Bojinov returns with a goal
Valeri Bojinov returned to action after his long injury lay-off in the reserves' 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Thursday night.>>mcfc.co.ukThe Reds went 2-0 up thanks to a first-half brace from Jordy Brouwer, but Bojinov, a 69th minute substitute, went very close just seconds after coming on and then played a big part in City's goal 12 minutes from the end.
Great to see Bojinov finally return to action in what was a very young looking reserve side, and although it is too late for this season he should be at full tilt come pre-season time.
Whilst Sven has stuck faithfully to the 4-5-1 this campaing - at times painfully so, you do wonder if this was enforced on him largely because of Bojinov's injury so early in the season which scuppered his chances of fielding the right balance in a 4-4-2, which I think Bojinov would have been an integral feature of.
Should be interesting to see how it lines up next season.
2 comments:
Certainly Bojinov doesn't look like he could operate as a lone striker, but alongside another good striker would be worth a look for sure.
However, given that the reserves lined up 4-4-1-1 tonight again, with Grimes playing behind Nimley-Tchuimeni (who looked quite lively despite being isolated at times), it seems that Sven's system is operating (and failing) at many levels.
It certainly didn't work at Wrexham tonight , although City's passing was poor, especially in the first half. Once Boj came on with half an hour left we went 4-4-2 and looked a different side and should have equalised in truth.
I was interested to go along tonight and see how the youngsters (many from the youth team of a couple of years back) had progressed and whether any looked like they might be close to the first team. In fairness they had a tough task against a good Liverpool side but one or two did OK.
I've always been impressed with Sam Williamson when I've seen him at left back. Tonight he was brought inside to cover for injuries and struggled a bit, but showed a number of touches that suggest he may yet come through. Ashley Grimes is always industrious too, as is Curtis Obeng at right back (a Shaleum Logan clone), but I was a somewhat disappointed with Marshall, Clayton and Daly in midfield and Karl Moore at left back (not his natural position either) who got skinned a couple of times.
I think it would have helped some of these lads if they had a few more of the first team fringe players with them. It was obvious the lift they got from Boj coming on. I would have thought that there would have been some good match practice for the likes of Geovanni, Caicedo and Castillo, or even M'penza. I realise that the likes of Sun, Garrido and Benjani wouldn't be risked at the moment, but some time with the second team wouldn't have gone amiss at times this season.
Good comments - I've been following the youth team (on the MCFC Reserves and Academy site), but been a bit puzzled as to why there doesn't seem to be much continuity between the sides. Also, it seems that once they're in the first team squad, they don't play for the reserves unless they're making a comeback from an injury. What's that all about? - surely if they are in the squad but not getting a game, they need match practise?
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