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Mattys Greyhound 5:22 Sun Aug 12
Our New Players on First Showing

Not many positives I know after an easy 4-0 drubbing but my thoughts on the new guys.

Fabianski - even though he shipped 4 I actually thought he looked a decent keeper today.

Balbuena / Ogbonna - I may have spelt his name wrong but I thought Balbuena was ok today and had a decent understanding with Ogbonna - it was more just midfielders running beyond our midfield and at the back line constantly, it will be easy to dig out these 2 but I didn't think they did too bad. Is a threat in the air in opposition penalty box.

Wiltshire - tidy but completely inneffective, Im not sure what additional qualities he brings to the team, is similar in many ways to Noble.

Felipe Anderson - you can see he has quality but doesnt look as pacy in the Prem when up against pacy teams like Liverpool and needs to be stronger as noticed even in pre-season he can easily be bullied off the ball.

Yarmolenko - again tidy and skillful, not the quickest but will offer invention into our play, not on long and by then game had been lost

Fredericks - had a difiicult afternoon trying to defend against a dominant Liverpool side and had very little opportunity to get forward which is where he is strongest.

We all knew in our hearts this was going to be a very tough game, it was my only frustration is with all the investment I thought we would make more of a game of it but was very much like previous seasons. We have to find a solution to the midfield as we were overrun today as a lot of teams will be at Anfield but we looked even more exposed in that area than normal. We move on and hope for better time ahead. KEEP THE FAITH.

El Scorchio 5:27 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

Hard game to judge them in to be perfectly blunt. It would be fairer to give them a couple of games or at least Bournemouth as well. Always going to be a massive struggle today.

Very hard for me to draw any conclusions from today’s showing.

One thing I hated was the commentators i was watching (NBC) tried to paint Anderson as a diver for those two legit fouls he suffered in the first half.

Takashi Miike 5:28 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

i liked the goalkeeper


the rest need more time

Bernie 5:30 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

Fredericks was utterly abysmal. To go to Anfield with just 4 defenders, 2 of which looked like they can't defend was suicide.

We would've faired a lot better with Zabaleta and Cresswell

Sven Roeder 5:32 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

My impression is that most teams with 5 or so new players have struggled.
Can play a few friendlies but it’s real games playing together that makes a team.
It will take time to work out what works and who can play together.
Bournemouth will give a much better guide

Sven Roeder 5:34 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

Fredericks & Arthur are wing backs
Not sure MP is a back 3 man but he may have to become one.

Vexed 5:36 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

Pah.

Spandex Sidney 5:37 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

I agree with that Matty.

Thought Fabianski was good and will win us points this season and I given his Swansea experience I don't think he will let this get him down.

Noble is clearly back up to Wilshere now. Or the other way around, whatever you fancy.

Still not sure a four at the back works for us if we are playing Noble/Rice/Wilshere combo there. Like to see how Sanchez does as a ball winner, can't have made us worse today really.

Spandex Sidney 5:38 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

*Noble/Rice/Wilshere combo in midfield

rochesterjohn 5:50 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

If we continue with 4 at the back it will be a relegation threatened season and you can take that to the bank! We don’t have defensively strong enough fullbacks to play with a 4, Pellegrini needs to wisen up to that pretty sharpish!
Anderson gonna be a player
Yarmolenko positive
Wilshere not his best game but quality
Fredericks good going one way not the other
Balbuena solid
Fabianski upgrade

Need to change the system though and quick!

ironsofcanada 5:58 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

As said, awful game to make judgements on.

And it is awfully silly to make judgements after one game.

Give it some time and a range of opponents.

We get done like that next time we are on Merseyside (Everton next month) and I can give some honest assessments.

arsene york-hunt 11:20 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

I stopped reading the OP at the end of the first sentence with the word "Guys"

Hammer and Pickle 11:25 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

Least impressed by Pellegrini.

Sitting around all game in a whistle while the team takes a thumping is not the way forward.

normannomates 11:46 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

Balbuena did well i thought..not outstanding..but did well..i thought he was really going cop it day on debut in England against that lot

Fabianski was excellent i thought

Wilshire..never stood a chance in having an influence..but he did well i thought..eye opener for him after Arsenal for sure..

ditto for Anderson

Fredericks was hung to dry..but wasnt awful.

Yarmelenko showed some class when he came on

thought Snodgrass was excellent under the circumstances..

Athletico Easthamico 11:49 Sun Aug 12
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

I'd have James Collins back for a season.

Not digging out our CBs but the team looked gutless, shell-shocked and leaderless.

I.want.that.one 12:02 Mon Aug 13
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

Balbuena was so naive, stepping into challenges, trying to step in front of players to nick the ball. First game but he was not good.

Anderson needs to toughen up quickly.

Wilshire reminded me of when Song played for us, the passing is above the players understanding so far.

Fredericks just needs to adapt, he has pace and skill.

Fabianski is no better than Adrain.


We will get much better. We just got butt fucked by one of the best teams in the league.

Rice and Noble is not the midfield that we need

wanstead_hammer 12:06 Mon Aug 13
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

Couldn't have picked an harder game to judge em on.
As said, it'll take a while and a wide range of opposition before we come up trumps.
Pelligrini's clued up enough to straighten em out.
Reckon we'll have a good season.

gph 12:10 Mon Aug 13
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

Too early to judge.

If we had won 4-0, I hope I'd say the same thing.

Although it would probably be next weekend before I calmed down enough to do so.

irons1979 12:42 Mon Aug 13
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

With the exception of Fabianski and Fredericks, this was the same starting line up that looked very good against Villa a few weeks ago. The problem being that Liverpool pose a lot more threat.

The one thing I did notice was that we were trying to hold a high line and play offside and that’s difficult when 2 of the back 4 are making debuts and not something easily practiced in friendlies. The 3rd goal clearly shouldn’t have stood, but if we’re going to play for offsides this season then they need to work that out pretty quickly!

normannomates 1:39 Mon Aug 13
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

wanstead

exactly mate
spot on

Cheezey Bell-End 2:49 Mon Aug 13
Re: Our New Players on First Showing

Wiltshere is the new Collinson.

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