4games confirmed for July, Macclesfield, Rochdale, Tranmere, and Port Vale, none of them very inspiring, but suppose it's about getting them fit.

There is a happy balance between pressing and sitting at the moment we sit back 90% of the time especially when 1-0 up were not equipped to counter attack in my opinion, the best team in the league last season played at high tempo and closed down high up the pitch and I think as a team we have players suited to pressing and high tempo.  

For what it's worth I do think we sit back too deep. I feel we would benefit from stepping up an extra 5 yards, but yet again I've not been involved in the professional game and gained knowledge from various managers over the years or studied the pros and cons of different formations. I can understand why people get frustrated though. TBH if we bored our way to 20 points from 10-12 games then I would take it.

I worry that we're fixated by system(s) and try to make the players fit it, or try to acquire them when we have no funds (eg Jut), when maybe we need to find a system that works for the players we have or can afford to bring in.

18 months into DF's reign, lots of player changes, so it's going to be a testing season. Hope we find the answers & finish in top 10.

Didn't get a great view of it at the game being at the other end, but Beckford's goal looks even better on second viewing. Hope it's a confidence boost for him at the very least.

I've watched the Port. Vale highlights 5 or 6 times now but I can't make out Beckford's shot between his foot and the goal; the camera is shite!

 

Nice header from Mills mind

I've watched the Port. Vale highlights 5 or 6 times now but I can't make out Beckford's shot between his foot and the goal; the camera is shite!

 

Nice header from Mills mind

 

 

 

Same here. Looked liked the keeper went down as though it had been deflected. Will check again.

Just looked again. The ball must have hit the post and gone to the other corner. Either that or the goalie was completely wrong footed.

Ball went in off the post

Wilkinson is he one of the kids Dougie brought in with white and Bolger Millwall was it?? Or is he from our academy?

Wilkinson is he one of the kids Dougie brought in with white and Bolger Millwall was it?? Or is he from our academy?

He's the lad from millwall he's a big unit and he uses his height and physical strength quite well he's definitely got a chance one of the better academy lads from the games I've seen him play.

Wilkinson is he one of the kids Dougie brought in with white and Bolger Millwall was it?? Or is he from our academy?

Freedman brought Wilkinson and White in last summer from Wednesday and Millwall's academies (think Wilkinson was from Wednesday, otherwise vice versa)

Freedman brought Wilkinson and White in last summer from Wednesday and Millwall's academies (think Wilkinson was from Wednesday, otherwise vice versa)

Wilkinson was definitely from Millwall

 

He's a tall lad with a nice touch. Not sure he's that strong just yet from what I've seen Mounts; he's a little skinny. Has loads of potential though and I can see him getting games this season

Maybe wilkinson is the new juke.

 

Fuck it, Chuck him in Doug.

I knew there was a good chance I'd be wrong

 

Seems Wilkinson has a chance of making the squad for Watford as things stand.

Not saying that, what I am saying is that you don't have to play the pressing game because it works for some teams. I don't remember Holland or Chile doing too bad playing a counter attacking game. Basically it boils down to the quality of players you have in my opinion.

:lol:

 

Chile play the pressing game more than any other team in the history of football.

 

Chile play the pressing game more than any other team in the history of football.

 

 

Forget about Chile then. Bad example. What I'm saying is that you don't see a lot of teams that play that intense pressing game.

Freedman brought Wilkinson and White in last summer from Wednesday and Millwall's academies (think Wilkinson was from Wednesday, otherwise vice versa)

 

T'other way round. Bolger came from Leicester.

 

I hadn't been completely impressed by Wilkinson in the past, but I reckon he's done quite well over pre-season. He might look skinny but he did a good job of holding the ball up when he needed to against Rochdale and Port Vale when the ball was played in to his feet.

Scott's full of Dutchers!!

One down

1-0 vitesse.

 

Pratley basically playing upfront

Edited August 3, 201411 yr by gonzo

This moxey is sound.

 

We simply can't go into this season with Jermaine Beckford playing upfront on his own.

 

No outlet,no goal threat,no energy.

 

Crap

Mcnaughton best player for us.

Mcnaughton best player for us.

Aye he's been ok.

 

There's just no link from our industrial midfield to attack.

 

Douglas replacing Beckford with Wilkisnon worries me that we are going down the target man upfront route.

 

A forced hand I know,but still dog shit all the same.

Felt the same at Rochdale and was often the case last season, our lack of a playmaker is painfully obvious particularly when we're going with one up top who isn't a proper target man. Mark Davies keeping fit and being used properly is crucial for me, unless he's off...

 

There are some quite decent and solid aspects to our team which is good to see, but in the attacking third as it stands we have a bit of a problem.

Right that's my first friendly watching the first team and in my view this is going to be a long season, no shape no pressure no formation, if Freedman last until Xmas I will be very very suprised, don't think he's in the right job.