Crawley (Pre season)

[Harrym4737]

A 5-1 loss for the daggers.

[Lcbdagger]

Well that build up to the first Home friendly after the Carroll signing died a death swiftly... Miles off from an attacking perspective, despite better build up play than Aveley and 8 goals conceded in three games.

When does the pre season properly begin for us I wonder

[NBDag]

Crawley have scored 5 in all of their pre-season games and We had it at 3-1 until the young keeper came on. Ultimately I don’t think it’s a terrible result, it’s a preseason result. We switch the defence and shape every 45 minutes after having 80% of the squad and a management change. So if you’re expecting a title challenge after 270 mins of preseason then you’re just being unrealistic.

Colchester, Havant and Boreham Wood are where we can really gauge where we are. Hopefully with some good performances and consistent lineups

[GNB]

Agree totally.
3 games to go, probably mix the next 1, but the last 2 should be showing the starting 11.

[Diggerthedog]

I think defensively and in Midfield we’re still short of quality, don’t do preseason games so can’t comment on the games but Maghoma our big centre back signing still injured and the same crap defenders from last season in Rendall and Kalambayi still stinking the place out,

Not surprised in the result against Crawley, they’re signing players like Dion and the reality is many levels above us now.

[DaggerJoel11]

Crawley were just relegated from League One and are a tidy side. They had the clear edge but not to the extent of the scoreline, which is always the least important takeaway from pre-season games anyway unless absolutely obscene. Some of our patterns looked okay, Lawless the most impressive performer for me, while Hemmings hasn't lost any pace and the trialist midfielder from the first half got stuck in well. Although, it's clear to see we need a lot of work. The defence in particular. Calamitous errors by Rendall and the new young keeper.

[len]

I think Rendall made so many mistakes last season it was frightening at times watching him and would be very surprised if he was in the manager’s plans for this season. He is on contract this season and not easy moving him on but in an ideal world that would be the best for us because we need someone far more reliable.

[daggerChris]

Biggest concern is the defence. Panter looked solid defensively, and all goals came from our right hand side, Rendall is awful, he is without doubt one of the worst defenders I have seen and only positive from him is that long throw. Harrack is another poor player who offers very little. Kalambayi has been a dissapointment considering the reputation he came with. Considering Maghoma has had a serious injury, I think we would need to add another centre back into the group.

In terms of the midfield, N'Guessan is a passenger on the pitch, poor on the ball and not someone who breaks up the play effectively so not sure what use he is as a central midfielder. Both Lawless and the trialist from the first half last night looked better players. Marsh I think will be solid but currently needs to build his minutes up.

If rumours are true and Umerah is off, then that leaves us with Hemmings, Wilson, Carroll and Stephenson. Wilson has missed a lot of football with injury, and not sure how many games we will get out of Carroll, so we potentially do need another Target man option. I have seen a few rumours about Cheek returning, personally I cant see it. League 2 golden boot winner and team of the season, not sure why he would drop to NLS when he has offers higher up.

[len]

I'm not suggesting we are likely to do the same but when you think the quality of players signed by Wrexham to get out of the National League it depends how much cash you throw into the playing budget.
You mention Michael Cheek, he is 34 year old next month and who knows could be looking to go where the money is at this stage of his career I've no idea.
We have not heard the plans from our new owners yet which may be entirely different from the way Wrexham have done things.
We will have to wait and see.

[Lcbdagger]

Did this young man get a run out again? Has officially left Maidstone now and looked decent coming on at Aveley in a poor team performance.

Didn't manage to catch any of the Trialist details from yesterday

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/ ... ed-327192/

[len]

Listened to interview with manager after last nights game and he was asked about players that were missing but when it came to Josh Umerah, he didn’t really answer and was simply glossed over.
As already mentioned on here perhaps he is on his way out?

[daggerChris]

Trialists from last night appear to be:

Trialist A - CM who played first half - Yacou Traore, played for Middlesborough u/21's and had a loan spell at Wealdstone last season

Trialist B - AM who came on 2nd half and played against Aveley - Rashawn Scott - played a lot for Reading u/21 and currently signed to Bishop Stortford

Not sure who the left back was who came on, but he played against Aveley and again last night.

[Lcbdagger]

Trialists from last night appear to be:

Trialist A - CM who played first half - Yacou Traore, played for Middlesborough u/21's and had a loan spell at Wealdstone last season

Trialist B - AM who came on 2nd half and played against Aveley - Rashawn Scott - played a lot for Reading u/21 and currently signed to Bishop Stortford

Not sure who the left back was who came on, but he played against Aveley and again last night.

Not seen Traore, but quite liked the look of Scott against Aveley... got involved well and linked up play a few times. Really interested to see what we can do with the squad in terms of acquisitions without others leaving who I assume would be on higher wages... No specific dislike of N'Guessan but really struggle to see what his role in the team is, specifically alongside someone like Lawless who is a defensive minded midfielder but seems far more agile, gets on the ball more and knows how to find a forward pass.