PSF: FC Winterthur v West Ham Utd: match thread

[I am Lawro]

If we intend to play that set up in the PL we need to spend £50m on two central midfielders.

Absolutely. I've been saying this all summer. We do not have the players to play this system at the moment.

[TommyHammer]

The whole point of pre-season is for players to get fit, and even more importantly, for Pellegrini to assess how he wants to set up etc.

[Peaches]

Also thought Holland looked like a first team player

[SullySpecial]

It’s quite staggering how far Oxford has regressed over the last few years. He’ll never be the next Oscar Borg at this rate.

[hammer1975]

If we intend to play that set up in the PL we need to spend £50m on two central midfielders.

Seri and Carvalho very unlikely, Sturaro?

I still believe we should play 3/5 at the back personally

[falcon hairspray]

That kit is awful. Looks like Chelsea late 70s early 80s.

[the celestial insect]

It’s quite staggering how far Oxford has regressed over the last few years. He’ll never be the next Oscar Borg at this rate.

You can't always tell much if anything at this stage. Some players take these friendlies more seriously than others. But it does feel as though there's background we don't know re: Oxford. I can't believe that someone that highly rated, and wanted in Germany, suddenly becomes unable to get many games even for Reading. Odd.

[mattyD]

If we intend to play that set up in the PL we need to spend £50m on two central midfielders.

Not just that formation but any you care to name. Doesn't matter who we get, if we don't get a couple of decent CM's we're ****ed..... and not specialist defensive midfielders, real CMF.

[Pob!]

Every ****ing year it's the same ..

People reading far to much into a game based on getting fitness up..

[MorthwylMawr]

Be nice if some years we'd get out fitness up whilst beating someone though eh

[Faithless]

[Puff Daddy]

Noble and Cullen in our midfield. Is it any surprise we lost?

[the celestial insect]

Sometimes I wish they just played these pre-pre-season games behind closed doors. Proper friendlies, fine.

[Bobby Moore Out]

I just thought that it was interesting that we started with two cities and a country (well, strictly a province).

[SirStoneyOfBow]

Somewhat of a meltdown by some on Twitter. :lol:
Oh West Ham, please never change.

[only1post]

Noble and Cullen in our midfield. Is it any surprise we lost?

While Noble & Cullen were in the midfield we drew.

[Ariksan]

Back from the game and children tucked into bed.

I couldn't give a toss about the result. It's one week into training.
Winterthur gave it their best. For most of their players this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to play against a Premier League team. They deserved their win today.

What was interesting to me was the body language of the players. Despite the personal errors, most academy and fringe players looked committed, eager to prove themselves. On the other hand most of the senior players looked like they were intentionally holding back. Perhaps even instructed to do so.
Except for Noble who lead by example in the second half and was one of the only players actually trying to set up creative play.
It looked to me like the team had no tactical instructions, There was no game plan so to speak, just a very basic training game to give the players a break from the daily training routine at the camp.
So for me it was a nice day out with my family, an opportunity to take my 3 year old daughter to her first live football game.

[funky chicken]

Perhaps Pellegrini is going to experiment per game in pre-season, but I thought it was interesting to see Rice play centre half, despite all the noises of him being moved to midfield next season.

Holland to possibly be the next youngster to break into the first team? Was very impressed with him. Could save us money in regards to needing to sign a winger.

[Ricardo]

Back from the game and children tucked into bed.

Do you know if there was an official programme produced for the match mate?

[Ariksan]

Yes, in German though.
Available online:
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