This was a pre season game against Sottish opposition ( not sure what the
equiavalent standard is) so everything has to be read with that in mind
The result was mainly immaterial but we won 2 0 - so goals for Morison and
Poleon and a clean sheet - something that would be very satisfying in a 'real
game' watched by a crowd of just over 10k
I was impressed for the most part, we could have scored more and we restricted
them to a couple of shots that were going wide. We passed the ball well and
kept possession. It was a different method of playing from that seen at ER in
recent years, as we sat back when they had the ball and waited for them to make
a mistake or took it off them whenever they threatened.
Our starting line up, based on squad numbers was not far off the likely
starting eleven next week (subject to new arrivals) with the injured White,
Hunt and Smith the only ones numbered 1 to 11 who did not start. I have
listened via LUTV to all the pre-season games but this was my first 'visual' of
the teams, goals ' highlights excepted.
We could not have got off to a better start as a 4 or 5 man passing move ended
with a pinpoint cross into the box to the unmarked Morison who tapped it into
an empty net - a well worked goal and Morison got himself into the perfect
position, but he will not score an easier one all season.
We seemed to have a plan and a style and we executed it pretty well - we passed
the ball and kept it away from them. Pearce had a couple of headers that went
close, Tonge had a decent long range shot and Austin an awful one. Bianchi also
had a decent attempt
The game seemed to be being played at three quarter pace but we looked pretty
good. Silvestri in net only had two things to do, he got down well and turned a
shot round (but it was a dead ball since it was going wide) and he came out and
collected a cross - that was his involvement for the day as we restricted them
to their own half.
Bianchi looks a player, he always had time and space on the ball - the mark of
a good player - and picked out a Leeds player with the vast majority of his
passes, very early days but I like him
Doukara - listening on the radio I did not expect much from him but on todays
showing he will be a real handful, big, strong, quite quick and showed a couple
of great bits of skill - one especially when he had his back to the defenders
but chipped it over his own head and turned and beat 2 of them. An early goal
to settle his nerves / build his confidence and he could be a real hero of the
terraces - early doors fans were calling him Kandol and Enoch but by the end we
were hoping he is Jimmy / Beckford.
Berardi came on at half time and was mixed bag - made a couple of errors but
won the ball back both times
Morison worked hard ('put a shift in' lol) and gave cover for the defence as
well as creating stuff up front
For the last 20mins or so we had a very young team out with Taylor, Cook,
Poleon and Dawson all joining the fray. Dawson is tiny but he got stuck in and
does have skill etc, Cook tried too hard and like Berardi messed up a couple of
times but then won the ball back.
Poleon looked lively - he can still make it- and got his reward in the last few
minutes when Smith and the defender collided and the ball come to Poleon who
took it round the keeper and walked it into the net.
So overall, I left the game a lot happier and more confident than when I walked
into the ground- pre season, what looked like poor opposition but we showed
flashes of excellent football and seem to have a plan- impressed with Doukara ,
although he may be hit and miss over the course of the season, and very
impressed with Bianchi - a real footballer on todays showing
Much too early to get excited BUT with Byram looking sharp we could surprise a
few this season and may give the fans something to cheer about
Forget hoofball and welcome to the Hock (ok this is tongue in cheek)
Dave
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John 'Grampa' Sykes
Rest In Peace old lad
28th Oct 1938 - 12 Nov 2013
MARCHING ON TOGETHER
