Do we know if there was any reason given for Bakayoko and Drinkwater not being involved tonight? 

Hey @MunkworthHere it is 

 

So it seems we can't defend and we can score goals the roles of concern have been reserved

So it seems we can't defend and we can score goals the roles of concern have been reserved

6 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Do we know if there was any reason given for Bakayoko and Drinkwater not being involved tonight? 

BECAUSE THEY ARE TRASH

Do we know if there was any reason given for Bakayoko and Drinkwater not being involved tonight? 

Probably not in Frank's plans. But I think both could feature in the M'gladbach game. Hope not. We don't need those two, really.

6 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

BECAUSE THEY ARE TRASH

Beat me to it

The good...

Pulisic with two great goals.

Barkley with two good assists and a pen.

Pedro with a stupendous finish.

A striker (Batshuayi) scores, albeit at the second attempt. 

Some good one-touch play at high tempo in spells. 

 

 

The Bad...

Defence still looking shambolic.

Setpeice defending.

Zouma is looking dreadful.

Azpilicueta not far behind in his play on the ball. First half especially, seemed every pass he made was wrong.

Kovacic and jorginho pairing in midfield offers little going forward and not much the other way. 

Abraham showing he is probably the least effective all three strikers for him to be made the starting striker.

Frank needs to get his mate JT in to sort the defence out 

4 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

Frank needs to get his mate JT in to sort the defence out 

Or his mate Makelele.

Might even help turn Bakayoko into a footballer. 

I’ve long been lamenting the Hoddle/Gullit/Vialli period when we were more flash and gung ho, so it’s encouraging how these score-lines are a hint that those entertaining days may be returning.

I hope we sharpen up massively at the back when the season gets underway, not long left now. 

When Zola scores that back heel flick against Norwich, Frank was on the pitch. He comes back as manager, Pedro goes and ups the ante. Coincidence?

Super Frank about Mr. A attending the match

 

44 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Do we know if there was any reason given for Bakayoko and Drinkwater not being involved tonight? 

Frank has rumbled them.

38 minutes ago, GhostOfDembaBa said:

 

The Bad...

 

Kovacic and jorginho pairing in midfield offers little going forward and not much the other way. 

 

I must have watched a different game to you. 

I really think Kovacic have cemented his place in the team with how he's played this pre-season. He was the one pulling the strings and running the midfield today and when Kante comes back i think it will have to be Jorginho who makes way.

I know this is only preseason but jesus.... 

Kovacic and Barkley both looked superb.. I mean who'd have thought we'd be saying that after how they were for the majority of last season? Where they play now, is clearly where they should be playing this season. Barkley seems sublime as a number 10, without having to much to worry about defensively. And Kovacic as part of a double pivot, being kind of a "box to box" dribbling forward with powerful runs... ALmost Hazardesque the way he goes forward sometimes. 

Pulisic looks very promising, at least we know there's someone who's got an eye for goal! 

Abraham wasnt too impressive in all honesty, but hes still very young and got plenty of chances to learn.

Defence is looking atrocious, but then again 3 of our probable starting XI weren't playing. Id cash in on Zouma and Alonso tbh, not worth them taking up the foreign player quota when they simply arent good enough. Would rather wait this season out until we can buy players again, and go in big for defence next season. 

On the whole, everything is looking up I'd say! Really intrigued to see what our starting XI will be come the season. Assuming RLC and James are still injured, I'd say this: 

Kepa

Azpi-Rudiger-Luiz/Christensen-Emerson

Kante-Jorginho

Pulisic-Barkley-CHO

Abraham/Giroud

 

Gonna be tough for Frank to see who to play as Kovacic has been really impressive in his role, and Barkley has been great as a number 10. With Kante coming back into the fray, Frank's got tough decisions to be made..

Defense might be a leaky this year. Granted there is no Kante right now and that matters but... 

Edited July 31, 20196 yr by chiefBlueCFC

 

hope Kova is OK because this looks ugly and he didn't return. this guy first takes Kova out and then scores 2 goals

Pulisic looks so calm

I couldn't see much of the game, but the goals were great, defending poor again, Luiz especially has looked lazy during pre season. Strikers look nowhere near good enough during pre-season, but the midfield and wingers are looking good. 

57 minutes ago, Sindre said:

I really think Kovacic have cemented his place in the team with how he's played this pre-season. He was the one pulling the strings and running the midfield today and when Kante comes back i think it will have to be Jorginho who makes way.

 

I agree with this. Kovacic has looked superb pre-season, and Kante has to be a shoo-in in a double pivot, so I'd expect Jorginho to make way when everybody's fit.

 

I only saw the first half today so I'm interested to know how Kenedy looked when he came on. If Lampard were picking the team on merit rather then reputation, Kenedy would have started today at the expense of Pedro. Kenedy, alongside Kovacic, Barkley and Mount, had been the pick of our players this pre-season up till today.

 

I thought Emerson looked good first half and I'm hoping this will be a big season for him. Defence is definitely a worry though and Rudiger won't be too worried about his spot but things can change. Talking of change, Tammy needs time, people need to cut him a bit of slack right now. We have to make do with what we've got and he may just be our best option over the course of the season so I hope people show a bit of patience.

 

Christensen, Mount and Kenedy probably feeling they deserved to start today. Can somebody please tell me who got brought on second-half and how did they do?

6 minutes ago, Davey Baby said:

 

I agree with this. Kovacic has looked superb pre-season, and Kante has to be a shoo-in in a double pivot, so I'd expect Jorginho to make way when everybody's fit.

I only saw the first half today so I'm interested to know how Kenedy looked when he came on. If Lampard were picking the team on merit rather then reputation, Kenedy would have started today at the expense of Pedro. Kenedy, alongside Kovacic, Barkley and Mount, had been the pick of our players this pre-season up till today.

I thought Emerson looked good first half and I'm hoping this will be a big season for him. Defence is definitely a worry though and Rudiger won't be too worried about his spot but things can change. Talking of change, Tammy needs time, people need to cut him a bit of slack right now. We have to make do with what we've got and he may just be our best option over the course of the season so I hope people show a bit of patience.

Christensen, Mount and Kenedy probably feeling they deserved to start today. Can somebody please tell me who got brought on second-half and how did they do?

They all came on after 70 minutes so no real time to make a real impact (well Michy scored). It's hard to gauge Lampard's selection methods right now, he's probably trying different combinations to gauge things.

Regarding the game I've stuck to my guns all pre season that Mount should start at Old Trafford but i can't say Barkley doesn't deserve to start now, but at the same time Mason deserves aswell, i'm wondering if him, Barks and Pulisic interchanging behind the striker will work? 

19 minutes ago, Argo said:

They all came on after 70 minutes so no real time to make a real impact (well Michy scored). It's hard to gauge Lampard's selection methods right now, he's probably trying different combinations to gauge things.

Regarding the game I've stuck to my guns all pre season that Mount should start at Old Trafford but i can't say Barkley doesn't deserve to start now, but at the same time Mason deserves aswell, i'm wondering if him, Barks and Pulisic interchanging behind the striker will work? 

 

Frank could try 433 in the next game, with Barkley and Mason in the advanced CM positions. It may leave us even more vulnerable defensively however, and once Kante comes back, it's unlikely to be our formation anyway. Kante has always excelled in a central pair, with Leicester, with Chelsea and with France.