Just back..

Well, somebody had to start it!!..
Scannell, get him match fit hell boss this league, Rose and Williams  looks like they'll control midfield but we do need a back up for Hanson, good finish by Green but not an out an out front man.
Think we'll be fine thus season but not expecting too much for the first 6-8 games until the team settle..

Just back.... from where?

Scannell and Pollock for my MoM. All the new guys impressed apart from Gibson, but only because he never really got the chance to. Green scored a good goal so he's half way through last seasons tally already. Scannell looks a class above this league if we can get him fit and then keep him fit I can only see good things at the moment. Special mention to the young lad Khouri thought he looked very composed when he came on

If we'd had a full preseason we'd of beat Morecombe today, it was only when tired legs started to kick in did they come back into the game get this squad fit and i'm very optimistic of our chances going forward.

Quoted from sonofmadeleymariner

Scannell and Pollock for my MoM. All the new guys impressed apart from Gibson, but only because he never really got the chance to. Green scored a good goal so he's half way through last seasons tally already. Scannell looks a class above this league if we can get him fit and then keep him fit I can only see good things at the moment. Special mention to the young lad Khouri thought he looked very composed when he came on

If we'd had a full preseason we'd of beat Morecombe today, it was only when tired legs started to kick in did they come back into the game get this squad fit and i'm very optimistic of our chances going forward.

Green scored 4 goals last season in all competitions. And today was only an EFL Cup match so he’s not half way to his league tally of 2 last season anyway.

We need a few weeks to get everybody fit and to get to know each other.

I think we will end up nearer the top than the bottom.

Agree we need a striker let's hope one of the new lads can cut the mustard.

Quoted from ex-merseymariner

Just back.... from where?

The fridge

Quoted from ex-merseymariner

Just back.... from where?

Watching on top of the roof? 1930s stylee like my dad used to as a kid?

Quoted from sonofmadeleymariner

Scannell and Pollock for my MoM. All the new guys impressed apart from Gibson, but only because he never really got the chance to. Green scored a good goal so he's half way through last seasons tally already. Scannell looks a class above this league if we can get him fit and then keep him fit I can only see good things at the moment. Special mention to the young lad Khouri thought he looked very composed when he came on

If we'd had a full preseason we'd of beat Morecombe today, it was only when tired legs started to kick in did they come back into the game get this squad fit and i'm very optimistic of our chances going forward.

We had a very young side out there come the end, squad depth will be a key and we dont have masses of experience beyond the first 15/16 which showed at the death.
Lack of pre season games also showed , on the odd occassion i think Preston forgot he was out on loan as he passed a couple of times straight to red and white     but his take and run for our goal was superb.

I liked the way we played most of the time once we’d settled after the early goal.  Back 5 looked composed most of the time and we have Hendrie to come back.  Preston, Waterfall, Pollock, Hendrie and McKeown must be a very decent L2 standard.

Midfield played it around nicely and the diagonal balls out wide worked well with Scannell’s quality on the end.  Will be interesting to see who are the first choice three.  Rose, Williams and then one from a few.  

I’d be surprised if Green and Tilley are first choice but Scannell looks a cut above.  His ability to control the ball was immense.

Seeing last season how Ollie can develop a team I feel like we should be looking up rather than down but maybe mid table with a hope of play offs rather than right up there.  

Exciting to see so many young players- is Khouri only 17? He could end the season in the first team.

Two things...

1) Couldn’t agree more with IH re not being allowed to make 5 subs. Some lads were out on their feet and no where near ready for 90mins. Ridiculous how it’s one rule for the prem and one for FL.

2) Was it just me or was the ref blowing his whistle twice all the time. Particularly noticeable during the pens. Can someone please explain?

Quoted from GTFCH

Two things...

1) Couldn’t agree more with IH re not being allowed to make 5 subs. Some lads were out on their feet and no where near ready for 90mins. Ridiculous how it’s one rule for the prem and one for FL.

2) Was it just me or was the ref blowing his whistle twice all the time. Particularly noticeable during the pens. Can someone please explain?

It was probably just the stream with a slight delay on the commentary feed. You hear it on the match video and the commentary stream. Or maybe it's anew rule who knows.

In terms of fitness I thought Scannel was excellent for so little preparation. Hewitt worked hard and was calm under pressure. Rose settled into the Hess slot really well and has a good range of passing. Khouri took over and showed energy, calmness and vision.
Williams linked well with Preston but seems best when he recieves the ball in space and can feed the movement of others.. He isn't a scrapper. Preston was excellent.
Tilley has a good engine but overplayed at times. Edwards was so impressive. Shame all three subs were left a little late.
Our game management suffered due to poor fitness levels. Scannel could have been tried down the middle for 20 min with Edwards on the left allowing Gibson to go on the right. We learned nothing keeping Green on so long. Gibson hasn't the experience of receiving passes with back to goal.
Lastly, I admire Max's fighting spirit but again he risks injury with some tackles.  I'd rest him next game to have him fresh for the league start.
All in all, a useful and encouraging exercise but the pitch is an urgent issue!

Quoted from GTFCH

Two things...

1) Couldn’t agree more with IH re not being allowed to make 5 subs. Some lads were out on their feet and no where near ready for 90mins. Ridiculous how it’s one rule for the prem and one for FL.

A 2) Was it just me or was the ref blowing his whistle twice all the time. Particularly noticeable during the pens. Can someone please explain?

Simple... the bloke has waited bloody months to officiate again.

I noticed the double whistle but put it down to the echo in an empty BP

With the way we approached the penalties I'm sure IH didn't want to win this match.

Quoted from GTFCH

Two things...

1) Couldn’t agree more with IH re not being allowed to make 5 subs. Some lads were out on their feet and no where near ready for 90mins. Ridiculous how it’s one rule for the prem and one for FL.

2) Was it just me or was the ref blowing his whistle twice all the time. Particularly noticeable during the pens. Can someone please explain?

1.  You can't make excuses for lack of fitness.  It is after all a level playing field.  Morecambe obviously prepared better. We complain when we have too many games and we complain when we haven't had enough.  The players had nothing to do since March but stay fit.  Of course, It's not like playing a match but it's what they're paid to do.   A British soldier can't say that he isn't fit because we haven't had a war in ages.

2. Maybe it was echoing of the empty stands.

Quoted from Mayaman

1.  You can't make excuses for lack of fitness.  It is after all a level playing field.  Morecambe obviously prepared better. We complain when we have too many games and we complain when we haven't had enough.  The players had nothing to do since March but stay fit.  Of course, It's not like playing a match but it's what they're paid to do.   A British soldier can't say that he isn't fit because we haven't had a war in ages.

2. Maybe it was echoing of the empty stands.

I think that’s a fair point about fitness. We looked way behind Morecambe in that respect. I suspect we came back a week or so too late. Maybe to save an extra week of wages from the furlough money? And obviously our slow recruitment hasn’t helped either.

Quoted from davmariner

I think that’s a fair point about fitness. We looked way behind Morecambe in that respect. I suspect we came back a week or so too late. Maybe to save an extra week of wages from the furlough money? And obviously our slow recruitment hasn’t helped either.

Nail on the head Dav. Needs to be remembered that we missed hansen,hendrie, Mohsni,

OHman and clfton, all regular starters, with the first 2 being our 2 best players

It’s 2am and I can’t sleep so I thought I’d read the Morecambe forum’s match thread. Quite a few on there bemoaning their fitness at 80 minutes compared to ours so just goes to show.

Quoted from GTFCH

Two things...

1) Couldn’t agree more with IH re not being allowed to make 5 subs. Some lads were out on their feet and no where near ready for 90mins. Ridiculous how it’s one rule for the prem and one for FL.

It's not, they threw out the option to extend it last week.

Is anyone particularly arsed about going out? Yeah it's always good to win, but could definitely do without extra games once we get going.

Absolute clanger for their goal, better to get them out of our system in these first two games before Walsall though. Could do without a repeat of those opening day errors we saw against FGR a few seasons ago.

The goal was quality. Great ball from Pollock, Preston did superbly and then Green couldn't have hit that better really considering there were so many defenders near him.

Hopefully Mckeown never takes a pen ever again after that.

Quoted from Son of Cod

Is anyone particularly arsed about going out? Yeah it's always good to win, but could definitely do without extra games once we get going.

That was my thought straight after losing. At least it frees up the calendar for several midweeks in the not too distant future.

Now that a good wodge of teams are out of the Carabao Cup, I wonder if those who lost will still try to organise a few more sneaky friendlies amongst themselves just to build up fitness?

It does make you wonder if Ollie had the idea all along to use it as a 'friendly', and if they were to lose, it would free up three consecutive Tuesdays in September?????

Quoted from Son of Cod

Is anyone particularly arsed about going out? Yeah it's always good to win, but could definitely do without extra games once we get going.

Absolute clanger for their goal, better to get them out of our system in these first two games before Walsall though. Could do without a repeat of those opening day errors we saw against FGR a few seasons ago.

The goal was quality. Great ball from Pollock, Preston did superbly and then Green couldn't have hit that better really considering there were so many defenders near him.

Hopefully Mckeown never takes a pen ever again after that.

So you don’t fancy playing a big club like Chelsea again?

Quoted from 28195

So you don’t fancy playing a big club like Chelsea again?

At the moment.......no!

Quoted from 28195

So you don’t fancy playing a big club like Chelsea again?

I get ehat you mean, but if we played them whilst no fans or limited fans are allowed in, it wouldn't exactly be much of a money-spinner anyway. Progressing in the FA Cup where we could realistically stay in it till next year when crowds might be allowed in properly would be a better chance of a lucrative cup run.

And we didn't need the money?

Quoted from 28195

So you don’t fancy playing a big club like Chelsea again?

Of course I would but as mentioned in the other reply to this the monetary value of that is less this season plus the likelihood is that we wouldn't be able to take a significant following to any of these types of games in the early rounds of the League cup. Those extra games that we have to play to get that might mean we sacrifice a bit of league form. With the way we've gone about our transfer business so late and cautiously this pre-season, I'd like to think (maybe the eternal optimist in me) that we've factored in the most extreme circumstances, such as the league being cancelled again due to a second COVID wave, and are able to balance the books better than most in our division without needing the speculative prospect of an absolute hammering at Wolves at the expense of league points. I'd be more bothered about going out the FA Cup 1st Round as that might actually be able to give us a decent pay day when the 3rd Round comes around if we can stay in it.

Quoted from Son of Cod

Of course I would but as mentioned in the other reply to this the monetary value of that is less this season plus the likelihood is that we wouldn't be able to take a significant following to any of these types of games in the early rounds of the League cup. Those extra games that we have to play to get that might mean we sacrifice a bit of league form. With the way we've gone about our transfer business so late and cautiously this pre-season, I'd like to think (maybe the eternal optimist in me) that we've factored in the most extreme circumstances, such as the league being cancelled again due to a second COVID wave, and are able to balance the books better than most in our division without needing the speculative prospect of an absolute hammering at Wolves at the expense of league points. I'd be more bothered about going out the FA Cup 1st Round as that might actually be able to give us a decent pay day when the 3rd Round comes around if we can stay in it.

If it was live on TV that would have been a significant amount of money.

Quoted from LondonMariner43

I’d be surprised if Green and Tilley are first choice but Scannell looks a cut above.  His ability to control the ball was immense.

I was extremely impressed with Scannell.

I thought Green worked hard and took his goal well and Tilley has potential, but just needs to look up before crossing the ball, which usually ended up at Morecambe defender's feet.

Morecambe had a couple of big black guys who ran powerfully with the ball, turning defence quickly into attack; Pouten, Cockerill types of player we have tried to emulate over many past seasons, without success.

But it's early days yet and perhaps we have one.

UTM  

Shout out to Matt Green, who gets dogs abuse but that was a very good, calm finish to lift it above the defenders and GK like that. Plenty of obstacles in the way!

Looks like the Town faithful have taken to ripping him apart for spelling mistakes on twitter instead, after proving himself on the pitch.

Best supporters in the land? Yawn.