Bailey

My questions with him are mentally at this stage. Technically he is superb, but in both games he lost the ball early and dived straight into a nasty challenge which was quite impetuous. I imagine that is because he is trying to impress but I can see him doing that in the Derby and getting sent off early!

But they were still training most days. Playing 90 mins is just the tip of the iceberg.

There are a lot of strikers in the Premier League that will wish they were as shit as Kone has been throughout his career.

He has also said that Kone will be fit by the end of Sept so if he is going to be fit and stay fit then we shouldn't need another striker. I can imagine he will still be after a loan though if one becomes available.

Leicester 1 v 2 Everton Barry

I think he is trouble.

Don't forget this is a slightly different case because of the WC and not the norm. In 2010-11 we played 7 preseason games, had less players involved and whilst we beat Norwich we were soundly beaten in our only meaningful friendly. We didn't win in the league until October and other than that month we were poor until Feb. It's amazing we finished 7th but we only had 54 points, 18 less than last season.

I think he is training them both for the day and I still think both will start. It's a different approach but unless anyone else in here has the qualifications he has, I don't think we can really question his methods until after we see the results. Rom looks leaner than I have seen before, so hopefully it's working!

I think both Rom and Mirallas will start.

It was a Sheffield Wednesday XI and our team was kids with Kev and Rom (apparently).

I dont really understand why they are bringing another keeper in and certainly not for that money!

Im hoping the supposed behind closed door friendly they play before next week is going to do the trick!

Well I'm pretty glad that was over. At least against Celta Vigo we finished strongly but other than the goal we barely created a chance.

No I dont think they do either. Nice ball from Besic but not sure what that was from Naismith!

Jesus. Howard should be pushing that wider but it all breaks from McGeady trying to play an almost impossible pass in the far corner when he had other options.

Sliced shot and straight to the Paderborn player. Alcaraz about 2 yards deeper than the rest of the team playing him onside.

I think Chris Long is still a little weak to play on his own up front. He just gets knocked off the ball a little too easily but he can clearly finish!

Naismith on for Pienaar. Looks like Long on the left with Naismith upfront.

That was a microcosm of our preseason. Besic with a sloppy pass to McGeady on the counter, we then won it back and then Hibbert put his 5 yard pass to Besic almost 2 yards wide of where it should have been.

Couple of nice passes already this half from Besic. Much more controlled. McGeady needed to get his head up there.

I just think a lot of them havent got their game heads screwed on and that is where I am hoping we will come on a lot between now and Leicester. Fitness wise we look ok but we just dont look sharp. We are making poor decisions in possession and that is where we have to improve.

Better than the other night but still behind where we should be. Howard has been poor on the whole. He has only had a couple of things to do really and he has given the penalty away before then getting in a mix up with Jags/Hibbert when he probably should have been collecting it. Baines & Jags havent been good but havent been bad. Bainesy has looked like he was improving as the half went on. Alcaraz is the MOTM so far. Really encouraging and he hasnt injured himself yet. Hibbert hasnt been as bad as the other night. I would like to see someone else come on in his place. Barry has been ok but more wasteful than I would like. Besic has disappointed. Passing poor, committing to unnecessary fouls but he has done some good things too. Up and down. McGeady hasnt been in the game. Again he has done some good things but he too has then been wasteful. Pienaar has held the ball up well but he has been very wasteful and a lot of the time he has slowed the play down too much when we could have quickened it up. He hasnt really linked as well as he should have been. Barkley has shown glimpses but nothing more. Im just waiting for him to grab the game by the neck because as soon as he does, he will rip these apart. Long has unfortunately been given absolutely nothing. The turn and finish for his goal was brilliant and he has made some nice runs and turned defenders on a couple of occasions too but he just needs to be given more help from the rest of them.

Hibbert has lost his yard of pace now as well. Barkley really poor today.

That was a very nice move from them and to be fair they are a decent side. Well organised. Some lazy passes going on again. I was hoping we would sharpen a little in that respect.

Yeh he is. Not a lot can be said for the rest of them.