Pre-Season Match Thread Tuesday 2nd April Wesley College

There

I will also be along if you'll have me. Hopefully the long weekend hasn't taken it out of me
Prefer playing left or centre back

im out unfortunately lads should be fine for the season opener

Excellent performance and it's great to see several new players play really well. Our midfield were really excellent both last week and this in linking with the attackers and playing quality through balls to strikers and wingers. If I hadn't been so wasteful in front of goal, we'd have had another 3 or 4...good to get those cobwebs dusted off at this point of this pre-season all the same.

3 key points for me:

1. We know from experience it's not the best 11 but the best squad that wins the summer season due to lads being on holiday etc. With the new additions, we now have quality options and competition for places in every position which is a great development. It means lads know they need to be on their game and also listening to what the manager's instructions are - he has quality options to revert to when needed so if everyone is committed and patient, this squad will be in the hunt for sure.

2. Push forward rather than sit back/stand-off. Our style is to play good, passing, attacking football whenever possible. Doesn't mean we go gung-ho attacking, it just means if it's a 50-50 call, take the attacking option and push on (e.g. full backs push up to win opposition goal kicks where they might land rather than be sitting back just in case it comes deep)...though obviously use your judgement.

3. We need to observe the opposition's patterns and adapt - e.g. as tonight, if they keep playing it out of defence, there's no use just the strikers chasing after it - wingers and centre-midfield pushing up too puts them under pressure as a unit. or if they're giving us a lot of time on the ball up front as tonight, those balls to striker's feet will create good chances from layoffs.

New lads all looked solid on the ball.
And great to have a new keeper.