Pre-Season 2023/24

[Hotspur88]

That was very enjoyable, actually feel pretty enthused. It's our first pre season game but we completely dominated and on another day would have had 5 or 6. Get the defensive reinforcements in and then see how we go. It just felt so refreshing to actually dominate the ball in a game and create so many chances. Exciting times

 

[Gbspurs]

Good game that one. Hard to remember sometime but preseason isn't about results and what we have seen is a real positive push in the right direction for the first game under the new manager.

 

[smallsnc]

Devine is a better 8 than Skipp.

Hard to tell since Devine was playing RW in the 2nd half. Not necessarily disagreeing.

 

[MiakSarawak]

Lad, he slipped. It happens.

If it was Hojbjerg though.......

 

[Finchyid]

That was very enjoyable, actually feel pretty enthused. It's our first pre season game but we completely dominated and on another day would have had 5 or 6. Get the defensive reinforcements in and then see how we go. It just felt so refreshing to actually dominate the ball in a game and create so many chances. Exciting times

5 or 6 is being pessimistic I would say !

 

[Thenewcat]

Let’s be honest that couldn’t have gone better. 71% possession, 30 shots to 4, they made 49 clearances and blocks to our 2. Genuine front foot football but we concede 3 from 4 shots to remind everyone how badly we need defensive reinforcements. Ideal

 

[werty]

 

[theShiznit]

Only positives to take from that AFAIAC.

The forward play was levels above what we have seen in years. with quick incisive passing, one touch passages of play and movement, lovely forward movement and third man running. We ran them ragged.

And also a positive for me that it highlights the need for defenders. (We know DL is there so he must have seen it too...)

 

[PCozzie]

TBF Ange said things would be different and they are, immediately.

Everyone looking for the ball, one-touch pass and move, through balls, early crosses. That'll do for starters.

 

[mdharris]

Lovely football. Such a pleasure to watch them play attacking football.

Purely on this showing, I’d have the following as my starting 11 for the next game. Yes yes, I recognize this is premature re: the start of the season, but it’s all part of the fun of preseason. We need a new LCB, without doubt, as no option in our squad is good enough.

Vicario
Royal Romero Davies Udogie
Bissouma
Maddison GLC
Kulu Kane Son*

Hot-take on who to get rid of:
Reguilon
Dier
Hojbjerg - he was very decent in this game, admittedly. But we will get a good-ish fee for him and we have better options.
Tanganga - as a 5th choice HG option he could work. Should be nowhere near our starting 11 though, and then you wonder if an academy player might be a better option for that spot.
Rodon
Davinson

*Son, if fit. I thought Perisic was very good, better than Solomon (who was lively and promising). Perisic can go either way and puts in good balls. I actually think he fits the mould of the Ange winger the best of any in our squad. Shame that he’s likely to go given the rumors and the other options we have there (Son, Solomon, Gil), but it is what it is.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

That sounded pretty positive for a first run out really.

 

[glacierSpurs]

TBH, I really would have hoped our set piece coach actually stayed. Would have improved on our set pieces, be it defending or attacking.

 

[mark87]

That game perfectly shows how bad our defence currently is.

 

[Ledders Army]

Preseason or not Bowen should not be getting away with scissoring players in the box without sanction.

If that's the ref's preseaon he needs a LOT of work...

I think it was his last ever game

 

[easley91]

Think it's probably good to get some losses in pre-season tbh. Stops the team getting complacent.

After the Ramos pre-season where we battered everyone I'm deeply distrustful of pre-season results.

I'm exactly the same. Results in friendlies don't matter to me, it's just ensuring the style is implemented and we can see positives within the performance itself (as well as getting match fitness and sharpness ready for the Prem).

 

[DJS]

At least this also demonstrates just how shoddy our centre backs are.

Just hope that Levy actually isn’t his usual daft self and ensures a clear weakness in our side is filled - we really need Tapsola and van de ven to be honest as Romero is our only decent centre back, and even he doesn’t inspire complete confidence at the moment.

Suspect we’ll only get one in of anything as we don’t do sensible, but looking at result today that’s still worrying they‘ve had 3 shots and all led to a goal.

Of course this will also be due to us adapting to a different play style, but those centre backs are a concern as we have some good options all over the squad now, aside from in that position.

 

[Legacy]

View attachment 129073

Those are Football Manager stats.

 

[PLTuck]

Really encouraging stuff, defensive lapses aside.

 

[carpediem991]

Nice debut for Ange. Couldn't care about the result. Just want two CB's with pace and quality in. Van de Ven and another. Hopefully GLC is building on that and we can keep him to take Hojbjergs squad place.

 

[Finchyid]

Based on that, Reg, Tanganaga, Rodon, Sanchez and Hjojberg should all be outs
Positive stuff from Udogie
Dominated the game should have had 8 at least. Going forward not seen football like that for a good while. Defensive errors can be sorted