Atalanta

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
In general we are suffering from playing substandard preseason opposition. We are a yard off and a second slow when it matters against quality opposition playing at the level we should be aspiring to reach.

For years now, we have persisted with the habit of playing clubs preseason that are multiple levels below where we have to play and even further below where we should be developing, preparing and aspiring to play. Substandard opposition does nothing to sharpen the mind and get us to hit the tempo we have to play at. We should be playing this match having already played at least one game against Championship quality opposition, ideally more.
 
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Yankee_Jack

Key Player
The Serie A season starts 4 weeks from now. We should be at least 3 weeks ahead of where they are in terms of preparation.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Borja “scores” though own goal, good run from Borja, tried to setup Celina for a tap in but defender intercepted and put into his own goal
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
A win is a win, but the result shouldn’t mask some of the performance factors. A better second half overall.

Borja looked the part. He should be starting but in what role.

Celina needs to sharpen his game considerably, he’s not ready for the start of the season. He’d allowed himself to go offside on the own goal and would have been offside if he had received the ball from Borja.

Bidwell showed well, put his body about, and was solid with little defensive support from McKay.

Roberts score a good goal. I think he starts ahead of Naughton. Question is: has Bidwell shown himself to be better at LB than Roberts complemented with Naughton.

Atalanta suffered a little with changes. This allowed us to be more effective.

Hull here we come. I find myself being uncertain of our readiness for the start of the season. Hull will be a stern test. August is not kind with the teams we will have to play.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
1down to a shot from distance after dominating the first 10 mins.
Yes, we have the ball for 5.5minutes from KO, they have it for 10 seconds and we're one down, and another almost identical attempt soon after hit the upright with Mulder beaten again.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Enjoyed the game and attended with @Ladygargar so my thanks to her. We were fitful in the first half playing some good stuff interposed with some outright sloppy play. Their goal should never have happened. The striker was allowed space to hit it and Mulder had plenty of time to deal with the shot but failed to do so. And speaking of space, their #10 was allowed all he wanted and ran the show. I was continuously ranting to LadyGG about this and I totally failed to understand why he wasn't shut down. Then to cap it all Celina missed a gilt edged chance to score after a lovely move but skewed his shot outside the post. He's great with the long range stuff but totally lacks a finishing instinct in these situations and has missed from this sort of position too often for comfort.

The second half was different....... and MUCH better. We found some form and Oli battled some tough defenders to a standstill. Borja made an impact assisting with the equalizer and then Roberts scored with a great diving header to give us what I thought was a deserved win after a very decent second half performance.

Now for a juicy bit of info courtesy of Agent Gargar. Sat in front of us was a guy wearing a lanyard with the word 'SCOUT' on the ribbon. He had a clip board and LadyGG spotted the heading on a sheet of paper attached to it which read....... wait for it....... BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION!!! And interesting that, in the second half, he moved closer to the goal we were attacking. Make of that what you will. :unsure::unsure:

At the end of the game I popped down to have a smoke and walking towards me in the foyer on his way out was Chris Pearlman. We have never met but a grim faced Pearlman said 'Goodbye' to me as he passed.

Anyway, I smoked my ciggie where the players were coming out after the game and eventually LadyGG joined me. By then Borja Baston was surrounded by lots of fans after selfies. He was so good natured about it as every single fan was obliged with a big smile. Then GG butted in. 'Go and stand next to him', she demanded. I did so and she took a great photo of us together with his arm around my shoulder. Lovely memory of the day and I can tell you that the fans love Borja and I'm sure he appreciates it. I might put the pic up here.

So that was my day and I thoroughly enjoyed it. :)
 

CroJack

Key Player
Oli battled some tough defenders to a standstil
His workrate and fighting for the team is great. I was harsh on him today with my comment about him not being worth £18m after he'd missed that chance, and I appologize.

By then Borja Baston was surrounded by lots of fans after selfies. He was so good natured about it as every single fan was obliged with a big smile
He seems to be a good lad, and he obviously enjoys hearing Swans fans singing his name. He put a good shift today, he has both technical ability and physicality. We should keep him.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
WOL reckons it spotted Kyle Macaulay in the stand. Could this be Lady’s mystery scout?
Puzzling because WOL report says that Macaulay was in the Family stand whereas our guy was sat just in front of us in the West stand. He later moved position but still close by in the West stand. Another thing, I always thought that Macauley was a middle-aged guy but this man was quite young yet matched the picture in WOL. Confused but, whoever he was, he was sitting within touching distance of us and definitely from BHA.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Some questions from yesterday ...

Grimes was captain. Will that continue. A good choice ... interesting how his fortunes have so quickly blossomed from the loanee to Leeds that couldn't get into the stadium without a ticket, to this. Clearly this is the future of the club ... if we can hold on to him. How long can he continue to fly beneath the radar of the Prem clubs.

CBs ... how do you think it is going to line-up as the dust settles ... VDH & Roden, VDH & Wilmot, or Roden & Wilmot. Apparently Wilmot is also capable / viable as a deep midfield player. Will we play 3 at the back. Is that in Cooper's repertoire.

In the post-match interview, Cooper was asked about Montero and stated that he had heard nothing from above. Is Montero even training with the squad or somewhere else in the Club. From his answer I presume that Cooper has no plans for Montero at this point in time and that Montero is nowhere near the squad. Thoughts?
 
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