Bailey

I will start worry about it if we are still in this position with 1 hour to go before the deadline closes! We do need some more bodies in the squad but this is where the window really starts to hot up again after a slight lull. Utd will start selling and buying again and that will trigger off activity on its own, let alone the many other clubs looking to make some Fi Al purchases or loans. Plus fwiw I think people are reading far too much into this preseason especially given the impact of the WC.

He was all over the place to be fair to him and he was playing others into trouble which is more or a worry.

They didn't look fitter, they were just sharper. Like I said before they treated it as a league game and our attitude was very much preseason. At the end of the game we were coming on the strongest so I think we are ok on the whole fitness wise. I think both played Sat (or at least Pienaar did) so they are probably just in the rotation to play again Saturday. Unless they are stated as injured I wouldn't read anything into it. Browning was playing LB because that's where we needed the cover with Garbutt & Oviedo out and Baines still working his way back. Hibbert needed to come off and without another RB it made sense for Stones to move out there. I think you reading too much into what was a meaningless friendly.

It was noticeable that he didnt get anywhere near the same amount of joy up against Stones. He looked very good but I think Hibbert made him look better.

We had a lot of concentration lapses but at this stage I'm not too worried about it. The players, especially first half, treated it like a pre-season game whereas Celta Vigo were wound up like it was a league game. We did that at the end of the preseason last season and we were fully tuned up for Norwich. I expect us to be a little sharper again against FC Padernborn(?) but I dont think we will start fulling firing until we play Leicester which is exactly how it should be.

Interesting game that! We did some shocking things and we did some really good things. In the ends the scoreline is a little harsh on us because we at least deserved a 2nd in the 2nd half and I think had Lukaku been playing then we would have scored at least one more, for all that Naismith put in a good shift. Some good second half performances once we had settled down and the diamond in midfield with Gibson deeper and McCarthy and Besic breaking worked well. Gibson and Besic both impressed me and Gibson's leadership was good to see. Besic started a little sloppily but he stepped it up and was almost foot perfect for the last 35 mins! Duffy was solid in defence, Stones showed that he should be the stand in RB and Browning actually did pretty well as a LB. He didnt do anything flashy but for a right footed central player he was very solid positionally at LB which highlights a maturity in his game which most wouldnt have at his stage. He was calm in attack and he joined in some nice passing moves too. He needs to work on his final ball if he is going to be a full back but I dont think that will be his future.

Sloppy mistake again towards the end here. Think it was Duffy trying to do too much which is a shame because he has been good tonight.

Nice effort from McGeady. Sharp play again.

Another great move. Barkley pulling strings now he is central.

He is going to be one of those players that does something brilliant and then does something shocking. Frustrating as hell but he will score and create goals.

He really does!

Naismith WTF... Got to finish that!

Oh Dufftster!

I think they were 8th or 9th. Same points as Valencia and only just missed out on Europe. They are very good though. A good team to play in preseason.

Awful challenge! Should be a straight red!

Nice move again!

We have settled into it a bit better now. Starting to creates some half chances.

Besic likes to take a few too many touches for my liking so far.

My fucking lord... What are they playing at. Naismith should have scored at the other end though!

Not the best start from Gibson! Browning left and Stones to RB (for Duffy)

Some interesting subs!

I would like to see Osman and Hibbert off to start with I think, possibly Barry too or Barkley depending on who needs the time most.

Yep I agree. They are rushing us off our feet and instead of picking positive forward passes we are either going backwards or losing the ball.

He has been sold down the river a few times by his team mates though in this game! He could have played the ball first time when he came to him for the goal but once he took a touch he was always in trouble down the ball he was played.

Well that's a first half I wish I hadn't watched. The good news is that when we are set and defending, everything is pretty solid but when we give away sloppy ball, give the opposition overloads all the time, they have absolutely no chance. Some of our decision making is so poor its unreal. We look like a team that knows its preseason, which isnt necessarily a bad thing but you dont want to be getting stuffed by teams that we should be competitive with. We have actually attacked pretty nicely at times, the goal was clinical and we had a second chance not long after that which Barkley should have scored. Since then though it has been poor and switching Osman centrally and Barkley wider just doesnt work. Sad to say it but when the former isnt at the races, we are better off playing with 10 men. There are plenty of negatives, but the one positive for me has been McCarthy, he really started to come alive in the last 30-35 mins which says a lot about his character. Barry and Distin have been decent enough and Barkley has been good and bad, same with McGeady and Stones.