THE SUPER CLARETS vs Lazio ~ Match Thread

[jojomk1]

Hartman looking an excellent addition

[Taffy on the wing]

Hartman reminds me of Maatsen

That has to be a good thing.

[Stacks]

Can’t blame Ekdal on that pen…it was a brutal giveaway by Hannibal. Besides pressing, what does Hannibal offer?

[CJ_Claret]

Terrible play from us, that. Ekdal and Hannibal culpable.

How can you say Hannibal culpable, it was an uncharacteristically shocking pass by Ekdal sold Hannibal short, then Ekdal showed his lack of reaction and speed to get back and blatantly pushed the lazio player.

I think that passage of play highlights where Ekdal may struggle this season. He's usually very tidy with the ball in possession but his lack of pace and slow to reactions may be something to watch out for, specifically playing against better quality forwards.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Toss up between Hartmann and Maatsen who should be ahead in Dutch thinking, but Hartmann been superb so far in all games. Only slight question is the final ball. Top 6 material though.

In a wider sense we look super today, great pressing, caused all kinds of trouble. The front three like a pack of wolves ambushing their prey at great speed.

[Vegas Claret]

we haven't really come out this half

[AlargeClaret]

Anyone have an idea of the quality of the Lazio side ? Is it more or less a 2nd string ?

[AlargeClaret]

The match is live on X in case anyone was t aware

[Procrastinate B]

Now we’re talking!

[Juan Tanamera]

The contrast in comments/opinions for this game is outstanding.

[Taffy on the wing]

Mass subs

[jojomk1]

The contrast in comments/opinions for this game is outstanding.

Which is why they are allowed

Be a boring world if everyone agreed on everything

[whiffa]

Which is why they are allowed

Be a boring world if everyone agreed on everything

No it wouldn't.

[Juan Tanamera]

Which is why they are allowed

Be a boring world if everyone agreed on everything

Aye okay.

[durhamclaret]

The match is live on X in case anyone was t aware

Thanks

[Vegas Claret]

275000 people watching it on X !

[whiffa]

300k viewers at times - https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1vAxRDQenQXGl

[whiffa]

Lazio score, great ball through from Pedro.

[HollandsPies]

Oh dear 0-1

[dvalley69]

Anyone have an idea of the quality of the Lazio side ? Is it more or less a 2nd string ?

Pretty strong XI to me. 1st choice keeper, Romagnoli, Zaccagni (often in Italy squads), Lazzari, Guenduozi (ex-Gunner), Rovella (got from Juventus),Pellegrini. They are all first teamers from what I know.

[Rileybobs]

Our set pieces have been disgusting.

[Procrastinate B]

That’s where we’re going to struggle this season.

[HollandsPies]

Good goal tbh

[Vegas Claret]

been coming tbh, we were the better side first half, them this half.

[dvalley69]

That's precisely our danger in the Prem. Look how quickly they broke. We need to take our chances (something we haven't done today) to have any chance of staying up.

[Buxtonclaret]

That through ball by Pedro was brilliant.

[Pearcey]

Good goal on the break that. A reminder of what top level is about.

[Commy]

Lazio upped their tempo in the second half.

[Jakubs Tash]

How can you say Hannibal culpable, it was an uncharacteristically shocking pass by Ekdal sold Hannibal short, then Ekdal showed his lack of reaction and speed to get back and blatantly pushed the lazio player.

I think that passage of play highlights where Ekdal may struggle this season. He's usually very tidy with the ball in possession but his lack of pace and slow to reactions may be something to watch out for, specifically playing against better quality forwards.

Because at no point was Hannibal’s instinct to protect the ball or defend the situation created by a poor pass. The whole thing was created by Ekdal’s poor pass but Hannibal was weak and didn’t try and save the situation created by Ekdal.

[Swizzlestick]

We’ve done alright overall so far but that goal a reminder what quality players can do in a split second. Class from Pedro

[Colburn_Claret]

We made 7 changes a few minutes before they scored, it's still only a friendly, yet people want to read too much into it.
We've shown a lot of progress, still more to be made but the season hasn't started yet.
Relax

[Pearcey]

Good save, Weiss.

[Rileybobs]

We made 7 changes a few minutes before they scored, it's still only a friendly, yet people want to read too much into it.
We've shown a lot of progress, still more to be made but the season hasn't started yet.
Relax

Again I don’t think people are reading much into it at all. Everyone knows it’s a friendly. But observations can still be made about our strengths, weaknesses and how we are likely to play this season.

[CJ_Claret]

Because at no point was Hannibal’s instinct to protect the ball or defend the situation created by a poor pass. The whole thing was created by Ekdal’s poor pass but Hannibal was weak and didn’t try and save the situation created by Ekdal.

So because Ekdal played a poor pass to Hannibal (who wasn't in a position to receive the ball, while better options were available to Ekdal) its Hannibals fault. Come on now...

As for Hannibal not trying to get his team mate out of the ****, it was Hannibal that tackled back and left a Lazio player on the deck needing treatment

[Ric_C]

Absolute awful refereeing here, whistle non stop

[RVclaret]

Decent workout against a good side. First half impressive, second not as much. Centre midfield still the clear area for improvement, hopefully Ugochukwu is fit and ready for Spurs.

[Pearcey]

There’s certainly been some positives to take from this. Could’ve easily been ahead in the first half. Really good game to send us off into the Prem. New signings to come in and some players to come back to fitness. Onward and upward. UTC.

[FCBurnley]

At least Rovers are losing

[Jakubs Tash]

So because Ekdal played a poor pass to Hannibal (who wasn't in a position to receive the ball, while better options were available to Ekdal) its Hannibals fault. Come on now...

As for Hannibal not trying to get his team mate out of the ****, it was Hannibal that tackled back and left a Lazio player on the deck needing treatment

You’ve not read or understood my post correctly.

Hannibal was weak in the first challenge and then late to the second challenge which is why he made what was actually a poor foul that hurt the Lazio lad.

At no point have I wholly blamed Hannibal. In fact, I made it pretty clear it was Ekdal’s fault on the main. But you take it however you want to.

[Jakubs Tash]

Our set pieces have been disgusting.

Says everything when we have Cullen and Pires taking our set pieces. We’ve not had anyone to deliver a ball since JBG left us. Only person who has come close to having a good dead ball delivery in his fleeting appearances is actually Tresor.

[Vegas Claret]

First half we looked good, created chances, second half would looked like a plucky championship side. Lots of positives to take and also lots of the issues we saw last time at this level. I'm concentrating on the first half performance which I'm happy with.

[Wembley09]

Only a friendly, just like the defeat at Stoke.
What's the point in asking Lazio's lineup etc, only a friendly. Even if it was Lazio's full strength, Seri A is w@nk compared to the PL.

Seen many players, like Chris Smalling go to Seri A and look amazing.. yet in the PL they couldn't get a game.

[Goliath]

In the first half I thought we were a level above anything we showed last season tbh in the way we moved the ball quickly in tight spaces, as well as being tactically more flexible.

2nd half less good but still a decent display. Pretty encouraging all round.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Fantastic today, really good workout in all the right areas - against a better side, but where we are better on the day with home advantage, looking solid on the whole, causing problems, yet punished ruthlessly for minor mistakes by our fringe players and losing the game.

Couldn’t ask for better in terms of what it will do for fitness and learning what to expect this season from opponents.

Takeaways:
— back 5 looked very solid indeed until we switched it around
— pressing was brilliant, caused a top side lots of problems
— Anthony in particular was impressive, plus Hartmann too, that left side looks really good now
— new guys probably have had little pre season so I don’t expect to see them thrown straight in
— don’t like the CFS impact on players if the new seat allocation as implied by the fencing means away fans will be completely behind the goal
— Edwards looked very melancholy, not starting then standing on his own for 2 minutes in the centre circle after the end, hands on hips, I hope there is no issue there as he is vital when teams camp in their own box, less so Foster, Hannibal and Anthony who are better when breaking or pressing

Ultimately though just a training session with little indication who starts next week, apart from the back four / five.

[KRBFC]

Desperately need a right sided centre half and a midfielder capable of scoring a few goals.

[CoolClaret]

In the first half I thought we were a level above anything we showed last season tbh in the way we moved the ball quickly in tight spaces, as well as being tactically more flexible.

2nd half less good but still a decent display. Pretty encouraging all round.

Completely agree.

[AlargeClaret]

A decent enough work out against an average if well drilled Lazio side , they’re still under a transfer type ban aren’t they ? And 7/8th last season .

FWIW I thought we played ok 1st half , although they did allow us space aplenty . I’d like to think we’ll be starting with Edwards and perhaps Lesley in place of Big Josh L.
Hannibal’s an odd one , I often wonder WHAT he actually does, though no doubt about his desire .

Spurs would tear today’s starting XI apart . A few tweaks though could bring us in line . I feel we could be about 3 weeks from Parker’s preferred XI though .

[Newcastleclaret93]

I quite enjoyed that game

Thought Walker looked a level above the rest of our side. A bit of constructive criticism but we have to start being less sloppy on the ball, consistently misplaced simple passes.

On the plus side thought the shape worked well, though at times foster looked very isolated. Anthony still looks our biggest threat. Cullen looked fit and sharp. Also thought Sonne looked very bright at RWB (potentially a good player there)

[CJ_Claret]

You’ve not read or understood my post correctly.

Hannibal was weak in the first challenge and then late to the second challenge which is why he made what was actually a poor foul that hurt the Lazio lad.

At no point have I wholly blamed Hannibal. In fact, I made it pretty clear it was Ekdal’s fault on the main. But you take it however you want to.

Your first post was that they were both culpable, my response and challenge to you was, how can Hannibal take half the blame for not winning a ball that he had no chance of winning?

Then you said he made no effort/didnt have the instict to try and win/defend the bad pass, but in your post above, youre now saying his efforts to win the ball back weren't good enough.

I dont think its me thats getting confused.

It was that pass by Ekdal into a player that wasn't available for the pass, that resulted in us losing possession and ultimately lead to the pen when there were better options available.

[123EasyasBFC]

Walker level above

Esteve was esteve

Hartman another good game

The rest was abit meh.