RogerTheAlien wrote:

Kucherenko

Lovu
Bert
Keresztes

Sevelj
Camara
Sibbald
Ferry

Dolcek
Sapsford
Trappa

 
Strain not listed even on the bench but that 11 looks good. I think Camara and Sibbald will be a good midfield pairing.

Tek wrote:

                      Kucherenko
                Iovo Esselink Keresztes
     Sevelj  Camara  Sibbald  Ferry
        Dolcek   Sapsford  Trapanovski

Subs - Richards, Cleall-Harding, Welsh, Beattie
O'Donnell, Pappoe, Strirton, Watters, Constable
Thomson, Adams

 
I wonder if the west coast media will do a piece on how many Academy graduates we have in our matchday squad?

Nah don't think so 🤔🖕

RogerTheAlien wrote:

Trappa’s hamstring gone? Another fucking injury.

It can't be a coincidence so many are getting hamstring injuries.

Either they're not fit enough or they're getting over ran.


 

There's no doubt this side will get better but currently we are deficient in several areas.

Monny wrote:

Camara looks... not very good. I hope we're still in with a hope of getting Luca back.

And while we've not seen much of Watters, what we have seen suggests that the majority of Barnsley fans were right. 

 
Give Camara time,he's looked pretty good in some of the friendlies and was a fans favourite at Crawley so he must have something about him.

Tek wrote:

Happy that we won and have won our first tie in 28 years. It's good to rectify that stat at long last.

BUT

That was again very underwhelming, very flat and let's be honest, a tough watch.

The Goalie and back three all fine.

But, from middle to front we have nothing about us really. Really toothless and my worry is that we're not really creating much at all, never mind not scoring much.

Dolcek has massively flattered to deceive so far.
Sapsford works hard and in flashes looks ok, but doesn't look like a guy who will score many.
Watters has showed nothing, so far. 
Trapa frustrating, as per and probably out for a few weeks now.

Owen Stirton for the second week running showed more in his short cameo than anyone else in an attacking sense. Gets in good goalscoring positions and certainly puts himself about. I'd start him on Sunday, he deserves it.

None of the midfield for me played particularly well. Sloppy in possession once again and no-one really looking strong on the ball or that they can get the team forward through the middle.

Biggest disappointment for me is Will Ferry. Don't like singling out players, but he honestly looks a shadow of the player he was this time last year. Gave the ball away so much and just not getting down the left flank like he did. Doesn't look fit imo.

Hard game week coming up now. We need to get a player or two in asap.

 
A good summing up.
Compared to last year our shape is a real concern. Getting caught out with balls over the top when back 3 is pressing forward is a worry.
The number of shots opposition teams are getting in from 25 yards is another concern because better teams will hit the target. Last season we closed that space down very quickly.
Cohesion in midfield isn't there although that can come with a regular partnership.
Lacking creativity, no threat from the wings and toothless up front.

Apart from that we're fine 😁

Agree about Will Ferry too can't put my finger on that, maybe fitness like you say, but unless he's carrying an injury he should be fit.

Sorry to sound like a broken record but that 343 is shite and if he perseveres with just 2 midfielders against Premier opponents we are in for a very bumpy ride. Pair Stirton with Zapsford in a 352, get 3 in the midfield for control and get our width from the wing backs.
But he's not going to do that is he because he's signed wide players for that crap idea he's got that we're actually capable of being dangerous in a 343

Again it seems strange to be so critical on the back of progress in the competition but self assessment leads to understanding and improvement.  So I was told.

Last edited by redford_must_score (01/8/2025 12:40 am)

I was at the strassen match so in some ways it’s harder to make definite judgments without replays etc

I am still worried about the keeper on the crosses. Missed one cross and punching the rest. The punch often leads to another opposition attack

The back three brilliant and the best bit of business over the summer - although Bert sometimes left some headers which led to a bit of anxiety. Overall they all look great at the back and Iovu got his important goal

Sibbald was really good. I also think Camara and Pappoe will be good over the season

The ref was a nightmare and too many yellows until Goodwin actually shouted to him to calm down !

Sapsford got his goal first leg though I’m still not sure

Dolcek but not been great over the two legs. Trap injured again but good before he went off - why are we getting so many hamstring injuries ?!!?!!

Stirton brilliant when he came on and needs a chance

Watters did very little

Agree with others 5-3-2 with stirton and zac up front might work better

Wasn't a great watch and agree with most of what tek said.

The optimist in me hopes that we will get better as the season goes on as players start to understand their role and what others around them will do.. all the pressers, they say they've made free strides but I dont think you can rush relationships.

Other side is, Goodwin can be a bit negative at times - so perhaps the team wasnt set uo to showcase the likes of dolcek.

Roll on falkirk- just hope we can stay hamstrings injury free

LS Arab wrote:

I am still worried about the keeper on the crosses. Missed one cross and punching the rest. The punch often leads to another opposition attack

That is apparently what he does so things might go well.......or very badly
 

At the end of the day watching your team win an away leg in Europe is all that matters, yes it wasn’t pretty but no one will remember that in years to come.

RogerTheAlien wrote:

The European game’s vs Strassen along with the month of August is a busy one for us. I don’t think we will see our best performances till at least after the international break in September.

5 games in 14 days.
Incl Hearts (H) 2 days after Rapid (A) - can that be right?
Why is the Aberdeen game abandoned and we're not getting an extra day post Euro game??
There's a much needed break after Killie (A) on Sat 17th til we're at The House of Fun on the 31st
 

Arabdownsouth wrote:

Monny wrote:

Camara looks... not very good. I hope we're still in with a hope of getting Luca back.

And while we've not seen much of Watters, what we have seen suggests that the majority of Barnsley fans were right. 

 
Give Camara time,he's looked pretty good in some of the friendlies and was a fans favourite at Crawley so he must have something about him.

He did look good in friendlies - proactive, always looking forward, and comfortable on the ball. He's not the only one who impressed in preseason who's subsequently disappointed, and I'm hoping it's just a matter of the team getting used to each other. That seems pretty plausible in the case of Pappoe and Dolcek, say. But unlike them, Camara's been technically poor in the competitive games so far, with an atrocious first touch. His "come on" to the fans after he won a corner in the home leg was, as my kids say, cringe. Moments before he'd dallied on the ball, unsure what to do, and lost possession. Maybe the occasion got to him a wee bit, and he'll come through. Hope so.

United Arab Emarite wrote:

RogerTheAlien wrote:

The European game’s vs Strassen along with the month of August is a busy one for us. I don’t think we will see our best performances till at least after the international break in September.

5 games in 14 days.
Incl Hearts (H) 2 days after Rapid (A) - can that be right?
Why is the Aberdeen game abandoned and we're not getting an extra day post Euro game??
There's a much needed break after Killie (A) on Sat 17th til we're at The House of Fun on the 31st
 

 
Aberdeen game is postponed at their request because they are allowed,as are we if we get to the play off stage. Hearts game will be moved to the Sunday