Still some work to do!

Woking 0 Yeovil Town 2: 27 July 2005
by Mick

I always used to get excited about pre-season. This year though, there just seems to be a lack of anticipation about it. I didn't go to our first two away games and to be honest I didn't even care about them. However, I decided that I should at least get to one game and see the new signings and the potentials. I must say, despite the downbeat nature of the game, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, casting an early eye over the new players and distinguishing whose who. The football was mildly entertaining at times even if none of it was played with any meaning.

The score was 2-0 by the way, to Yeovil, unsurprisingly and I'll be honest with you it took me a minute to remember that. Admittedly, half the reason for that is because that we really should have scored in the second half and they really could have had a third in the first. The team was quite familiar really, the only new faces were keeper' Richard McKinnley in goal, with Basso's shirt on to add confusion, defender Jimmy Aggrey and the new selection of strikers Lloyd Blackman, Craig McAllister and Mark Rawle, Blackman playing right wing.

I know it's early on but I thought they all did well enough, though Blackman clearly is a bit too attacking to be a wide midfielder and although tricky he seemed to threaten to do things without actually doing them. Of course, it didn't help having Liam behind him although equally it didn't help Liam having Blackman in front of him, as both would rather venture forward than defend. It was no surprise then that the first goal came from the left, pulled back into the centre for a simple finish although Gary MacDonald should have been closer to his man for it, being caught flat-footed.

Keeper' Richard McKinney did little to impress me, although the pitch was wet, he should easily have dealt with a low drive but could only parry into the path of an on rushing Yeovil player who duly put it over the bar when scoring seemed easier. It made up for the Raph not being there anyway! The second came before half time with both Liam and McKinney leaving much to be desired as the former was left for dead and latter came tearing out of his goal only for the ball to be floated over him. In short, bless him, poor Liam had a horrid first half but it didn't help that Macca looked worryingly slow on his feet and the keeper' decided to rush out like a madman.

At the other end, McAllister looked very composed up front, holding up the ball well but rarely looked like scoring and Rawle was busy and had two attempts at goal both of which could easily have ended up in the net. Sharpling looked lively on the wing, Blackman came and went in fits and spurts, Smudger battled away in midfield as per usual and Selley looked as class as ever. Jacko looked comfortable at right back alongside the new signing Jimmy Aggrey.

Jimmy, I like very much, a tall, stocky defender who would scare the beejeesus out of me if I were up front. He looked fairly quick, dealt with stuff in the air - sort of like an improved version of the legendary Eddie Saunders. He even let the crowd marvel at a precisely made step over at one point possibly even more controlled than Eddie himself could ever manage.

The second half saw an improvement, the defence looked steadier and the forward line, with the bright partnership of Rawle and Richards, now looked dangerous. In fact, Rico should have had at least 6 goals in 3 games before the end after he missed a sitter of a header and failed to take other opportunities driving wide at the end. The introduction of Karl Murray in midfield saw a more energetic force, he frequently popped up in the box trying to finish a move and Evans was animated on the left beautifully leaving two defenders for dead out on the wing near the end of the game.

Shwan spent the second half in goal and dealt with what he had to immaculately. Karim El Saliha, the trialist centre back - from Morocco I'll have you know! - looked ok along with Matt Ruby as they entered the fray as substitutes. Of course, it's too early to tell the way things are going to pan out. You only had to look at Luke Oliver - who last pre-season I thought was "very dodgy" to see that first views aren't really enough.

Rawle, McAllister and Aggrey look promising signings, Selley and Murray look like a solid midfield and Jacko seems to fit well at right back. I was a little concerned about Macca's lack of pace - I know he's not quick but he certainly needs to be faster than that - and, well, I hate to say it but Liam needs to improve. Jalal in goal please, the defence will need to gel, the strikers will need to score, the wingers need to do more, we won't find out if any of that will happen till the season starts and know doubt we'll get injuries, new signings and transfer gossip (Rico to Burton) until then but I've had a taste of footy now and I'm impatient! Can it all start tomorrow please?

Woking (4-4-2): Jalal; L Cockerill, MacDonald, Aggrey, Jackson; Blackman, Smith, Selley(c), Sharpling; Rawle, McAllister. Subs used: Jalal, Murray, Evans, Richards, El-Saliha, Ruby, Ferguson, S Cockerill.

Attendance: 479

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