https://twitter.com/FulhamFC/status/1687780500855799809
Mitrovic, Pereira and Ream all back on the bench!
Tc and Palhinha not in squad neither is tosin who must surely be on his way.
Willian starting, that's got to mean that story was bulsh*t. Mitro back on the bench probably means he's staying.
Nice to see Ream has recovered and Raul getting a start. Looking forward to this game.
Edit:Nice to see Bassey in the starting eleven as well.
This is probably going to be the starting eleven for the Everton match as well
Quote from: demeant0r on August 05, 2023, 12:11:10 PMThis is probably going to be the starting eleven for the Everton match as well
Think you're right, though palhinha and cairney are both expected to be 'fit' by then.
If fully fit and committed it'd be interesting to see who our first choice team is in the eyes of Marco
I'd say our back five at the moment actually looks like it could be potentially pretty strong, although in wary we're lacking depth across there and on the wings in particular.
Nice of us to give Willian a farewell match.
When all fit a bench of
Rodak
Bassey
Mbabu
BDR
Lukic
Cairney
Vinicius
Mitro
Harris
Really isn't that bad for the early game weeks
Cairney hammy last week I guess is still playing up
We clearly need wingers as a priority so take out Harris for one of Gray or CHO and then have a dilemma of who gets dropped if both sign.
Potentially swap Mbabu for another RB assuming we're still looking
IF Mitro departs, swap him for another striker.
Then if we add an Andre/CM probably one of the 3 strikers drops out of the match-day squad
Tosin is clearly 100% on his way so I expect a lower cost punt on a young CB or a Loan cover ala Duffy.
I know we are all hurt but I hope Mitro comes on and really hope there is no booing and he gets a great ovation. He doesn't deserve it but we need him to stay and we need him happy. The only way to to that is to remind him how wanted he is with us so booing his is just counter productive at this point. If we welcome him back and he bangs in a goal even in a friendly we will all be feeling a lot better about the season coming. One for Raul first half as well please!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TRuxMMrgeek
It seems like it will be free to watch here
Quote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 12:49:25 PMhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TRuxMMrgeek
It seems like it will be free to watch here
Thanks, but I bought a pass from Fulham. I would 100% pay for every Fulham stream to support the club if they were able to show every match like when we were in the championship.
Quote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 12:49:25 PMhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TRuxMMrgeek
It seems like it will be free to watch here
Ta mate. I've already bought an FFCTV pass. It doesn't work in the UK but if anyone has a VPN seems to work with Germany selected if anyone needs it
All over the place defensively at the moment.
Thats 4 goals that Bassey has saved so far
Quote from: OZ-WHITE on August 05, 2023, 01:19:53 PMThats 4 goals that Bassey has saved so far
hes had a few sloppy passes too but Diop definitely been the main culprit so far
Quote from: demeant0r on August 05, 2023, 12:52:09 PMQuote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 12:49:25 PMhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TRuxMMrgeek
It seems like it will be free to watch here
Thanks, but I bought a pass from Fulham. I would 100% pay for every Fulham stream to support the club if they were able to show every match like when we were in the championship.
Thanks for the heads up, great link
Willian still a delight to watch at that age.
Man we're missing Pereira right now... I love Bobby, but we need a creative player who can pick a pass. Our attack looks so disjointed right now.
Liking Bassey so far. The defence needs to cut out the errors though - we're so often the architects of our own downfall.
If we play like this against Everton, we'll get demolished. I'm getting a bit worried now.
Feel sorry for the people wearing giant Mexican hats - Raul is not getting much supply
Took 34mins for the first wide cross
Bassey looked very good. Diop looked a bit shaky, BDR is trying hard but we lack creativity with no Andreas or Cairney. Willian is a joy to watch.
Quote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 12:49:25 PMhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TRuxMMrgeek
It seems like it will be free to watch here
Works great Thank you
It'd be nice to see Sasa played further up the pitch. There's clearly a player there, but he just doesn't look like a midfield enforcer...
Dull half
Created no chances at all really.
Defensively got better as the half went on
Bassey the better of the back 2 with Diop pretty sloppy. Calvin Does commit himself sometimes in a way I can see being caught out at times in the Prem and leaving us a bit exposed, but young and will continue to learn that aspect you'd think.
Jimi much less up-tempo than his recent cameo. Assume we'll see Mitro for 10/15 minutes, wether he see Vini for the second half will be interesting.
Easily Sasa's best game for us so far, steady improving, hopefully he can be more of a notable asset this year
Quote from: Texas White on August 05, 2023, 01:49:05 PMQuote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 12:49:25 PMhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TRuxMMrgeek
It seems like it will be free to watch here
Works great Thank you
No problem. I mean it is from the official Hoffenheim youtube, it should work great ::scarf::
Quote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 01:48:39 PMBassey looked very good. Diop looked a bit shaky, BDR is trying hard but we lack creativity with no Andreas or Cairney. Willian is a joy to watch.
Hopefully Ream will start with Bassey at Everton
Quote from: Craven Mad on August 05, 2023, 01:49:44 PMIt'd be nice to see Sasa played further up the pitch. There's clearly a player there, but he just doesn't look like a midfield enforcer...
Tbf put in some combative challenges and got stuck in, but yes he's more CM to CAM carrier than DM main man
Well Bassey was our best player by a mile there. Excellent in possession, good progressive passing, strong, quick, great carries and good tackles. Was worried after Ajax comments but looks more like the rangers descriptions from that half so very encouraging.
Poor apart from that. Luckic did okay. They are organised and massive lad at the back winning all in the air. Struggled to beat their press as we always do as just not good enough on the ball. Exactly why we need someone like Andre.
Gluey old pitch took a while for the players to get used to. Patterns working well in the run up to half time.
Bassey is leading Diop through this. We're going to like Calvin. Rather dominant.
Quote from: Texas White on August 05, 2023, 01:51:12 PMQuote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 01:48:39 PMBassey looked very good. Diop looked a bit shaky, BDR is trying hard but we lack creativity with no Andreas or Cairney. Willian is a joy to watch.
Hopefully Ream will start with Bassey at Everton
Both left sided - I expect its Ream vs Bassey and Diop vs ?
Quote from: Drewry66 on August 05, 2023, 01:51:33 PMWell Bassey was our best player by a mile there. Excellent in possession, good progressive passing, strong, quick, great carries and good tackles. Was worried after Ajax comments but looks more like the rangers descriptions from that half so very encouraging.
Poor apart from that. Luckic did okay. They are organised and massive lad at the back winning all in the air. Struggled to beat their press as we always do as just not good enough on the ball. Exactly why we need someone like Andre.
yup missing Andreas/Cairney to help unlock in the centre. BDR a great utility man I'm grateful for but both better specialists in the CAM role
Watering the pitch at half time!
Quote from: Texas White on August 05, 2023, 01:51:12 PMQuote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 01:48:39 PMBassey looked very good. Diop looked a bit shaky, BDR is trying hard but we lack creativity with no Andreas or Cairney. Willian is a joy to watch.
Hopefully Ream will start with Bassey at Everton
Both Ream and Bassey would be considerably worse on the right side of the CB pairing I fear.
Quote from: jayffc on August 05, 2023, 01:52:32 PMQuote from: Texas White on August 05, 2023, 01:51:12 PMQuote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 01:48:39 PMBassey looked very good. Diop looked a bit shaky, BDR is trying hard but we lack creativity with no Andreas or Cairney. Willian is a joy to watch.
Hopefully Ream will start with Bassey at Everton
Both left sided - I expect its Ream vs Bassey and Diop vs ?
Desperately need right sided competition for Diop. He did really well in a patch last season defensively but very up and down on the ball.
Quote from: Drewry66 on August 05, 2023, 01:00:01 PMQuote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 12:49:25 PMhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TRuxMMrgeek
It seems like it will be free to watch here
Ta mate. I've already bought an FFCTV pass. It doesn't work in the UK but if anyone has a VPN seems to work with Germany selected if anyone needs it
Its available to UK pass holders. I'm watching !
Quote from: Gezza on August 05, 2023, 01:58:17 PMQuote from: Drewry66 on August 05, 2023, 01:00:01 PMQuote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 12:49:25 PMhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TRuxMMrgeek
It seems like it will be free to watch here
Ta mate. I've already bought an FFCTV pass. It doesn't work in the UK but if anyone has a VPN seems to work with Germany selected if anyone needs it
Its available to UK pass holders. I'm watching !
It's available to FFCtv subscribers worldwide. I am watching from Spain.
Gentleman Jim just called us out about us saying the squad is threadbare
For those criticising the defence, please consider the fact that Joao Palhinha, the best defensive shield in the Premier League is missing today,
Things will look better when Joao returns
I know everyone loves him, but we need a taller/stronger player than Reed that can find the back of the net. Hoffenheim read him like a book in the first 15 minutes of the match. There's no disguise to his play, so it's very easy to anticipate what he'll do with the ball. I counted about 5x where we tried to find him, but because it was just slightly away from him or he had too much pressure behind him, he couldn't be found.
To me, this is a huge priority. Get Sander Berge, get even Grillitsch from Hoffenheim, or take a chance on Federico Redondo from Argentinos Juniors. I know it won't happen, especially as he's captain in this match, but I think we're missing out on a ton of goals from our central midfielders.
RAUL!!!!... assisted by Antoineeeeeee
What a cross from Robo
Well done Raul!!
Finally a good cross from Robinson! Good work from both him and Raul ::scarf::
Replay didn't show the RJ dummy to get the ball to BDR..class. Then a good Robinson cross! Great for RJ to get a goal. Get in
Quote from: Drewry66 on August 05, 2023, 01:55:25 PMQuote from: jayffc on August 05, 2023, 01:52:32 PMQuote from: Texas White on August 05, 2023, 01:51:12 PMQuote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 01:48:39 PMBassey looked very good. Diop looked a bit shaky, BDR is trying hard but we lack creativity with no Andreas or Cairney. Willian is a joy to watch.
Hopefully Ream will start with Bassey at Everton
Both left sided - I expect its Ream vs Bassey and Diop vs ?
Desperately need right sided competition for Diop. He did really well in a patch last season defensively but very up and down on the ball.
Tosin injured or on his way?
RAAAAUUUUUL
WEREWOLF OF LONDON
just need half a chance after some solid build up play - clinical finish
Quote from: JimOG on August 05, 2023, 02:13:05 PMQuote from: Drewry66 on August 05, 2023, 01:55:25 PMQuote from: jayffc on August 05, 2023, 01:52:32 PMQuote from: Texas White on August 05, 2023, 01:51:12 PMQuote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 01:48:39 PMBassey looked very good. Diop looked a bit shaky, BDR is trying hard but we lack creativity with no Andreas or Cairney. Willian is a joy to watch.
Hopefully Ream will start with Bassey at Everton
Both left sided - I expect its Ream vs Bassey and Diop vs ?
Desperately need right sided competition for Diop. He did really well in a patch last season defensively but very up and down on the ball.
Tosin injured or on his way?
Reports say very close to Monaco
WTF, where were our defenders? 1-1
Ridiculously good cross to be fair
Diop right out of position for their goal , no pressure on their scorer , not much Robbo could do
I saw 2 dangerous back passes by Robinson now.
Mitro is on as the rain comes down
Mitro
https://twitter.com/HammyEnd/status/1687818155148632064
Ouuff...2 Barbie's Kens cannot produce.
There goes the legitimacy of all those journos who claimed Mitro would never play for Fulham again. Clearly a lie which they were attributing to the player himself and which is one of the main reasons fans got angry with him in the first place.
Bassey scores too! New signings getting off the mark straight away.
Goals from the new boys :welcome1: ::scarf::
Basseyyyyy!!!
Great goal Fulham, COYW!! ::wine::
Calvin Bassey could be the signing of the season for us if he continues to play like he has today
Wilson...........you had one job..........only one
So Bassey had to show you how to do it
BASSEY! ::scarf:: ::scarf:: ::scarf::
Bassey!! Andreas...one corner, one assist. Lol
Is there a UK link anywhere? The Youtube one isn't working for me.
Fulham really have to practice the timing of their backpasses.
Quote from: Somerset Fulham on August 05, 2023, 02:34:48 PMIs there a UK link anywhere? The Youtube one isn't working for me.
They probably blocked it in the UK because there is the FFC TV option there. Try using VPN if you have it, and change your IP to where ever apart from the UK
Cheers, SL.
I did try that but it wasn't having for whatever reason. Its no biggie, would have been nice to see it but not the end of the world.
Bassey has been excellent. What a signing
https://twitter.com/HammyEnd/status/1687821724333563904
Reeeeeeeam is back , great to see
Solid start for Bassey after 84min game time
Mitro keeps passing in positions he would normally shot from...
https://twitter.com/HammyEnd/status/1687822629493669888
More game time and back at the Cottage
New signings scored
First game time for a very cautious Mitro , didn't really throw himself around
Obvious we need more reinforcements ASAP
Million times better second half. Looked pretty sharp in it and should have scored 3 or 4. Andreas looked good. Mitro actually looked very sharp considering he hasn't played..just shows how important his link up play is...a few brilliant balls to set up chances although prob should have shot a few times. Let's just hope this is the start of him being back as confident we'll be much better this year by the time the window is closed if he is still here.
Prob Luckic best game for us so well done mate and defensive midfield where we need over.
Bassey MOTM and clearly a massive upgrade on Duffy, Tosin or Diop competing with Ream. JM a great back up option with Vinnie if Mitro stays. Add CHO and Gray and a few more and keep Mtro and it could be a great season again.
Well
Mitro looked sharp, and interestingly, way less interested in shooting than usual, favored some great link-up play where you'd often expect him to hold and try and get a shot off, wonder if there's something interesting psychologically in that maybe not, maybe. But he did well.
We were unsurprisingly way more creative second half. In part due to Mitro but also we're miles better with Andreas on the pitch.
Bassey did brilliantly, particularly second half. Be interesting to see if he gets to start over Ream. A shame he's not a right footer as you could see him alongside Reem being a dynamic duo. Diop a bit off colour for the first 35mins or so but got better second half.
All in all a good run out, good to see Sasa doing better and glad for Jimi getting his first goal after feeding alot off scraps.
We have enough talent to get past Everton on our day. A few more Attacking options and backups here and there and theres still plenty chance of a very positive season COYW
Quote from: OZ-WHITE on August 05, 2023, 02:55:07 PMMore game time and back at the Cottage
New signings scored
First game time for a very cautious Mitro , didn't really throw himself around
Obvious we need more reinforcements ASAP
I thought he looked sharp and fit, but players don't want to risk injury in a friendly.
Quote from: Drewry66 on August 05, 2023, 02:57:55 PMMillion times better second half. Looked pretty sharp in it and should have scored 3 or 4. Andreas looked good. Mitro actually looked very sharp considering he hasn't played..just shows how important his link up play is...a few brilliant balls to set up chances although prob should have shot a few times. Let's just hope this is the start of him being back as confident we'll be much better this year by the time the window is closed if he is still here.
Prob Luckic best game for us so well done mate and defensive midfield where we need over.
Bassey MOTM and clearly a massive upgrade on Duffy, Tosin or Diop competing with Ream. JM a great back up option with Vinnie if Mitro stays. Add CHO and Gray and a few more and keep Mtro and it could be a great season again.
Key for me is obviously the Mitro piece, having Pereira play a full 90 and get his fitness back and then having Palhinha holding down the middle of the park.
Hoffenheim came 12th last season (albeit out of 18) and we won without Palhinha, Ream, Pereira and Mitro who would've been starters for us last season, for most of the match.
Promising, but we really do need to get more faces through the door for competition and to improve weaker areas of the first team ASAP.
Gray, CHO, Fred, Andre etc..
A good game. Bassey the stand-out player, I thought.
First game I've ever streamed from FFCtv. Liked the commentator quite a bit. Nice turn of phrase and well-paced commentary.
I hope his 4 year old granddaughter enjoyed her first game. :)
Quote from: Black, White and Fred on August 05, 2023, 02:11:37 PMWhat a cross from Robo
I'm one of his biggest critics re crossing but that was sublime!
Much better 2nd half. Fewer misplaced passes and some good forward runs. We picked up the pace nicely. Still some frailty in midfield but 🤞Pailhina will cure that. Apart from the assist - which was great - Robinson looked jaded, mind you, Willian never passes the ball back to him so why should he bust a gut. Diop not at his best but not his type of game. Bassey looks good, especially in attack! ( My grannie was called Bassey so I'm biased!) Mitro not on the pace yet. I thought BDR did some excellent work. As long as we cut out the misplaced passes, especially at the back, we should be OK
Lukic covered DM well in his best performance since joining us,Bassey and jimmehez 1st games at cottage both score happy days,Miro back in a Fulham shirt.downside a dodgy fist half.but a good warm up for tofees next week.
Quote from: General on August 05, 2023, 03:02:10 PMQuote from: Drewry66 on August 05, 2023, 02:57:55 PMMillion times better second half. Looked pretty sharp in it and should have scored 3 or 4. Andreas looked good. Mitro actually looked very sharp considering he hasn't played..just shows how important his link up play is...a few brilliant balls to set up chances although prob should have shot a few times. Let's just hope this is the start of him being back as confident we'll be much better this year by the time the window is closed if he is still here.
Prob Luckic best game for us so well done mate and defensive midfield where we need over.
Bassey MOTM and clearly a massive upgrade on Duffy, Tosin or Diop competing with Ream. JM a great back up option with Vinnie if Mitro stays. Add CHO and Gray and a few more and keep Mtro and it could be a great season again.
Key for me is obviously the Mitro piece, having Pereira play a full 90 and get his fitness back and then having Palhinha holding down the middle of the park.
Hoffenheim came 12th last season (albeit out of 18) and we won without Palhinha, Ream, Pereira and Mitro who would've been starters for us last season, for most of the match.
Promising, but we really do need to get more faces through the door for competition and to improve weaker areas of the first team ASAP.
Gray, CHO, Fred, Andre etc..
Yeah if we keep Mitro even with where we are at now we have a brilliant foundation when everyone is fit. If we add the potential and quality of the likes of CHO, Gray, Andre/Fred and some sort of decent full back cover and replace Tosin with someone as good as Bassey looks I am ridiculously excited about this season. If we do that list is replacing Mbabu/Soares, Tosin, Duffy, Soloman, Kabano, James. If we get that kind of quality in and keep the rest it is a MASSIVE upgrade on last year. Know we have to get them yet but by the end of the window I am sure g the club will have filled all those positions. Well done to the club and Marco rebuffing the Saudi offers..just all needs to come together now next few weeks.
Seems as if Marco got them all focused at Half time and they upped the effort levels and listened to him. A great sign that the team are all back on the same wavelength and pulling in the same direction again.
Good to see people warming to Lukic, I think he'll come into his own this season.
I thought that, apart from the first 15-20 minutes and the situation that led tl Hoffenheim's goal, we looked pretty solid. Before Andreas and Mitro came on we lacked a bit of creativity, but after they came on we created loads of chances.
As others have said Bassey the stand out performer and clear MOTM, I thought Lukic and Willian were very good as well. Jimenez struggled in the first half but had some nice moments in the short time he was on in the second including nice build up play and a cool finish for his goal. On to Everton!
Quote from: LittleErn on August 05, 2023, 03:08:31 PMMuch better 2nd half. Fewer misplaced passes and some good forward runs. We picked up the pace nicely. Still some frailty in midfield but 🤞Pailhina will cure that. Apart from the assist - which was great - Robinson looked jaded, mind you, Willian never passes the ball back to him so why should he bust a gut. Diop not at his best but not his type of game. Bassey looks good, especially in attack! ( My grannie was called Bassey so I'm biased!) Mitro not on the pace yet. I thought BDR did some excellent work. As long as we cut out the misplaced passes, especially at the back, we should be OK
I should clarify - I'm not saying Mitro was slow over the ground. In fact he looked fit and if possible a little quicker over the ground. I should have said that he doesn't look match sharp yet. Let's hope he gets that sharpness while playing for us!
As good as Bassey played for me the stand out player once again was Tete but his supreme confidence either with his positioning or with his control of the ball seems to be taken as read. Long may he stay fit.
I thought the team had much more presence when Mitro came on and it showed what we will miss if he leaves. We will not be able to play Jiminez in that role and he would need someone to join him quickly from midfield. We would not have the outlet from defenders that Mitro has provided.
As good as Bassey looked, my concern was that he was out of position too much and we would concede goals against premier league opposition. He will need to learn quick that he cannot wander. We didn't get punished from that today but we will do.
Tete was class and Reed, Reid & Lukic were all solid.
Rest were all okay but Pereira added some spark when he came on.
Plus points:
Bassey is a leader on the pitch. Talking, shaping, stepping out. We can play a bit higher line because he's a serious athlete. He's captaincy material one day and, though I know this won't be popular, should start ahead of Ream at LCB.
Jimenez scored a strikers goal, a nice one. Just what he needed.
Mitro's bang up for it. He always is when he crosses the white line. Bassey's goal came, in part, from textbook Mitro skullduggery in the six yard box. Goalie and CB couldn't cope. They were fuming, but to no avail. Layoffs instead of shots were intelligent. Before the next corner I said to Carborundum jnr that nothing would come of it because the ref would blow a foul against Mitro. Sure enough, that's what happened.
Marco's team talk presumably questioned where the zip had gone and worked wonders. We tore them apart second half.
Lukic supplied a lot of welcome workmanlike glue. Tete is some footballer and the back header to himself was one for the showreel.
Negatives:
Kick off time. I'll get over it.
First ten minutes. We'd be 2-0 down against better opposition.
Sprinklers on at half time. Seriously??!
Restless leg syndrome. The lad sat next to me.
The phrase "notoriously unreliable guide" applies to such games but we didn't look like a team set to struggle. Incidentally this was my first pre season game since a dismal afternoon against Real Betis which featured a titanic battle of egos between Berba and Ruiz both intent on occupying exactly the same place on the pitch and the unveiling of our new midfield solution, Derek Boateng. We went down that season. Whatever happens Calvin Bassey is rather more capable than Derek Boateng.
Good pre season run out especially as the players actually trained for 2 sessions yesterday, their legs would have felt it in the 1st half that's most probably why they eased into the game🤔
I didn't get to watch the game but it sounds like Mitrovic put some effort in which is great to see. I doubt he leaves at this point, if he stays and puts the effort in then this is a good thing. On the down side, it's probably the last summer window where we would get big money for him- given he's about to turn 29 years old and what's happened this summer.
And just a general point, I know some managers/people like a left sided center back to be left footed, but I really don't think this is a big deal at all. It's very much down to the player and if you are playing centrally it means even less. We could have a scenario this season where Bassey and Ream play along side each other
Quote from: LC on August 05, 2023, 04:36:26 PMI didn't get to watch the game but it sounds like Mitrovic put some effort in which is great to see. I doubt he leaves at this point, if he stays and puts the effort in then this is a good thing. On the down side, it's probably the last summer window where we would get big money for him- given he's about to turn 29 years old and what's happened this summer.
And just a general point, I know some managers/people like a left sided center back to be left footed, but I really don't think this is a big deal at all. It's very much down to the player and if you are playing centrally it means even less. We could have a scenario this season where Bassey and Ream play along side each other
On the Mitro point, the return on his sale is, I think, secondary to establishing ourselves in this division. Plan for succession later but for now let's stabilise.
Highlights from GERMANY tv via YouTube
https://twitter.com/peterrutzler/status/1687846819143798785?s=20
Quote from: SerbianLad on August 05, 2023, 12:05:06 PMWillian starting, that's got to mean that story was bulsh*t. Mitro back on the bench probably means he's staying.
Nice to see Ream has recovered and Raul getting a start. Looking forward to this game.
Edit:Nice to see Bassey in the starting eleven as well.
Thanks for posting the link. Cheers from USA although English
Quote from: Motspur Park on August 05, 2023, 04:39:35 PMQuote from: LC on August 05, 2023, 04:36:26 PMI didn't get to watch the game but it sounds like Mitrovic put some effort in which is great to see. I doubt he leaves at this point, if he stays and puts the effort in then this is a good thing. On the down side, it's probably the last summer window where we would get big money for him- given he's about to turn 29 years old and what's happened this summer.
And just a general point, I know some managers/people like a left sided center back to be left footed, but I really don't think this is a big deal at all. It's very much down to the player and if you are playing centrally it means even less. We could have a scenario this season where Bassey and Ream play along side each other
On the Mitro point, the return on his sale is, I think, secondary to establishing ourselves in this division. Plan for succession later but for now let's stabilise.
Completely agree. If we keep him this year and buy all these other positions we are looking to fill with quality we are stable, avoid second season syndrome and we can plan for replacing him next year if needed. Also not the last chance to get a pay out for him or us. He is capable of scoring 20+ goals in the prem with a full season and if he does watch the pricks come back in for him next year. If he scores 20+ goals they might actually pay the £50 million (or at least something close). He knows that so he has all motivation to smash in a tonne for us this year if he still wants his massive pay day. If he's fit and firing with what we have and are adding the chances of going down are minimal you would have thought. If he went it is a massive hole and makes relegation at least a risk although I think we'd still have enough. Far better to keep at least for this year and take a big fee next year if the same situation arises and they pay up.
Good performance all round - raised our game in the second half and were then far the better team.
Bassey deservedly man of the match, definitely got a player there and Lukic looks more settled and confident now. Everyone else was fine, except maybe Diop who looked a bit slow and indecisive at times. Jimenez slightly quicker than Mitro, but not as strong in the air (as expected).
Assuming Mitro stays - we just need to get 3-4 players in to cover injuries etc and I think we will do well, maybe even stronger than last season.
Our manager talking calm, reasonable, intelligent good sense after match.
Can't see how he fits in to an industry which is largely reliant on garbage, falsehood and fabrication as a method of communication.
"Mitrovic is training with the team and is ready to play. If this wasn't the case he wouldn't be on the bench and he wouldn't be playing in the second half.
"I think for me and for all the managers, it's impossible for me to guarantee that any player is going to stay," Marco added when asked about transfer speculation.
"As you know, and I told you last season, we are happy and pleased with the squad we kept from last season and we are looking to strengthen and reinforce our squad, not the opposite.
"We cannot control the market. Of course, some of our players have received offers which is a consequence of our great season last year and we have to be ready for that."
BDR is just not as good as we want to be.
To be honest the best thing to come out of today is that we didn't get new injuries.
Thought Shirley was a top top player and cant understand the AJAX fans frustrations...... glad we picked him up. Lukic had his best game to date, but we did not really liven up until Mitro and AP came on, then we were sublime and the result could have been higher.
As ever the rest of the guys put a shift in however whilst BDR ran around alot and caused havoc, there so many times he lost the ball to missplace passes so I rated him and Diop below par, even robbo nearly gave away some dodgy back passes however will forgive that as nothing came of them and that was a gorgeous cross through to RJ for the first.