Mendy was incredible. He's a right winger, he's quick, he wants to take his man on, he looks like he can deliver the ball. His tricks looked a bit one dimensional. Pretend to go one way, drop the shoulder, go the other. It worked every time, but you wonder if it will against better opposition. He made one crunching tackle, but was otherwise untested. I can't decide if my favourite bit was his first input, where he played a great little header into Fagan, then raced onto the return pass and skinned the full back who was so stunned, he just shoved Mendy over, or when he threatened to skin the guy for about the 10th time, but instead game inside, beat another man and lashed a shot just over the bar. As first impressions go, it's the best one I've ever seen.
Halmosi's first touch was a mis-hit cross. His second was a curling free-kick from the corner of the area (as a result of the push on Mendy) that he lashed against the bar. Wow. He then went on to show everything we knew he had in his tank. His set piece delivery was great, his ball control and pace was superb. He made the second goal by firstly out pacing big Robert Page and then when Page thought he was just going to shoulder charge the long haired pansy into the stand, Halmosi stood up to the challenge and left Page on his back, before sliding a nice ball across the box. Against, very impressive, he's definitely got all the tools to be a success and with Ricketts behind him, Boateng and Ash inside and Deano and Folan and Geovanni and possibly King to aim for, he's got the support around him.
Boateng was a bit more restrained but generally impressive. Good use of the ball (aside from one cross field volley to someone he'd obviously seen but no one else had!), great engine and very good positioning around the midfield. Geovanni was magic again. As the oppo's get better, so does he. God, I hope he can keep it up. He might be the best passer of a ball we've ever had. Craig Fagan doesn't look anything like the player we had on loan. He's going to surprise a few people. Warner made one good save, but generally had little to do. He's very quiet, possibly because he's just settling in. He's a very imposing figure though. If there's ever a punch up at the KC, I'm on Warner's side.
The usual suspects were all around and looking back in the groove. Ricketts is settling in at left back.
Liam Cooper is the biggest surprise of pre-season. What a player he looks. He's still young, but physically impressive, strong in the air, stronger in the tackle and very brave.
Enjoyable evening. Ground is rickety, but unopposed views, proper terracing, good burgers and super Tigers. What more do you need?
Rick