Scout Notes – Pre-Season Round-Up

Jermain Defoe plays a part in all three of Sunderland’s goals away to Hartlepool. Antonio Conte opts for a 4-2-4 formation and earns his first win as Chelsea boss, whilst Callum Wilson nets twice as Bournemouth sweep aside Minnesota United.

WAC RZ Pellets 0 Chelsea 3

Goals from Bertrand Traore and substitutes Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah handed Antonio Conte his first win as Chelsea coach.

Traore scored from a Willian cross before the second half subs put the result beyond question, with a Victor Moses corner setting up Loftus-Cheek, who finished the match up front alongside new signing Michy Batshuayi.

Conte’s side lined up in a 4-2-4 formation, which switched to a more conventional 4-4-2 when not in possession, with Traore and Diego Costa often joined by Willian, on the right, and Moses pushing high up on the flanks.

Nemanja Matic and Oscar, who was handed his first pre-season start, took the central midfield roles, while Papy Djilobodji was again stationed at centre-half and Ola Aina was preferred to Baba Rahman at left-back.

Conte liked what he saw from Belgian international Batshuayi, but reserved much of his post-match analysis for the versatility of Loftus-Cheek, who was afforded a spot up front in the second period:

“Every manager has their own idea about a system of play. In this system, with two midfielders, Ruben can play close to the other forward but become a forward when we have the ball. He has the right characteristics to play in this position and he showed that today. Ruben is young with great potential. I like him a lot in the position of striker. He can improve a lot because he has great potential, good technique, good personality and he is good one v one.”

Chelsea Starting XI: Begovic, Ivanovic (Rahman 46), Terry (Miazga 89), Djilobodji (Hector 58), Aina; Oscar (Chalobah 73), Matic (Mikel 85); Willian (Atsu), Traore (Loftus-Cheek 58), Costa (Batshuayi 58), Moses (Kenedy 89).

Hartlepool United 0 Sunderland 3

A routine pre-season win for the Black Cats was completely overshadowed by the news that their manager looks set to take on the England job.

Sam Allardyce reportedly told his players at half-time, didn’t reappear after the break and then left the ground midway through the second period.

The uncertainty surrounding Allardyce’s future has left the club ill-prepared as regards squad strengthening, and at Hartlepool the only new face was trialist Charles N’Zogbia, who was one of 11 changes made at the break. Bizarrely, the former Aston Villa player was made captain.

All the key action had been concluded by then as Allardyce rolled out a very strong starting XI. Jermain Defoe scored twice, opening his account from a Billy Jones long ball, and Wahbi Khazri also found the net when he tucked in a rebound from a Defoe shot.

Holding midfielder Jan Kirchhoff missed out as a precaution but is expected to be fit in time for the weekend clash against Rotherham.

Sunderland XI: First half: Mannone, Jones, Kaboul, Kone, van Aanholt, Cattermole, Lens, Rodwell, Defoe, Borini, Khazri.

Sunderland XI: Second half: Pickford, J Robson, Ledger, Beadling, T Robson, E Robson, Honeyman, Gooch, N’Zogbia, Greenwood, Watmore.

Minnesota United 0 Bournemouth 4

A first-half double for Callum Wilson, a late finish from Lewis Grabban and a comedy own-goal from Minnesota goalkeeper Sammy Ndjock were the highlights of an easy Bournemouth win in America.

Jordon Ibe made his debut after his move from Liverpool and Bournemouth were home and hosed before the break.

Wilson was well placed to tap in twice, first from a Charlie Daniels cross and then when a Harry Arter shot rebounded back off the post, and in between Cameroon international goalkeeper Ndjock contrived to throw the ball into his own net as the Cherries strolled to victory.

Grabban rounded off the scoring late on after an error from their host’s other keeper in a generally low-key second half, although Max Gradel managed to get himself sent off in an altercation with Lowe following a rather robust challenge from the Minnesota man.

Bournemouth XI: First half: Boruc; MacDonald, Cargill, Butcher, Daniels; Ibe, Arter, L. Cook, Pugh; Mousset, Wilson.

Bournemouth XI: Second half: Federici; MacDonald, Francis, Butcher, Wiggins; Pugh, O’Kane, Gosling, Gradel; Grabban, King.

Huddersfield Town 0 Liverpool 2

A drone halting play, a missed penalty and a reserve goalkeeper sent on as a makeshift striker – Liverpool’s win at Huddersfield had its moments.

The main attraction, however, was Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic, who played his second half of football for the Reds and scored his second goal, firing in from a Roberto Firmino pass.

Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane again started for Liverpool, and Mane was lively in the first period, having a goal ruled out for offside before being felled in the penalty area, only for Coutinho to miss from the spot.

In the absence of Joel Matip, who damaged an ankle at Wigan on Sunday, Lucas Leiva played alongside Dejan Lovren at centre back, but the Brazilian limped off with a suspected hamstring issue after the break, prompting Klopp to send on Academy keeper Shamal George – up front.

When Ryan Kent earned another penalty late on, the Liverpool fans demanded George take it. Alberto Moreno had other ideas, however, and had the good sense to convert the spot kick.

Klopp had made seven changes by that stage and the match had become a drab affair, illuminated only by a rogue drone and the earlier performance of Grujic who, with Joe Allen on course for a move to Stoke City, is making a strong case for plenty more pitch time.

Liverpool Starting XI: Karius, Randall (Alexander-Arnold 46), Lovren, Lucas (George 67), Moreno, Ejaria (Wisdom 46), Stewart, Grujic (Woodburn 46), Mane (Kent 46), Coutinho (Markovic 46), Firmino (Ings 46).

Rubin Kazan 3 West Ham 0

A thumping defeat made it four pre-season matches without a win for Slaven Bilic’s men.

In mitigation, it was the Hammers’ second match in as many days and Bilic used 19 players as he continues to prepare for Europa League action at the end of the month, but the team’s lack of defensive cohesion remains a major issue.

New signings Sofiane Feghouli, Havard Nordtveit and Gokhan Tore all featured as Bilic went with a strong starting line-up which also included Mark Noble, Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio, who was used as a right back.

Andy Carroll missed out as he continues to build up his fitness via an individual training programme, whilst skipper Winston Reid was rested from training and failed to play a part.

West Ham XI: Adrian; Antonio (Cullen 64), Nordtveit, Burke (Rice 33), Cresswell (Page 74); Kouyate (Browne 74); Feghouli (Samuelsen 80), Quina (Obiang 46), Noble, Tore (Fletcher 74); Valencia (Martinez 80).

Bayern Munich 1 Manchester City 0

City’s Pep Guardiola era began with a defeat to his former club as the coach took a squad to Bavaria that included 12 Academy players.

New signing Oleksandr Zinchenko made his debut, other summer captures Ilkay Gundogan and Nolito did not, and captain Vincent Kompany was an unused substitute as Wilfried Bony caught the eye up front in the second half. Kompany’s inclusion came as a real surprise, with local reports now indicating he is on course to be fit for the start of the season.

Guardiola employed a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Zinchenko in the No10 role behind lone striker Kelechi Iheanacho in the first period, and the coach’s trademarks – quick passing and high pressing – were in evidence throughout.

The fact that stand-in goalkeeper Willy Caballero was the man of the match, pulling off a string of fine saves, spoke volumes for the general flow of the match – and the inexperience of City’s side.

A more telling analysis of City under their fabled new coach will come when key players return for the trip to China.

Post-match, Guardiola was keen to stress that last night’s match was all about giving a number of players experience at the top level:

“We cannot forget which team we played – with eight or nine of their top players – whilst we had lots of young players, who played amazingly. We need time: we need to play in these games to see their level, and if – during the season – we can use them.”

Man City XI: First half: Caballero, Maffeo, Adarabioyo, Kolarov, Angelino, Fernando, Fernandinho, Zinchenko, Barker, Iheanacho, Navas.

Man City XI: Second half: Gunn, Maffeo, Adarabioyo, Kolarov, Angelino, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Delph, Bony, Navas.