How on earth did I forget that Ennis existed? 😉

Firstly, I am not going to OTT based on this performance. NEC was good technically side which was a challenge for us and good one cos they will be some teams like that in Championship. We had chances during the games and we won the ball twice high but no shot on goal. Defensive poor at times but its pre season. I once watched us lose at PNE 3 nil under Big Sam in pre season in July 2010 and we were dogshit yet we won our first game against Everton Karbgo's goal was good.

I think we should take bets how long into the season post window shutting it takes for big Val to start using lack of experience as the go to excuse when things aren't going well ?

Somebody should have told him you swap shirts at the end of the game not during it. It’s a long while since I last saw a “ tackle “ like that. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The ref, who gave us next to nothing in my opinion, had no choice there.

How else are we going to hit Gestede’s target of 3000 academy minutes this season.

It's what v young players tend to do unfortunately. Trav produced a really bad challenge to get sent off at Portsmouth v early in his career. The key thing is no to be reliant on them to fill the positions as regular starters so they can be taken out of the firing line Unfortunately our model seems to be to have them as starters!

Simply must get a player or two in who can play right wing. Hedges is first choice and Mullarkey-Matthews his only backup. Frightening really, and I’m not even the biggest Hedges critic

I just hope that, when the season starts, that there's not this insistence to push Montgomery into the side as the new poster boy for the academy when the lad is patently not good enough. It's not fair on him more than anything.

Maybe we swam across the channel ?

You post this like you’re proving or showing how strong our squad is, but to most of us it just looks weak. Saying players who “suit Ismael’s style of play” means nothing. Telalovic might have suited JDT’s style of play more than Keifer Moore, but if they aren’t very good it doesn’t matter. And if our style of play is “closing down and pressing” you need to make sure they still have ability and aren’t just headless chickens. No good getting the ball and wasting good opportunities and positions like today.

To be fair, James is a really good - and highly qualified coach. I've worked with him briefly and know some of the work he's done at clubs like Accy Stanley. Good appointment, in my opinion.

Yeah, didn’t think so.

Ennis scored for Blackpool

Think it’s funny one of millers best traits is his long throw… to who? Who in our side is he throwing into the box to?

Norwich won 2-0.

We looked knackered from the start, when did we actually travel over there? Very few bright sparks in that apart from AK running the show for a while when he came on. I’m afraid Gueye looked very much like the raffle prize winner today and Yuki poor too. DeNeve was dreadful, one of his free kicks was as if he took it with a blindfold on. Let’s hope they were trying not to over exert themselves and risk injury…..

Agree with most of the comments made. Whilst many are worried about the lack of firepower up front,I actually thought the defence was even worse. At least chances were being created(even if not taken,especially the Gueye miss). Toth aside(who looked fairly competent and composed given the lack of protection afforded) the Dutch team should have scored more. In fact,our defence deteriorated significantly after Hyam was substituted i thought. Scott Wharton can`t even pass the ball across the back and is at best a League I player. Blame Hedges all you want,he was nothing like the worst performer today. Travis and Tronstad have probably had enough of our "exiting summer transfer activity". Only Kargbo and Toth looked decent. Fortunately its only a friendly ,and no one seriously injured.That1s the main benefit.

If he thinks that he's as misguided as you.

NEC were decidedly better than the performance the toffees put on at Ewood. This Summer's signings look underwhelming on that showing- none of them would be in my strongest XI or even go to subs. Going to have to hope that Miller is class and starts well.

I can’t see how Dolan or Weimann would have fared better against this Dutch side. Can especially see Dolan lost the ball to the opposition a lot if he played.

well i know one things for certain,we might not get relegated but im`e absolutley certain we won`t be anywhere near the top six,i can see val getting ***** off and doing the off by november

Poor performance, but a quality run out before the season opener. Quality side. We look vulnerable when we get played around our high press line. No standouts for me other than AK for a short period where we should have turned the game around.

Like the Everton game I'm not paying to much attention to a meaningless friendly. However, surely it can't be even up for debate that the side and squad at this time is significantly weaker than the one that ended the season?

Norwich lost against NAC Breda. NAC Breda came in 15th and NEC 8th.

Disappointing result & performance, but worth remembering that Everton aside, this was the toughest test of the summer when you factor in travel & the fact that they finished 8th in the Eredivisie. I can't imagine many of our league opponents will be as strong as NEC.