The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans
Mr Polite 3:16 Fri Jul 3

Other articles by Mr Polite...

With one of the most exciting seasons in years upon it is hoped this thread has a lot more positives than negatives in the coming weeks and months.

As always, this isn't meant to be an exhaustive list of all the good and bad points of the game, merely a starting point for discussion. You may agree with them or disagree, feel free to post your own either way.

As many teams have found out over the years, playing a team of such lower standard is rarely easy, where they lack quality they often make up for in organisation and the large ground and thrill of playing a big team will often bring out the best fighting spirit. I think we can be happy with the amount of positives that far outweigh any negatives from last night.


Positives:

The crowd - a sellout, a beautifully upbeat atmosphere around the ground and surrounding streets before the game. The weather helped of course, but it was such a good feeling actually looking forward to and getting excited by a football match again. I've vowed never mention his name again, but our previous obese monstrosity seemed like a distant memory. I doubt we'd have seen half as many there if he was still chewing the cud on the touchline.


Bilic being introduced to a great reception. Singing the managers name seemed surreal after having not heard it for years... Probably since Pardew. Also what a breath of fresh air hearing that in his pre match talk with the debutants he bigged up our history, calling on the youngsters to emulate the greats of the past.

The result is obviously a positive, we won, we are all but through to the next round. Good to see the team lineup show that we took the game seriously and it wasn't seen as a distraction.

Now although our defence was never really tested, I thought they all looked solid and comfortable. O'Brien playing the role of senior player really well. Not only did he look to make things happen going forward including fantastic ball in to Sakho, but good to see him talk Oxford a few times, not least a quiet word after the yellow card.

Burke and Page both didn't look out of place in the first team either. Of course we have to take into account the level of opposition, but they handled the occasion well.

Reece Oxford made history being the youngest player to play a competitive game for us and no doubt has a bright future. Have a think about a 16 year old you know and then imagine them trying to function in front of a 35k crowd. That experience will be invaluable and thought it was a great decision to play him in game like this to get it out of the way, where mistakes weren't going to matter too much. Personally I don't think he did great and made a number of mistakes that against better opposition would be punished - but the reason I've put that in the positive section is because it didn't matter and I think in the long run it might help to keep him grounded, to make him realise that he can't take his undoubted quality for granted. He definitely grew into the game too and improved as it went on with some lovely touches... and unlucky not to have scored.

Our 4 forward senior players of Sakho, Amaliftano, Jarvis and Zarate I think did well under weird circumstances. A short break and straight into a competitive game against a team sticking men behind the ball. But they kept plugging away and got the rewards in the end. I hope they see a new manager as a new start as all of them I believe have something to add this season and although you can pick holes in any of their performances I think you have to make allowances for it basically being the first pre season match with very little training time.

Cullen the second half sub has been a player I've enjoyed watching a few times and think has real quality on the ball and could turn into a right little midfield dynamo. A West Ham fan too.

The football we played was mostly to feet, some good passages of skillfull play and a couple of good goals, the second especially. Even the ball boy had a brilliant touch on him.



Negatives:

We only scored 3. Hard to complain when you've done a good professional job, but we could have easily had double that with the good chances we had - maybe even double figures.

Injury to Zarate. With the possibility of playing 50+ games this season it is imperative we don't pick up too many injuries. It was only a knock for Zarate and hopefully he'll be fit for next week.

That's pretty much it. of course there were individual mistakes and some negatives you could pick in each individual player, Zarate not releasing ball quick enough, Jarvis end product not always good enough, Randolf not looking too conifdent coming for balls etc, but bearing in mind all of the above about the occasion and the first game etc I think on the whole it was a feel good night.


Long may it continue.

Thanks for reading

(¯`v´¯)
.`·.Mr Polite ♥
`•.¸.´¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)

Scraper 12:12 Sat Jul 4
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Text

CARTERS 11:35 Sat Jul 4
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Thank you Polite,
For us who live overseas it was a welcome report.
Don't worry about the negative Pricks on here keep the reports coming.
Better still get Vinny to report as well.
thank you

HairyHammer 12:51 Sat Jul 4
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Not one signal negative as far as I am concerned.

JustAFatKevinDavies 11:05 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Literally the most pointless boring thread I think I've ever tried and failed to read

WHUDeano 10:42 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Great read, cheers.

My old man has been a regular for almost 50 years now, he loved it last night, spoke to home earlier "was just nice to see it played in the floor again" - we don't ask for much really do we. I loved it too. Hopefully this is the start of something we can all enjoy again.

Texas Iron 10:37 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Agreed ...MrP...

tnb 8:52 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

I agree IlovePaolo... Burke looks more than able to take that 4th slot (I have a suspicion it's Collins, rather than Tomkins or Burke, who is under threat with talk of Bilic wanting a new centre half). I think a lot of people are forgetting quite how young he is and what he has come in and done already in light of that. He's almost in danger of being taken for granted a little - Page (albeit well deserving of the rave reviews from last night) is now being seen as the shiny new defensive youngster to get excited about breaking through soon (at least for those sensible enough to realise Oxford isn't there yet) but let's not forget that Page, who had one good game against a mediocre-at-best opposition and hasn't been anywhere near the first team before, is A YEAR OLDER than Burke. At 18, Burke already has 5 Premier League games under his belt, and you saw the benefit of that last night. He's assured and confident, and I can see him doing very well if he carries on progressing at this rate.

ILOVEPAOLODICANIO 6:48 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

I like both Reece's OXFORD is a ways away but its nice to give him some games against shit competition particularly since he looks an immense prospect. BURKE appears to be ready to be cover and play occasionally this year even against decent competition in the Cups and Europe.


The opposition is shit but its wonderful having that prick allardyce gone.

ludo21 6:44 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Jasnik 4:29 Fri Jul 3

On the basis that we appear to be seriously looking for a quality CB I would say that Tomkins place is in danger.

bell 5:47 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Good job there isn't a match thread this could have gone on Polite..

peroni 5:40 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Yeah, I had Page down as the pick of our players on the night.

Stick to the positives, and you could turn your reputation round Fordy.

Rodfarts 5:30 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Still think Page was the best player on the night.....but I like Cullen.....looks decent

Rodfarts 5:30 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

The football although on the floor.......was pretty shit.

Jasnik 4:29 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Only one.

Sakho and Tomkin could start.

ludo21 4:22 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Considering that in all likelihood only one of the starting 11 will start against Arsenal I think it was a great evening... great to see the youngsters play in front of a full house and will make all the difference to their development.

Looking forward to a week on Thursday!

Monk~koknee 4:22 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

The new blood was Reeces Positive

goldstar 4:21 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Thanks for the summary Mr. P. A good read. There's nothing like start of season optimism.

Alwaysaniron 4:19 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Leonard Hatred 3:20 Fri Jul 3

In short Len, we were fucking awesome and will go on to conquer Europe for years to come

Lily Hammer 3:29 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

All good. Mr P.

The only negative was Bilic utterly disrespecting the Lusitans manager by not sitting on the bench. Sam would never have done that. Spoilt the whole event.

BRANDED 3:28 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

Positive
Lots of teenagers in the crowd as well as your fat oldies. Bodes well.

Nasty_Nick 3:28 Fri Jul 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - Lusitans

A good, well thought out opening post Mr Polite.

To be honest KIA I would have hoped you would have done something similar with your player ratings thread.

Maybe you should take some pointers on board?

Just a thought.

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