day with optimism after watching the other pre season games so was very disappointed that we had returned to slow build up play. We are so much more effective when we pass the ball quickly. Poor crosses and some poor decision making did not help. Love Rodrigo but his corners were shocking and did not go past the first defender.
Hope they were still suffering from jet lag otherwise i will be even more worried for the arsenal game.
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That was, in the main, dire, considering how we know our lads can play against good opposition. I, too felt our two in the centre were mostly imperious, but may need someone alongside to hone their skills at times. Rodrigo had, I felt a mixed game, and I had problems trying to impart to my fellow spectators how good he is.
I felt it was not the side that he will use to start the Arsenal game with, but a way of imparting a message that we are still short in some positions, particularly as Neto has left and Hugo needs regular playing time at the stage he is at and needs to go out on loan. We do need an experienced head and mouth at the back, I feel, and Dawson is getting to an age where we can not rely on him being there all the time. Larsen had little opportunity to show what we know he can do from the matches against top opposition in the States. I felt no one wanted to get injured and, of course, that tends to lead to someone , such as Lemina getting crocked.
I travelled across from East Anglia, as usual, to see the home game before the season begins and again wished I had not bothered; that was a day of my life I’ll not get back. You’d think I should have learnt at my great age, but that’s where the heart rules the head.
We, in my opinion, are still at least three players short of what we need to have confidence. I just hope the management have something up their sleeves and we don’t sell off any more real assets.
I can’t believe I’m so down after such a good preseason likened only by the time Nuno took over and I was rightly, excited by what I saw preseason.
No more injuries to key, experienced players, please.
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That was one thing that got me down. Guys sitting around me who had not seen these new players against good opposition were immediately of the mind that so and so was no good or not up to it and constantly making negative comments, which was hard to counter at times from what we endured after the initial play. I just hope they can quickly prove their initial valuations to be wrong and not me…
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I generally travel up for the last pre-season game against our Spanish cousins and this was the worst I can remember. The few saving graces included the sunshine, an excellent Balti Pie and no poxy VAR.
We looked nothing like the team that waltzed around R B Leipzig only a week ago. Bereft of ideas from the moment they scored. However, Valecano came to make life difficult for us and we lacked the creativity required. Arsenal will play totally differently and we should at least have space to work when we do get the ball.
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