Match Thread Blackburn Rovers v Everton Thursday, 26th July 19:45 KO

[Azza]

People really banging on again about how pre-season doesn't matter. lol lol

 

[diggerdestroyer]

This result shows how we need a new mentality. The soft marshmallow centers of jags and williams snides need to be shipped. I just have images burnt on my head of them on all fours after leaking in goals. They spent half their recent playing careers on their fours. As for pennington. He is utter rubbish and an example of how wrong our club is offering him a 3 year new deal.

 

[johnjoeefc]

I didn't watch the game but the scoreline as well as other pre season scorelines so far doesn't look good. I hope we don't come to regret getting rid of allardyce. I was one who wanted him to stay but of course I'm now fully behind Silva. But I do think Allardyce is probably the better of the two

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Alright, everyone calm the F down.

We completely dominated the second half, but it's obvious we aren't good enough at CB. Holgate is hurt, Jags can't cut it anymore, but otherwise, I'm not too concerned with the bad play of guys like Besic or Mirallas that aren't going to play an important role this year anyways.

Tosun didn't finish well tonight, but he'll be fine, it's preseason, he's rusty.

But to say we don't have a plan is just stupid or unobservant. If you can't see how Silva wants to use his CBs, and DMs to spring the outside backs from the back, I just don't know what to tell you. He's doing EXACTLY what he's done everyone else. To say we can't execute is quite another thing and true, but mostly because of the limitations of the jokers we had back there in the second half.

Keep in mind, he has NOT fully put in with any level of rigor his counter attacking style. That's his bread and butter and will require quite a bit of positional work and awareness.

But to look at our personnel a bit more closely:

OUTSIDE BACK: Coleman looked great. Baines needs replaced, but Jedi, JonJoe, the outside backs once we get Digne are really good.
STRIKER: Tosun got in all the right places but didn't finish, and we know he can finish. Niasse didn't get any service, who knows. It's not a strength, but it's fine.
DM/CMs: Gueye looked great, Morgan looks better, Besic was a mess, Davies inconsistent, but we are going to add here. One strong number 8 and we are fine.
ACM: Gylfi is fine. There are options for backup, Lookman, Davies, Dowell, but we are fine.
Wing/Inside Fwd: Ricarlison looks great, we know Walcott is good, Sandro even looks decent, Lookman has talent, we are fine.
CB: Ok, it's a disaster. Holgate is decent, we know Jags is washed up, we know Keane is a mess although is footskills were good today, Williams is awful, and Pennington is horrendous. But we know someone like Mina and maybe two are coming in.

Hang on, Sigurdsson actually played tonight???

 

[banno]

I know it's only pre-season but same old problems I see in that when we have the ball all the players in front of the ball don't move enough to shake off markers and when they have the ball we allow there players to have yards of space. We are too easy to play against and haven't a clue how to press properly and in unison. We also need to see more players in the box when attacking. Big job on for Silva and in desperate need of better players.

Richarlison, Walcott and Tosun should get some goals between them but at the moment still feel we need a bit better than Tosun. Priority is players that can release these players and feed them constantly. Defence is just a mess with half hearted players barring Seamus.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

£50m midfielders

 

[Pejic300]

DON'T PANIC! There are always options.

 

[Deleted member 50501]

I didn't watch the game but the scoreline as well as other pre season scorelines so far doesn't look good. I hope we don't come to regret getting rid of allardyce. I was one who wanted him to stay but of course I'm now fully behind Silva. But I do think Allardyce is probably the better of the two

I cannot believe we are at this point, as a club.

 

[brian labone]

I thought Richarlison was great tonight, if we can get the two Barcelona lads I think we will be a lot better and then add Pickford and if possible we could add Lozano for both midfield and attack I believe we will be ok.

 

[Connor]

That was dire.

 

[bitter-no-better]

Sort the defence and we will be fine. If we where not creating any chances I would be more worried. Next couple of pre season games will be close to the starting 11 for the Wolves game.

Patience my friends.

 

[TheBigIguana]

People say we need a striker. My list of positions of need is CB LB CM another CB Backup Keeper and then Striker. I still think Cenk is solid

 

[banno]

Some serious cringy panicking going on here;
-new manager
- player assessments being made
- new though physical tranining scheme
being implemented
-assessments on how players fit into the
system being made
-players trying to work it out in three weeks
-players working hard to adapt and work for careers
-results in teamplay looking crap
- manager assessing
-lots of in's and out's still expected
-players struggling with adapting to all and
everything
-loses to team dreaming for years to get
to play against PL opposition

- GOT;View attachment 48193

We know it's only pre-season but alarm bells rang loudly tonight. Even playing badly we should expect to beat a team like Blackburn. No disguising the fact that the midfield offer no support for the attack and little support for an already feeble defence. It is a worry.

 

[jerseytoffee]

Posted this in the Marco Silva thread - Watford's pre-season last year was poor and they started fine so I'm choosing to not find these results concerning.

But we still need two good centre backs though...

 

[havrey0123]