Pre-season Friendlies

[Royal Ginger]

Internet in the stadium is a novelty today.

Pogrebnyak has started well, seems to have picked up some pace over summer....now down injured, that's on my jinx....my bad.

Quinn's a terrier and has been everywhere but is under hitting his passes.

Back 4 very composed.

[Royal Ginger]

Pog's gone down the tunnel, looks like Sa warming up.

[janesdaddy]

Live stream here: http://teledeporteonlinetv.org/canal-1/

[KC Royal]

Anyone watching? Using cricfree but no picture coming up and the official stream on the Esport3 site doesn't appear to be available outside Spain. The match has also disappeared completely from the matches listed here:

http://www.getyourfixtures.com/uk/fixtu ... dlyMatches

Go away for 15 minutes and come back to discover that the cricfree link is now working

[CountryRoyal]

That was the most retarded free kick I've ever seen.

[Ian Royal]

What was the first half line up?

Bond, Gunter, Obita, Hector, Ferdinand, Norwood, Tshibola, Quinn, Blackman, Williams, Sa? Missed the first 35 minutes and couldn't work out everyone...

[Royal Ginger]

What was the first half line up?

Bond, Gunter, Obita, Hector, Ferdinand, Norwood, Tshibola, Quinn, Blackman, Williams, Sa? Missed the first 35 minutes and couldn't work out everyone...

Almost, Sa came on for Pogrebnyak who was injured at around 20 minutes.

[Ian Royal]

What was the first half line up?

Bond, Gunter, Obita, Hector, Ferdinand, Norwood, Tshibola, Quinn, Blackman, Williams, Sa? Missed the first 35 minutes and couldn't work out everyone...

Almost, Sa came on for Pogrebnyak who was injured at around 20 minutes.

Quite impressed I managed that... I was only sure on three of them.


That looked a pen on Fosu just then.

[CountryRoyal]

What happened there?

[SpaghettiHoop]

Not a very friendly friendly.

[Ian Royal]

Yeah, Espanyol getting yellows left right and centre.

Not sure what on Earth Obita was thinking with his challenge. It looked like he got the ball and no one was in danger, just about in control... but madness.

Neither team look like they'd score if they played all week. Sa doesn't look a lone striker, but central midfield and defence look good for us.

Akpan looks like he was told to bulk up over the summer. He always looked a little lightweight and easily pushed off the ball, but may have taken it a bit far.

The difference between the teams in terms of controlling possession is frightening. Espanyol are constantly moving into triangles a pass or two ahead so there's always something on and we are just randomly looking for space, we either find it with no route for the pass, or we're marked. It should be basic stuff.

[Mr.Swainey]

This is fantastic.

[howser]

Watched the second half, defense and midfield look pretty strong, but very little goal threat from the Reading side, Obita nailed on red, dived in two footed would have gone in any league game. Does this mean he misses league matches now or do friendly reds not count in that respect ? if anyone knows ?

[loyalroyal4life]

Was Mcleary just rested? Best not be off!

[Kitsondinho]

Watched the second half, defense and midfield look pretty strong, but very little goal threat from the Reading side, Obita nailed on red, dived in two footed would have gone in any league game. Does this mean he misses league matches now or do friendly reds not count in that respect ? if anyone knows ?

Friendly reds only count for other friendlies. He is fine to start @ St Andrews next week! Was an eventful 2nd half!! Enjoyable day out!!

[KC Royal]

Watched the second half, defense and midfield look pretty strong, but very little goal threat from the Reading side, Obita nailed on red, dived in two footed would have gone in any league game. Does this mean he misses league matches now or do friendly reds not count in that respect ? if anyone knows ?

Yeah, was wondering the same myself. From the three quarters I saw on a less than perfect stream I thought Obita was having a really solid game before the red so I hope not. Absolutely nothing happened in that second half apart from the bookings, and the first half wasn't much more eventful - thought Espanyol should have scored from a low cross into an unmarked player in the box, but we were in a similar position had the final ball from whoever it was been right, probably would have been a tap-in.

Overall in terms of possession and what little clear-cut chances there were Espanyol just shaded it for me.

[Royal Ginger]

I don't think either team will be happy with that.

Nothing creative from either side, a striker a piece injured in the first half, red cards obviously, and no doubt a bit of bad blood from the inter-team relations perspective.

Not great for the club either in that it was dull even by friendly standards. That won't sell tickets at full price.

Fosu was most disappointing for me, tried to do too much.

Thought Clarke was going to get sent off.

[howser]

Ferdinand looks very useful, he could be a big bonus for us this season, depending on his fitness .........

[blueroyals]

Never mind the red cards. WTF was the new announcer doing? "Roar for the royals"? They've outdone themselves on last season.

[Royal Ginger]

I dunno, I think it's better than the quasi early 90s/homo-erotic 'back the boys and make some noise'. I'm IN on the basis of the lesser evil.