MATCH THREAD: Stoke City vs Everton - Sat 29th July - KO 3pm BST

[Chrismac]

You can bemoan performances but the fact is we have 3 wins from 4 and 3 straight clean sheets from preseason, something that hasn’t happened for a while

Last season - won 2, lost 2
2021/22 - won 3, drew 1, lost 1
2020/21 - won 1, drew 1
2019/20 - won 1, drew 4, lost 1
2018/19 - won 1, drew 2, lost 4
2017/18 - won 2, drew 2
2016/17 - won 3, drew 2, lost 2
2015/16 - won 3, drew 1, lost 3
2014/15 - drew 2, lost 3
2013/14 - won 3, drew 1, lost 3

As long as we add two good attackers then that would be fine (if we weren't basing this on playing 2nd/3rd division teams)

 

[Tommy Chong]

There were times where we looked interested, and at that point the football improved. But, the main takeaway was slow and disinterested play from a few.

Iwobi, who I’ve defended quite relentlessly, was a major culprit of that today. Hopefully, we iron this out over the next fortnight, but I’m dubious.

Dobbin is young and looked eager, but his finishing was wayward at best.

Hopefully that can be coached out. There must be room for improvement otherwise he wouldn't be anywhere near the starting 11.... Surely?

 

[Blue_in_london]

Yet it wasn’t . A striker goes along way to making this team function better

Remember getting Lukaku in and what a transformation it was to the whole team? Genuine world class quality. Its just finding another Lukaku that is ludicrously difficult these days - player gets couple of goals in a lower league and suddenly worth mega bucks in todays times . Lukaku was slotting double figures for 2 seasons before he joined us, at top level.

Anyway, side tracking a little but point is, it does make a massive difference to the whole team having a credible goalscorer up front.

 

[davids]

Onyango was tidy but didn't really have much time to make an impact.

Dobbin was one of our better attacking players, but we were awful in that regard so that's damning him with faint praise. He missed a very good chance woefully. But at least he got into a position to score.

Stoke had a late throw in and Onyango just stood two yards in front of the player taking it.

 

[atrottel]

We see the training videos and know that some of the squad at least can play decent passes. Yet when it comes to games (OK, now it is preseason but it was the same issue in the PL last season) we play slow and safe. Four passes across the back, one forward, one back, three passes back across to the other side. And we wonder why we are not creating chances. No confidence. No bravery. Very little game intelligence.

 

[Coggy]

Was Kenwright actually there today ?.

 

[Blue_in_london]

You can bemoan performances but the fact is we have 3 wins from 4 and 3 straight clean sheets from preseason, something that hasn’t happened for a while

Last season - won 2, lost 2
2021/22 - won 3, drew 1, lost 1
2020/21 - won 1, drew 1
2019/20 - won 1, drew 4, lost 1
2018/19 - won 1, drew 2, lost 4
2017/18 - won 2, drew 2
2016/17 - won 3, drew 2, lost 2
2015/16 - won 3, drew 1, lost 3
2014/15 - drew 2, lost 3
2013/14 - won 3, drew 1, lost 3

Can you imagine on the city forum anyone digging out the last 10 years preseason results to compare That's how far we've fallen...Good stat work though!

 

[SLAVEN BILIC]

We see the training videos and know that some of the squad at least can play decent passes. Yet when it comes to games (OK, now it is preseason but it was the same issue in the PL last season) we play slow and safe. Four passes across the back, one forward, one back, three passes back across to the other side. And we wonder why we are not creating chances. No confidence. No bravery. Very little game intelligence.

You have to remember who they’re training against. Maupay v Keane in training must be hilarious. Mick keeps inadvertently giving him the ball and Neal still puts it wide.

This is why we look lost in real match situations, they’re coming up against actual footballers.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

That was badly tedious. Danjuma looks one paced. Hopefully he picks up with games.

 

[Tommy Chong]

You have to remember who they’re training against. Maupay v Keane in training must be hilarious. Mick keeps inadvertently giving him the ball and Neal still puts it wide.

This is why we look lost in real match situations, they’re coming up against actual footballers.

And then you probably have Holgate and Godfrey, aka Beavis and Butthead keeping their eye on the ball and then running into each other.

It must be like watching a circus FFS!

 

[Goodisongang]

In for a massive reality check next week against sporting if we carry on playing like that.

 

[Gilbert..]

If people think signing a striker will fix our woes, today’s performance puts two fingers up to that idea. That was very, very poor.

Be a good start though wouldnt it.

 

[dan7787]

If people think signing a striker will fix our woes, today’s performance puts two fingers up to that idea. That was very, very poor.

Exactly, we look worse than last year, wtf has the Dyche been doing?

 

[dan7787]

Be a good start though wouldnt it.

The best striker in the world can’t score without any delivery.
I am very worried after that

 

[Gilbert..]

The best striker in the world can’t score without any delivery.
I am very worried after that

Isnt just the goals. We look a better side with calvert lewin as an outlet and focal point. Not brilliant but at least better.