Valencia pre-season friendly Match thread.

[MC Prussian]

9 minutes ago, sdb said:

Worrying that the youngsters looked more energised and ready than most of the first teasers. Same frustrations as always for me...

 

chillwell can attack but not defend

iborra can pass but can’t run

amartey can pass but only sideways

diabate can be tricky but rarely produces the important stuff

iheanacho can finish but can’t be arsed

benelouanne can play football but nowhere near professional standard! 

 

there’s a lot of players like that in (and out) the squad, potential and ability but flaws in their game that don’t seem to be developing. Gray, Musa classic examples. Only need to sharpen a few attributes and they could be valuable players for us. 

 

I’d also be going with Simpson over Ricardo at OT based on that. And Choudry could be useful in that role if he can displace someone first.

Not sure the youth players had to undergo the same rigid pre-season training than the pros.

Most of our first teamers have now participated in four pre-season friendlies, many of them with the World Cup experience just a few weeks past, whereas most youngsters only done bit-part appearances.

Performances can be deceiving...

 

Simpson isn't match-fit and Ricardo Pereira will grow into his role - just needs to work on his defensive aspects of the game.

Edited 1 August 2018 by MC Prussian

[Vacamion]

If Evans is still struggling for fitness, Johnson has to be ahead of Benalouane for sub CB, you would think.

 

 

[UPinCarolina]

It’s nice that the Puel Out Brigade isn’t posting in force for once.

[Stevosevic]

Quite enjoyed that

[sylofox]

Four friendlies some up our season

 

game 1 we could do a lot this season.

game 2 not great but early doors.

game 3 shite and going down.

game 4 perhaps one player short.

 

no one can ever say FT is boring  

[Corky]

Thank God that's over as I don't have to put up with Rob Dorsett any more being a right miserable tosser on the Sky updates who seemed to lose the concept of a friendly not being played at 100mph and with full commitment to win.

[Webbo]

Just now, UPinCarolina said:

It’s nice that the Puel Out Brigade isn’t posting in force for once.

I'm posting. When there's nothing to complain about I won't complain.

[Babylon]

8 minutes ago, sdb said:

Worrying that the youngsters looked more energised and ready than most of the first teasers. Same frustrations as always for me...

 

chillwell can attack but not defend

iborra can pass but can’t run

amartey can pass but only sideways

diabate can be tricky but rarely produces the important stuff

iheanacho can finish but can’t be arsed

benelouanne can play football but nowhere near professional standard! 

 

there’s a lot of players like that in (and out) the squad, potential and ability but flaws in their game that don’t seem to be developing. Gray, Musa classic examples. Only need to sharpen a few attributes and they could be valuable players for us. 

 

I’d also be going with Simpson over Ricardo at OT based on that. And Choudry could be useful in that role if he can displace someone first.

Young lads have been in preseason from day one, the first team have been coming back in dribs and drabs. Could take 4-6 weeks for most teams to get all their players up to speed this year if they've had a lot at the World Cup.

[wokinghamfox]

Overall a good evenings work and it proved that we have some real talent coming through. I believe we can count Darnell Johnson as another CB but Benny well thats another story.

 

Maddison is the dogs wotsits, who needs (dont want to say the name) RM.

[MC Prussian]

3 minutes ago, UPinCarolina said:

It’s nice that the Puel Out Brigade isn’t posting in force for once.

Whatever it is, they've never existed, so they can't be posting in the first place.

[sphericalfox]

1 minute ago, Webbo said:

I'm posting. When there's nothing to complain about I won't complain.

Would you like to share anything you thought might give Puel some credit?

[Jobyfox]

7 minutes ago, vanity said:

Come on mate, he isn't evil. But we are financially Icommitted to Gray for now, and he at least demands defensive attention, but his job is made more difficult when defenses can sag away from Albrighton. We need finishing and goals, and when a team can basically ignore one wing and focus on the center/right, it makes it so much more difficult for us to score. We need better balance. 

 

What did you think of Ndukwu out there? He's a LW...

Ndukwu looks like he has ability. He’s been here a while so surprised he hasn’t been talked about much before although, I confess, I don’t follow players outside the first team as closely as others. 

 

We’re sort of agreeing on MA. I just feel that the problem isn’t with Albrighton, but our failure to recruit better or, indeed, get better performances out of the players already here. Until others can regularly and consistently show the talent they’re supposed to have - he still starts for me.

 

But I fully understand his limitations. 

[Webbo]

Just now, sphericalfox said:

Would you like to share anything you thought might give Puel some credit?

There was nothing to complain about. We drew in a pre season match. That doesn't all of a sudden make us brilliant.

[Scotch]

I CAN NOT WAIT to see Vardy and Maddison play together on a regular basis. Vardy will shine from those wee through balls of Maddisons and they both press like hell.

[sphericalfox]

Just now, Webbo said:

There was nothing to complain about. We drew in a pre season match. That doesn't all of a sudden make us brilliant.

No one should say we're brilliant, we're not near our 1st team yet, and we're clearly rusty and prone to the odd dumb error at the minute.

 

Was there anything at all that gives you a feeling that once we do get up to speed, we might actually be able to contend, and not be utter relegation fodder?

[foxes_rule1978]

Puel will always give younger players a chance and bring them through. I like that, they handled things great today and seem to enjoy the style of play Puel wants 

Edited 1 August 2018 by foxes_rule1978

[foxes_rule1978]

2 minutes ago, Foxy_Bear said:

I CAN NOT WAIT to see Vardy and Maddison play together on a regular basis. Vardy will shine from those wee through balls of Maddisons and they both press like hell.

Exactly Maddison looks for that forward ball and Vardy knows where to run, I can’t wait to see that in action 

[Webbo]

2 minutes ago, sphericalfox said:

No one should say we're brilliant, we're not near our 1st team yet, and we're clearly rusty and prone to the odd dumb error at the minute.

 

Was there anything at all that gives you a feeling that once we do get up to speed, we might actually be able to contend, and not be utter relegation fodder?

Well if we'd been beaten, you'd say "it was only pre season". Let's see how we get on  in a competitive fixture.

[Legend_in_blue]

Maddison and Vardy will tear teams up once they're up and running.

 

CB and L/RW required and we're good to go.

 

Positive performance that.  

[Lesta2014]

Like the look of Ndukwu. Naturally gifted. The confidence to try chip the keeper I like a lot! Loan him out for season if he’s not going to be in the match day squad. 

[gw_leics772]

1 minute ago, Lesta2014 said:

Like the look of Ndukwu. Naturally gifted. The confidence to try chip the keeper I like a lot! Loan him out for season if he’s not going to be in the match day squad. 

Now why didn't kermogant get the same leeway? Racism I reckon ?

[Bluetintedspecs]

Personally I enjoyed that, looks like we've got some good youngsters coming through. Think Maddison is going to be a class act when he's fully bedded in.

[kingfox]

Some decent football on show especially in the second half, the most impressive thing about us in this pre season has been our pressing.

 

Youngsters did alright but I wouldn't push Johnson, Elder and even Choudhury as first team regulars just yet.

 

Some weren't convincing, Diabate the big worry for me, he's been absolutely shit in pre season, we need a Mahrez replacement but the way Diabate's been looking we could do with two wingers, ship Diabate out on loan or send him with the under 23's.

 

Solid run out, Ndidi, Maddison and Silva looked the best of the bunch 

[Ric Flair]

10 minutes ago, Lesta2014 said:

Like the look of Ndukwu. Naturally gifted. The confidence to try chip the keeper I like a lot! Loan him out for season if he’s not going to be in the match day squad. 

Matt Elliott was talking at length about how gifted he is and the club have known this for years, he lost his way from the age of 16 for a few years but seems to be knuckling down know. We need to get him out on loan.

 

The confidence Puel must be giving our academy players is massive, they just seem to be revelling in the game time they get and it's the less obvious players who are shining and you wonder if it's the difference between having the faith of your manager and not trying too hard because you think you've got to impress. 

 

Most of them won't make it as PL players, but a couple might and Puel will always try and get them involved.

[Guest Col city fan]

Central defence still the main concern I think. If Maguire isn’t back and fit, I fear big Romelu will have a field day.