CliftonCliff

2 hours ago, BS3_RED said:

Safe to say that the 2nd Iraq war was more to do with fictional WMD's than terror.

and oil…

2 minutes ago, eardun said:

Fitness mainly. First 90 mins for the players. Been impressed with the work rate of the team to be fair. Plus I think you can see that we are championship standard by the way we are playing v a league 2 side. 

Absolutely right. I thought Joe Williams was starting to show the benefits of getting an injury-free (so far) pre-season under his belt. Had a busy game today, which was encouraging to see. I would love to think that we might yet see the player that we signed when he joined from Wigan, before all his fitness problems.

Wouldn't get too excited about the goal tally - it simply reflects the quality of the opposition. Just about getting minutes into the legs at this stage, though that said, it never does  confidence any harm to bang a few in. The remaining friendlies might tell us a bit more. In the meantime, you can only beat what's put in front of you, and they've certainly done that.

Just now, INCRED said:

It makes you wonder with all the transfer speculation and bids, why bother playing and planning these tactical positions if he is going to leave - or maybe not??

I have never been entirely convinced he would leave this summer and I'm still not. They are playing him in the way they are - in my opinion - as part of our preparations, because, for now at least, they expect him to be part of the team.

Just now, eardun said:

You have the first! 

As with the Swindon game, there is clearly an emphasis on trying to get Scott into more attacking and potentially goal-scoring positions.

Hat Trick Wells (1 pen). Definitely his day.

4-0 now with a very well worked team goal finished by Vyner. Lovely interchange between Scott and King. City look like they could beat this lot in their sleep.

3-0

Wells yet again. I know it's hard to judge on these pre-season warm-up games and, like the Swindon match, City do look far too strong for the opposition, but that said, Nakhi really has had a very good first half. 

1 minute ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Wells-Bell

Assist-Goal.

Happened v Swindon too, nice problem to have Wells v Conway as the striker with a possible Wells-Bell linkup emerging.

Yep, good to see. As I type, Wells just had a second goal ruled out for offside, as well.

2 minutes ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

2-0 Wells

Nakhi looking very lively. One very good through ball for Bell to score, a well taken goal and, a moment ago, an impressive solo run - robbed of a second goal by a last moment challenge. 

2 minutes ago, UpTheReds said:

Scott hits the bar again!

Got into potential scoring positions maybe five, six times in 60 minutes. OK, finishing not quite there, but the fact that he had so many goal attempts gives a strong hint as to how we might see him used if he remains here for the coming season. Get him scoring maybe 7-8 in the season and the transfer value starts to rise still further.

46 minutes ago, maxjak said:

I so hope that NP is right?    Because If i was a Prem Manager (As if? Ha!) i would snap him up.  He's a future probable England  midfielder, even captain, with at least 13 years of professional football ahead of him....what is there not to like?  He is a snip at 25 Mill ......IMHO?  Which ever club/clubs miss out will rue the day.

I’m as much an admirer of Scott as anyone else: he’s by far the best young prospect that I’ve seen in my six decades or so of following City. However, I do think we’re sometimes in danger of getting a bit carried away. Predicting the course of a young player’s career is not an exact science and even the experts don’t always get it right - Stephen Caulker, Deli Alli…. Sometimes factors come into play that nobody can foresee. The lad hasn’t turned 20 yet. It’s a good job he seems to be very level-headed for his age, because there are some very heavy expectations hanging over him. Let’s see how he goes next season: he’ll come in for some pretty close attention from the opposition after all the media exposure he’s getting. Not that he wasn’t a marked man before, but in the unlikely event that anyone wasn’t aware of him until recently, they certainly will be now.

3 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

It’s on Sky Tv planner.

Its also on my TV’s Freeview planner….16:45 programme start.

Thanks, Dave. Don't know why it hasn't updated on my Sony smart TV, which is of recent manufacture and reasonably high- spec.

Just now, chinapig said:

See @Markthehornpost above.

Sorry, I missed that and had just spotted it when your post landed, but thanks very much for the heads-up, anyway. 

2 hours ago, INCRED said:

Channel 4 at 5pm today if you want to watch the final 

I have read this elsewhere on the thread, but when I check the schedules on the my smart TV's programme guide it is not showing, which seems odd. Can I ask where people have seen that C4 is screening this game?

2 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

 

Yep, you just have to sign up/in 

https://www.uefa.tv/match/live/243057/2036148

Straightforward. Did it just before KO. Quality (of the stream, that is, not the game itself) distinctly unpromising at first, but quickly settled down and has been quite satisfactory.

Apart from one or two very brief moments from Portugal, England appear to be in almost complete control. Playing some very slick, confident, possession-based football. Lovely bit of one-touch stuff to set up the goal. Worth a watch.

England just scored an absolute cracker of a team goal. 1-0

Strong bench.

2 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

They have undoubtedly found a way of getting good results but that’s the kindest thing you can say.

4-1 now, by the way Kion Etete of Cardiff, he makes Bas Savage look like Van Basten, absolute stranger to the ball, just a tall bloke who runs around, shocking player.

I do, on the whole, agree with those who say league tables don’t lie, especially over a 46 game season, but SU are a win-ugly, grind out results sort of team who often rely pretty heavily on a strong element of physicality to get them through games. If they finish second and go up, fair play to them, but I can’t say I’d relish watching them every week.

7 minutes ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

 

It’s odd because they’re not, but I do agree whenever I’ve seen them I’ve thought how on earth are they where they are(?) it just goes to show pretty/fast football isn’t the be all and end all.

7 minutes ago, redkev said:

You may be right , but they were shite at the gate , thought we absolutely bossed the game , 

both managers thought so aswell .

they are the championship bullies but get away with it 

Kind of the points I was trying to make. I have even seen a few comments from their own fans expressing surprise at their league position. Having said that, I have just watched them score a very well taken goal… 2-1

Anyone watching this? Poor game, from what I’ve seen of it. Not much quality on show from either side. You’d expect Cardiff to be underwhelming, but SU look very ordinary. Not the first time this season I’ve seen them and thought they are over-achieving. On this evidence, I would fancy us to give them something to think about.

2 minutes ago, italian dave said:

The legacy of four years of Alex Neill still in evidence?? I never had Lowe down as that sort of manager? 

Yes, I wondered about that too. Bit strange, isn’t it? Maybe it’s just become ingrained in the culture of the club under the previous regime. Will be interesting to see if Lowe makes any attempt to change that over time.

27 minutes ago, gl2 said:

Mr Strouds been busy 6 yellow cards first half, including Mr Brownhill whos been putting himslf about, if you could turn a few of them into reds would be good

Couple of Norwich suspensions would certainly help our cause, but maybe we won’t need the extra assistance. Norwich are 3-0 down now and, whilst they have some good players and are up against a very strong side today, they look short of confidence and self-belief.
 

A lot depends on our game this afternoon. There is a bit of a feel-good factor about us at the moment, and if we go into the Norwich game with some momentum on the back of a positive result against Preston, I would fancy us to take at least a point. First things first, though: a win at Deepdale is long overdue.

5 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

We did that at their place and Conway had a golden chance early on plus we put them under a lot of pressure.

So many teams at all levels trying to play like this these days, arguably with keepers and defenders who don’t have the ability to do it well - and safely. We’ve seen Atkinson, O’Leary and Naismith, among others, cause self-inflicted damage in the same manner. Watching it is not good for the blood pressure, when it’s your own team doing it, but I’m always encouraged when opponents try it on, for precisely the reasons you mention.