FIRST HALF
We all waited in anticipation for some example of how we are going to set up and play under the new manager or head coach as he likes to be called. In what was a nice fixture to get the ball rolling. With many big guns still chilling on the beach as they rest up after international duties the touring squad had a very young feel to it.
Without a recognised forward Arne decided to go without one for the first half of this encounter. Which was an odd decision and one he said won't happen in the future thankfully. So the half was full of midfield battles with no real attacking threat. As when we got in good positions there was no one to link up the play.
It felt really disjointed for both sides. With passes going wayward and mistakes leading to counter attacks and so on. At around the half way point as the players had a cooling break. Curtis Jones was subbed off with a knock and Trey Nyoni came on and took the game by the scruff of the neck and started to run the show.
Nyoni who had looked really impressive in training picked up a ball in midfield and slid a quick pass to Szoboszlai. He fed a ball to Salah down the wing and carried on with his run. Salah found our number 8 in the box with a nice pass and Szoboszlai smashed the ball into the bottom left hand corner. It was a nice slick move and something that became a feature in the second half
SECOND HALF
After a not so entertaining first half Arne Slot must have fired the lads up at half time cos they came out firing. In the opening 15 it was the same line up barring a couple of changes. Tyler Morton came on in midfield next to Nyoni and the tempo lifted. The players were more spaced out and the passes were much quicker.
The lack of a striker was still a problem but Harvey and Szoboszlai were busting a gut to get in the box when they could. With Harvey heading over from close range which looked like he'd been fouled before the changes were rung and the next generation came on around the 60th minute.
If we wanted an example of how Slot wants the team to play we may just have got it from the quite excellent youngsters. Harvey Blair went up top. Flanked by Kaide Gordon & Ben Doak and the balance was finally right and they started cutting through the Betis defence with ease.
After some nice skills from Doak Nyoni slid Blair in one on one who was brought down by the keeper in a very impressive move. Again no penalty was given (we are used to that) and the ball fell to Gordon who should have scored. Firing just wide from a tight angle.. Again the all round tempo was quick and we were giving up no space in defence and midfield. Which allowed us to win the ball back quickly and bomb forward at will
SUMMARY
With so many first teamers out and the heavy pre season training schedule well under way it is always hard to assess anything in terms of the bigger picture. Yet players have to play and you have to look at the positives.. On a personal scale Nyoni, Van Den Berg & Doak to name a few will have done themselves no harm at all with their performances.
From Jaros to Blair every Academy Grad was outstanding.. Young Luca Stephenson at right back made some very important tackles and interceptions. The conveyor belt is constantly churning out these rough diamonds and when people talk of lack of signings they may now understand why Slot wanted to take his time to assess the squad.
This allows us to spend big on one or two big signings a season which is always needed and allows the likes of Quansah & Bradley who have saved us millions to step up flawlessly.
On a game perspective.. It was nice to keep a clean sheet. There were some good tactical concepts in play which made us feel more solid and less susceptible to giving away cheap goals. While we looked quick into tackles and very slick at times with the passing. Players will be back slowly over the coming weeks.
On this showing I think the kids got Slots style more than the senior players. It is only preseason and they are all training hard. The big guns will take things to another level when they return but these kids will keep pushing the others to perform. They really are unreal..
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