(06-08-2017, 15:26)Bierzo Baggie Wrote: First half; Deportivo had most of the play but they weren’t really threatening. The sending off on 40 minutes spoilt the game really and it was related to the shirt pulling tactic that they used to break down any rare Albion counter attack. Livermore reacted and the ref showed him a second yellow, unnecessarily so, especially for a friendly. Noticed that Pulis went livid and went across for a chat with Pepe Mel. But in Spain, sneaky shirt pulling is considered to be a tactical foul and even a legitimate part of the game. Barcelona have been doing it for years!

Second half; Albion hardly progressed out of their own half. The first goal was a nicely taken first time shot, and the second I’d say Myhill was at fault.

Any positives? Not really. I liked the new fellow Hegazi. He looks like the Egyptian version of Jonas Olsson of a few years ago.
Also, we finished the game with 9 outfield players and 6 of them were teenagers… Leko, Field, Wilson, Roberts, Harper and O’Shea, the last two I hadn’t heard of before.

But Albion clearly lack a creative midfielder and somebody to score goals. No point in relying on set pieces if we can’t even get a corner!

Another observation. There was obviously a big contrast between the two styles of play. Albion looked big, physical and often lumbering against some of the small and tricky Spanish players. Bakkali with his devilish dribbling was deservedly man of the match and I also liked the Turkish playmaker Colak. Neither player reaches 5 foot 7 with their socks on.

Just a final comment, Pepe Mel was chatting and posing for photos with Albion fans after the game. Great bloke and in many ways harshly treated by the club. He will put a team together at Deportivo with limitations and vulnerabilities for sure, but I suspect that they’re gonna have a lot more fun than we will.

And yes, that trophy was massive.