The first half!!!

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Oneofthebigboys

Well-known member
Very alarming, don’t know where to start defensive, was an absolute shambles, not sure what Apter is supposed to do at right back for 2 games on the trot, are we really going into a season again without a recognised right back?, Jordan injured,
As for the left back situation, the centre back situation, and the fact we had a number 1 goalie who looks like he’s spent and resigned himself to be Grimshaws understudy, doesn’t look good.
Need some serious bollocks added to this squad or we are in trouble.
Madine and Connely are the only leaders in this squad, we need to add experience!!
 
Oneofthebigboys said:
Very alarming, don’t know where to start defensive, was an absolute shambles, not sure what Apter is supposed to do at right back for 2 games on the trot, are we really going into a season again without a recognised right back?, Jordan injured,
As for the left back situation, the centre back situation, and the fact we had a number 1 goalie who looks like he’s spent and resigned himself to be Grimshaws understudy, doesn’t look good.
Need some serious bollocks added to this squad or we are in trouble.
Madine and Connely are the only leaders in this squad, we need to add experience!!
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Not sure how you can criticise Maxwell. He wasn't at fault for any of the goals and did OK in terms of saves and distribution.
 
You can play brilliant in pre-season and lose your first 10 games of the season or you can look a shambles (especially early in pre-season) and be fine. Nothing worrying in what I saw tonight in my opinion.

Not a chance Apter starts the season anywhere near the defence. Our best centre back wasn’t on the pitch first half, and while I have no problem with Maxwell, our likely first choice keeper wasn’t on the pitch either.

We do need strengthening, but with 2 defenders out of the door on loan for the season, clearly that is going to happen.
 
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It’s a friendly and MA and the players would have learnt a lot from that. Dirty played some good stuff, knocked the ball around well and closed us down very quickly when in position. But some of the players are not up to standard and we know we need a few new ones in. Bez when he came on at HT put himself about a bit again and showed some good touches and has pace.
 
hills98 said:
You can play brilliant in pre-season and lose your first 10 games of the season or you can look a shambles (especially early in pre-season) and be fine. Nothing worrying in what I saw tonight in my opinion.

Not a chance tonight’s Apter starts the season anywhere near the defence. Our best centre back wasn’t on the pitch first half, and while I have no problem with Maxwell, our likely first choice keeper wasn’t on the pitch either.

We do need strengthening, but with 2 defenders out of the door on loan for the season, clearly that is going to happen.
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Yeah bit all over the place this time of year. Tiny youth team kid covering three positions to show the gaps etc. Just feels a bit off with the short turnaround time this time and the club seemingly standing still before Critchley bailed on them. Released list got done early then nothing. Which if you've a structure designed to slot a head coach into then, well, not sure really yet.

I think at the moment I want to hear and see more about how the players are buying into what Appleton is selling. There's usually something even if it's just the training best ever it's been and fittest we've ever been platitudes, but there's been nothing. Jimmy H woke up for the Critchley questions tonight on comms but kept quiet on where we're at now. Maybe that will come and hopefully the week in Scotland is good prep but I hope it doesn't become them and us and having to scrap it all to start again or anything like that.

The progress so far looks to be the previously-uninjured Yates with a rolled ankle and Beesley in a protective boot after a week of running. Not a good start for the Utilita Megacentre or whatever Squires Gate is called now.
 
Preseason mix and match team vs a pretty strong Leeds team. Apart from still be shite at defending corners I think we did okay.

Apter and Carey looked good and Bowker showed flashes. Friendly, all about fitness and not picking up any injuries cos we’ve too bloody many already
 
It's good to be shit in pre season, if that makes sense.

'The only way is up'
Yazz and the Plastic Population - 1988
 
Wizaard said:
Not sure how you can criticise Maxwell. He wasn't at fault for any of the goals and did OK in terms of saves and distribution.
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Not true!!! Could have come for the corner, but never does; as captain and keeper should have been organising the defence at the free kick, but had his head down, and on more than one occasion either just cleared anywhere, or out of play…………compare that to Grimmy’s second half distribution.
 
Thame looked OK and steady.

Remember our Premiership season when we lost to Shrewsbury, Crewe and Bristol City with no signings until a few days before our game at Wigan.
Yes I know it was Oyston days but we don’t have to panic yet.
 
OP says Maxi looks like he has resigned himself to being Grimmys understudy for the year.

What do you expect?Hes written off as crap as soon as he got injured last season all because Grimshaw stepped in and looked good.What’s that going to do to Maxi’s confidence?gone from hero to zero and he’s not done a lot wrong IMO.I’d like him to command his six yard box a bit more and be more authoritative claiming crosses in but those little areas aside he’s a top keeper and we are lucky to have two top keepers.

The way I see it is Grimshaw obviously younger has the potential to improve but right now let’s see them both fight it out for the shirt and no groans when he does get selected.We are a strong club when there is no negativity and everyone is backing everyone else.It works for us.
 
i think the two team selections yesterday would have shown MA a lot. You cannot play a 4-3-3 with a static forward line, Madine as much as i like him as a player, is very static, Bowler's the same he needs the ball to come to him and the camera work yesterday was so bad in the first half i had no idea whether Holmes was doing anything or not

Jerry and Lavery are both constantly on the move, pulling defenders all over the place and lavery is so quick over ten yards that he gets to capitalise on defensive mistakes.

i think MA might be doing something that NC didnt work out over two years - how to best utilise the players that he has and what systems they are going to work in.
 
charnleysball said:
Not true!!! Could have come for the corner, but never does; as captain and keeper should have been organising the defence at the free kick, but had his head down, and on more than one occasion either just cleared anywhere, or out of play…………compare that to Grimmy’s second half distribution.
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The ref held up his whistle to indicate the free kick should wait until he'd changed his position. Leeds took it quickly and he let play go on. How you can blame Maxwell for that beggars belief.

And you think he should come for an outstanding corner delivered at pace?

This isn't park football. Keogh blasted Holmes for not going with his man, not Maxwell. I suggest he knows more about defending corners than you.
 
Ormergod said:
OP says Maxi looks like he has resigned himself to being Grimmys understudy for the year.

What do you expect?Hes written off as crap as soon as he got injured last season all because Grimshaw stepped in and looked good.What’s that going to do to Maxi’s confidence?gone from hero to zero and he’s not done a lot wrong IMO.I’d like him to command his six yard box a bit more and be more authoritative claiming crosses in but those little areas aside he’s a top keeper and we are lucky to have two top keepers.

The way I see it is Grimshaw obviously younger has the potential to improve but right now let’s see them both fight it out for the shirt and no groans when he does get selected.We are a strong club when there is no negativity and everyone is backing everyone else.It works for us.
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Maxwell looked crap last night tbh. It's not a battle, only one winner.
 
GrahamwantshisOates said:
Thame looked OK and steady.

Remember our Premiership season when we lost to Shrewsbury, Crewe and Bristol City with no signings until a few days before our game at Wigan.
Yes I know it was Oyston days but we don’t have to panic yet.
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I was impressed with Tharme. Good positionally and tackled well. Didn't see him waste a pass either. Considering the level he's come from he could be the next Marv.
 
Wizaard said:
The ref held up his whistle to indicate the free kick should wait until he'd changed his position. Leeds took it quickly and he let play go on. How you can blame Maxwell for that beggars belief.

And you think he should come for an outstanding corner delivered at pace?

This isn't park football. Keogh blasted Holmes for not going with his man, not Maxwell. I suggest he knows more about defending corners than you.
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ball was still moving when it was played, and as someone else has said the ref was indicating to the leeds players to wait.
the ref pulled pool players back after trying to take a quick free kick around the leeds penalty area later on in the game.

its kind of immaterial really.
 
tangible said:
I was impressed with Tharme. Good positionally and tackled well. Didn't see him waste a pass either. Considering the level he's come from he could be the next Marv.
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i like the look of tharme, big lad as well, and yet decent with his feet. i really think a back three Tharme, Marv, and Thorniley might be our best option, particularly as we have two recognised full backs currently injured.
 
Thought James Husband spoke well on commentary , he was giving Carey praise stating how much skill this lad has. As we all know he is going to have a good season & Appleton will play him more as he appears to like attacking midfield players.
 
Oneofthebigboys said:
All I’d say, is we need some serious back bone in our squad or we are in trouble, more experience needed
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The backbone, i.e. Marvin, Connolly and Lavery, was left out first half. Second half was much more competitive. Plus both first choice full backs are still to come back in.
 
Wizaard said:
The ref held up his whistle to indicate the free kick should wait until he'd changed his position. Leeds took it quickly and he let play go on. How you can blame Maxwell for that beggars belief.

And you think he should come for an outstanding corner delivered at pace?

This isn't park football. Keogh blasted Holmes for not going with his man, not Maxwell. I suggest he knows more about defending corners than you.
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At the time I didn’t think the first goal shouldn’t of been allowed due to how it put the ball down. Not seen replay tho.
 
Costero Poderoso said:
ball was still moving when it was played, and as someone else has said the ref was indicating to the leeds players to wait.
the ref pulled pool players back after trying to take a quick free kick around the leeds penalty area later on in the game.

its kind of immaterial really.
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It is immaterial, but completely relevant when the poster above blames Maxwell for the goal.
 
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