12 Aug 2017 21:39:16
3 points today was the important part of the job. We and other teams will play better as the season kicks on.

Koeman got it dreadfully wrong in the first half. I have never seen us play well in a 3 at the back. Also Williams AND Jags in the 3 is far too slow. It usually works better when Holgate takes up the right 3rd.

He other obsession is playing Calvert on the right. I have no idea why. You can say he put the ball in for the goal but he was pretty much a disaster there today and in preseason. However, move him to the centre and he's a different animal. He could and should have had a hatrick today. He's a kid still and I think in a couple of years he could be a top striker.

Wayne was great today. I didn't want him and he's still got a lot to do to justify the move but I'm praying he proves me wrong and today it was great.

Sandro needs discipline and he needs to be more composed especially with his passing. I think he's got bags of potential but Koeman needs to get him in a role and drill him on it morning noon and night. He will score goals and he will cause many problems for teams. His pace is stunning but it's like he's had a box of proplus before the game.

Martina started the second half slow and lead footed but eventually got going and delivered some great balls into the box. He also listened to Keane instructions and did relatively well the Stoke sub whos name i can't remember but looked pretty nifty on his toes.

Keane is good in a back four but was left exposed in the three in the 1st half. I really like him and he is constantly talking to his keeper, other defenders and men in front of him. He looks like another captain in the squad already.

Gana was MOM for most. I probably just give it to Rooney but he was very tidy. He contributed to a poor 1st half though and he's got a habit of looking backwards with the ball instead of forwards. I'm still not convinced we need both him and Snids in the middle especially against teams like this at home. Snids looks a couple of weeks away in mental sharpness to me. Still was good in the second half.

Right with all this said I'm saving one player for last.

Pickford.

Wow. Everytime that ball came in the box he caught it. If he couldn't catch he punched it. If there was an opposition head getting to the ball he punched through his head. If an Everton head was getting to the ball he punched through his head as well. He didn't hesitate, panicky and didn't take risks.

Then that moment in a game. It's all about to go horribly wrong. Doom is emerging. Self destruction. 'Not on my watch' you could almost hear him say. The save was brilliant. Teams now know that penalty box they need to get into has a new Lord and master and he owns it.

Utterly woeful 1st half but a better second. A solid base to work from but much more needed up front to compete.

However, loads of promise and a glint that this season could finally bring some kind of success.

1.) 13 Aug 2017
12 Aug 2017 23:29:02
The signing of the summer for me Pickford, his distribution, confidence and commanding of his 6 yard box is what we haven't seen since Nigel Martyn.
The shape in the 1st half was poor and square pegs in round holes with Calvert Lewin on the right was not good and the backwards sideways passing was Martinezesque.
Schneiderlein to me looked a little off the pace today also, 1st game done, 3 points, clean sheet so not all bad.

2.) 13 Aug 2017
13 Aug 2017 07:58:26
Think Schneiderlin has been off the pace in pre season games as well as yesterday.

3.) 13 Aug 2017
13 Aug 2017 20:33:50
People are going on about our defense and the changes needed. Played 3 competitive games so far and yet to concede. Give the team a chance until / IF they mess up. Still wouldn't get on their backs as they need our support all season.

4.) 13 Aug 2017
13 Aug 2017 21:08:11
I'm not having a go at the defenders. As I said they played well. However, the 3 at the back was a shambles and we look much better with four. Even Koeman admitted he got it wrong. You'd be absolutely stupid to not realise it wasn't working in the first half.

It's okay to call players/ team on something if it's not working and the post was not negative. I highlighted the good and bad.