afar

When everyone is fit I think we have 3 weak spots in the team, although I think we can resolve one with better team selection. Although Colo was excellent against Manure, we all know that that form isn't going to be maintained over the season. LB is still a weak spot, we could easily upgrade. And Colback for me is the weak link in the centre, although I would like to see us try someone else in that role, maybe DeJong. It's a top half of the table squad for sure, thin in some areas, so vital we keep them all fit. What will be interesting though is if we drop into the relegation zone after the weekend, which as it's Arsenal is entirely possible how they cope, the longer we go without that first PL win of the season, the more pressure mounts on the squad.

Good result and a decent performance I thought. I'm not one to tear into some players like a lot on here do, but the two worst performances went to this board two least favourite players. Obertan was dreadfully unproductive and a shear liability in defence. Colback gave the ball away a number of times, again ineffective, one of his worst performances since he came here. Thought Colo was excellent, Taylor was serviceable apart from one incident where Hernadez should have scored. Very impressed with the work rate of Mitrovic, anita was very tidy and Perez put in a good shift. Definitely a lot better than the Swansea game.

So in the 9 games McClaren has been in the job we've got a record of: 2 wins 2 draws and 5 defeats, the two wins being against non league Gateshead and the might of Sacremento Republic. Now I know that we shouldn't read too much into pre-season results but with two almost inevitable defeats coming up, I would have expected a little better in terms of results. I think how we play in the next couple of games will be key to what kind of season we'll have, like I said I'm sure we'll lose them both, but if we go down fighting then perhaps we'll have a chance to finish mid table otherwise it going to be another season like last one I think.

You mustn't remember Andreas Andersson. I do, and I even put him ahead of Gouffran, ffs even Frank Pingel, Billy Askew, Wayne Ferreday et al offered something, some glimmer of hope that they would possibly effect the game in a positive way. Gouffran doesn't, you are playing with 10 men once he steps a foot on the pitch. Obertan has had his moments, they are very rare but he has them in certain games. There are no moments now for Goffran, it's debatable in my mind that he was ever any good or just pardewed.

Gouffran is the single most unproductive individual to have ever donned a NUFC shirt in my living memory. He is not so much crap as offering absolutely nothing to any side he is picked in. If he is picked on the left, you know for sure you may as well write off that side of the pitch from a production point of view, and there is not even an offset by making that flank stronger defensively either. On the scale of players I would want out of this club,only Williamson should be higher priority to flush away.

Forgot they were playing tonight. Oh well looks like I didn't miss much.

I'm under doctors orders to get down to the smaller size, got to get back under 200lbs (not much to go), but ideally since I'm barely 6', I want to drop a further 20 from there to get back to my regular weight (well as I was until I got married) I have an XL in last year's home shirt and it's like wearing a tent, a L from the previous season though is a bit snug on me. Adidas sizes may be different may need to try on a MLS (I'm not putting another PL team one on) shirt at a local store to get some idea as Anderson suggests.

Hats off to these guys, gonna get me one when they are available again, unless they still have fat bastard size, I'm kinda between a L and an XL though so never know which size to get.

And you have a picture of him as your avatar

Maybe it was nerves but my god he was wretched, reminded be of Boumsong's first game against Yeading.

Well I think we've learned a few of things tonight. Satka is not going to make it. Aarons is going to be a star. Gouffran and Cisse are so fucking useless it's unbelievable they still get games and we're still hopeless at set pieces.

There are a lot of players out there tonight who had a chance to impress the coaching staff and they've been pathetic 4-1 against a reserve team in a weak league, it just beggars belief really.

We need to sign that nunchuck or whatever guy, he's killing us with his set pieces. This is fucking awful.

I can forgive Fergie, ffs he's as far from A CB as could be, Satka though has been downright awful, that kid's got no future in the game. Gouffran has been his usual awfulness, Sissoko has continued his play from the previous game, of just being so careless with the ball, Cisse too fucking hell he's shocking we need rid of that guy.

I don't care if this is preseason, or the fact we have a completely messed up backline. This is still not acceptable and totally embarrassing.

This is great news, if true, wow things have changed quickly. If we get this one "over the line" we got three quality players in, in positions of great need (well lets face it, every position was a position of need). Still need more but starting to look a lot more healthy.

Since it looks like we are doing our 11's, based on current squad mine is: Krul Janmaat Taylor Laschelles Haidara Abeid Wijanldum Sissoko Aarons De Jong Mitrovic Bench: Darlow Dummett Colo Colback Cabella Perez Cisse I think Sissoko is difficult to place, if we assume De Jong is an automatic, perhaps they are both fighting over one position. I'm not convinced about playing Perez on the right we need a RW and 2 CBs desperately, then Mclaren will have a few tough decisions to make. But we also need to clear out a lot of dead wood too.

Exactly. I'd love to think we could have 10 years of him banging in goals for us if he's quality, but if he his he will be gone in a flash. I don't have a problem with this approach if it then leads to you bringing in more talent with the money made and steadily progressing your club. I think that's how spuds are where they are with their approach (up until wasting the Bale money of course). Unfortunately we had this with Carroll where we sold a player for a crazy amount, the following year we did invest some of that money wisely and finished 5th but really missed an opportunity. Unfortunately that situation just made them think you can do things on cheap. Two good signings so far, credit where it's due on that but we need a lot more, still worried that we've not bought these players early enough and missed out on valuable preseason prep.

I know it's only pre-season and the results really don't matter but in our 3 preseason games against very weak opposition we've scored just one goal from open play. We needed a penalty to beat Gateshead and a superb own goal to beat the might of Sacramento. We've not created nearly enough chances in the two games I've seen. We've been ok at retaining possession but we've lack that creativity to create a decent amount of chances. When we have created our finishing has been poor. What we need to see tonight is turning that possession dominance we've had into goals. I think in an ideal world you want to see your preseason games get gradually better, until the final game where the level should be similar to what to expect first game of the season. I thought despite the result we looked ok against Atlas, but took a downward turn in the last game even though we won it.

I do think this lad is going to be a star for us, he needs to be starting these friendlies right now ahead of the likes of Gouffran and Obertan. Just got to prove that last year's injuries were not indicative of him. There's a huge amount of talent there could be the perfect supplier for our new signing.

What's your thoughts on the signing man? Be interested to hear you views.

Why do you hope he's wrong? I'd be shocked if we pushed the boat out so far lol I agree but assuming he's right I think we need a LB more than a striker, especially if the striker is Austin who would be wasted now we have Mitrovic IMO. Not sure there should be a priority for a LB, over those positions. LB is not as impactful a position and one we have in desperate need that CB, winger and another striker. Personally I'm fine with Haidara and Dummett back him up for now, if we have money left over to upgrade then fine but I'd rather see those other positions upgraded first.

Why do you hope he's wrong? I'd be shocked if we pushed the boat out so far lol If we could pull that off I would be staggered tbh, would really round out the squad.

What happened to the money ? Did he get it back, did blatter keep it, was it real, looks like US dollars ?

I was desperate for Roro to score personally. Would have been a real highlight. As for the football, Aarons and Ayoze were bright spots, but I'm starting to get the worrying feeling that McClaren's first eleven against Southampton will be very, very disappointing. I'm not sure about Perez's performance, flattered to decieve too many times and really should have buried that chance aarons put on a plate for him. If McLaren's first XI is the team that started tonight, then we are in for a long season. Aarons surely has to be on the left, both Colback and Anita need upgrading, Cisse is tragic, Williamson even more so. I think we need too see at least 4 replacements from tonight's starting eleven to have any chance of winning game 1.