Well, here we are again for the second game in two days in the Flemish region of Belgium, somewhere between Hasselt and Tongeren in the province of Limburg. Like yesterday, the weather looks like it’s about to hammer it down.
90 minutes today, and again the team is an eclectic mix of youth, experience and trial players. We also got to see the new red and white home kit being displayed, whilst STVV wore their home kit of yellow shirts and blue shorts.
There are several players I hadn’t seen much of previously, so as a talent spotting exercise it was worth the short trip.
Feel free to dispute my ramblings, but this is how I saw the players performance-
Phillips: Started off a bit shaky with a dropped corner that nearly led to a goal, and also picked up a back pass leading to a free kick about 8 yards out in the centre of goal, which was beaten out somehow. Got better as the game went on and made a couple of decent saves late on. Looks to be a capable deputy to Pope.
Wilson: Usual game from him. Plenty of energy and some decent runs down the wing.
Wiggins: Usual game again. Didn’t look quite fit, but good to have him back.
Bikey: On trial at the moment, but looks like he would be a decent signing. He’s not the quickest of players, and he’s going to pick up lots of cards, but he’s a “man-mountain”, and certainly has a presence about him. Defended well in the area. He’s a “big unit”.
Gomez. Great game for someone so young. Looked composed on the ball, and got forward on occasions. Think we are going to see him breaking into the first team this coming season. With a couple of experienced defenders either side of him he looks very promising.
Daniel: Released by Palace, and I thought he was a defender, but seemed to be playing out of position further forward. Can’t really see him breaking through just yet. Got injured just before half time
Harriott: Not one of his better games, but a useful run out for him. Had trouble getting into the game. Not given much support. Anonymous for most of the time.
Jackson: As dependable as ever, and it looks like we are going to have to rely on him again this year. Took all the free kicks. Looks like we are going to need his goals even more than ever.
Cousins: Normal game from him without really dominating the mid field. Did nothing wrong.
Vetokele: I’m sure he is better than what we saw today, and I guess he needs time to work with the rest of the players. His game ended with a sickening collision with Davy Schollen, the STVV keeper, the latter being carried off on the stroke of half time. Difficult to tell the damage to Igor-possibly a rib injury. Let’s hope he’s OK.
Parzyszek: Difficult to make a judgement on him. Certainly didn’t impress. Tried hard, but lacked service.
And of the second half substitution-
Nego; As yesterday’s game, he got forward well, but still his passing lets him down. Can’t see him getting ahead of Chris Solly and Rhoys Wiggins.
Fox: Quiet game. Did some good covering and read the game well.
Morrison: Only on for a few minutes.
Cywka: Glad it’s not my job to decide whether to sign him or not. He doesn’t do anything wrong, but on the same token doesn’t grab your attention with anything special. He’s a midfield player, and we seem to be playing him wide and out of position. Really need to see more of him. I’m not convinced though.
Ansah: Needs time to “find his feet”, and get more games “under his belt”. From what I’ve seen so far, it’s difficult to imagine we’re going to see too much of him this coming season, despite his “illustrious” father.
Church: Just don’t get me started. Awful. Doesn’t look like a footballer, let alone a current Welsh international player.
Munns: A better game than yesterday and he wanted the ball at every opportunity. Good movement and reasonable passing. Might have scored near the end, but he’s so small it’s difficult to see him breaking into the team.
Moussa: Looks like he could be a decent addition to the squad, but will need time to “bed in”.
Buyens: I’m sure he will become a favourite, but need a bit of time to adjust.
For the second time in two days, the attack barely managed a shot between them, and I’m sure Bob Peeters will be well aware of their severe limitations. We have Reza Ghoochannejhad still to come back from World Cup duties, but even appreciating that these two games don’t mean too much, it’s quite obvious we are going to have goal scoring problems unless better players are signed.
I believe Bob Peeters is quoted as saying that if the players he wants become available, and we get them, he can see us being competitive. It’ll be interesting to see at the start of the season to see if he has been successful.
There were reports in the Belgian press yesterday that STVV were interested in an unnamed Charlton player on loan for the season. Please let it be Simon Church.
At the moment, it looks as if it’s going to be a long season, but it’s still early days. We do need a few quality players from somewhere though.
So, back to blighty tomorrow after savouring some of that Belgian beer tonight, and then off to the Guy Earl of Warwick on Saturday for the Welling United game. From there, it’s pack the mankini and off to Spain for a few days of Sun, Sangria and Soccer.
For anyone remotely interested, the team versus STVV-
Charlton: Dillon Phillips; Lawrie Wilson (Loic Nego), Rhoys Wiggins (Morgan Fox), Andre Bikey (Michael Morrison), Joe Gomez; Kadell Daniel (Tomasz Cywka), Callum Harriott (Moussa), Johnnie Jackson (Jack Munns), Jordan Cousins (Yoni Buyens); Igor Vetokele (Zak Ansah), Piotr Parzyszek (Simon Church)
Sint Truiden (First Half): Schollen, Daeseleire, Kotysch, Nirisarike, Odeurs, Schils, Schoofs, Swers, Aalhoul, Lazaar, Banvo.
Sint Truiden (Second Half): Dutoit, Gerits, Dequevy, Erichot, Habarugira, Renson, Hendrickx, Dufer (Aoulad), Zennaro (Arce), Boiten, Boukabous.
The Bexley Bodger.
Charlton Athletic-"the team for me" 