Pre-Season 2021-22

[samhaydenjr]

... and for Saturday

Alex Gilbert played the first half for Brentford against Wimbledon: https://www.brentfordfc.com/fixtures...-on-17-jul-21/

Jake O'Brien played the second half (and almost scored, apparently) for Crystal Palace against Walsall, who had Stephen Ward, Liam Kinsella and Emmanuel Osadebe in their line-up: https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/match-re...ll/2021-07-17/

Troy Parrott got a 25-minute run-out for Spurs against Leyton Orient. Aaron Drinan played the first 68 minutes for the O's - neither scored: https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/new...of-pre-season/

Tommie Hoban appears to have featured well in keeping a clean sheet for Crewe against Wolves: https://www.crewealex.net/news/2021/...we-1-0-wolves/

[tetsujin1979]

Jamie Bowden was involved for Spurs as well

[Kingdom]

Thanks for all these updates gents (and gent in ladies clothing). Great to get a sense of where we stand as we get closer to the start of the season.

[tetsujin1979]

Conor Noss scored his first goal for Borussia Moechengladbach against Pederborn in a 3-1 loss on Saturday
(skip to 3:40)

Nice reaction to the block on the initial shot

[tetsujin1979]

Travers and Kilkenny planned the first 68 minutes for Bournemouth against Granada: https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/first-te...uarezs-winner/
Every starting player was substituted at 68 minutes, apart from Smith who went off at half time

[passinginterest]

Looks like none of the Irish youngsters at Celtic have even made the bench for their champions League qualifier. Not looking like the new manager is making any difference to their prospects there.

[elatedscum]

they should all be on the phone to their agents. Squad of 23 + Jullien, Johnston, Dembele injured + Furuhashi in quarantine + Ntchem and Ajer not mentally right. Puts them down to 30th to 35th members of the squad. Plus they'll probably add a few new names.

Worst part is, it's not even like the lads that are playing are any use, bar one or two. Celtic have just taken to buying guys in the early 20s from Scottish sides and European leagues and once they buy them at that age for a bit of money, they feel a need to give them enough game time to develop. (Basically trying to replicate Van Dijk, Wanyama etc.) Most aren't good enough and don't and a few do. Meanwhile the youth players aren't expecting immediate game time and therefore don't get it. The structures in Scotland are so poor that it makes it difficult for them to develop and most go backwards... No idea why they aren't part of the reserve league in scotland?

It's also the sheer quantity of players they sign every year. Including loans, they've averaged 9.8 signings of senior players per season over the past 5 seasons. Haven't included this year cause it's still in progress. That's partly caused by the number of miss signings and low cost gambles they take, alongside the number of loans that need replacing, nonetheless, it really blocks youth players when you're trying to bed 10 new players into your club every season and give them enough minutes to see what and who they are...

The new manager said after the game that he doesn't have a strong squad. He's also tried to sign 4 more players recently. Doesn't bode well for any of them if he doesn't rate the squad and yet can't find a place for O'Connor, Afolabi or Connell...

Anyway, total disaster of a club. Given the advantages they had over Rangers and everyone else in Scotland, it took a real series of ****-ups to and bad management to get them to where they are now...

[samhaydenjr]

Third of pre-season for James Collins - Mark McGuinness played the full ninety for Cardiff against Forest Green Rovers: https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news...2-cardiff-city

Chiedozie Ogbene opened his pre-season account after coming on as a second-half sub against Rochdale. Joshua Kayode played all but the last few minutes for Rotherham:https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/20...-on-20-jul-21/

Portsmouth played but no sign of Bazunu in the squad - at the other end, Max O'Leary was between the sticks for Bristol City for ninety minutes: https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/...ty-3-pompey-3/

Andrew Omobamidele played the full ninety minutes for Norwich against Lincoln, Adam Idah started and was replaced at half-time, josh Giurgi was an unused sub for Norwich against Lincoln: https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2021...-lincoln-city/

Ryan Johansson played the second half for Sevilla against Coventry, however I don't know how many of those who came on at that time were also at Sevilla B: https://www.sevillafc.es/actualidad/...try-city-21-22

Festy Ebosele played the last half-hour against Man united on Sunday: https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2021/07/...18th-july-2021

[elatedscum]

Third of pre-season for James Collins - Mark McGuinness played the full ninety for Cardiff against Forest Green Rovers: https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news...2-cardiff-city

Chiedozie Ogbene opened his pre-season account after coming on as a second-half sub against Rochdale. Joshua Kayode played all but the last few minutes for Rotherham:https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/20...-on-20-jul-21/

Portsmouth played but no sign of Bazunu in the squad - at the other end, Max O'Leary was between the sticks for Bristol City for ninety minutes: https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/...ty-3-pompey-3/

Andrew Omobamidele played the full ninety minutes for Norwich against Lincoln, Adam Idah started and was replaced at half-time, josh Giurgi was an unused sub for Norwich against Lincoln: https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2021...-lincoln-city/

Festy Ebosele played the last half-hour against Man united on Sunday: https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2021/07/...18th-july-2021

Given that Kelleher wasn't one of the three keepers used by Liverpool today, we can assume he's injured. Shame as he would have been the number 1 with Alisson on holidays until August 2nd with players due 3 weeks off after their last game (in his case, the Copa America final with Brazil on July 11th)

[seanfhear]

Given that Kelleher wasn't one of the three keepers used by Liverpool today, we can assume he's injured. Shame as he would have been the number 1 with Alisson on holidays until August 2nd with players due 3 weeks off after their last game (in his case, the Copa America final with Brazil on July 11th)

Is Kelleher very injury prone ? He seems to miss a lot of opportunities through injury.

[Exgrad]

Re the Celtic contingent, Connell was actually named in the 23 man squad for the CL qualifiers,

https://www.the42.ie/leigh-griffiths...99669-Jul2021/


Wasn't on bench for last nights game so could well have been injured. He does seem to be in the thinking so lets see. O'Connor and Afolabi don't seem to be anyway near the first team, and more than likely are surplus to requirements at this stage. O'Connor had a decent loan to L2 and would probably get another one, and that's where he should be heading to and building from there.

[Olé Olé]

I read a piece this morning stating that the new manger likes his full backs to step into midfield. Given that O'Connor can play right back and midfield, maybe he can become an option? Seems like he has a lot of work to do. A loan is more plausible for both of them.

[samhaydenjr]

Very promising result from the Reading v West Ham game: Conor Coventry scored his second goal of pre-season, Darren Randolph played the first hour, Mipo Odubeko played the last half-hour and Armstrong Oko-Flex played the first half: https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/...on-win-reading

Well talk about a good first impression - Coventry played two 60-minute friendlies against MK Dons - Ricardo Dinanga started the first game and scored in the opening minute: https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2021/jul...es-vs-mk-dons/

Neglected to check on Brentford yesterday - Alex Gilbert played 30 minutes against Borehamwood: https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/202...tm_medium=link

[elatedscum]

Thanks for the updates Sam and Tets and everyone else

[CSAD]

Re the Celtic contingent, Connell was actually named in the 23 man squad for the CL qualifiers,

https://www.the42.ie/leigh-griffiths...99669-Jul2021/


Wasn't on bench for last nights game so could well have been injured. He does seem to be in the thinking so lets see. O'Connor and Afolabi don't seem to be anyway near the first team, and more than likely are surplus to requirements at this stage. O'Connor had a decent loan to L2 and would probably get another one, and that's where he should be heading to and building from there.

Hopefully both get out before things get any worse.

[elatedscum]

Is Kelleher very injury prone ? He seems to miss a lot of opportunities through injury.

Back in full training yesterday. Video on LFC TV today of the training with someone comparing him to Tafferell and Milner heard commenting at one point that he's like an octopus and later Van Dijk comparing him to Dida. Think there are about 9 or 10 saves he makes on camera, just training but positive.

Hopefully he starts tomorrow in their next friendly...

[Olé Olé]

At this point, is it fair to say he is a great shot stopper and very good passer and that he can be a top level keeper if he can prove himself at set pieces? Simplistic I know. I'm not very familiar with the art of goalkeeping but those are the three areas that strike me when I watch him i.e. his saves, his kick outs and passes and his hesitance with corners.

[samhaydenjr]

Well at least Parrott got a run-out against Colchester, playing the last 25 minutes: https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/new...-match-report/

Meanwhile, Nathan Collins took his bow for Burnley against Salford: https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/...-season-opener

[tetsujin1979]

Ryan Johansson came off the bench to score the winner for Seville against Las Palmas
Skip to 2:00 below

[Diggs246]

The keeper had no chance!

But I have a feeling he will be a very handy player for the senior team