Rousseau

Morelos! 0-4!

I'm pleased to see the players going over to congratulate Barasic for both those goals. Make him feel a part of the team. It might be what he needs. 

Barasic's goal, for me.

0-2!! OJO!

Delightful goal. 

Opens his body up and bends it into the far corner.

Nice shot from Jones, just wide.

I like his intent.

Knocked it about well, Barasic (?) with the cross, Jack volleys it into the far corner. 

Ojo should have scored, there! 

He's stretching, though.

I'm surprised Jones started. I wonder if he's seen as being first choice?

It's going how I expected, to be honest. 

They have everyone behind the ball, and we're slowly trying to find a way through, and struggling. All on a terrible pitch.

1 hour ago, BEARGER said:

Thanks. That was a dawdle, everyday is a school day.

Next up, embedded tweets!

21 minutes ago, buster. said:

Last couple of seasons has seen him play a total of 2422 minutes of League football (or approx. an average of 13 league matches a campaign).

In the two years prior to that, he played over 2000 league minutes each season.

 

Question being......why the significant reduction ?

16/17: 2,734 mins (31 games)

17/18: 1,397 mins (18 games)

18/19: 2,796 mins (36 games) 

2017/18 he had injury problems. Nothing serious, I think, but small niggles and illness.

7 hours ago, BEARGER said:

Can’t say I’ve heard of Deli.

I'd say that's true for most of us! I doubt many of us watch Slavia Prague with any regularity. 

I think I do recall seeing him in the Europa League last season, but I don't know. Slavia Prague reached the QF, where they lost to Chelsea.

A quick search shows: Ivorian, 27 years-old, 6'4, CB, who has played in the Czech Republic for most of his career. It doesn't say on Wikipedia, but I believe he's won 2 or 3 League titles with Slavia Prague.   

12 hours ago, alexscottislegend said:

I think the new, improved Docherty could play that role if you're not selecting Arfield. Maybe instead of Kamara? We shouldn't need 2 mainly sitting midfielders for this tie surely? 

I thought SG said Arfield would be left out? 

I'd rather we had moved him on.

I think the lineup back to middle is straightforward, but the front three is more difficult to pick.

Possibly: 

McGregor

Tavernier - Goldson - Katic - Halliday

Aribo - Davis - Kamara

Hastie - Stewart

Defoe

I'm stumped as to who plays behind Defoe. I chose based on who played 60 minutes on Sunday. 

I thought Mayo was pretty impressive. Okay--early days, and it was only a friendly, but I feel he could play a part this season. 

1 minute ago, buster. said:

Give them a competitive game or two to show up before writing them off 

Well, yes; exactly. 

I'm not writing them off, it just seems like I'm in the minority with regards their showing yesterday. I actually asked above whether it was maybe just lack of match-sharpness. 

I like Halliday; he can do a job, filling in, now and again. And, I still think Barasic has the ability -- somewhere, surely! 

Any reasons for the collapses? I'd rather not click on the link.  

14 minutes ago, cooponthewing said:

Halliday was impressive yesterday and looked far more comfortable than Barasic. Additionally, the body language and sift signals from the other members of the team suggests they trust Halliday, but think Barasic is a bomb scare.

I wasn't impressed with either of them. 

A decent LB would improve the squad dramatically. 

42 minutes ago, lenny3k said:

I believe Tom (RTV commentator) said that Murphy wan't playing as they don't want to rush him back from last seasons injury and the friendly against Oxford wasn't deemed as a neccessary risk

40 minutes ago, buster. said:

Thanks Lenny !

 

Given he was supposed to be about ready for the very tail end of last season that reasoning doesn't give much grounds for optimism.

I don't think Murphy is lined-up to play against St Joseph's anyway, because of their pitch. I think Tom mentioned that too?

13 hours ago, pete said:

Katic? He is the best defender we have. Goldson's shirt is the one that should be on a shoogly nail. Goldson is a bombscare at times.

I thought Edmundson showed up the best yesterday. Katic wasn't far off, though. 

I suppose I still see Goldson as being the 'senior' defender, in a way. Goldson played every game last season, and was pretty solid; while Katic drifted in and out, making a decent start, then was awful for a spell and was rightly dropped, then came in at the end of the season with some of his best performances. 

13 hours ago, pete said:

The person I fear for is Barisic. He really looked out of place today again. Halliday looked a far better player.

I thought Halliday looked awful yesterday--that 70 yard run aside! 

Although, Barasic was not much better...

Our front three, whomever they are, look comfortable on the ball and willing to run in-behind. 

Looks promising.

McPake taking the piss out of the Oxford defence with a Cruyff turn.

Love it!