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Trialists impress in confident City performance
By theimps.tk
July 8 2009
It's not often that all trialists impress at Sincil Bank but a goalless draw against Ferencvaros can be considered very different. Cian Hughton and Paul Connor both did very well against the Hungarians in a match where City could have easily won.

Despite a poor recent record in professional games, Paul Connor's first ever appearance in a City shirt worked out well he won many flick-ons to see up Fagan and Hutchinson on a few occasions, coming close a few times himself before being denied by a keeper with the flexability of a cat. He may not have scored, but the signs were promising.

Hughton on the other hand showed the class that convinced Spurs to once take him on, also providing a decent attacking option down the right.

It was a game where the Imps were generally the better side, maybe not creating many chances but the defence meant that we rarely had any shots against us. A decent following from Hungary will be disappointed that they couldn't really force Rob Burch into making any decent saves.

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8 Jul, 2009 20:56 Report
theimps.tk (IP Logged)
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Trialists impress in confident City performance
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8 Jul, 2009 21:06 Report
davidimp (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
A good game thought all our players did well and plenty to build on. 1221 wasnt a bad crowd either.Just lacked a goal.
Fagan and Connor looked to have the begining of a decent partnership. Hughton was very good cracking tackler. heath was good. I look forward to seeing them again on the 28th when they will be much sharper as I thought that was the only thing they really lacked and that is to be expected so early in preseason.

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8 Jul, 2009 21:17 Report
kevin6 (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
Impressed particularly by Fagan and Heath.
Thought Connor tired towards the end but won more headers in 90 minutes than Wright did in a whole season. And not only that, they were quality headers too.
Hughton was very competent but looks about 14.
Nice to see Butch back.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:07:08:21:19:52 by kevin6.

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8 Jul, 2009 21:44 Report
jacsimo (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
Wow....I'm very encouraged!

& I'm sure that we will have other newcomers before the big KO.

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8 Jul, 2009 21:58 Report
Grundy (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
Sign up Hughton! Did anyone else think Coleman Carr looks classy?

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8 Jul, 2009 22:52 Report
PoshImp (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
I shall repeat here what I have just posted on Lincoln Imps Forum...


"I know it's only one game, but I came away from the game feeling quietly confident. We do, however, need someone who is a natural goal poacher. We would have won tonight had we got one!

Burch - very good game. His kicking has improved dramatically! A couple of pretty good saves in the first half.

Hughton - even though he is on the small side, there won't be many beat him for pace. He's tenacious, too and won't give up on a challenge. Good game.

Kovacs - excellent. Very solid. Looks even better now he has Hone back alongside him.

Hone - Good to see him back. Didn't put a foot wrong. With those two at the back, we won't concede so many as last year, especially if Burch continues his improvement.

Heath - looks a good acquisition. Has one hell of a shot on him, he just needs to be reminded where the goal actually is. Similar to Hughton in that he is also pretty tenacious and won't give up without a fight.

Clarke S. - didn't really get into the game much, I thought. Not the new Freck.

Butcher - typical Butcher display. Box-to-box, won some good tackles but not overly effective. Couple of tame shots.

Brown - looked a bit out of sorts. Not the Brown I remember, perhaps it was just an off day. Couple of good runs but beaten to the ball too easily.

Clarke J - some good touches, but nothing to 'light the fires' as it were. Might fit in and will certainly improve when he gets used to playing with the others.

Connor - good old-fashioned centre-forward. Won lots of flick-ons and certainly has a good eye. May well do ok with both Fagan and Hutchinson.

Fagan - a very good prospect. He will become a fans' favourite, I am sure of that. Some excellent touches and interplay with Connor and (later) Hutchinson, looked promising.

Subs:

Hutchinson - some good interplay with Connor and Fagan. Could make a good partnership. Looks surprisingly like, and runs like, Jamie Forrester! I hope he gains his experience too!

Coleman-Carr - a real find this one. Excellent ball control, made some very good, positive runs to the by-line/into the box and some good crosses. Looked always to feed off Oakes. Excellent prospect.

Oakes - now is this the reincarnation of Stephan Oakes? Leaner, fitter and did not put a foot wrong. Some of his long passes out to Coleman-Carr especially were sublime!

Swaibu - good sub for either Kovacs or Hone.

Miller - has potential to be a good sub for either Kovacs or Hone.

Adams - not on long enough to make much of a comment, but could have sneaked a goal late on from another Coleman-Carr cross.

Musselwhite - again, not on long enough to pass judgement.



All-in-all though, an interesting evening, first half team not as good as the second-half team. When the young 'uns came on, and with Oakes's experience, we actually began to create stuff going forward.

I think that there is potential with many of tonight's performers but we do need a goalscorer/poacher. Maybe he is hiding in there somewhere, but Jacko will need to find him!

Good gate; 1,221 including a few Hungarians!"



(Sm85)

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8 Jul, 2009 23:31 Report
cherryexile (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
I agree with most of the comments here, but I was not quite as impressed with Fagan and Connor, a even though I wanted to be. Not all their fault, but a lot of runs and passes going in different directions. There needs to develop an understanding between them and between the forwards and the midfield. Very early doors though, so maybe a bit unfair.

I thought Heath had very good control and Hughton would have been my Man of the Match, had it not been for Oakes, who could have graced the Premiership with some of his passing. When he came on we just took control.

Coleman-Carr looked very promising. Butcher was overshadowed by Oakes, but did OK. A couple of attempts at going forward himself, but an awful lot of sideways ball.

Kovacs was immense and deserved the Captain's armband. Nothing was getting passed Hone, Swaibu or Kerr in their turn.

I would like to see them after 2 or 3 more games. If they gell, we could finish in the top three. We do need something else up front though.



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9 Jul, 2009 06:33 Report
Normanstanley (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
Lack of goals will cost us....

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9 Jul, 2009 08:22 Report
heathimp (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
give it time normanstanley, at the moment yes but lets see who jacko brings in.

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9 Jul, 2009 11:52 Report
Grundy (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
If Connor gets fitter, his ability in the air and touch may suit the likes of Hutch. I said a few weeks ago I have a sneaky feeling Oakes will knuckle down and have a much improved season. His passing and Fagans off the ball running could prove interesting.

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9 Jul, 2009 12:30 Report
kevin6 (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
I agree grundy - however, we still need goals. I think Jacko is taking the view that all of the players can score goals, which is probably true. But will they score enough?

I can see us starting the season with what we have now.

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9 Jul, 2009 17:35 Report
Dave Imp (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
Superb defence and Midfield! Striking wise i thought Connor did ok and so did fagan but they didn't really look like scoring which could prove to be our downfall. Coleman- Carr was superb. My one concern is Jacko has signed Clarke, Fagan has Connor on trial plus Adams and Hutchingson but he sais today that he wanted another 2 strikers so we could end up with 6 strikers on the books 5 of which will be wanting first team action. Although wheather they score or not remains to be seen

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9 Jul, 2009 18:37 Report
PoshImp (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
Who'll be the first to start a 'Bring Back Adrian' campaign!



(Sm85)

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9 Jul, 2009 18:53 Report
davidimp (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
[/b]IF[b]Jacko can get the right strikers to compliment what we already have in the squad we have the makings of a good team.
The rest of the team look good to me. I think we a right winger and two strikers for me. If we cant afford to get to new players in permantly then loan signings could provide a useful alternative.
Plenty to build on for me. Connor just needs to get fit he looked sharper than Horsfield!

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9 Jul, 2009 18:59 Report
Dave Imp (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
Quote:
davidimp
Plenty to build on for me. Connor just needs to get fit he looked sharper than Horsfield![/quote



So did the edge of my season ticket! Jacko said he only has money for 2 new strikers, which to me says maybe Connor and 1 more

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9 Jul, 2009 19:45 Report
cherryexile (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
I couldn't listen to the interview, it wouldn't load up for me today.

Did he say 2 new strikers, or 2 new players?

Depending how long Green is out we may still need cover for right back, even if we sign Hughton.

He may even mean Hughton and one other.



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9 Jul, 2009 19:56 Report
davidimp (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
Green having his groin op next week according to BBC site.
two strikers from what the echo piece said probably Connor and a.n.other.
Also said Howe deal isnt dead ball firmly in his court.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:07:09:19:56:59 by davidimp.

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9 Jul, 2009 20:09 Report
cherryexile (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
He may have changed his mind if he was there last night.



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10 Jul, 2009 17:34 Report
Dave Imp (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
I thought i read 2 new strikers. I just can't see why he signed Fagan and Clarke and is now saying he wants 2 new strikers. Is he saying he isn't happy with what he bought? Or is it he doesn't think that 4 strikers are enough?

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10 Jul, 2009 19:37 Report
davidimp (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
I dont think he sees Hutchinson and Adams a regular starters and wants two more strikers with more experience than those two youngsters I would think.

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10 Jul, 2009 19:59 Report
heathimp (IP Logged)
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Re: Trialists impress in confident City performance
also i think he sees clarke as a winger, so only really signed 1 striker.

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