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Post by pavel on Jul 27, 2019 16:07:34 GMT
Same weaknesses that I expected, McClean defensively, though OK going forward (a bit predictable and they adjusted to him 2nd half), Clucas flatters to deceive. Afobe well what can I say, Vokes, not really sure what he brings, not enough guile in midfield, not enough pace, not enough composure in defence. Yes it was against a premiership side but we have no cutting edge and little creativity.
I thought this would be an ideal time, in a friendly, to try Campbell, Collins (not on the bench), Verlinden and Gregory, to see how they fare against quality opposition in the 2nd half. Yet again we miss another penalty, poorly struck again.
Shawcross's injury doesn't look good, very sad to see it happen in pre season.
We have a few players to come in who will improve us but I fear athleticism alone will not suffice without more guile, pace and composure.
Jones disappointed me today by yet again not using any of his subs apart from the one imposed on him.
Not worried but not enthused or optimistic we have the balance right.
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Post by Pugsley on Jul 27, 2019 16:08:27 GMT
Pretty big downsides I would say, with a week to kick off!!!!! Fullbacks are as good as we'll get at this level. McClean is new there and is pretty erratic for me. We all know we need/are looking at signing a Striker. Vokes, Afobe and Gregory are too slow. We need one of them plus pace alongside, but can't just rely on Campbell to play that role this season. We've pushed a better left back out of the door and Smith is no better than Edwards. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2019 16:11:21 GMT
I wasn’t for one minute thinking we’d thrash or even beat Leicester if I’m honest, but I was hoping we would have turned the corner from that one gear, half arsed mentality.
Okay there were splashes of hope, but to be honest I was hoping for more.
I know it’s pre season and all....I was just looking forward to a more dynamic looking team, with a splash of hunger and passion to their game
Looking forward to QPR tho
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Post by Robo10 on Jul 27, 2019 16:13:02 GMT
With my Grandad we used to go into a little club above some shops near the Vic, then the PMT club after that one closed Bottle of pop, bag of sweets, watching him play cards and learning how to play crash/crib etc Great times. Was the little club the Conservative Club? Frequented the PMT club as a kid myself with my Dad, your Grandad may well have been there as well at the time, I have a vague memory  Heyup dude Not sure my Grandad Ray would drink in the Tory club but I could be wrong lol It was a little club above the shops on Lonsdale St (either in or next to where the Stoke Lau Gar kickboxing place is now) I can remember us getting there first game of the season in about 1983 and it was closed, so PMT it was. I was only about 9 :-) |
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Post by questionable on Jul 27, 2019 16:28:11 GMT
Not much change from last season. We still can't score from a pen. Adobe is still fucking Shit. McClean will be Shit no matter where he plays. We still don't have enough pace in the side. Defenders nowhere to be seen for their goals. Very few shots on target. Allen running round a lot with no end product. Pretty much spot on that, nothing has changed 1 or 2 passes before losing possession, forward play is abysmal (if any) Afobe is embarrassing, lots of disjointed play and there’s so much space down the flanks it’s embarrassing. So NJ has his players and, well it’s a not good |
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Post by terryconroysmagic on Jul 27, 2019 16:28:16 GMT
I only watched parts of the game, McClean has an awful lot to do and in my opinion unlikely to cut it at LB. Terrible passing, doesn’t seem to look up, poor positional awareness and how long till his first red card.
If he’s our starting LB we’ll struggle, I’d prefer Ward.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2019 16:33:31 GMT
I must say I was looking forward to seeing the leaner and meaner Afobe that had been mentioned though I just saw last season's version today. Campbell has to start next week surely ? He is leaner and meaner, a lot leaner. He is an abomination of a footballer though and a natural finisher would have buried those two pretty clear cut chances he had. Stick the penalty away and we could have had four against a good Premier League side. His off the ball work was loads better than last season. |
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Post by str8outtahampton on Jul 27, 2019 16:33:38 GMT
I can confirm that I watched the game on lcfc YouTube via my smart tv and it was enjoyable I can also confirm that a YouTube stoke streaming service would be very enjoyable Likewise. Essential to put it on full screen - those incoming comments make the Oatcake look like the Sorbonne. In fairness, the ground is on the Left Bank. |
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Post by clarkeda on Jul 27, 2019 16:36:40 GMT
Powell could be the shining light. He's got clear quality and stands out a mile if he can be arsed. I've been impressed with his work off the ball today. And me, surprised at how much he grafts. |
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Post by clarkeda on Jul 27, 2019 16:38:46 GMT
How are we playing? In a word? Good value considering this is the first team of a Europe contender in the league above. My opinion anyway. I’m sure someone will be along to tell me my opinion is wrong though. |
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Post by FullerMagic on Jul 27, 2019 16:40:16 GMT
Kind of wish I wouldn't have gone today, then I could've retained by sunny pre-season optimism for at least one more week  Not a lot to get enthused about, was there? |
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Post by skelman on Jul 27, 2019 16:46:00 GMT
Not much change from last season. We still can't score from a pen. Adobe is still fucking Shit. McClean will be Shit no matter where he plays. We still don't have enough pace in the side. Defenders nowhere to be seen for their goals. Very few shots on target. Allen running round a lot with no end product. Didn’t see it but your summary is worrying as it summed up most of last season! I’ve been looking forward to this season but surely we should be seeing more fluidity, control, passion and evidence of the way this system will work for us by now. I’m sure the lads will step up a gear (maybe need to step up 2) by QPR but this isn’t just like turning a light bulb on - or maybe there’s still no juice from EMEB?!!! |
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Post by elystokie on Jul 27, 2019 16:51:38 GMT
Was the little club the Conservative Club? Frequented the PMT club as a kid myself with my Dad, your Grandad may well have been there as well at the time, I have a vague memory Heyup dude Not sure my Grandad Ray would drink in the Tory club but I could be wrong lol It was a little club above the shops on Lonsdale St (either in or next to where the Stoke Lau Gar kickboxing place is now) I can remember us getting there first game of the season in about 1983 and it was closed, so PMT it was. I was only about 9 :-) I can't remember going into any upstairs bars on Lonsdale St, I didn't get back to Stoke as much in the early 80s, drank in Stoke a lot late 70s before I joined up, wasn't that around the time Ray ran the Auto Club? |
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Post by Robo10 on Jul 27, 2019 16:59:09 GMT
elystokie nah they closed that in 81 I think, thats when he moved to Biddulph and took over the Golden Lion (Top House as it was known) (PS, if you can remember my Nan Marg too, she passed in April aged 85, had a good life, sadly missed by us all, was living with my mum in Biddulph)
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Post by 11wilkosinateam on Jul 27, 2019 17:03:35 GMT
Just got back from the match
McClean looked very poor at LB
Allen looked poor, Clucas looked OK
Powell looked like a nasty fucker which I really liked
Cousins looked decent
Afobe looked woeful and Vokes looked OK
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Post by elystokie on Jul 27, 2019 17:07:05 GMT
elystokie nah they closed that in 81 I think, thats when he moved to Biddulph and took over the Golden Lion (Top House as it was known) (PS, if you can remember my Nan Marg too, she passed in April aged 85, had a good life, sadly missed by us all, was living with my mum in Biddulph) Ah, didn't know it closed that early mate, I do remember Marg, saw her a few times when I was a kid but not so much after I joined up, sorry to hear she's passed mate, please pass my condolences on to your mum. |
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Post by vahl on Jul 27, 2019 17:12:27 GMT
Rodgers has Leicester playing good stuff. They are probably looking for top 8 this term.
Taking that in to account, we have done well. Build up to penalty was excellent and cousins has kept Maddison honest. Good player that Maddison.
Bart was to blame for Albrightons goal, not Smith, as he has moved way too far across the goal mouth leaving Smith to defend his space.
The shape is coming good as well imo. Very sterdy and again, taking that Leicester are a top Prem side and we are now Championship, it shows a lot for me that we managed to stop them getting in their stride.
We need pace up front.
McClean will be OK for this level.
Our penalties are a thing of beauty at this stage because I have a belief that this much bad luck is an art form.
We will have a good ol' bash at promotion me thinks.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 27, 2019 23:56:58 GMT
Back to the subject of the crowd....
There was 5869 Stoke fans there today.
Which is absolutely piss poor.
The club royally fucked this up and we can only hope they’ve learnt from it.
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Post by thevoid on Jul 28, 2019 0:46:29 GMT
Leicester City- proof that a spell in the third tier and foreign ownership isn't the end of the world.
Just saying...
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Post by philb on Jul 28, 2019 6:14:59 GMT
I can’t for the life of me see what NJ sees in playing Vokes AND Afobe up front at the same time. Same types of player, neither with any pace and my worry is that unless they get decent service teams with good defences will have a stroll in the park for most games. As has been mentioned we need some pace up top and if we don’t sign Gayle (looking unlikely) then for me Campbell has to start with Vokes, even if he only lasts 75 minutes. We did look pedestrian again yesterday for large parts of the game, and our full backs are a worry for me too.
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Post by pb1863 on Jul 28, 2019 7:58:01 GMT
Why doesn’t Jack take the penalties? The only issue is if he misses and it stays in play we are exposed at the back.
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Post by Bera’s Beano on Jul 30, 2019 12:54:20 GMT
So I can confirm that Afobe and Clucas still aren't good enough. Cousins looks bang average, Vokes may be the slowest player alive and we have 0 pace. Was optimistic before this match. Lots of confirming Today They already weren't good enough based on last season, but with an entire pre-season, with massive fitness and attitude positives being spouted from everyone at the club, they were both still awful, lazy and off the pace. |
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