Pre Season: Real Betis

[alan ball]

Playing two first team games in less than twenty four hours was nothing more than a fitness and training exercise.
Next week we will learn more about what the manager has in mind, but certainly it is clear to see why he is chasing players of he calibre of Witsel, Carvalho and Gueye already.

Two teams, two games in two days. I work a 40 hour regular night shift and give 100%

 

[chowbarry]

The two games once again expose we are still very poor in defending set pieces and crossings

 

[Zatara]

Martinez had Moyes' base to build on.

Koeman has got Martinez' to work with.

Poor bugger....

Stones / Besic / Deulofeu / Barkley / Lukaku

+ a bunch of class kids...


FAR better than what Moyes left

 

[Eggs]

On this day in 1969,we lost 4-3 to Rochdale in a pre season friendly,just saying likelol

....I genuinely have a theory that a bad pre-season often precedes a good season but the reality at this stage is the squad is no better than least season. We were rudderless under RM and the hope is RK can get more out of what we have but unless we get some top quality players in we have to expect a struggle. Despite having bundles of money we still have only one recognised striker and his future is in doubt.

Two weeks to sort out the mess.

 

[Groucho]

Stones / Besic / Deulofeu / Barkley / Lukaku

+ a bunch of class kids...


FAR better than what Moyes left

I more meant the mentality as opposed to playing staff.

 

[Zatara]

I more meant the mentality as opposed to playing staff.

It could be argued that Unsworth boosted that up enormously prior to Koeman joining though? Then the positivity of a new manager and promises of new signings...

I think they are all likely wondering where the mew signings are whilst reading about stones and lukaku leaving....

 

[Groucho]

It could be argued that Unsworth boosted that up enormously prior to Koeman joining though? Then the positivity of a new manager and promises of new signings...

I think they are all likely wondering where the mew signings are whilst reading about stones and lukaku leaving....

Yes maybe Unsworth is the forgotten man here.

I wonder though, do players actually read the papers and take it with a huge mound of salt? They must know more than anyone what the media can construe out of nothing.

 

[Zatara]

Yes maybe Unsworth is the forgotten man here.

I wonder though, do players actually read the papers and take it with a huge mound of salt? They must know more than anyone what the media can construe out of nothing.

Lukaku has been quoted to oblivion and Pep hs come out and said he is in for Stones so 100% they will have read or been told this by someone.

If i was a player full of optimism about new signings and lots of money in the pot id be looking around wondering what was going on.

 

[Groucho]

The two games once again expose we are still very poor in defending set pieces and crossings

Those things will take time to iron out.

Same way that the team defended well for the 2013/14 season, then lost it - Koeman will instill all this again.

 

[Groucho]

Lukaku has been quoted to oblivion and Pep hs come out and said he is in for Stones so 100% they will have read or been told this by someone.

If i was a player full of optimism about new signings and lots of money in the pot id be looking around wondering what was going on.

Yeah fair point fella.

 

[Kev50]

A draw against a la liga side on a neutral venue from a second string seleven ain't bad at all. A world away from the dross we've seen under the Spanish magician. And I reckon Deu could scare the crap out of Spurs first day

 

[Cork Evertonian]

It's only pre season.No need to press the alarm bells but what we have seen during the pre season suggests that the bad habits picked up under the Martinez regime will take time to weed out of the system.I don't think it's a case of Martinez gone and now were gonna smash everyone out of sight.There will be setbacks along the way and im sure there will be mistakes from time to time.That's okay so long as Koeman learns from the setbacks and mistakes unlike his predecessor.Of course needless to say it's August now.We need to get cracking on some signings asap.

 

[Muggins]

What lukaku hit a player ?

I haven't seen the footage, so can only say what I saw from the stand when it happened, but he basically tried to run past his man who blatantly pulled him and wouldn't get out of the way so he sort of power pushed him and the lad went down like a sack of spuds holding his face. Both the lad and Lukaku got yellowed.

Someone else on here might have had a better view.

 

[Muggins]

I think this is the week we need to get players in, and give them time to learn and gel with the rest. if you leave it late and start the season poorly it's almost impossible to catch the rest up

I agree. Of course there's a lot of valid points from people regarding pre season not being the be all and end all, but as you say, if you're going to make late signings and then put a team out that haven't played with each other properly in preseason and given a chance to gel, then we'll be pretty fortunate if we go out all guns blazing first game of the season looking the business. I'd say it would be near on a miracle.