Most liked posts in thread: Guiseley.. friendly

People read far far too much into pre season games.

Just glad no injuries.

 

Scannell cross. Donaldson header. Hopefully the first of many such goals this season.

 

I must say I'm prepared to change my mind about some of the so-called toxic players we still have with us. Thinking about it logically I don't know anything at all about AOC or Riley or Akpan or anyone else, and neither, I think, does anyone else. I set no store by the captain's armband episode, which was a piece of nonsense to me, and I don't think I'm being fair to them if I base my opinion on rumour and conjecture. Based on what I actually saw there were times last year when AOC seemed to be giving his all for the team and he looked pretty proficient yesterday. Riley, too, looked like he was really up for it and, based on yesterday, I'd rather have him at right back than Henley. I know there's no smoke without fire but perhaps we should all acknowledge that so much went on last year that we don't know about that it's best that we all draw a line under it, stop judging players on anything other than their performances on the field and trust the judgement of our manager who knows far more about them than we ever will.

 

I know everybody is entitled to their opinion but I think you have preconceived opinion on Anderson. You will never see anything good In Him

 

Wonder which player will win the award for massively inflated expectations based on a reasonable 45 minutes against Guiseley, the Tim Dieng cup

 

First half

O'Donnell Solid enough
Henley Too small and lightweight for a full back. Got forward well.
AOC Very solid
Riley Very good. Always looking to be positive. Created and missed our best chance apart from the goal.
Booty Ok
Colville Very good. Lively and looking to open the defence.
Scannell Ok but didn't create much
Anderson Looked very fit. Lots of bits and pieces.
Donaldson Good when he got going.
Doyle Just as ineffective as last season

2nd half
Hornby OK
Devine Looked composed on the ball.
Mellor Solid enough
RE Ditto
Staunton Good on the ball but lucky to be only booked for an horrendously bad tackle
Gibson Very active, always looking for openings, overambitious
Akpan Wandered throgh the game as ever
Patrick Lots of running but ineffective
Vaughan Played on his own up front with effort but little outcome.
Two trialists Nothing to write home about but one scored.

All in all a pleasant run out in the sun.

 

I actually thought Gibson looked quite promising today. He played centrally (apparently his best position) and had lots of nice touches and his dribbling was excellent. His final product however was poor but he seemed really up for the fight of getting into the team and worked really hard and didn't shirk his defensive duties.

 

No doubt those b@st@rds at the BBC will have us on at the end for 30 seconds, their hatred for us goes back years.

 

Richards Everton was very aggressive in the tackle and dominated in the air which looks promising.

Hornby had nothing to do.

French impressed me tbh, very composed and calm on the ball and won his fair share of headers.

 

Not sure why you say Anderson had a stinker. He was mobile, won a few tackles, made a few passes and did nothing obviously wrong. Pretty much standard for a first pre-season run out.
Patrick looked clueless. Supposedly has pace to burn but never once beat his man and has the close control of a five year old.
Akpan sauntered around in his usual complacent manner, not getting stuck in and doing nothing creative apart from one decent diagonal crossfield ball.
I thought both the stocky trialists in central midfield looked quite good. Both could win a tackle and pick a pass, but obviously difficult to judge from half a game each.

 

Posts that contain wording such as “stinker” and “awful”, IMO, class as outrageous comments for the opening 45 mins of pre-season friendly.

 

I havent seen Guiseley since last seasons friendly but on the evidence they are in for another difficult campaign. Unrecognisble from the Bower led days of ascendancy ? This Bignot assembled group look physical with limited footballing prowess ?

For our part pleasing to get some game time and see what we are about ? In contrast to last seasons total shambles pre-season this at least looks organised.

We seem to have a large squad ? I was reasonably impressed with Regan Booty the ex-Hudds trialist. He looked a bit out of shape but he certainly had a lot of the ball first half. Left footed he has a good passing range and most of the game he was busy and rarely failed with a pass. Whether hes the answer to our lack of a midfield leader ??. The lad in the second half Fawns scored but was no where near the quality. He looked well short on fitness ? But not suprising he was at Altrincham last season.

The Don got off the mark in the first half with a goal set up by Scannell. Like to think there will be more than a few of those this season !
Doyle must have felt a bit of weight off his shoulders with Clayton alongside. However he didnt seem to take much advantage from it ?. Vaughan and Patrick replaced the pair second half. Patrick was mostly out on the left at times falling over his own feet ? Whilst Vaughan was up front on his own always looking to get through on goal. Expect Vaughny to more than worry a few defences
Bowyer will need to decide ? Is Doyle the regular pick with Vaughny and the Don switching to keep them fit ? Or does he go with our two big guns and Doyle the filler in ?
Not a bad choice in League 2.

Defensively AO'C and French dealt with the Guiseley forwards robustly. AO'C particularly while French looked steady and decent on the ball. It was A O'C winning the airel duals. Second half Mellor and Richards-Liverpool dominated as Guseley bizarrely played 5ft 6 Scotty Smith upfront against them ?

So all in all a fair enough run out and a darn sight more pleasing show than this time last season. Footnote: the new fitness guy actually looks like he is a fitness coach and will put the players through their paces. Allied to Bowyers school teacher like guidance on and off the park. At least we look we might well pass the test rather than last season when we were failing from day one !

 

But it works the other way too.

Equally, I don’t want players being wrote off as garbage, because they didn’t stand out against a non-league side, in the 45mins they got...!

 

Isn't this though a reflection of social media and the pack mentality? Perceived injustice on the part of a player and people cannot leave it be because they haven't got anything better to do.

I think about players in the past who haven't necessarily been the best or met player expectations. Perhaps a Jason Gavin or a Nicky Mohan. They might not have a great game on a Saturday, but without social media they can just get on with being a footballer during the week and play on a Saturday.

Now we get various rumours etc throughout the week and players viliified. Not having a go at you, just showing my age and distaste for an aspect of life I don't enjoy.

AOC is Bradford City player. Last season was an absolute mess for myriad reasons. I genuinely believe, if he is here at the start of the season, we should back him as he will hopefully be playing football in a much more conducive environment.

 

I think that was another frustration of last season. Killa played in the pre-season games but then bombed out of the club. I know Collins claimed responsibility but I still can’t believe ER had nothing to do with it

 

C***s will have been waiting and pissing themselves for todays match. oop:oop:oop:

 

Lets face it we normally lose to them, Look back on last seasons pre season start and see the difference, It will come together be positive

 

Richards Everton was very very vocal. Pushing Devine really well and tough at the back.