A lot of the youngsters impressed me. Wisdom, Sama, Shelvey, Sterling and Suso all fitted in and didn't look out of place.

Should any of them start in the first game? No, I don't think so but they certainly gave themselves a chance to get a few games this season.

Robinson, Pacheco and to a lesser extent Suso were my picks.

Adorjan wasn't given much time but looked like he needs more time to develop his undoubted talent.

I was disappointed by Wisdom's passing, I think it needs to improve a lot for BR to keep him.

Shelvey was very good with the ball but lazy without it, not going to judge too harshly in the heat for that though.

Spearing

Just joking I have to agree with Sama. I have been left a tad disapointed from Sterling and Suso, I wanted to see more.

I thought Sama was good and surprisingly looked better a level up than when I've seen him in the ressies. Sterling is progressing and it might be wise to loan him out like we did with Shelvey, who was the pick for me.

I think it showed we have a lot of talented youngsters, but that none of them are really ready just yet to have an extended run in the first team.

There is a lot of hysteria about some of them, but we have to remember they are under 20 (apart from Pacheco, its make or break time for him) and there are not many players who play regularly in top 8 Premier League teams at that age.

Suso is only 18 and Sterling 17.

They are very young, and need to be allowed to develop into first team players.

Ryan Bertrand is a good example. Only at 22 has he began to establish himself properly in the Chelsea first team squad. Danny Welbeck another who didn't properly break through at Man United until 21.

There is always the odd Rooney or Fabregas, but these are exceptions and most players are not ready at that age.

Shelvey, Robinson & Sterling all looked promising to me. Pacheco also did well and reminded us that he does have talent.

Suso showed glimpses of what he can do but went missing against Roma, Sama looked solid, and although not a youngster I thought Jones looked solid in goal.

Pre season friendlies mean sod all though. It was good to see the one/two touch passing approach the manager wants to implement and I was delighted to see our defensive line being 10 - 15 yards further up the pitch, which allows our midfielders to press. The shap of the team looked ok, but the usual lack of a cutting edge in the final third will need to be addressed by the manager and FSG this summer.

There are loads of postives and that Morgan could be decent?

Shelvey has shown his worth and has huge potential, then we take a look at Sama too all very promising!

But for me it's Sterling who looks like he could make an impact, he's so confident with the ball and makes goo attacking decisons, he makes the right runs more often than not and is away if a team mate has better space than him!

All I say is that his crossin and strength need to come on, but apart from that hopefully he stays and keeps watch on downings shoulders!!

Also ibe is a very raw player and of course our young Hungarian goalkeeper too

Agreed

I feel a bit sorry for Pacheco as ge was written of at about the same age as Suso is now, players all mature at different ages and only the truly exceptional can make it at 17. Even then I don't remember players like Iniesta playing for Barca at that age.

Just checked, Iniesta made is debut at 18 for Barca, but only played as a regular at 20, so going from that Suso is on course.

Iniesta was 18 when he made his debut, but didn't become a regular until he was 20.

Looks like we Wiki'd at the same time

Let's hope our youth gets first team action this season! Where ever that would be?

Shelvey without doubt.

I wasn't overly impressed with Sterling. Robinson and Flannagan were ok and Pacheco was... Well... Just Pacheco.

Would be nice to see some of the young lads play in Europa though. Agreed, some are not ready, but then they are only young so it's expected. They could come on leaps and bounds in competitive games surrounded by some of our top players IMO.

Righteous, great minds eh?

I was impressed with Sama too, Pacheco was good in training and good when he was on, probably our best player vs Toronto imo. Shelvey seemed a bit more confident, seemed greedy at times though. Robinson was alright.

Enrique was woeful, constantly out of position and gave the ball away too much, failed to get back and track his man (lennon) for example.

I don't think he has the best footballing brain, probably why hes left out of the Spanish squad come to think of it. If we are expecting him to push up expect us to be caught out on the left thats all i will say.

Enrique is too slow to clock on to his runners, sometimes he has the pace to get himself out of trouble but others I worry about him in this system i really do.

Enrique is too slow to clock on to his runners, sometimes he has the pace to get himself out of trouble but others I worry about him in this system i really do.

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Agree with this, one of the problems with a new manager is that players like Enrique were never bought to fit into BRs system. If BR does stay on for a few years there will be quite a few of this currant squad that will need to be moved on.

Agree with this, one of the problems with a new manager is that players like Enrique were never bought to fit into BRs system. If BR does stay on for a few years there will be quite a few of this currant squad that will need to be moved on.
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I still maintain the hope he can adapt, most of them cost a lot of money and like BR said you expect them to be able to play in any system. Early doors and all that, im hoping players like Enrique can adapt but im not sure he has the footballing brain for it.

Shelvey has been my favorite player he looks so comfortable in possession, does not give the ball away often, always looking for something to happen and trys to play the game the right way, the more I see of him the more I see a young Steven Gerrard apart from when Gerrard broke through he was scoring screamers on a regular basis and had a bit more about him, but thats no dig on Shelvey as I feel he can get himself up to a very high level in the game if he keeps progressing the way he is...

I think Shelvey will be the best of the lot this season.

Sterling will start to get more chances hopefully as well.

Shelvey prob go on loan if Allen comes in though.

I want Pacheco to get back into the picture. Think he's a decent young lad.

Shelvey by a country mile was our best player, not just best youngster. I agree that he always seesm to be looking for the ball, looking to make something happen. Watching him he also seems to want to be directing traffic whether he has the ball or not. I see a great future for him.