a pretty fair assessment of today's game here...

[hallamblue]

posted on TWTD by a Town fan. Think he/she has got it pretty much covered tbh.


We're nearly there, but there's something missing - thoughts on the friendly 18:51 - Jul 30 with 326 views HennersITFC

First off, I apologise if I cover any ground already discussed on here - have had a brief read but fancied putting my own write-up on.

Reading the team news as I walked down to the ground it seemed like Mick was lining up with something that won't be a mile away from next Saturday's XI. Would it be a 433 with Bishop, Bru and Skuse, or a flatter 442 with Bishop on the right?

The answer, initially, was the latter, Bishop bright as he drifted in to combine with Bru, Chambers and Sears. Lamah on the opposite flank looked lively as he chased up and down the line and had our first meaningful shot - a well struck 30-yarder which rose just over the bar.

It was my first game this pre-season but the general comments surrounding our play so far had suggested "more possession, but lacking in creating chances". That seemed right in this first half - we moved the ball well, Bru in particular dropping deep to collect the ball and spread it out wide before running forwards and linking up on the edge of the box, but barring a Murphy header onto the bar from their mistake after a corner, we dominated without threatening.

Union, as I shall refer to them as, didn't look much cop, giving the ball away left right and center, and didn't trouble Bart at all. After Berra was left in a heap clutching his face, the formation shifted slightly to more of a 433 - Sears and Lamah either side of Murphy. Our Belgian trialist, who wasn't afraid of doing the "dirty work" as Mick might call it, came close again with a low drive and Bru showed wonderful technique on a free kick which dipped just wide.

The game came to its natural half-tome break, and the boys in white (changed so as not to clash with what was presumably the only kit union brought over) headed down the tunnel to a warm applause. Comfortable in the game, but short of ideas when it came to it.

Smith on for Berra after the interval - the latter presumably taken off as a precaution after his previous clash of heads. He lined up alongside Webster, who I must say impressed me - very assured on the ball and covered a lot of ground when Chambers was caught further up the field.

The second half started as the first finished: decent passing but no end product to show for it. It was almost no surprise that we took the lead through a set-piece - Bru's delivery was good, Murphy's towering header better, and the net rippled for the first time at Portman Road this term.

Again, more of the same against a team that found stringing 3 passes together a real struggle. They got numbers back when we went forward, but a chunk of that was us moving the ball too slowly - Sears in particular looking uncomfortable in dropping back to get the ball and unsure what to do, opting to pass backwards on one too many occasion.

McGoldrick had since come on for Bishop, and then there was a hearty round of applause when Dozzell the younger replaced Lamah. Probably both for the trialist's impressive display and the sight of our young prodigy.

I'm unconvinced on the Bishop experiment - got on the ball a lot, got us forwards, but got crowded out eventually and our right side was quite exposed when he wasn't there. Certainly an alternative worth pursuing but, for me, he belongs in the centre. May I also point out that drifting in and not doing the job of a traditional winger was a constant gripe people has with AMN.

Dozzell showed nice touches but is very one-footed, taking every chance he had to move the ball onto his left foot. McGoldrick added attacking impetus and got us forward quicker, but then came two very avoidable goals which hung a cloud over the rest of the otherwise solid performance.

Dozzell and Knudsen (who had had a rather disappointing game up to then), both went for the same header as a corner was cleared, they missed, and Skuse was left to deal with two men running at him. Despite his best, illegal, efforts, Union showed the delivery they'd been lacking and the finish was well taken. The small gathering of fans they had (top marks to them, by the way) went wild, taking off shirts and jumping around like they'd won a Championship.

The second - Chambers carelessly giving away possession, then getting beaten with a couple of stepovers before Rajsel (who some rumoured us to be looking at), slammed the ball in at the near post. With the exception of a tame bicycle kick, they were the only two shots Bialkowski faced. No blame to him, although no 'keeper should be happy being beaten at their near post, but Mick shan't be pleased with the manner in which the goals were conceded.

2-1 it finished, and as I exited the stadium, I heard one final bit of nonsense (I'd had an amusing yet deluded running commentary from some old boys behind me all game): "I'll tell you one thing, these so-called wonderkids can't do it can they". Talk about a lack of patience. Signs of frustration understandable at the manner we lost the game, but it was a friendly, and there were enough encouraging signs to suggest it won't all be doom and gloom.

But, I must stress, it isn't all rosy. We are crying out for a couple of proper wingers. Sears and Bishop as inverted ones do a job, but when Lamah went off it was noticeable we had no-one with the craft to take on their man and deliver a ball. That led to them being able to defend us narrow, as we huffed and puffed to make a space that never appeared. Also, the shifts in formation which neither benefited nor hindered us suggests that Mick isn't totally sure what he wants to do with the players he's got.

Positives though - Lamah looks worth a year, Bishop looks good, Webster looks like there's a very good player in there, Bru was doing the things people have been crying out for from our midfield for ages, so hopefully he can keep it up, Murphy strong yet a little rusty, and McGoldrick certainly gives us something that's missing when he's not about.

Overall, no reason to say we'll be a disaster next term, but as expected, we'll have to wait for the first few competitive games to really judge if we can contend at the top again. The goals we conceded won't sit well with Mick, but the football we played well, we just need a little more conviction.

Sorry for the long read, I can't help it, but hopefully there's decent substance there. Here's to successful campaign - we need a bit more, but I think we can have a real good go if Mick gets it right.

[marko69]

I am liking the sound of the Lamah fellow. Hoping he starts next week v Barnsley...., and he stays on most of the game. I'm also hoping he doesn't get injured before the first televised game.

I like how the author felt the need to write Dozzell "the younger"! Don't know why I'm laughing......., pretty sure Jase would've bagged a hatrick!

[arana peligrosa]

Took in a write-up on the Green Un website. Maybe the team played well here and there but were still beaten by an obscure team from the lower reaches of the Belgian leagues. Another example of players losing focus once we were ahead and allowing the opposition back into it, also creating opportunity but with not enough end product.

While it won't be a disaster (as believe read) next season, can't see much beyond flirting with the idea of a play-off place by the end of it all, although missing out altogether and landing into mid-league obscurity, would to some, present a more realistic expectancy.

[Bluemike]

Hallam it's not a bad write up at all, however there are a couple of things I do not agree with. For me Bishop has stood out in every friendly so far this season whilst playing on the Right of Midfield but given license to roam and drift in, I have no issue with that at all, it is he that is making things happen and creating openings with his movement and runs etc, to me it is an experiment that is showing very encouraging signs, it was everything we missed last season, it can be argued he would be better in the centre but I am happy either way.

Having seen yesterdays friendly it is clear that we are going to be more of a passing team, despite the poor result some of the one touch passing football was very pleasing on the eye, I think Hallam and I only counted a single unneccesary hoof all game, obviously it will take time to adjust to different styles and systems but for the purists like AndyM who have always maintained they would sacrifice the result for better football they should hopefully be quite pleased after yesterday.

I think we need to get Lamah signed up, he definitely has something to offer and his pace and running with the ball willl cause defences problems, I liked what I saw when he had the ball, a lovely little backheel to sears in the opposition box so nearly brought an goal scoring opening. For me Webster already looks the part and could prove be a masterstroke of a signing, his composure and reading of the game is very good. Bishop again stood out, he is class and will be a massive player for us this season, we definitely suffered when he went off and along with the departure of Lamah we lost our hold on the Midfield. The Two goals we gave away were daft to say the least and lessons need to be learnt and quickly, the first was from our corner when every bloody player went up for it and they got the break after Knudsen (who it seems was at fault) and Dozzell went for the same ball, a quick break and it's in the back of our net, the second was poor defending by Chambo who was left for dead.

Despite the result I was pretty pleased with much of what I saw although we need to convert some of the chances we are creating, again we hit the bar and quite how Bishop missed the rebound I don't know, we also had at least 2 efforts cleared off the line which is a tad unlucky. All in all we aren't far off.

[Tangfastic]

Lamah seems promising, but Mick is still being a bit coy about him joining.

Says he's hopeful about getting someone before next Saturday.

If we're going to bring anybody in.... let's steer away from the Coke, Toure, Malarczyk types. They just clog up the squad and mean there's no route for the young players.

Can't see our young players being able to make us Top Six this season, but getting game time is important for them.

Bish sounds like he's head and shoulders above the rest at this point.

[Bluemike]

Toure has left the club while Malarczyk has no chance of playing with Berra Smith Webster and Digby all CB's, I suppose the Pole could see some game time against Stevenage though. Coke will only ever be used as a last ditch back up player or coming on for 10 m inutes to shore things up. Doub't we will see much of him either.

[herforder]

Saw yesterday's game, and agree with above reports. Whether MM continues with the new 'pass and move' philosophy remains to be seen as the season wears on; but credit for doing it - certainly better on the eye! It will take time to bed in, no doubt with personnel/formation changes etc en route, before it comes totally good. But we know how MM views the results over performance issue, so I'm not placing any bets.

With a couple of quality additions - my top priority would be a forward thinking, creative, centre mid player - we do have the talent to play decent and effective football. But we must cut out stupid, almost amateurish, defensive errors. Both Chambo and Knudsen gave cause for some concern yesterday - and we seem fully capable of repeating the same sort of individual and team ricks that cost valuable points. (MM refutes the accusation that we're defensively fragile!)

But, overall, a good run out, with perhaps a glimpse of more attractive and entertaining days to come. Here's hoping! (Would also offer Lamah a deal - pace, power, and an eye for goal, and will undoubtedly get better as he adapts).