NEC Nijmegen (a) - 15.00 k.o. - YouTube link in thread

[StHelensRover]

1 minute ago, Trinidad Rover said:

McGloughlin and De Neve looked exceptionally poor. Concerning but in De Neve’s case, not at all surprising with his career to date.

Toth looks far more confident.

Trav is checked out with half his mates gone. 

Good Kargobo goal.  Gueye will never be a good finisher.

We are much, MUCH weaker as a team/squad compared to last year. It’s not even a debate. 

Huge window remaining - my hopes are minimal to non-existent.

I know it's preseason and players won't want to pick up injuries but I thought the same thing about Travis, he doesn't look interested. 

I reckon you're right about his head being turned, all his mates moving on and earning more money than he is, probably texting him about how much better everything is now they're away from our circus.

[yankfan]

Just now, Tomphil2 said:

What i can't believe is one or two posters on here doing the club PR work of saying we are fine with Gueye and Yuki as our main strikers this season.

Beggers belief that and can only be toeing the club mantra of giving mins and increasing value being the number 1 priority over everything else.

We NEED quality up top and failing that we need another hardworking presser with an eye for goal that isn't Leonard.

We need help all across the front line. Not sure anyone of our front 3 start in any other side in the championship 

[ObiWhan8t7]

Good opposition this Dutch side and we have struggled to compete for large parts of the game. Kristi despite being out of position got a good pasting out there today. Ribeiro struggling down that side the whole of first half without any protection from De Neve.Travis and Tronstad completely outplayed in the middle and not competing. Second half Kargbo direct and causing many problems and deserved his goal. Not many performances to be positive about really. We really need to get more quality bodies in, our outlet last season was all down the right channel and it was non existent in today’s game. There need to be work done on the forward line as we are struggling to create anything. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Utterly depressing. It was like they were playing another sport to us. Quick first time passing into runners while we are heavy two touches and then pass under pressure to a player who is stood still. 

[blondie]

Dreadful display, kick and rush football, no guile, poor passing, disjointed.

[Tomphil2]

1 minute ago, yankfan said:

We need help all across the front line. Not sure anyone of our front 3 start in any other side in the championship 

They found a good balance to share the goals/assists last season in those two plus Dolan and Weimann but now it's back to eggs in one basket whilst praying another couple of unproven types step up.

Big big risk and needless to be honest because players are out there but these lot don't want to know unless it's 5 grand a week or less, free or a few hundred grand plus add ons and under 25.

Useless policy without money.

[MarkBRFC]

28 minutes ago, yankfan said:

Hedges nothing more than a squad player…never in the first 11. 

He will be the best player here before long.

[philipl]

Kargbo and Tyjon apart, nobody did themselves any favours against a really crisp NEC who were easily the best pre-season opposition this summer.

[alcd]

31 minutes ago, Bohinen1983 said:

Can we give Kragbo a new contract already?

We never give new contracts to anybody these days. It's all about cost-cutting.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

There is a lot of work to do..and a lot of Players to sign.🙄

[Herbie6590]

Saw enough there to be concerned that a couple of injuries to key players would be incredibly impactful. 

Kargbo livened things up for 20 minutes then disappeared.

The defence looked brittle. The midfield largely overrun. The attack - anonymous for 70 minutes.

Without significant signings in August this squad has us looking down the league not up. We can but hope that Sheffield Weds & Hull City book two of the places and Charlton/PNE/Oxford stumble else it could be a tough old watch.

[StHelensRover]

I said earlier in thread that we were much better in the second half but inevitably that didn't last. We probably played well in total for 15-20 mins of a 90 min game which is nowhere near good enough and ultimately 3-1 flattered us

[Rover down South]

Agree with the comments regards Travis.

Head went down when Eustace left, that was obvious. Now he's seen two of his team mates reunited with JE, Dolan gone to Spain and now Brittain off too. He's good mates with Sammie Szmodics too and just get the feeling they are telling him to move on.

The club is a cess pit with Pasha and Gestede running things. Hate to be negative, but this season is going to be tough.

[TimmyJimmy]

Enjoyed watching NEC, some really good technical players, great touches, great movement. Pressed us well.

We have always struggled when pressed, our players need space and when pressed quickly run out of ideas.

Kargbo obviously stood out but we can't rely on only one player this season, he'll soon get kicked to death or double marked out of a game.

Gueye - less said the better.

Had allowed myself to get optimistic with the earlier wins but this performance doesn't bode well for the season ahead.

Need some quality signings and soon.

[bazza]

So. The brilliant Kargbo played 20 minutes and then faded. Maybe that's why he doesn't start.

Rovers look like a relegation side already.

[simongarnerisgod]

3 minutes ago, Rover down South said:

Agree with the comments regards Travis.

Head went down when Eustace left, that was obvious. Now he's seen two of his team mates reunited with JE, Dolan gone to Spain and now Brittain off too. He's good mates with Sammie Szmodics too and just get the feeling they are telling him to move on.

The club is a cess pit with Pasha and Gestede running things. Hate to be negative, but this season is going to be tough.

it`s heavy odds on that travis will be moving,his agent will be on overtime this weekend,i feel sorry for val,he`s been lied to like jdt and eustace,there is no investment or ambition from the **** running the club

[jim mk2]

3 minutes ago, bazza said:

So. The brilliant Kargbo played 20 minutes and then faded. Maybe that's why he doesn't start.

Rovers look like a relegation side already.

 Agree - the lack of ability is startling and the team is clearly worse than the one that finished last season

Relegation thread incoming - probably after Saturday's opener and inevitable defeat at West Brom

[Atko's Engine]

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.

[alexanders]

4 minutes ago, Atko's Engine said:

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.

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

[MarkBRFC]

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?

[alexanders]

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. 

[simongarnerisgod]

3 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

 Agree - the lack of ability is startling and the team is clearly worse than the one that finished last season

Relegation thread incoming - probably after Saturday's opener and inevitable defeat at West Brom

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

[alexanders]

1 minute ago, MarkBRFC said:

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?

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. 

[philipl]

4 minutes ago, Atko's Engine said:

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.

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.

[harryhealless1928]

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.