matic will be sold if there are any takers

people have been blinkered about RLC hoping hes the new Terry but sadly just not good enough

Always thought RLC was a tad overrated.

 

Please show me one post on these boards that directly over rates him. All we have done is supported a young player and insisted the club give him a proper chance.

People need to relax. This was fifth(!) game for Rapid since as early as June 21, and only our first after a week of training. Of course, they were much fitter and it showed, so no need to panic. 

 

As far as the game itself, it's hard to make any conclusions from an early preseason friendly with many first teamers missing. Still, our aging and struggling defense was exposed on a number of occasions. I'm sure Conte will look to address that issue in the transfer market. Kante is the right step to cover the back four but we need new defenders. Ivanovic is finished and JT will be used sparingly in the upcoming season, I think. With Zouma out till January and Cahill being Cahill we're in dire need of reenforcements in that area. Fullbacks are also needed, given that apart from Azpi we can't count on anyone, either.

Edited July 16, 201610 yr by abramovich

Please show me one post on these boards that directly over rates him. All we have done is supported a young player and insisted the club give him a proper chance.

my personal opinion mate.

Only opening game of pre-season. Not a full squad yet... Plus new signings haven't joined.

Conte needs time.

But I will say that We definitely need to reinforce at the back. Ideally a center back and a left back.

Conte out.

Roman watched the game.Well according to Garry Hayes.

Edited July 16, 201610 yr by summer is coming

Hahahahahahaaa

glad he was watching so he sees where we need to improve

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Hope Conte will see that Ivanovic is no longer a solution. I remember the start of last season when all teams realized he was the weakest link and exposed him every single week. I really don't want to see that again. Apart from Azpi and Zouma ( when he comes back) we have an aging/poor back 4.

i'm still calm, but tbh a little concerned. that's exactly what everyone was saying last pre season, "it's only pre season" "it's about getting match fit", yet we know how that turns out

I agree. However, Conte's only been in position three days. Let's hope we see progression over the rest on pre-season, unlike last year.

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Quote of the day has to be Frank Sinclair who said I'm glad we have signed Kante, he reminds me of when we had Makalale. Also going back further people may remember Keith Jones !!!!

I was going to say some of the negativity being shown already on the very first 'match day' thread is unbelievable but unfortunately it's not, it's becoming all too predictable.

 

For goodness sake this match was nothing more than a warm-up against a team who have now completed their pre-season and who's proper season starts next week. What on earth were some of the moaners here expecting from this game, seriously ?

If anybody saw the friendly games when he was Italy manager (including drawing 1-1 with Luxembourg) then they'd know he really doesn't care about these games, don't be alarmed by the result of performance.

Awful performance as usual. Ivanovic and Matic need to be sold ASAP.

 

Here's to another season of mediocrity.

Conte lost 4 of his 7 pre season games in the season he was unbeaten with juve

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Awful performance as usual. Ivanovic and Matic need to be sold ASAP.

Here's to another season of mediocrity.

Iva I understand. Matic no way. It'll be hard to find another dm.

I'd be worried if we didn't look sluggish and had played well. Losing 2-0 an expected result at this time of year. Why do they even keep the score in these games?

Awful performance as usual. Ivanovic and Matic need to be sold ASAP.

 

Here's to another season of mediocrity.

Here's a thought, why don't you just sod off and troll some other website ?

Here's a thought, why don't you just sod off and troll some other website ?

Just ignore him.

How hard is it to not overreact to a stupid preseason result which was more about fitness and Conte learning stuff about the squad players than the result. They were clearly fitter and better prepared than us, while you can only expect so much from a load of players who don't play together in mid-season, let alone first game of preseason . 

"Conte hasn't explained too much at all, to be honest. It's just about working hard and trying to buy into what he wants us to do.-Begovic

The manager hasn't even started impacting his ideas to the team yet he is expected after 3 days of working with the team to blow a team who have completed their preseason and even played an europa league game away. Some fans though.

How hard is it to not overreact to a stupid preseason result which was more about fitness and Conte learning stuff about the squad players than the result. They were clearly fitter and better prepared than us, while you can only expect so much from a load of players who don't play together in mid-season, let alone first game of preseason . 

 

It's like i said earlier in the thread, it's like every player has been out injured for the last 2 months and are playing their first game since returning. It's unrealistic to expect so much so soon. 

Let's be honest. No matter how fit they are, a back four of Rahman, Djilibodgi, Terry and Ivanovich would be suicidal at any stage of the season.

Nothing to do with fitness. They're just not good enough. Same with Matic and Mikel in midfield.

We turn out the same team in six months time against Rapid Vienna and we would still lose 2-0.

Willian and Costa apart that was our B-squad out there and we should hope most don't get anywhere near the first team next season. That's if the Board do their job properly this Summer.