Mainz v Clarets

[StayingDown4Ever]

Still banging the same old drum

Tell me I’m wrong?

[claret2018]

I’m glad no one’s overreacting and judging our strikers on a few meaningless pre-season friendlies

[StayingDown4Ever]

I’m glad no one’s overreacting and judging our strikers on a few meaningless pre-season friendlies

Been playing friendlies since January have we?

[Bigvince]

Tell me I’m wrong?

I’m not usually one to get into debates with trolls, but in my opinion Foster deserves more time before anyone writes him off!

[Vegas Claret]

'Highlights' here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkdsAf81dd8

[123EasyasBFC]

There is a player there in Foster but in the role he’s being asked to play I just don’t see how he’s ever going to look good on the eye or get in positions to score, he’s way to deep

[Hedontplayforyou]

I think if Foster and Amdouni play together that there could be something special in the works .

[RVclaret]

'Highlights' here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkdsAf81dd8

Larsen was definitely onside for that goal, you can see clearly he was being played on thanks to the grass markings. Lovely move too.

[ksrclaret]

Ignoring the contributions of the Rovers fan for a moment...

I do think we might end up with Amdouni playing as the lone striker in the false nine role. He was absolutely excellent today at dropping between the lines and threading passes through, and even created a few opportunities for himself to have a shot at goal.

I can really see him taking on the role Jay did ever so well in the first half of last season. He's got the pace and technique to really make a mark at PL level, as well as a knack of arriving with an eye for goal.

[BleedingClaret]

Not watching but comments are not favorable. Our first game of the season is in 6 days. Surely VK must know his starting formation for next week but it sounds like a mess right now. Maybe just posters overreacting

You could argue that our first winnable game of the season is in 22 days

[Vegas Claret]

You could argue that our first winnable game of the season is in 22 days

you could BUT remember Forest took a point off City at home last season.

[Targetman]

no idea, no interest in their game whatsoever.

[BleedingClaret]

you could BUT remember Forest took a point off City at home last season.

True but it would be a result of a rearguard action performance, whereas from Villa on and I’m including Spurs Chelsea and Man U I think we’ll be going after teams at home, so I almost see the City game as another 100 minutes of fitness for the most ready 15 outfield players, then 15 days of refining it with A team vs B team type training games

[Vegas Claret]

True but it would be a result of a rearguard action performance, whereas from Villa on and I’m including Spurs Chelsea and Man U I think we’ll be going after teams at home, so I almost see the City game as another 100 minutes of fitness for the most ready 15 outfield players, then 15 days of refining it with A team vs B team type training games

we'll go after every team and will get some spankings along the way. Emery has Villa firing very well, they'll be incredibly difficult to get a result against.

[Cazaris]

I take it back about Larsen being offside after seeing the highlights from the opposite side, must have been a blink and you miss it moment, looked off from where I was sat. Hands up, I was wrong about that. That could have changed the game for sure.

[BleedingClaret]

we'll go after every team and will get some spankings along the way. Emery has Villa firing very well, they'll be incredibly difficult to get a result against.

Our first 5 home games are incredibly tough but I think our approach to city may be different from the other games.
Agreed Villa look very good last year and will likely be better this year

[Vegas Claret]

Our first 5 home games are incredibly tough but I think our approach to city may be different from the other games.
Agreed Villa look very good last year and will likely be better this year

they've looked superb on the counter attack pre-season. This will be a very hard season for us, if we stay up it will be a superb achievement

[Vegas Claret]

I take it back about Larsen being offside after seeing the highlights from the opposite side, must have been a blink and you miss it moment, looked off from where I was sat. Hands up, I was wrong about that. That could have changed the game for sure.

it's not even remotely close, no idea what the lino was doing

[ChrisG]

Kompany said it was not offside when interviewed after the game

I was sat pretty much inline with it and it wasn't offside

[ChrisG]

I couldn’t stop singing “Dean Marney” all afternoon.

Can’t think of anywhere “Mainz” would be pronounced as it has been this afternoon.

Correct pronunciation is "My-ntz" as opposed to "Mains"

[HalifaxClaret]

Amazing how many people still don't understand Pre Season friendlies. I stopped taking any notice of them after we lost to the Isle of Man then won 7 out of the first 8 games in the Championship.

[ClaretTony]

Amazing how many people still don't understand Pre Season friendlies. I stopped taking any notice of them after we lost to the Isle of Man then won 7 out of the first 8 games in the Championship.

But we didn't - the Isle of Man defeat was a year earlier than that in 2000.

Totally agree with you though, win them and we enthuse, lose them and it's all about fitness.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Amazing how many people still don't understand Pre Season friendlies. I stopped taking any notice of them after we lost to the Isle of Man then won 7 out of the first 8 games in the Championship.

For me Halifax it’s not really about the result but more about how we played.

I understand your view, but surely play style and effectiveness of players is worth discussing?

[Nonayforever]

Pre season friendlies are all about getting fit, fine tuning a system, seeing which players fit into which roles etc, but every player and the manager will obviously want to win.
However, I think it is useful to lose a game such as this as it highlights what good players or bad defending can do to a team.
Two of their goals certainly emphasised the need for having a settled and organised defence.

[ChrisG]

Happy to report that the wurst, spicy and plain were both excellent as were the potato wedges. The brezel was pleasingly warm and salty (quiet at the back) and the beer went down very well if a little hoppy

It's very bitter is that Bitburger

[CrosspoolClarets]

Just seen those highlights and very pleasantly surprised by our attacking chances, our dribbling and pace combo looks a lot better than even last season, we just need a clinical edge, time will tell who provides that but at least we have options.

I see us as far better than at least 5 teams on what I have seen so far, especially considering more players seem to be queueing up champing at the bit to come. VK is in a rush. He wants to achieve something quickly, before other jobs lure him away. I feel sure he is targeting a top half finish but he would never admit it. Whether even good teams achieve that needs luck, but first they need good players and good tactics, which we are in the process of getting, as a first step.

Apologies for the optimism.

[Conroysleftfoot]

Good post, really like the last line.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Sat in Frankfurt airport still.

Should be half way to Prague now but Lufthansa has other plans so now going via Vienna and will arrive 4 and a bit hours later

Good job we won eh

[ŽižkovClaret]

Got a couple of toblerones for the food desk (holiday tax) desk at the office.

If I'm delayed much more they might be in peril

[Tribesmen]

Hey if Lufty fecked up don't worry you will get a refund and more than you paid for the flights .

Check it out

[ŽižkovClaret]

Hey if Lufty fecked up don't worry you will get a refund and more than you paid for the flights .

Check it out

Oh I will be doing, just got to get home first

[ŽižkovClaret]

Oooohhhhhhhh Viennnnnaaaaaaa

Only the 45 minutes extra delay here