Pleasant afternoon. Players looked typical for preseason - sort of interested etc. Some of the youngsters looked competent. Pratley might well be an important cog this year.
A couple of encouraging turns from Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu - good physicality and touch - and Albie Morgan - master of the field in the first half - but not much else to report. It is, after all, only a glorified warm up.
A few most enjoyable pints down the ‘Door Hinge’ reinforced the ‘summer fair’ atmosphere of the occasion.
1st half better than the 2nd......Taylor looked uninterested for most of it & bar the shot that hit the woodwork he didnt look like scoring. Disappointed with Aneke too.....but its early days so let's just say he was ring rusty. As someone up thread mentioned it's the midfield that we urgently need bodies. Only Morgan really shined out there today and the rest treated the ball like is was a hot potatoe..
From what I saw today I'd be starting at Blackburn with:
Phillips Dijikstel Lockyer Pratley Sarr Page Morgan Aneke JFC A.N. Other Taylor.
That is Bowyer going with 5 at the back & using last years players rather than anyone else.
This might hurt some people but after today I would say Solly is 3rd choice right back........and not too many of the U23's are good enough to step up. Doherty was ok but nothing special as were the 2 "dreads" in midfield 1st half.
Impossible to tell after 45 minutes of the first pre season game but the most ring rusty to me was Dijksteel. Cook for them gave him a really hard time and was their stand out player by a mile. What I liked about the first half particularly was the pace and territory we had. Always looked to attack. And our three at the back in particular looked very assured in possession. Was also so noticeable how much more confident in his game Naby looked from this time last year. Seems to really believe in himself now which is excellent to see.
Was also interesting to see us start using the new goal kicks to our advantage as well. Think Bowyer will really use that to his advantage this year.
i thought Dempsey showed a good assurance on the ball alongside the other two more ‘exciting’ players. Always been a big fan of Sarpong-Wiredu whenever I have seen him play.
We’re in better shape than this time last year and I trust Bowyer and Gallen to fill the current gaps to give us a very competitive team next year.
1st half better than the 2nd......Taylor looked uninterested for most of it & bar the shot that hit the woodwork he didnt look like scoring. Disappointed with Aneke too.....but its early days so let's just say he was ring rusty. As someone up thread mentioned it's the midfield that we urgently need bodies. Only Morgan really shined out there today and the rest treated the ball like is was a hot potatoe..
From what I saw today I'd be starting at Blackburn with:
Phillips Dijikstel Lockyer Pratley Sarr Page Morgan Aneke JFC A.N. Other Taylor.
That is Bowyer going with 5 at the back & using last years players rather than anyone else.
This might hurt some people but after today I would say Solly is 3rd choice right back........and not too many of the U23's are good enough to step up. Doherty was ok but nothing special as were the 2 "dreads" in midfield 1st half.
Just the 5-0 to Blackburn ? Why on earth would Pratley be in defence ahead of Pearce?
1st half better than the 2nd......Taylor looked uninterested for most of it & bar the shot that hit the woodwork he didnt look like scoring. Disappointed with Aneke too.....but its early days so let's just say he was ring rusty. As someone up thread mentioned it's the midfield that we urgently need bodies. Only Morgan really shined out there today and the rest treated the ball like is was a hot potatoe..
From what I saw today I'd be starting at Blackburn with:
Phillips Dijikstel Lockyer Pratley Sarr Page Morgan Aneke JFC A.N. Other Taylor.
That is Bowyer going with 5 at the back & using last years players rather than anyone else.
This might hurt some people but after today I would say Solly is 3rd choice right back........and not too many of the U23's are good enough to step up. Doherty was ok but nothing special as were the 2 "dreads" in midfield 1st half.
Just the 5-0 to Blackburn ? Why on earth would Pratley be in defence ahead of Pearce?
Golfie doesnt mention a scoreline unless I'm missing something?
The five he mentions is what I guess will be a 3-5-2 formation (i.e. five at the back defending with wing backs)
1st half better than the 2nd......Taylor looked uninterested for most of it & bar the shot that hit the woodwork he didnt look like scoring. Disappointed with Aneke too.....but its early days so let's just say he was ring rusty. As someone up thread mentioned it's the midfield that we urgently need bodies. Only Morgan really shined out there today and the rest treated the ball like is was a hot potatoe..
From what I saw today I'd be starting at Blackburn with:
Phillips Dijikstel Lockyer Pratley Sarr Page Morgan Aneke JFC A.N. Other Taylor.
That is Bowyer going with 5 at the back & using last years players rather than anyone else.
This might hurt some people but after today I would say Solly is 3rd choice right back........and not too many of the U23's are good enough to step up. Doherty was ok but nothing special as were the 2 "dreads" in midfield 1st half.
Just the 5-0 to Blackburn ? Why on earth would Pratley be in defence ahead of Pearce?
Golfie doesnt mention a scoreline unless I'm missing something?
The five he mentions is what I guess will be a 3-5-2 formation (i.e. five at the back defending with wing backs)
No- that was my prediction with that starting 11 !
I trust Bow will bring us a few new signings before then and get them suitably fired up
I thought Albie played very well. Everything went through him first half. Forster-Caskey still seems off the pace, understandable as that is. I can see Albie having more appearances this season than him.
1st half better than the 2nd......Taylor looked uninterested for most of it & bar the shot that hit the woodwork he didnt look like scoring. Disappointed with Aneke too.....but its early days so let's just say he was ring rusty. As someone up thread mentioned it's the midfield that we urgently need bodies. Only Morgan really shined out there today and the rest treated the ball like is was a hot potatoe..
From what I saw today I'd be starting at Blackburn with:
Phillips Dijikstel Lockyer Pratley Sarr Page Morgan Aneke JFC A.N. Other Taylor.
That is Bowyer going with 5 at the back & using last years players rather than anyone else.
This might hurt some people but after today I would say Solly is 3rd choice right back........and not too many of the U23's are good enough to step up. Doherty was ok but nothing special as were the 2 "dreads" in midfield 1st half.
Just the 5-0 to Blackburn ? Why on earth would Pratley be in defence ahead of Pearce?
Because of the showing today he looked better than Pearce & worked well with the other 2 (Sarr & Lockyer)
Our former player Aaron Barnes is coming on for Welling.
Surprised he is only playing at this level. Can't believe we let him go and kept Yao.
Barnes got a last minute call, Welling needed a full back and he agreed to play for them. He was released by Colchester but I think he will get a league 2 club next season
Barnes is 23 in a few months and at best would be third choice. He couldn’t get in Colchester’s League 2 side, while we have Sarpong-Wiredu who looks like he is progressing well and could offer cover at right back/right wing back.
Impossible to tell after 45 minutes of the first pre season game but the most ring rusty to me was Dijksteel. Cook for them gave him a really hard time and was their stand out player by a mile. What I liked about the first half particularly was the pace and territory we had. Always looked to attack. And our three at the back in particular looked very assured in possession. Was also so noticeable how much more confident in his game Naby looked from this time last year. Seems to really believe in himself now which is excellent to see.
Was also interesting to see us start using the new goal kicks to our advantage as well. Think Bowyer will really use that to his advantage this year.
i thought Dempsey showed a good assurance on the ball alongside the other two more ‘exciting’ players. Always been a big fan of Sarpong-Wiredu whenever I have seen him play.
We’re in better shape than this time last year and I trust Bowyer and Gallen to fill the current gaps to give us a very competitive team next year.
Good post. Cook was in the Dagenham promotion squad when he was 18/19 but then had some personal issues. Was head and shoulders above the Welling team.
1st half better than the 2nd......Taylor looked uninterested for most of it & bar the shot that hit the woodwork he didnt look like scoring. Disappointed with Aneke too.....but its early days so let's just say he was ring rusty. As someone up thread mentioned it's the midfield that we urgently need bodies. Only Morgan really shined out there today and the rest treated the ball like is was a hot potatoe..
From what I saw today I'd be starting at Blackburn with:
Phillips Dijikstel Lockyer Pratley Sarr Page Morgan Aneke JFC A.N. Other Taylor.
That is Bowyer going with 5 at the back & using last years players rather than anyone else.
This might hurt some people but after today I would say Solly is 3rd choice right back........and not too many of the U23's are good enough to step up. Doherty was ok but nothing special as were the 2 "dreads" in midfield 1st half.
Just the 5-0 to Blackburn ? Why on earth would Pratley be in defence ahead of Pearce?
As it was only in a first half back three when Pearce wasn't on the pitch, it worked well. Pratley appeared much fitter than last season with some impressive running. Defended well and contributed to the passing game.
Barnes was unfortunate with the move to Colchester. Colchester’s RB was supposed to be going to Ipswich last season, but the move fell through, Barnes was then unable to force himself into the starting 11.
Barnes is 23 in a few months and at best would be third choice. He couldn’t get in Colchester’s League 2 side, while we have Sarpong-Wiredu who looks like he is progressing well and could offer cover at right back/right wing back.
Barnes can play either full back role, and if he's filled out a bit could easily play in a three.
It's a long way from Wembley to Welling. On the plod along Watling Street from station to ground, Avenida restaurant remains stuck in a 70s time-warp: 'Wine, dine and dance', carvery and cabaret, Spanish arches and chicken in a basket. We have missed the Dolly Parton tribute act, but Sabrina Summer - billed as a 'seasoned female vocalist' - will appear on 27 July.
Our players lined up in order of height, with Naby Sarr towering at one end, and the dreadlocked, diminutive Abraham Odoh at the other. What a curious tribe we are, looking less like a football team than a peculiar extended family made the subject of a documentary series on Channel 5. This is Park View Road: the sloping pitch and spluttering, garbled tannoy announcements that remind us of Radar in MASH. Chuks Aneke was credited with the first goal - amended two minutes later to Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu.
Lewis Page made strong advances on the left flank in a formation that was otherwise shy of goal. When the endless sideways passing begins to pall, you can peer over the back fence at the elderly ladies waiting for the bus. The line-up for the second half was more like Bowyer's first choice; crucially, the tempo was raised by Lapslie linking midfield to attack. Taylor burst in to the box and rattled the bar. Chuks Aneke is a broad-shouldered hulk apparently transferred from American gridiron; we shall soon discover if he has the quick reactions and agile touch to beat Championship defences.
Kids on the terrace amused themselves by ripping a twelve-foot hoarding from the perimeter fence, crowd-surfing it to the back and launching it over the fence to Danson Park. The last word came from the tannoy announcer, imploring people to stay off the pitch. But hundreds had already swarmed to the centre circle, to touch the hem of their heroes and witness the presentation of the Herbert Scroggins Memorial Trophy.
Barnes is 23 in a few months and at best would be third choice. He couldn’t get in Colchester’s League 2 side, while we have Sarpong-Wiredu who looks like he is progressing well and could offer cover at right back/right wing back.
Barnes can play either full back role, and if he's filled out a bit could easily play in a three.
We have seven first team defenders that are better than Barnes and are no doubt hoping to bring in another centre back who is also better.
1st half better than the 2nd......Taylor looked uninterested for most of it & bar the shot that hit the woodwork he didnt look like scoring. Disappointed with Aneke too.....but its early days so let's just say he was ring rusty. As someone up thread mentioned it's the midfield that we urgently need bodies. Only Morgan really shined out there today and the rest treated the ball like is was a hot potatoe..
From what I saw today I'd be starting at Blackburn with:
Phillips Dijikstel Lockyer Pratley Sarr Page Morgan Aneke JFC A.N. Other Taylor.
That is Bowyer going with 5 at the back & using last years players rather than anyone else.
This might hurt some people but after today I would say Solly is 3rd choice right back........and not too many of the U23's are good enough to step up. Doherty was ok but nothing special as were the 2 "dreads" in midfield 1st half.
Just the 5-0 to Blackburn ? Why on earth would Pratley be in defence ahead of Pearce?
As it was only in a first half back three when Pearce wasn't on the pitch, it worked well. Pratley appeared much fitter than last season with some impressive running. Defended well and contributed to the passing game.
Forgive me- I thought we were playing Welling in a friendly
Comments
A few most enjoyable pints down the ‘Door Hinge’ reinforced the ‘summer fair’ atmosphere of the occasion.
From what I saw today I'd be starting at Blackburn with:
Phillips
Dijikstel
Lockyer
Pratley
Sarr
Page
Morgan
Aneke
JFC
A.N. Other
Taylor.
That is Bowyer going with 5 at the back & using last years players rather than anyone else.
This might hurt some people but after today I would say Solly is 3rd choice right back........and not too many of the U23's are good enough to step up. Doherty was ok but nothing special as were the 2 "dreads" in midfield 1st half.
Was also interesting to see us start using the new goal kicks to our advantage as well. Think Bowyer will really use that to his advantage this year.
i thought Dempsey showed a good assurance on the ball alongside the other two more ‘exciting’ players. Always been a big fan of Sarpong-Wiredu whenever I have seen him play.
We’re in better shape than this time last year and I trust Bowyer and Gallen to fill the current gaps to give us a very competitive team next year.
Showed a turn of speed, some determination, and was taking the game (maybe a little too) seriously.
Good to hear that about Bonne.. even the taking it too seriously part. Shows he really wants to compete for a place in the team.
Add Maloney into the mix, and we were pretty much guaranteed to make more chances in the 1st half.
The five he mentions is what I guess will be a 3-5-2 formation (i.e. five at the back defending with wing backs)
I trust Bow will bring us a few new signings before then and get them suitably fired up