Pre-season 2025

[irie Cee Bee]

Thanks Mar for sharing the link. I watched it and was pleased with what I saw in terms of the shape and the condition of the players. In the first half have we did not have a lot of the ball but was very organized. We sat back and countered with every player seemingly knowing their job defensively. We played 4-2-3-1 and I thought Taylor acquitted himself well at LB with other standouts being Sam Inwood at LCB, Carlos Mendez playing #7 and Sheehan playing one of the 2 in midfield.

The 2nd half team was more 4-4-2 and were more aggressive with the press. We gave them very little time on the ball and this 2nd half team had a lot more pace. Tutu paying RB and Amario at the number 7 position (playing with #2 on his jersey) seemed to have a very good understanding with each other. Xavier was aggressive in the middle and Conway acquitted himself well. Boone, the trialist goalkeeper knows how to play with his football as did Lowe in the first half.

No tippy tappy backward passing except for Morely who for me, went back more than forward except when looking for the big pass. The big issue for me is up front. We need a couple strikers as we had nothing there. McAtee tried hard and did not look out of place, but our two youngsters could not get in the game. All in all, a good promising run out.

[Worthy4England]

Yeah, most of this. I did think JDC was too narrow in defensive shape a few times first half, but we looked pretty organised overall

[nicholaldo]

It's interesting (to me at least) that Taylor is preferred at left-back. We aren't currently blessed with options in that position so perhaps we're using him there early in pre-season whilst minutes are managed because he can do a job, but I thought he was primarily a centre-half and that maybe Inwood would've been the one to occupy a full-back spot instead.