09 Aug 2026 15:02:33
Very strange game with some very poor individual performances. The game was very, very disjointed but I guess it gives more players game time and therefore fitness.
Obviously no Colwill again is a big concern for me.
09 Aug 2026 18:07:36
It was very feisty, Tom, and what a fiasco at the finish, with one of our mob telling the ref of the contractual obligations of a penalty shootout!
That said, the 16 year olds played very well, and Quenda looked dangerous as well.
I agree with you, though, about some poor performances elsewhere. Gittens, Essugo and Tosin were very poor, and Jackson is not the sort we want at our club. He is petulant and always looking for trouble.
09 Aug 2026 18:26:50
Yes, the 26 ur old Nicoll-Jazuli [hope I got spelling right!] seemed about the calmest on the pitch. Essugo not v impressive, and was captain for the match. Santos was far better... but will hope that Nicoll-Jazuli will be even better! Still v young indeed, of course, and EPL a step or three up from preseason friendlies.
Delap may have scored two penalties, but missed good chances, got a yellow for arguing with ref. Yes, Tosin was v poor and Gittens too. Jackson does argue too much, like Delap, but looked a fair bit better.
09 Aug 2026 18:34:37
I was disappointed with Tosin, but I generally am when he plays. I was also disappointed with Estavao and Essugo.
Not happy about the injury to AA, as he looks like a player we want fit and staying in the squad. I was ok with Jackson. Delap is a player that does my head in.
One minute he looks like a player, and then he presses some sort of self destruct button.
Anyway, the WC players will now drift back, and that will make team selection interesting as we approach the start of yet another season.
09 Aug 2026 20:33:52
Jbs, Nicoll-Jazuli is 16 years old, not 26 as you state. We also had young Regie Watson, another 16-year-old. Both were very good, and, for me, already better than Santos, whose performances last season fell well short of the standards I expect, although I do agree with you that Essugo is not as good as any of them. Just my opinion.
09 Aug 2026 21:29:10
Apologies for typo! Of course you are right, EbW, and I know he is 16 and referred to him - as wearing the number 32 shirt - as such in earlier posts, and in one above I said he was still very young. I agree that Regie Watson looked good too. Will see how they compare with Santos when they get to play more regularly in the EPL. But Essugo is a bit of a concern, especially if Lavia is not likely to stay fit for v many games on the trot, though I fervently hope he can!