Smart ball from Dost to get that counter attack started. MONEY ball from Acuna to Gelson then Gelson with the magic to make it 1-0
1-0 halftime GELSON with the goal, Acuna has been the best IMO Adrien has been awful. A couple of mistakes led to dangerous chances for Aves. Our defense also seems shaky still. Piccini with a mistake near the end of the half which could have cost a goal.
Ugly turnover from Piccini to end the half. Can't wait to get Ristovski out there. To be honest the back 4 haven't left me with a bunch of confidence so far, but the attack is looking good. Bruno and Acuna had a couple nice chances from outside the box, it'll be nice to have multiple threats from out there.
Nobody even looked from out there before, outside of Alan Ruiz. To have 2 good looks from outside in 1 half of the 1st game is nice to see. Hoping for a better performance from the defense in the 2nd half though. Aves had a few chances there where they could've scored. This is a game we need a clean sheet on, even just to instil that confidence.
So I had to catch the second half on the radio but it sounded like Coates anchored the defense and Battaglia was a difference maker off the bench, what do you guys say?
Piccini was pretty solid moving forward. Just a liability on defense since he doesn't have the speed to track back. Gelson had to constantly play RB. Attacking the ball, however, Piccini was very good. Coates was a beast today and had some great dribbles. Battaglia is like a faster William. He was a difference maker off the bench. Gelson was everywhere today. Our best player by far. Acuña was also one of our best players as well. Great passing, great shots, good movement off the ball. Promising result. Let's keep it going
Some things to fix at the back and a bit slow in the first half going forward, with Podence and Battaglia on we became more dangerous. Rui Patricio - solid; made a couple of good saves in the first half and wasn't tested in the 2nd half. Piccini - poor first half, better second half; has work to do if/when Ristovski joins Coates - a lot better than what he showed in pre-season, was our best defender Mathieu - some lapses in the first half where he put the ball out for a corner when he could've been smarter, better in the 2nd half Coentrao - not at his best physically, didn't attack too often and when he did the crosses weren't the greatest; will have to be patient with him William - the boss as usual, little to say as he was once again a stud Adrien - Very poor, didn't seem like the same player, someone might say he wasn't going in 100% to tackles to not get injured in case he gets transferred Acuna - IMO our best player; he's going to be an instant fan fave, isn't creative like Gelson but makes good decisions, plays simple, assisted for the first goal, hustles back and forth to defend and attack, excellent Gelson - 2 goals makes him man of the match today, influential as always; the only thing he still needs to work on is that final pass/decision to be truly world class Bruno Fernandes - played behind Bas Dost but didn't play well; didn't agree with this choice from JJ, he's a passer and needs to play deeper, the team was much more creative when Podence played behind Dost Bas Dost - Very little service today, had a chance toward the end which he didn't take advantage, otherwise tried to actually lay-off chances for others SUBS: Podence - came on to make an impact, although sometimes held on to the ball for too long, our little wizard made the difference along with the next sub... Battaglia - his addition basically shut down the opposition; the man formed a tough partnership with William in the middle which out-muscled the opponent, and he has very good box-to-box qualities, very impressed with this signing so far Jonathan Silva - came on for 10 seconds.. nice haircut