Pre-Season Friendlies

[Deepcut Cobbler]

They've just shown the OG on SSN, what a cracker, top corner...keeper had no chance

[OCoole]

Some thoughts on that match vs West Ham:

- The NTFC own version of iFollow was truly awful. Glitches, crashes, reloads required every few minutes. Not sure I will be paying even a fiver again for that.
- Bring back Tim Oglethorpe. Listening to that commentary team - I'm sorry to say it - was painful.
- Pollock and Chukwuemeka were both fantastic after coming on in the 60 minute, and combined very fluidly as a front pairing. They made a far greater impact on the game than Rose + BAS; although I think they were in part helped by the 2nd half midfield retaining the ball better, and the West Ham side having tired by that point. Nonetheless, very impressive and a great shame that Chuk may soon be off - but Pollock looks like he needs to be playing week in week out.
- Of all the new players I was most impressed by McGowan, Pinnock and Lewis. McGowan has some engine on him and covers the entire right hand side of the pitch; he looks a clear upgrade on Harriman, who I don't particularly rate. Pinnock looked a little off the pace at times yet his technical quality was clear to see from his set pieces and his shot which led to our goal. Lewis I thought looked after the ball well and kept things ticking over, not yet spectacular but definitely solid.
- Nelson own goal was hilarious! Would advise watching it on the youtube highlights to come. I thought he looked quite shaky in the 1st half.
- Debayo the trialist at left back looks potentially a good find! Certainly worth trying him again in the Forest match at least. Wouldn't imagine he'd be able to command a lot of money too so the bulk of the remaining budget could be used on recruiting attacking players instead.

[Shoemender]

Part timer!!!

I’d rather watch them on a cold winter night in Hartlepool in a meaningful game than a friendly, even though it was free.

[Dan]

- Football a stark improvement on Curle ball.
- Pinnock the most impressive of the new players.
- Pollock and McWilliams easily the most impressive of the current players.
- BAS was more impressive than I’d expected.
- It’s funny how we see games differently, but contrary to OCoole, I’d have ended the trial of Debayo early in the second half  thought he was nowhere near the standard required and Cam was significantly better. But that’s the beautiful thing about football.

[BackOfTheNet]

- It’s funny how we see games differently, but contrary to OCoole, I’d have ended the trial of Debayo early in the second half  thought he was nowhere near the standard required and Cam was significantly better. But that’s the beautiful thing about football.

Blimey, I don't think we were watching the same game! I was impressed again by Debayo and think he's probably worth a deal.

A decent performance and we were worth a draw. The style of football we'll be playing is so much better and we should be in for a more entertaining season than we've been used to!

And we've clearly found the answer to our striker issue  -  with a shot like that on him stick Nelson up top!

[guest2995]

i think we are getting a good group together that will compete .
JB will get us playing attractive football with purpose.
We desperately need a goalscorer and the Smith replacement is crucial .
Will we chance a young loanee , a seasoned performer or an under performer that will come good  ? This is the critical question .

[CobblerForever]

That was football of the type that augurs well for the future. Players allowed to express themselves. Proper, attacking, front foot, pacy, positive.

[OCoole]

i think we are getting a good group together that will compete .
JB will get us playing attractive football with purpose.
We desperately need a goalscorer and the Smith replacement is crucial .
Will we chance a young loanee , a seasoned performer or an under performer that will come good  ? This is the critical question .

I appreciate others will probably disagree but watching that game sparked the idea for me that Pollock is perhaps capable of being a good forward player capable of scoring 10+ league goals a year.

We know already that he has strong technical ability particularly when striking a ball (which is a big tick), but I thought playing as a kind of 'second striker' role tonight he looked brilliant at using Chuk as someone to play off of, and was often able to advance the ball into good areas. He has bulked up a lot since his injury yet has a burst of speed, and is very good at manipulating the ball away from a defender to get a pass / shot away. I really could see that being his position, particularly with Brady keen to play two forwards.

Feel free to call me crackers!

[Coolcat]

From the West Ham perspective;

Hammers News - West Ham United FC: West Ham fans rave about Conor Coventry after performance vs Northampton in pre-season friendly.
https://www.hammers.news/columnist/west-ham-fans-rave-about-conor-coventry-after-performance-vs-northampton-in-pre-season-friendly/

[BackOfTheNet]

I appreciate others will probably disagree but watching that game sparked the idea for me that Pollock is perhaps capable of being a good forward player capable of scoring 10+ league goals a year.

We know already that he has strong technical ability particularly when striking a ball (which is a big tick), but I thought playing as a kind of 'second striker' role tonight he looked brilliant at using Chuk as someone to play off of, and was often able to advance the ball into good areas. He has bulked up a lot since his injury yet has a burst of speed, and is very good at manipulating the ball away from a defender to get a pass / shot away. I really could see that being his position, particularly with Brady keen to play two forwards.

Feel free to call me crackers!

In both the friendlies so far when he's come on he's effectively played up front, so I guess Brady at least wants to have a look at him in that role.

[Alfred]

Some thoughts on that match vs West Ham:

- The NTFC own version of iFollow was truly awful. Glitches, crashes, reloads required every few minutes. Not sure I will be paying even a fiver again for that.
- Bring back Tim Oglethorpe. Listening to that commentary team - I'm sorry to say it - was painful.
- Pollock and Chukwuemeka were both fantastic after coming on in the 60 minute, and combined very fluidly as a front pairing. They made a far greater impact on the game than Rose + BAS; although I think they were in part helped by the 2nd half midfield retaining the ball better, and the West Ham side having tired by that point. Nonetheless, very impressive and a great shame that Chuk may soon be off - but Pollock looks like he needs to be playing week in week out.
- Of all the new players I was most impressed by McGowan, Pinnock and Lewis. McGowan has some engine on him and covers the entire right hand side of the pitch; he looks a clear upgrade on Harriman, who I don't particularly rate. Pinnock looked a little off the pace at times yet his technical quality was clear to see from his set pieces and his shot which led to our goal. Lewis I thought looked after the ball well and kept things ticking over, not yet spectacular but definitely solid.
- Nelson own goal was hilarious! Would advise watching it on the youtube highlights to come. I thought he looked quite shaky in the 1st half.
- Debayo the trialist at left back looks potentially a good find! Certainly worth trying him again in the Forest match at least. Wouldn't imagine he'd be able to command a lot of money too so the bulk of the remaining budget could be used on recruiting attacking players instead.

To balance the view ... I had no problems with the club stream and for what it was at the cost of £5 it was good value,  no cutting out or reloads

Commentary was as expected from a kid on work experience.

[claretparrot]

I was pleasantly surprised last night, especially after seeing the first two go in and expecting a cricket score.

Haven't noticed much mention of Connolly, who I thought looked exciting. Always difficult to judge from these games but thought Chuk & Pollock together up top showed signs that they could be a real handful.

[Gen.Disorda]

To balance the view ... I had no problems with the club stream and for what it was at the cost of £5 it was good value,  no cutting out or reloads

Commentary was as expected from a kid on work experience.

I agree, I had no issues at all and found the payment system easier.

I also dont think the young lad on work experience did a lot wrong.

[everbrite]

Part timer!!!

Absolutely 

[guest49]

A couple of mentions of the football being better than under Curle. We haven't forgotten that we've had another 20 games since then?  
These pre-season games rarely tell us much but definitely looking forward to a fresh start, with some fresh faces. Let's hope we hit the ground running, stay out of trouble and focus our attentions at the right end of the table.

[west stand oap]

You would expect West Ham to have greater technical ability, better ball retention and slicker passing movements. After going 2 goals behind within the first 15 minutes it appeared that we could be in for a hiding as they looked capable of adding to their lead. Sam took his goal well and he and Rose had efforts that went narrowly wide in the first half.
The second half was a different story as West Ham rarely threatened our goal and Maxted had little of note to contend with. We looked likely to get an equaliser and put together some good approach play which could have lead to a goal but for a poor final ball.
Pollock impressed in his 30 minutes and his delivery from corners and free kicks was also good. On this showing he will be pressing for a place in the starting 11.
Great finish from Nelson gave Roberts no chance, think the ball accross the box caught him on his blind side.

[Coolcat]

A couple of mentions of the football being better than under Curle. We haven't forgotten that we've had another 20 games since then?  
These pre-season games rarely tell us much but definitely looking forward to a fresh start, with some fresh faces. Let's hope we hit the ground running, stay out of trouble and focus our attentions at the right end of the table.

Think if we play BAS up top, should be fine! 

[Manwork04]

Think if we play BAS up top, should be fine! 

Brilliant 

[Shoemender]

Absolutely 

You have to stick your neb in to every conversation. I've known Baldy for 47 years and he was only joking.The attendance was only 1715 and I suspect some were West Ham fans and I know of at least 3 people who went simply because it was West Ham. So there were probably only around 1500 Cobblers fans there at the most, so obviously many fans have the same opinion of friendlies as me.

[everbrite]

Sounds ominous - it’ll probably be West Ham Under 18’s!

It wasn’t they were pretty useful in defence and midfield. We had our moments in the second half but faile to capitalise! Did you go?