disappointing result but here are a few observations about the game.
Biggest plus point was Wanyama's performance. The lad looked strong, athletic, good control, some nice tackles and a real physical asset in the middle of the park, but he can really play a bit too. Going to be a big player for our club over the next few seasons. A star in the making.
Charlie Mulgrew was cool calm and collected under pressure. Hardly a misplaced pass the whole game, and showed some nice controlled play in tight positions. Easily our best defender on the pitch tonight. Won MOM award.
Unfortunately none of the trialists really had the chance to shine. Mphela was given Murphy as a strike partner and it was totally unproductive for the African who showed some nice touches but with the big Irishman in tow (literally) it was always an uphill battle.
Lacny was in the same position but when Sammy came on for Murphy there seemed much more understanding between the strikersand cutting edge to the team as a whole. Both strikers had good chances to score, Lacny with a flashing header and Sammy who drilled a cutback over the bar. Lacny looked like he had pace to burn and his skilful style seemed to compliment the Big Greek's style much better than Murphy.
Pletikosa really seemed to sell the goal from the free kick. Badly positioned he was unable to keep a quite centrally positioned ball out. Made amends somewhat in the second half when he made a decent save from a one-on-one. Overall it wasn't easy to forget the free kick and feel he was totally to blame for a goal which should have been dealt with quite easily.
Matthews played left back till Twardzik came on for Cha. Looked very much out of place there. Cha solid. Maloney was his usual ineffectual self. Must have photos of Lennon, how else do you explain his presence on the field of play at CP? The sooner he goes the better. Brown usual huff and puff but little else in the middle. Forest seemed to come to life when Sammy ans Lacny were up front. Their movement and pace created options for the winger who had the Wolves left back turning himself inside out to try and stop him. Majstorovic looked dominant in the first half but seemed to tire in the second leading to a string of situations where he was either making bad decisions or ball watching as the Wolves players ran off him.
Overall a mixed bad. Some players still need to get up to speed. some players shouldn't be played out of position and some players shouldn't be played at all.
Just Back From The Wolves Game
posted on 28/7/11
From reading others peoples comments big Wanyama started slow and was a bit clumsy but great as the game went on. Sounds good!
Dont think Pletikosa is going to get his contract now, cant afford to make mistakes on trial.
posted on 28/7/11
Rangers...SPL Champions 2011/12......
....Malmo or no Malmo....Wolves or no Wolves......
.............start getting used to it bhoys.
posted on 28/7/11
NoName - from where i was sitting Wanyama looked anything but clumsy. A big lad you might expect him to be, but his movement and aggression coupled with his touch and his decision making makes me believe we will be speculating on the Man Utd's and Arsenal's of football sniffing around this boy in the not too distant future.
posted on 28/7/11
Jeez that's a big statement Dark. He must be good...
posted on 28/7/11
Willie had my nephew up from London with me at the game who wouldnt know a celtic player if he met one. Even he picked him out just before half time saying he was our best player. Of course it's too early to make a rational judgement, but the kid looks like a real find to me and if we were told tomorrow that Kayal had signed for an EPL club, I for one wouldn't now be overly concerned.
posted on 28/7/11
Think it's a bit silly to be saying that you wouldn't be bothered if Kayal left because we have Wanyama there.
Sure, this boy might be the real deal. But you can't tell that after a game and a bit.
Calm down and remember just how good Kayal has been for us. It would be a massive blow if he left us.
OP - Looks like quite a good report on the players there.
I was thinking the same about Brown when I was watching it last night (online, not at the game) He doesn't have the same ability as Kayal, Ledley or Ki. That makes his shortcommings more obvious. He is however, a very good player to have at right midfeild.
But it just doesnt work for him at centre-mid. Now with Wanyama in you'd imagine his chances would be limited in there.
Every time I've seen Mattews he's looked very impressive. Looks to have unlimited energy supplies, kind of like Cha, but he's a decent footballer aswell. For me, it's a matter of time until he makes the right back spot his own.
Majstorovic looks some way from lasting 90 minutes. Which would explain the use of Loovens at the weekend (when Hibs had O'Connor up top Lennon expected a physical battle)
I'd expect Mulgrew in there ahead of Loovens until big Dan is fit though.
I think the keeper has possibly ruined his chances of a contract now, but he might just get another chance at the weekend. Looks fairly certain that Cervi won't make it at Celtic, so if this boy has anything about him we'll probably end up signing him.
I wouldn't mind us signing either of the strikers that we had in on trial, but only if it wasn't at a high cost. They look good, but not good enough to be blowing a lot of money on.
Kind of a weird game last night, almost a Celtic XI with the trialists and new signings.
Taking that into consideration, I though we did reasonably well. Unlucky to lose the game.
posted on 28/7/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 28/7/11
dark skies
I am not sure we were at the same game? anyway its all about opinions and here is my 2 pence worth.
defence- Mathews was very impressive at left back and showed he is versitile and has good turn of speed. Will be our number 1 right back before end of season. Maj shouldn't be in our first eleven he should be used as back up to wilson and Mulgrew who was great last night.
Midfield- Forest was motm and must be close to making the right mid spot his own. Commons looks over weight needs more game time. Brown was played in centre mid last night and proved again he is far better at right mid. Wanyama was very poor in first 10-15 minutes he was caught on the ball 4 or 5 times in that period as he tried to get used to the pace of the game. As the game went on he went from strength to strength but to say after one game you believe man utd and arsenal will be sniffing is just laughable. Let's give the lad time to settle to his surroundings.
the trialists i felt sorry for giving little time to prove themselves however i believe we will sign the keeper today although he was at fault for the goal. Mphela looked better of the 2 strikers and would like to see more of him worked hard and was unlucky with a header. Lachny (sp) was very disappointing he looked like a mini samaras to me, full of running lots of pace but no positional sense or first touch.
The Maloneys, Cha, Murphy, should be shown the door with a few others.
posted on 28/7/11
I only watched the first half, but have to say I though Wanyama was awful. Gave the ball away on about 5 occasions, and looked very slack in general. It must have been some turn arouond to begetting these rave reviews?
posted on 28/7/11
Gave the ball away on about 5 occasions, and looked very slack in general. It must have been some turn arouond to begetting these rave reviews?
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It was mate, he was pretty solid in the second half and showed some nice touches. Looks very strong as well.