Pre-Season 2024/25

[pavlosmacwolf]

Just like last season it's 4-4-2 out of possession but now we switch between 2-3-5 & 3-2-5 on the ball. RB & LM stay high, keep the width and then the LB either plays on the left of a back 3 or moves into midfield with the 2 CMs (Aït-Nouri did this much more effectively than Bueno). RM free to either drop into the middle or make runs beyond the opposition. We pretty much controlled most of the play this way, especially while we had the CB partnership of Mosquera & Toti who looked assured and dominant together. WHU changed to a back 3 in the second half and that stopped us getting joy from balls clipped over their defensive line but we stayed calm and adapted to it well. The issues with it will be the same as last season when the ball gets turned over, West Ham looked pretty poor but they had Kudus who is just a cheat code so we went into HT level. Way too much space for a player of his quality to exploit on the break and going into a Premier League season we're going to be facing players of his calibre most weeks.

Lemina was absolutely imperious. I think last night really drilled in how much he was run into the ground towards the end of last season. He looks fresh and sharp now though and in the first half especially he was everywhere, snapping into tackles, evading pressure and playing quality passes into Cunha & Sarabia.

Cunha looked very good before he went off, hopefully it isn't anything serious. I think this shape will really get the best of him, he's free to drift into those pockets in the left half space that he loves. He's absolutely magic. Keep him fit and we're always going to be a threat.

As I've already said Mosquera & Toti looked great together, I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up being our first choice CB pairing. They were just completely dominant, their recovery pace allows us to play so much higher and control more of the ball. I think us signing another CB has more to do with whether we rate Santi Bueno to be honest. If a bid came in for him I think we'd sell him and replace him with someone more mobile.

Chiquinho looked pretty awful, nothing came off for him. I've seen enough of him personally, he's capable of doing some brilliant things but he doesn't have the consistency to effect a game for long periods at this level.

Strand Larsen looked very clunky to me, obviously very impressive physically and he was giving them problems playing off the shoulder and running onto through balls from Sarabia but his touch was very rusty. Hopefully just early pre season rustiness.

Cundle tidy enough, he'll be a good player but I don't think the role he was asked to play last night suits him 100%. He clearly wants to be more of an 8. Not sure what his contract situation is but I'd be looking to tie him down long term and get him another Championship loan, he could be worth quite a lot of money in a few years time if we pick his next loan well.

Sarabia classy AF but I'm biased here, really hope he stays even if it means that he goes for free next summer.

Hwang decent and played a few different roles, second striker when Cunha went off and then RM after the changes. He was Hwang in both roles, such a strange footballer.

Rodrigo excellent. Played LM and an instant improvement on Chiquinho. He arrives in the box well and has so much pace, just loves to run at players. I think he'll play LM, RM and if needed RB in this system. I was always impressed with his decision making in the final third at Estoril, I think when he plays he'll be really productive in terms of goals/assists.

Really excited by Pedro Lima. Very aggressive, incredible pace and so much quality. His cross for Rodrigo's header was an absolute peach. A few wobbly moments but that's to be expected from an 18 year old and it's obvious why he's so highly rated.

Chirewa & Guedes looked really good together. Guedes played up front and really stretched them with his pace, Tawanda drifting off him finding space.

Bellegarde played CM alongside Doyle. I don't think that'll be where we see him playing for obvious reasons but he actually did alright, driving through midfield when he got on the ball.

I think generally it was a very good run out, obviously a little worried by the Cunha knock but I think there's enough there to see that we'll be a very good watch next season. The formation is a variation on what pretty much all the top teams are doing nowadays and the players look like they understand it and are confident in what they're being asked to do. I think if/when we fall down it'll be down to a lack of quality in certain areas but we all know the issues we have in the squad currently. Bentley/Doherty/Bueno X2 are what they are, there's no changing them at this point unless we actively go out and replace them in the transfer market and I don't think that'll happen without those players being moved on first unfortunately. I'd say the goalkeeping department is a big worry for me, it's the only position where I think every option we have isn't suited to this style of play. Sá is obviously a much better keeper than Bentley and with him in goal last night we win 3-0 instead of 3-1 but there were several moments last night when Bentley was clearly uncomfortable with how he was being asked to play out from the back and I think you get the same problem with Sá. A better team than WHU (or at least what they showed last night) takes advantage of that, disrupts the way we build from deep and dominates possession against us.

It'll be interesting to see how we get on against Palace. Glasner obviously plays in his 3-4-2-1 and I think that's definitely the way to set up against us, you could see when WHU changed to a back 3 how we found it harder to find space in the channels and the ball just kept getting recycled instead of being moved into areas where we could create chances.

Thanks lycan, bloody good report, especially good to hear about Toti/ Mosquera partnership.

 

[Tony Towner]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1817521583877140814

 

[The Bear]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1817521583877140814

So basically repeating what GON said in his interview.

 

[Kenny]

So basically repeating what GON said in his interview.

Kind of his job as a reporter type

 

[Alan]

Just like last season it's 4-4-2 out of possession but now we switch between 2-3-5 & 3-2-5 on the ball. RB & LM stay high, keep the width and then the LB either plays on the left of a back 3 or moves into midfield with the 2 CMs (Aït-Nouri did this much more effectively than Bueno). RM free to either drop into the middle or make runs beyond the opposition. We pretty much controlled most of the play this way, especially while we had the CB partnership of Mosquera & Toti who looked assured and dominant together. WHU changed to a back 3 in the second half and that stopped us getting joy from balls clipped over their defensive line but we stayed calm and adapted to it well. The issues with it will be the same as last season when the ball gets turned over, West Ham looked pretty poor but they had Kudus who is just a cheat code so we went into HT level. Way too much space for a player of his quality to exploit on the break and going into a Premier League season we're going to be facing players of his calibre most weeks.

Lemina was absolutely imperious. I think last night really drilled in how much he was run into the ground towards the end of last season. He looks fresh and sharp now though and in the first half especially he was everywhere, snapping into tackles, evading pressure and playing quality passes into Cunha & Sarabia.

Cunha looked very good before he went off, hopefully it isn't anything serious. I think this shape will really get the best of him, he's free to drift into those pockets in the left half space that he loves. He's absolutely magic. Keep him fit and we're always going to be a threat.

As I've already said Mosquera & Toti looked great together, I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up being our first choice CB pairing. They were just completely dominant, their recovery pace allows us to play so much higher and control more of the ball. I think us signing another CB has more to do with whether we rate Santi Bueno to be honest. If a bid came in for him I think we'd sell him and replace him with someone more mobile.

Chiquinho looked pretty awful, nothing came off for him. I've seen enough of him personally, he's capable of doing some brilliant things but he doesn't have the consistency to effect a game for long periods at this level.

Strand Larsen looked very clunky to me, obviously very impressive physically and he was giving them problems playing off the shoulder and running onto through balls from Sarabia but his touch was very rusty. Hopefully just early pre season rustiness.

Cundle tidy enough, he'll be a good player but I don't think the role he was asked to play last night suits him 100%. He clearly wants to be more of an 8. Not sure what his contract situation is but I'd be looking to tie him down long term and get him another Championship loan, he could be worth quite a lot of money in a few years time if we pick his next loan well.

Sarabia classy AF but I'm biased here, really hope he stays even if it means that he goes for free next summer.

Hwang decent and played a few different roles, second striker when Cunha went off and then RM after the changes. He was Hwang in both roles, such a strange footballer.

Rodrigo excellent. Played LM and an instant improvement on Chiquinho. He arrives in the box well and has so much pace, just loves to run at players. I think he'll play LM, RM and if needed RB in this system. I was always impressed with his decision making in the final third at Estoril, I think when he plays he'll be really productive in terms of goals/assists.

Really excited by Pedro Lima. Very aggressive, incredible pace and so much quality. His cross for Rodrigo's header was an absolute peach. A few wobbly moments but that's to be expected from an 18 year old and it's obvious why he's so highly rated.

Chirewa & Guedes looked really good together. Guedes played up front and really stretched them with his pace, Tawanda drifting off him finding space.

Bellegarde played CM alongside Doyle. I don't think that'll be where we see him playing for obvious reasons but he actually did alright, driving through midfield when he got on the ball.

I think generally it was a very good run out, obviously a little worried by the Cunha knock but I think there's enough there to see that we'll be a very good watch next season. The formation is a variation on what pretty much all the top teams are doing nowadays and the players look like they understand it and are confident in what they're being asked to do. I think if/when we fall down it'll be down to a lack of quality in certain areas but we all know the issues we have in the squad currently. Bentley/Doherty/Bueno X2 are what they are, there's no changing them at this point unless we actively go out and replace them in the transfer market and I don't think that'll happen without those players being moved on first unfortunately. I'd say the goalkeeping department is a big worry for me, it's the only position where I think every option we have isn't suited to this style of play. Sá is obviously a much better keeper than Bentley and with him in goal last night we win 3-0 instead of 3-1 but there were several moments last night when Bentley was clearly uncomfortable with how he was being asked to play out from the back and I think you get the same problem with Sá. A better team than WHU (or at least what they showed last night) takes advantage of that, disrupts the way we build from deep and dominates possession against us.

It'll be interesting to see how we get on against Palace. Glasner obviously plays in his 3-4-2-1 and I think that's definitely the way to set up against us, you could see when WHU changed to a back 3 how we found it harder to find space in the channels and the ball just kept getting recycled instead of being moved into areas where we could create chances.

Don't you tease me with the thought that Jean will get played in his actual position this season!

 

[Lycan]

Don't you tease me with the thought that Jean will get played in his actual position this season!

I don't think he's a 6 the way we play them, just played there last night out of necessity. When Rawlings came on he played there and Bellegarde moved to RM, that's where he'll get most of his minutes this season.

 

[Alan]

I don't think he's a 6 the way we play them, just played there last night out of necessity. When Rawlings came on he played there and Bellegarde moved to RM, that's where he'll get most of his minutes this season.

Ah, didn't realize it was more as a 6 than 8.

Consider my excitement retracted!

 

[Lycan]

Ah, didn't realize it was more as a 6 than 8.

Consider my excitement retracted!

After 60 mins it was

Bentley

Lima S.Bueno Dawson H.Bueno

Hwang Bellegarde Doyle R.Gomes

Guedes Chirewa

Out of possession

Bentley

S.Bueno Dawson H.Bueno

Bellegarde Doyle

Lima Hwang Guedes Chirewa Rodrigo

In possession. Rawlings came on for Hwang and played next to Doyle with Bellegarde moving forward.

 

[Alan]

Cheers Lycan.

 

[Kenny]

Respect to Lycan for not only being awake to watch but also being alert enough to give us a great insight....at that time in the morning, l am lucky if I remember the way to the toilet

 

[Lycan]

Respect to Lycan for not only being awake to watch but also being alert enough to give us a great insight....at that time in the morning, l am lucky if I remember the way to the toilet

I wasn't going to watch it but the delay meant that I got back from a night out just in time for kick off!

The real challenge was writing it up this morning hungover.

 

[GoldFlagFlyingHigh]

Respect to Lycan for not only being awake to watch but also being alert enough to give us a great insight....at that time in the morning, l am lucky if I remember the way to the toilet

Lycan with a spot on analysis.
Although I’ve been telling you guys for the last couple of weeks exactly how we were going to setup

 

[Quirkafleeg]

Lycan with a spot on analysis.
Although I’ve been telling you guys for the last couple of weeks exactly how we were going to setup

Yam the man. Yam the man.

 

[GoldFlagFlyingHigh]

Yam the man. Yam the man.

Cheers bud.

 

[Blakenhall Wolf]

From the highlights only..... Guedes looked sharp. Could there be a way back?

 

[Kenny]

From the highlights only..... Guedes looked sharp. Could there be a way back?

I think he will go but will take the positive that he has dropped the stroppy attitude.
Says a lot about the atmosphere GON has built at the club.

 

[Lycan]

From the highlights only..... Guedes looked sharp. Could there be a way back?

He doesn't want to be here, that's what it boils down to really. The only way he stays is if there's literally nobody else who will take him, which considering the ludicrous fee we spent on him and his undoubtedly obscene wages is possible but not likely. He's always been rated in Spain and Portugal so I imagine he'll find a loan move to a club there but probably only towards the end of the window, we'll want to wait it out as long as possible in the hope of a reasonable permanent transfer.

He was very good last night though. He's always been very quick and direct.

 

[Alan]

The finish from Cunha on our first is supremely assured.

Also notable; the players looked very invested given it was a friendly.

He was very good last night thoughe. He's always been very quick and direct.

His first touch on Gomes’ first goal was annoyingly good wasn’t it.

 

[Lycan]

The finish from Cunha on our first is supremely assured.

Also notable; the players looked very invested given it was a friendly.


His first touch on Gomes’ first goal was annoyingly good wasn’t it.

He's always been capable of moments like that. Look at the goal he scored for us against Brighton, absolute quality.

 

[Alan]

He's always been capable of moments like that. Look at the goal he scored for us against Brighton, absolute quality.

I agree, I just know Dan will have our heads.