Mind you, we are trying a different style too. Yes, we went long later on, but the first forty minutes or so we zipped passes about in the advanced midfield area looking for opportunities. I’ve seen people suggesting we’re not trying anything significantly different to last season, I have to disagree. There are hints of a new approach, the odd glimpse of a shifting emphasis away from diagonals to Rhead and back towards overlapping full backs and advancing midfield players. Andrade will, in my opinion, be a key player this season.
Another who impressed me in short bursts was ‘A Trialist’, otherwise known as Juan Luque. He didn’t get as much of the ball as I would have liked to see, nor did he settle in one role, but he showed a flash or two of what we might expect if he signs. When he first came on he looked to settle out wide on the left, then after the second round of changes I thought he came more central. When he did get on the ball he seemed keen to travel with it, showing a nice burst of pace and a drop of the shoulder too. Last season we did lack players who wanted to take full backs on, certainly as the season wound down, but if Luque has impressed Danny he could be one to watch.
It is also nice to see Josh Vickers fit and raring to go. Of all the keepers we saw last season, I believe strongly Josh was the best and although I’ve seen little of Grant Smith, I don’t have any reason to change that view right now. It took some convincing too, I was a Paul Farman fan and I always will be, but Josh is the better keeper and he showed why today. There was a couple of saves, one from Bradley Dack in particular, that demonstrated exactly why he’s our number one. He’s big too, commanding in the air and far more assured coming for the ball than Ryan Allsop was. yes, his distribution is still occasionally awry, but in the main he’s a great keeper.
There was little he could do about their goal, Craig Conway got some joy on the left flank, not their most fruitful area of the pitch, and his cross was excellent, back from the touchline across goal. It wasn’t easy to defend but I might have liked a centre back to do better, but Nuttall made sure he won it to give them the win.
I haven’t come away feeling desolate or disheartened, I don’t think there’s cause to criticise anyone too much. we’re just three proper matches into pre-season, a period which traditionally tells you absolutely nothing about your players or their chances in the season to come. I recall once upon a time we beat Premier League Middlesbrough 5-1 but oddly didn’t win the league. I think someone said we didn’t win a friendly in 1975/76, but romped to the title. All these matches are is a chance to get some fitness and work on patterns of play and partnerships.
Tonight, John Akinde and Matt Green might know a bit more about each other, Lee Frecklington might be 10% closer to match fitness, Juan Luque might have earned a deal and Harry Anderson might have edged himself closer to a first team place. Not one of those players, nor anyone wearing an Imps shirt this afternoon, will be too disappointed. Even Danny Cowley, a man who can’t sleep if he loses on the National Lottery, won’t be reaching for the Horlicks or Zopiclone when it comes to bed time. so please, for the love of god, don’t be the one on Facebook or Twitter proclaiming we’re going down, because we’re not.
Disclaimer: I do realise it is a minority and I do know most of those who are calling for Green to be dropped have Arsenal as their banner picture or can be found wearing a Manchester United shirt prior to 2016, but they’re still there, spreading their rubbish. Similarly, I know 90% of you reading this know exactly what I’ve said to be true and also won’t be turning over at 3am wondering when we’re going to get our first point.
No ones mentioned young Chapman yet. How did he do against seasoned professionals
First point ! Surely you mean our first goal as og leads the way!?
I also said that in 1975/76 we lost our first game 3-1 away at Newport so this season if we do go away to a team beginning with N in our first game and lose then don’t panic and expect loads to celebrate at the end of the season.
Don’t be under any illusion, today’s run out was a training session in the lovely sunshine…. that’s all it was. Blackburn’s class was obvious but you can bet your life, almost, that when LCFC run out at Northampton and then for the first home game against Swindon, in front of the massed Lincoln crowd, you will see a much more powerful performance than we saw today. Again, I for one cannot wait! Come on you Imps!!!
No atmosphere,no real commitment from the players apart from Eardley and Anderson,lets hope things improve from the worst City performance Ive seen since the Cowleys came.
It was a friendly mate, think about it. Hot day, result irrelevant !
I agree with most of what you say, friendlies do not mean much, however I was a little concerned that following the opening 10 minutes, our only plan was to contain Blackburn in what looked like a very defensive system, hence the 2 players up front did not see much of the ball. I am looking forward to a more attacking display on Tuesday at Boston. Come on you Imps!