[Devongone]

Mass suicide on Bob's Board, lining up to fall like small Scandinavian rodents from Creswell Crags.

If we'd played the Blunts in a cup game ..... we could have run about like maniacs, tackled everything that moved and several things that didn't, intimidated them with our ludicrous will-to-win, overdosed on Boris's can-do approach ....... and lost 1-3 to a controversial last-minute penalty that resulted in a double sending-off and a journey into the lower reaches of the vernacular by our manager.

But what do you do in a friendly? Brutalise their newly-purchased million-pound striker, end Billy Sharp's career?

[Dancingwilldoit]

My first friendly and to be honest was quite impressed (in the main).
First half our defence looked solid and if Gerrard had bothered jumping it could have been 0-0 at half time.
Spyrou and Mandeville looked very useful up front. Boden just didnt look comfortable all night and had no pace to beat a defender.
Gerrard needs to lose half a stone minimum and learn to jump, Rowley looked like a rabbit in the headlights, he was just totally out of his depth. Easily pushed off the ball and couldnt wait to get rid of it when he did get it at his feet - usually to an opponent .
Buchanon looked class and Evans was just superb. Hollis looked solid and didnt put a foot wrong nor did Weir who also started. Coddington looks a good find.
The rest were pretty average and am being generous to some of them.
It was a very hot night and take it for what it was, a premiership side against a non league side. I saw more positives than I expected and I only had 2 pints.

[Devongone]

Surely with Evans, Hollis, Yarney and Maguire we have enough potential centre backs without Gerrard. I know Tranmere got up last season with a huge fat handicap at the back, but I'd rather copy Orient with Ekpiteta.

Evans wants to be a hero, so he'd always be in my team and I'm pleased to hear Coddington did well. The experience of a Buchanan has to be a good thing, but it is how you use experience that matters and Gerrard has always given me the impression he uses his to get away with things, both with referees and with the way he plays the game.

What you say about Boden is undoubtedly true, but so was last season's goal total. If we wanted someone to beat a man we wouldn't go for Scott Boden, just as we wouldn't go for him to win many high balls. If everyone in the squad could play 40 games do we have anyone you'd back to score more than Scott Boden? Will Evans and Luke Rawson are the only ones I think could get close.