Pre-season 2025

[truewhite15]

Simons and Thomason looking a better duo than Morley and Sheehan.

Impressed with Gale so far. Likewise Warren - playing in very much an unfavoured role, but has done very well. I thought he was a nailed on B-teamer when he signed. I'm not so sure now.

[TonyDomingos]

I don't think Broome had a save to make in that last half hour, did he?

[BWFC_Insane]

Thomason looks good - based on what I’ve seen today I’d not have him on the list of midfield players to sell.

He's a good lad to have at the club. His work rate in the off season to get himself into contention and onto the captaincy should only stand as an example to follow. Sure there's likely better players out there that are capable of a higher level, but i'd agree that he's one that is capable and good to have around, even if he's not necessarily the main man.

I like the look of Simons.

He's the one i've been least 'wow'ed by. Happy with his performance, and he's in the role I expect to be the least spectacular. We've needed that steadying influence.

Thomason and Simons look like our first choice midfield to me.


What I’d say tonight is that it’s good to have set piece routines but the delivery was awful - so be good to get someone who can genuinely take a corner and a free kick - a set piece specialist on the delivery side could be huge.

[BWFC_Insane]

Simons and Thomason looking a better duo than Morley and Sheehan.

Impressed with Gale so far. Likewise Warren - playing in very much an unfavoured role, but has done very well. I thought he was a nailed on B-teamer when he signed. I'm not so sure now.

Ha we just said the same thing re midfield at the same time.

[BWFC_Insane]

Warren to me looks very very good. Certainly be playing him ahead of Schon and I think no question he is first team squad and plays a lot this season. Looks a real find.

[knobpolisher]

My fear tonight was the obligatory season ending injury , particularly when they got heavy.

[BWFC_Insane]

Conway looks absolutely superb to me. Little to learn about defending maybe but I’d like him to be first choice LB. What a chance for him.

[Worthy4England]

A nil. Against. Be still my beating heart.

[Frank Drebin]

Agree with what people have said previously. Special mention for the keeper, TSL commands his area and comes for the ball, he looks the business. And well done to the youngsters Conway and Warren, wow!

[Wrighty92]

Managed to watch the game on and off and just a few things id note:

TSL was excellent - made a great save when called upon after the mix up between Conway and Toal and his presence, footwork and kicking were all superb. Hopefully another young Trafford type there!

Inwood really impressed me again and id say he's well worth his place as a first team squad member to grow this season. I'm not suggesting we chuck him straight in away at Stockport, but he certainly seems good enough to stay and develop with us in.this league from the eye test.

Morley was particularly poor in the bits I saw - lots of loose passing, crap set piece delivery (same can be said of Sheehan) and not really at the races - hopefully he just needs to sharpen up with some game time as he obvs missed the end of the season with an injury.

Schön was dreadful, we can't play him RW, that is all on that one.

Conway looked great too and if not for Taylor also impressing me in his stint, I'd say Conway should be definite first choice at LB and he may still be anyway when the season rolls round. Great start for him though and alongside Inwood, lovely to see some of our young talents actually prospering a bit.

Notable mentions to Gale, Cozier-Duberry and Warren who all looked good in their short spells and Thommo did well too. Especially impressed by Simons though, made our other CMs all look a league below him, spraying passes about, winning tackles, very calm on the ball when pressed, brilliant to see!

I think that's about it off the top of my head, there's a few others who i didn't think were especially bad or brilliant (Randall, Mcatee, J.O.T, etc...). It'll be very interesting to see if we get any more signings through the door between now and the Hibs game and hiw we line up there as I assume a pattern will start to emerge which gives us an idea of what to expect come August 3rd.

[DJBlu]

Thought our lights weighters did well and got stuck in for the first 60 mins. Like SS says they look to be defending as a unit. Barrow treated it like a relegation battle Derby game. We didnt pussy out and stood up to them.

Last 30 was a real breath of fresh air though. Complete contrast and good that it looks like we have 2 teams.

Hope we dont miss having the man up top.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Didn’t see the game bar 5-10 first-half minutes (which let’s say weren’t enough to change my mind that Schon is a nice kid without much of a clue). Help a brother out: did Warren, replacing Daeshon Lawrence, therefore play at 9? Did he stay there when the other subs came on, with McAtee at 10? And did Gale play LW and Cozier-Dubes RW?

[irie Cee Bee]

After watching 2 pre-season games we seem to have made some progress over last season.

Based on what I have seen so far , the following players look like they will do well in a full bloodied L1 competitive game:

TSL
Tutu Forino Taylor (class)
Xavier (class) Thomason
Amario (class) McAtee

Conway, Inwood, Carlos Mendez, Warren and Gayle show promise and I wait to see them against better players to know if they can compete in a tough physical game in L1. The others still need to step up a gear or two..

Recruitment of a physical striker, another central midfielder in the mould of Xavier and a Center Back better than Forino will make us very very difficult to beat.

[truewhite15]

Didn’t see the game bar 5-10 first-half minutes (which let’s say weren’t enough to change my mind that Schon is a nice kid without much of a clue). Help a brother out: did Warren, replacing Daeshon Lawrence, therefore play at 9? Did he stay there when the other subs came on, with McAtee at 10? And did Gale play LW and Cozier-Dubes RW?

Yes, yes and yes!

[BWFC_Insane]

Didn’t see the game bar 5-10 first-half minutes (which let’s say weren’t enough to change my mind that Schon is a nice kid without much of a clue). Help a brother out: did Warren, replacing Daeshon Lawrence, therefore play at 9? Did he stay there when the other subs came on, with McAtee at 10? And did Gale play LW and Cozier-Dubes RW?

He stayed there. Clearly not optimal on his own and we need a couple of strikers for sure.

But take nothing away from Warren he looks an absolute talent. Not yet as McGinlay pointed out maybe as a main striker as he ran everywhere but off the left? I could see him starting the season there.

[BWFC_Insane]

Reading between the lines of what Schumacher is saying he clearly agrees with me that Conway needs a little defensive work (but is clearly a really good player in the making) but also I wouldn’t be shocked if Inwood started the season in the first team.

[TonyDomingos]

Reading between the lines of what Schumacher is saying he clearly agrees with me that Conway needs a little defensive work (but is clearly a really good player in the making) but also I wouldn’t be shocked if Inwood started the season in the first team.

On behalf of DSB (and other lovers of the English language / pedants):

If you're "reading between the lines" then it can't be the case that Schuy "clearly" agrees with you.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Cheers folks. Early days but looking good so far. Pleased for Warren, but we do need more strikers.

[BWFC_Insane]

Reading between the lines of what Schumacher is saying he clearly agrees with me that Conway needs a little defensive work (but is clearly a really good player in the making) but also I wouldn’t be shocked if Inwood started the season in the first team.

On behalf of DSB (and other lovers of the English language / pedants):

If you're "reading between the lines" then it can't be the case that Schuy "clearly" agrees with you.

Well my clumsy post was sort of reading between the lines of the last bit re Inwood given that Schumacher says out loud re Conway ‘he needs to do some work on the defensive side of his game’.

[Frank Drebin]

Reading between the lines of what Schumacher is saying he clearly agrees with me that Conway needs a little defensive work (but is clearly a really good player in the making) but also I wouldn’t be shocked if Inwood started the season in the first team.

On behalf of DSB (and other lovers of the English language / pedants):

If you're "reading between the lines" then it can't be the case that Schuy "clearly" agrees with you.

Well my clumsy post was sort of reading between the lines of the last bit re Inwood given that Schumacher says out loud re Conway ‘he needs to do some work on the defensive side of his game’.

You’re right. Schumacher went on to say, Conway has got talent and he’s one where it’s worth putting the time in with him.
I’m thinking Taylor will probably start at LB and Max will be understudy. I can’t see another LB coming in now.