Burton

[gazan]

Anyone going?

[frogpole]

I think Lee Bell, and a few blokes might be there

Good atmosphere brewing for this one.

Would like to be there, but unable to make it

So, here goes, 5-0 win and Nev 'NOT' to score.

[jimmyboldon]

Anyone going?

Yes. Four of us!

[gazan]

I'll be there with my partner, so that's 6!!!

[gazan]

And going for 2-3. ( yes, I know it's not important- just a bit of fun!

[ShropshireAlex]

Me - 2 all

[MeForCrewe]

A 2-1 win I will go for. I will be there despite vowing to not bother with pre-season games ever again.

[gazan]

Well, that was interesting! As much for what we didn't see as what we did. No Offord, no Thomas, no Williams and no Nevitt. Everybody else got a run-out including 2 triallists.
New boys: Davies was slow getting down to Burton's first but both goals were down to disarray in defence. Tracy has got speed but less control and didn't seem to capitalise on his main asset. Powell looks useful and can definitely take a dead ball. Cooney....hmmmm! Not convinced. Seemed less than fit and off the pace.
Until Finney went off (injured again) Adebisi was having a stormer but then was less effective at LB.
2 CHs were competent but need that commanding presence that Concrete Rod offered last year.
Tabiner looks the part, Colkett less so. Long looks an accomplished player but was taken off before he could be injured and CBR was himself letting opposition CHs know he was there.
Then the changes started. Holicek shone brightly before the bulk of changes moved his position. In the final 20 mins as the youngsters played keepball Lunt looked useful. However Evans is not going to make it if played as a lone striker. Too easily knocked off the ball.

[gazan]

I also want to say that the playing out from the back worked magnificently for 15 mins. Then the Burton Midfield stepped forward 10 yards. The Alex persisted with the same dogmatic approach and started getting themselves into trouble.
The worrying things for me were repeats of last year. A hole in midfield when we don't have the ball and the over-reliance on turning back to our half looking for an easy pass rather than taking a chance on moving forward. This led to intense pressure being put on the back line.
Also after those first 15 mins, I didn't see the players getting forward in numbers, much like last season.

[ShropshireAlex]

Well, that was interesting! As much for what we didn't see as what we did. No Offord, no Thomas, no Williams and no Nevitt. Everybody else got a run-out including 2 triallists.
New boys: Davies was slow getting down to Burton's first but both goals were down to disarray in defence. Tracy has got speed but less control and didn't seem to capitalise on his main asset. Powell looks useful and can definitely take a dead ball. Cooney....hmmmm! Not convinced. Seemed less than fit and off the pace.
Until Finney went off (injured again) Adebisi was having a stormer but then was less effective at LB.
2 CHs were competent but need that commanding presence that Concrete Rod offered last year.
Tabiner looks the part, Colkett less so. Long looks an accomplished player but was taken off before he could be injured and CBR was himself letting opposition CHs know he was there.
Then the changes started. Holicek shone brightly before the bulk of changes moved his position. In the final 20 mins as the youngsters played keepball Lunt looked useful. However Evans is not going to make it if played as a lone striker. Too easily knocked off the ball.

Yes, how 11 subs, most 1st or 2nd year pros, stopped 9 of Burton's starters from scoring for 25 minutes was a puzzle. Looked like we wanted no-one to play much more than an hour, Maamria wanted most to get a first 90 in their legs. Maybe LB was keen to see how the youngsters could cope uner pressure, though I hope they won't have all to play together again!

Started with a very young defence, ended with a slightly older one with BSD and Cooney (who did look to be carrying quite a bit of timber) on. Nevitt did get an hour on Tuesday of course, having come on early, and Williams a half, but no sign of Offord since last weekend and LB said no injuries the other night - might be on the move? Thomas he said was on a different timeline to be ready for the start of the season so maybe came back with something he needs to work off? Powell can clearly play, Tracey is lively but probably (as his record suggests) not going to be a major goal threat.