Out of sight, out of mind, WBA Friendly 13/07/2024 2pm

[Mar]

In a game where literally no-one would bat an eyelid if cancelled, WBA are playing Bolton in a pre-season friendly. This is in large part down to the England national team reaching the final.

It's a kick start to our 2024-25 season, a reverse of last seasons friendly and a chance for WBA to address their failings since the 4-3 defeat. Given our insistence on staying true to tactical familiarity this may provide an interesting test, but this is likely to be considered a fitness exercise rather than an actual competitive outing.

The last time we had a closed doors friendly we won 5-2 with all the strikers getting on the scoresheet and no video evidence to prove it. I have no such expectation this time round regarding the strikers, but an outing for Klaidi Lolos might prove somewhat intriguing.

New players are in the building, so plenty to try out, plenty to figure out and undoubtedly, plenty to forget about.

Match predictions, who cares. It's all about England this weekend.

[Bertie Wooster]

Won 2-1 Dempsey & Collins.

[Worthy4England]

Yay. Good start!

[truewhite15]

Certainly highlighted the need for some inbound players in the left wing back/left back position. Played with Max Conway there in the first half, then someone called "Weston" in the 2nd. Highly rated in the B's they may be, but I doubt the plan is to start the season with them as our options.

I like Williams, but he spends 70% of the season crocked. I also like Iredale, but he's surely only an emergency option in that position. Reinforcements required there as an absolute priority - and we can't skimp on it.

[Worthy4England]

Certainly highlighted the need for some inbound players in the left wing back/left back position. Played with Max Conway there in the first half, then someone called "Weston" in the 2nd. Highly rated in the B's they may be, but I doubt the plan is to start the season with them as our options.

I like Williams, but he spends 70% of the season crocked. I also like Iredale, but he's surely only an emergency option in that position. Reinforcements required there as an absolute priority - and we can't skimp on it.

Think we could do with at least a second option at RWB too, mate. JDC kept going but clearly some performances where he looked jaded (not unreasonably)...

But yeah LWB for sure...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Evatt mentions us playing "in a slightly different way with a slightly different shape"...

and here's the first goal. Well done Demps but I'd be disappointed if we conceded it.

Here's Collins' winner, although not a great angle TBH.

Numberwang fans might note in the Demps goal vid Lolos is wearing No.17, vacated by Ogbeta (and perhaps more notably Dapo's old number); and in the Collins goal vid, Vic is wearing the bod-vacated No.9, meaning his No.14 is open....

[truewhite15]

Surprised that Vic's taken #9. Thought that was a shoe-in for Collins, especially as Vic already shifted from #29 to #14 last summer.

Unless of course Collins has a particular attachment to #28...?

[BWFC_Insane]

Certainly nice to hear that Evatt is already moaning about an injury crisis. Down to 14 fit first teamers he says…

Super.

Forino out for a while.

If you keep buying crocks…

[truewhite15]

Certainly nice to hear that Evatt is already moaning about an injury crisis. Down to 14 fit first teamers he says…

Super.

Forino out for a while.

If you keep buying crocks…

It's a wonder you've never gone into management, mate.

[officer_dibble]

What the feck* up with forino? We’ve just signed him?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Surprised that Vic's taken #9. Thought that was a shoe-in for Collins, especially as Vic already shifted from #29 to #14 last summer.

Unless of course Collins has a particular attachment to #28...?

He was 10 at FGR & Bristol Rovers and does strike me as much more of a 10 than a 9. Maybe he's thinking 2+8? Whereas Vic was 29 at Orient, Barnsley, Bristol Rovers and us, so maybe he sees himself as the 9 type. Funny old thing, number preference.

[Worthy4England]

What the feck* up with forino? We’ve just signed him?

Complete punt. Hamstring?