The development of the reserves

[Bruce Rioja]

3-1 down now according to a jubilant West Sussex type.

[Little Green Man]

3-1 down now according to a jubilant West Sussex type.

We'll have switched to 4-4-2 at half time with a pair of blancmanges in centre midfield just to deliver the coup-de-grace.

[Gary the Enfield]

Well it wasn't great. Played well first half and could have been 3 up at half time. Missed their equaliser as I was queueing for drinks. Totally outplayed by ten men second half and Arsenal deserved their win. Stand outs for us? Kellett at left back made a couple of mazy runs through the Arsenal midfield and looked good if a little small. Tom Eaves definitely has a future.......... as Johnny Wilkinson's replacement. Certainly knows where the bar is and manage to clear it by a fair distance a number of times.

Nice to catch up with GG and Verbal. Hopefully next time we'll manage a beer beforehand.

[Verbal]

Good to meet you again GtE, and of course GG. And also GtE-ette. GG was trying to convert her to the dark side while you were queuing for drinks, btw. Diabolical.

Will get on a report soon. But that second half really worried me regarding how tired we looked against ten men.

[Leyther_Matt]

But that second half really worried me regarding how tired we looked against ten men.

It seems to mirror the first team somewhat in that even in the later friendlies there were still a ton of subs being made, so I would hazard a guess there aren't many who have actually completed more than one or two 90 minutes over pre-season.

[Verbal]

That's why it worried me.

I mean these are fit young lads and they couldn't keep up with ten men.

[Gooner Girl]

Good to meet you again GtE, and of course GG. And also GtE-ette. GG was trying to convert her to the dark side while you were queuing for drinks, btw. Diabolical.
Will get on a report soon. But that second half really worried me regarding how tired we looked against ten men.

May take a few more games but i'll crack her. Shes a sensible girl, she'll see the light. AND she said i wasn't short - I like her a lot. Must get the charm from her mothers side of the family... Certainly doesn't from her father!

Lovely to catch up with you Verbal. For a Bolton fan you talk a lot of sense.

Missed our second goal as i was listening avidly to GtE expanding on his fascinating theory that Kevin Davies might make a good defensive midfielder (if he learnt how to tackle) however, it was a good match and i think if Bolton had buried either of those great chances they had that O'Shea saved, when you were 1-0 up it might have been a different story score wise. But as it was, we flew out the traps second half, equalised staright away and from then on we seemed on the front foot, faster, more determined, slicker passing. Tbh, you didn't really notice we were a man down. Both teams seemed to have at least 2 players each that looked like they had barely started secondary school. Will be interesting to see how sucessful (or not) this new format is.

[Riviman]

From official site, on the game:

"And whilst expressing his slight disappointment in relinquishing a lead, coach Henry believes his players will quickly learn from the experience.

“It was a great experience for the lads to play at the Emirates,” he explained. “I thought our gameplan was working fine. We restricted Arsenal well in the first half and got our goal with them obviously a man down.

“For whatever reason, we kind of lost the momentum we had when we took the lead. We made one or two silly and unforced errors to give them a bit of encouragement just before half time.

“We regrouped but then Arsenal scored within a minute of the restart which was disappointing. Then, their second came from a free-kick from a challenge that we didn’t necessarily need to make and the third goal from a penalty after we had switched off at the back.

“Like I say, it’s disappointing because we were in a good position at half time, though the scoreline maybe really doesn’t reflect the game because Arsenal didn’t really create much.

“We need to learn from the game – maybe be a little bit more streetwise in future. On reflection, there are a lot of positives for us to take into the Norwich game next week.”

Could be the first team and Owen Coyle speaking !!

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Good to meet you again GtE, and of course GG. And also GtE-ette. GG was trying to convert her to the dark side while you were queuing for drinks, btw. Diabolical.

Will get on a report soon. But that second half really worried me regarding how tired we looked against ten men.

Sorry for bailing, sir. Sounds liek I did well to avoid it. Let me know if I have left you out of pocket.

[Verbal]

Nah it's cool, a couple of Gunner mates stepped in at the last minute. Think they enjoyed it more than you would have done!

You going to bother with Crawley or will you be all partied out again?

[wanderers_on_tour]

Ngog starts today against Norwich, unsure why he wasn't just saved for the Crawley match but there you have it.

[TANGODANCER]

Ngog starts today against Norwich, unsure why he wasn't just saved for the Crawley match but there you have it.

Odd one that. Sounds like his back's still giving some concern and they want to test it out at lower level before commiting him back to the squad. I was almost certain he'd replace KD tomorrow, but maybe the front pairing of Sordell and Afobe will get a run out with Davo on the bench?

[Annoyed Grunt]

Ngog subbed at half time.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Ngog subbed at half time.

Any evidence that this was pre-planned? If he was only going to last 45 minutes, best not sent to Crawley. Mind you what's he got, M.E.?

[Riviman]

Looked to me like it was pre planned, don't forget he's only played just over half a pre-season game and missed most of the pre-season training. So I wouldn't expect him to be match fit yet, even for tonight's game at Crawley.

[Leyther_Matt]

U21's won 2-0 away to West Ham last night with N'Gog scoring one of them if people have missed it on the fishal site.

[89bwfc89]

U21 Development Squad playing at the Reebok tonight against West Brom. Free for season ticket holders. Anyone going?

[thebish]

U21's won 2-0 away to West Ham last night with N'Gog scoring one of them if people have missed it on the fishal site.

allardyce out!!

[Salford Trotter]

U21 Development Squad playing at the Reebok tonight against West Brom. Free for season ticket holders. Anyone going?

I'll be there!

[Leyther_Matt]

U21 Development Squad playing at the Reebok tonight against West Brom. Free for season ticket holders. Anyone going?

I'll be there!

Same here.