Wahey, sweet goal on the break there. Gorgeous low cross from Willian, great run forward from Moses as well, just when I thought we were looking a bit leggy.

 

Well done lads, keep it up.

Better pace of play, move the ball get a cross in with two strikers looking to score.

You guys see we are playing with proper wingers the two wide guys are hugging the touchline it's like a 4-2-4

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I wouldn't mind Traore as our no 2. No point in buying Gabigol when we have Traore.

Double sessions all week will take their toll on the players legs, especially after time off.

Ye,trying not to be to hard on them,really want the players to take to conte,maybe i was being naive,just thought conte would give them a kick up the ar*e and they would all be choking to get going

ooooo Costa good shot

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Willy in good fit

Great run from Willian, good strike from Willian, we look good on the counter!

Well, if we are going to play 4-2-4 next season, where is that going to leave Fabregas ? there is no way he can play in that formation, he hasn't got the legs. Kante can only do so much.

Good goal by Traore, his movement towards the ball was correct and little luck. We're looking great in counter attacks, Moses and Willian are doing the job, Traore is doing a good job, had some errors but still good enough in this half. 

 

RLC and Chalobah for Matic and Oscar. Let them change the game a bit, I think RLC can do a box to box position today, it's the right game for it. Diego Costa seems like a little bit lazy for me.

 

Moses and Aina were the best players so far.

Ye,trying not to be to hard on them,really want the players to take to conte,maybe i was being naive,just thought conte would give them a kick up the ar*e and they would all be choking to get going

If we're the same at the start of the season I assume he will be, but I highly doubt it, we're still missing a lot of key players.

I think people don't always appreciate how important pre season is.

In Scotland they've changed the league cup so it starts about the same time as most teams pre season, and a lot of managers have cane out and said they'll treat it as more pre season games, because the players will never be ready to hit the ground running.

Don't panick, we'll get there!

Better than the Vienna game, players look a bit more confident in what their roles are.

A poor opposition but I've seen signs of the back four creaking still, definitely the area I think we're most desperate for reinforcements.

Oscar and Matic a much more efficient and dynamic pairing than Mikel and Matic who always look flat and uninspired.

Front two keep making the same runs but the benefit of having two forwards has been evident, a lot more to aim at in the area when the ball goes wide as apposed to it often being only Costa to aim at in the area.

Been impressed with Oscar, Moses and Willian so far today

and I have really enjoyed the formation, very aggressive and with players like Hazard, Willian and Moses we will be very very dangerous on the break if we do play this way this season. 

Matic and Papy very disappointing. Matic was a bit better later on. Pre-season I guess..

You guys see we are playing with proper wingers the two wide guys are hugging the touchline it's like a 4-2-4

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It's a 4-2-4 when we got the ball, 4-4-2 when we loose possession. It works well when you have wingers with stamina and pace, but I'm not sure Hazard has the legs to track back this much. It's also a good setup to press high up the pitch with our two strikers, our two central midfielders got more space to cover though.

'

Edited July 20, 20169 yr by comtrend

Good performance so far, we've been playing far more aggressively and already look in better condition than we were on Saturday. It's probably not worth drawing too many concrete conclusions considering the severe lack of quality from the opposition (we've been afforded an unreal amount of space in the middle third), as well as the fact that we're missing quite a large chunk of our squad.

 

One thing I'll say is that I'm not a huge fan of us playing without someone behind the striker. The benefits of two strikers are self-explanatory (and the goal is a reflection of that), but I think we might struggle to create chances without a dedicated player between the lines; even in this game (against a pretty poor midfield) we've often resorted to punting in crosses, which for a side without any strikers who are particularly good in the air (admittedly I don't know Batshuayi very well so he could be an option who helps with this) might be a problem. Another issue is that when our full squad is back, we have a very high number of incredibly talented players (all of whom would ideally be in our first XI) whose preferred position is there: Oscar, Hazard, Willian, Fabregas (sort of).

 

I won't get too shrill about this though, it's only our second game with our new manager (in whom I have a great deal of hope), it's pre-season, and we only have half a squad.

 

Bring on the second half!

Edited July 20, 20169 yr by PloKoon13

Just Ivan off for Baba? Surprising it's only one change.

Oscar was excellent there, in a position many of us have wanted him to get more time in. Matic poor though, and djilobodji all over the place positionally again, and Ivan still looks a shadow of his former self. enjoying watching aina though. You can see how unsure Costa is in a 2, but it will come.

Would be more than happy to see aina start the season as our 1st choice Left back

Oscar was excellent there, in a position many of us have wanted him to get more time in. Matic poor though, and djilobodji all over the place positionally again, and Ivan still looks a shadow of his former self. enjoying watching aina though. You can see how unsure Costa is in a 2, but it will come.

Agree with all that, has Costa ever played in a 2 as a pro? Was always a lone striker at Atletico as well was he not?

Or did he occasionally have Forlan beside him? That coulda been Falcao mind you.

Agree with all that, has Costa ever played in a 2 as a pro? Was always a lone striker at Atletico as well was he not?

Or did he occasionally have Forlan beside him? That coulda been Falcao mind you.

I think he played with falcao but was either wide or in behind, never as an out and out 2. He and traore are in the same space too often, making the same runs etc.

Agree with all that, has Costa ever played in a 2 as a pro? Was always a lone striker at Atletico as well was he not?

Or did he occasionally have Forlan beside him? That coulda been Falcao mind you.

 

Played with Falcao, they were great together.

Agree with all that, has Costa ever played in a 2 as a pro? Was always a lone striker at Atletico as well was he not?

Or did he occasionally have Forlan beside him? That coulda been Falcao mind you.

 

He played as a support striker to Falcao for a while.

poor play from rahman

Played with Falcao, they were great together.

More a support forward though wasn't it?

Sorry ploks, didn't see your post.

Edited July 20, 20169 yr by dkw