25 Jul 2026 20:33:06
So today’s second preseason friendly, I thought Aznou had a good game and George was good, Branthwaite was class again for the half he played. Tim looked as though he was playing within himself and, while effective, not his usual game, quite by his standard.
No Garner, Ndyai, or Hackney. Obviously no Pickford with his distribution but the two keepers did well so all in all extra minutes in the legs for the squad which is what it’s about, if we’d won 4-0 again I’m sure many would be saying it was only Bolton we should be beating them.
Bolton posed a different challenge today they were more physical and we handled it well. We were knocked off possession but we won it back and they posed no threat so again good run out and minutes in the legs.
Good to see the kids getting a run out and a chance to show what they can do.
I am sure by the time we play the last preseason game the team will look completely different and be sharp and firing on all cylinders.
Hopefully by then we’ll have Grealish back, Lewis, Cuffy and D’ju signed up.
COYB UTFT
25 Jul 2026 22:06:58
Aznou looked really good again. I hope Moyes gives him some game time. Branthwaite was excellent. We are a different team with him in the side.
25 Jul 2026 22:53:00
Let's not get carried away here. We were playing a very ordinary Bolton side who were in League 1 last year.
Our performance was pretty dire. We are useless in possession, and we create nothing. People talk about George as if he is the new wonder boy, but I never saw him go past his man once - always cutting inside and, more often than not, passing backwards.
I thought our performance was totally depressing and there's no evidence, at this stage, of any progress from last year. We need some inspiration and creativity - please!
26 Jul 2026 11:38:27
Just watched the game. A typical 2nd fixture friendly against a lower league club who are always back in earlier and further along their summers than top flight and so are generally much fitter if not as good.
I'm never a fan of being a moaner at pre season or friendlies, and I'm posting only about this Aznou lad. I can clearly see why he didn't get a chance last season. He's alright, actually a bit of fresh air going forward yesterday, what with our lack of creativity, but nobody seems to remember how many times he loses the ball and is then out of position. He's also very, very small, and though I disagree with the bots on DM's case, this is one time where I'll join em, he ain't a DM player. Now could he do a job on the wing? I'm not sure his final product is actually much to shout about either.
Lots of forward runs (mostly into dead ends) and few crosses, of which 1 was decent. When you have a squad with obvious problems, fans seem to wish for any solution. He's a long way from EPL ready. We need a overhaul of the fullbacks, period, and this kid needs a loan or a sale. I can't see he will ever make it in a back 4 in this league. He got a lot of minutes last summer too. He's gonna be a red herring for the moaners again. It's a physical league, and we are a club that's always leant into that and like bricksh99houses in the backline. He's totally wrong profile, I don't get why he's here or who signed him. Unless the plans are to go 3 at the back and wing backs, but that would be a radical departure for DM and the club historics. I personally would love us to go 3 at the back. This rebuild is a long way off.