Match Thread City V Sunderland 19/7/2022@7.00pm(will it go ahead?)

Crichlow looks behind the next line, which is the easy route for defenders - he was passing from the back line to the strikers along the floor, and I approve greatly of that!

 

Tasty!

 

He’s my first choice left back at the moment. If he starts the season at left back I’m happy, if we can improve then I’ll be even happier.
Ridehalgh has a challenge ahead of him

 

That lad needs to keep from sharp objects !!!

 

Just realised they had Jack Diamond playing - can't say I even noticed him!

 

Looks to have bulked up a bit over the summer.
Strong in defence. Best he has looked in a city shirt for me.

he was their centre forward and never got a sniff.

 

I see they signed the lad Jack Clarke from Leeds and he played as well.

Not good enough, lads

 

It was the heat m'lud.

 

A few observations from tonight -
Crichlow is a Rolls Royce
Platt didn't lose a header all night
Foulds has improved.
The new right back is a step up on Hendrie
Smallwood is different class
Osadebe is quality
Young lad Wadsworth looks a very promising left back
Oliver didn't lose a header
Walker's pressing was superb

All in all, we looked excellent.
I had to check the Sunderland line up after the game. I thought they must have put a load of kids in.
They didn't. It was a team full of League 1/Championship players.

 

Really promising game that, know its a friendly but team oozed quality. Osadebe played great! him and critchlow probably had the best games out of those on the pitch. was shocked to find out wadsworth (the lad witth the ponytail) is only seventeen

was impressed with platt and oliver too, I would guess that team with Oliver in for Cook is our starting 11.

really looking forward to this season now!!

 

4 started the play-off final and 1 came off the bench.
They played the new signing from West Ham too.
Encouraging performance non the less.

 

I said to the missus that the young kids that came on just slotted in without issue.

Very impressive.

 

Did his job!

 

He was their best forrad and he wasn’t all that great.

 

It was a lot stronger than that somebody was trying to play down the result to you

 

It's a bit like Andy Cook at the minute.

Done well and looked sharp in the friendlies, scored a couple of goals yet people want him out at the first opportunity?

If we get a decent offer then fine but at the moment there's absolutely nothing to say Cook doesn't start the season and play an important part in that group of 3 or 4 strikers.

 

He likes to attack. My concern with him is defensively. When they pushed on him he isn't comfortable on the ball and ends up going backwards farily quickly and trying to get rid of the ball quickly. Anyway, I said he's competent. We'll just have to see how he develops through the season. He looks like he has the capacity to improve.

They had no strikers, Rod! They were toothless up front! Every time they had the ball their attacks broke down in the final third. You can only play the team in front of you but tougher attacking groups will come and make it more challenging. Let's not get carried away just because they play in a higher division.

 

Hopefully Dion will soon be back with us to strengthen our options out wide, or even Diamond perhaps?