Pre Season Games

We win closed doors match with Tranmere 2-1 with goals from Pittman & Menga; Dykes missed a pen at 0-0

That's put a dampener on our tradition of not winning matches, hope it hasn't jinxed us.

Needing to get a decent penalty taker sorted, or someone to coach us better on how to score from them, that's 0 for 2 so far in the pre season games.

Good to see Pitts getting a goal, could be a huge season for him, reckon he'd get around 10 goals if played in the right position, getting on the end of Devlin's crosses into the box. Also well done to Dolly, just hope that isn't going to be one less he scores for us when the league starts.

I’d be giving Pitts the pens....or as you say getting it practiced. With the new law on goalies feet at pens coming into effect there better be millions of retakes on missed pens this season...bet there aren’t any though.

Most one sided game I've ever seen us play against Alloa, think I could've went in goals and kept a clean sheet for all our 2 keepers had to do.

Really, really, really impressed by Bartley, looks like he'll be an absolute stormer of a signing, marshalled everything in midfield, and looked calmness personified.

Sibbs looked good when he came on too, but then dropped a bit deeper when we had more substitutions and changed our shape, played some quality through balls.

Dykes looks good as a target man, also going by these pre season games it looks like he'll get a few goals for us.

Took me a minute of two to recognise Robinson with his shaved heid, thought he was a trialist at first.  Talking of which, not sure any of the trialists stood out, one of them tried a bit too hard and committed a few fouls with his exuberance, and the big number 15 in defence is some unit but looks a bit slow to get back when he gets beaten. Holt will have seen enough of them in the other games to make up his mind though.

Well that was interesting. Final score Alloa Nil - Livi 2

Suitably experimental side giving most other than Lawson; Erskine and Henderson a run out.

Bartley and Devlin in particular look class acquisitions.

Cece really is enormous; actually I though he could be a stone over weight. Really seemed to struggle on Alloa's older artificial surface; actually saw him talking to Martindale and Holt about it and one of the guys seemed to rush off to check the kit but came back - perhaps they didnt have his size.

Anyway despite struggling on the ground he seemed to win absolutely everything in the air.

That being said I strongly believe he shouldn't play in a flat back four but would be better suited to a three at the back scenario similar to last season.

We had a trialist playing at left back/left wing-back who really impressed me; pacey; tall; strong and wins pretty much every tackle. I can't actually recall a trialist that's so impressed me actually; I know it was only Alloa but they were well up for it.

Crawford had a pretty good game without being particularly stand-outish. His combative style though will fit in well into an attacking midfield.

I though Dykes had a pretty accomplished game; considering his youth he seemed to demonstrate knowledge and ability ahead of his years.

Others worth of mention were Sibbald and Blues; both came on in the second half but seemed well fired up to try and secure a regular starting place.

Stewart seemed okay but, to be honest, he didn't have a lot to do. Actually I cant recall him having to make one single save during the entire game.

The second trialist played as a more attacking midfield or attacking winger; he played okay but, in my opinion, didn't offer anything we don't already have in abundance.

Good to McMillan back; he got about 20 minutes in the second half and did pretty well even though he was playing out of position as a left back for part of that time.

Finally a special mention to Robinson's hairstyle - what the f##k was he thinking; combined with his little goaty beard it looks like he's joined the moonies.

Liviforever wrote:Took me a minute of two to recognise Robinson with his shaved heid, thought he was a trialist at first.  Talking of which, not sure any of the trialists stood out, one of them tried a bit too hard and committed a few fouls with his exuberance, and the big number 15 in defence is some unit but looks a bit slow to get back when he gets beaten. Holt will have seen enough of them in the other games to make up his mind though.

Pretty sure the big number 15 in defence was Cécé Franck Pepe

You've got me wondering now; Cécé Franck Pepe profile says he's 22 years old; the boy playing at number 15 looked to be nearer 30?

Just read this on the Livingston Twitter:

61’ SUBSTITUTIONS:

OFF: Pittman, Dykes & Cece.

ON: Robinson, Miller & Lamie

Seems number 15 definitely was Cece.

Durnford wrote:Just read this on the Livingston Twitter:

61’ SUBSTITUTIONS:

OFF: Pittman, Dykes & Cece.

ON: Robinson, Miller & Lamie

Seems number 15 definitely was Cece.

Yeah just saw Andylivi on P&B posting him as Cece, big laddie but looks like he needs to slim down a bit and be quicker on his feet.

Looking at the page announcing his arrival, he looked the exact opposite of what was described of him against Alloa last night.

“Cécé is an out-and-out defender and likes to defend, good on the ball, physical and has a bit of pace in his locker. All in all we feel he is a fantastic signing for the club.”

Certainly didn't look like he had pace in his locker, unless he was keeping it there till a competitive game started, slipped onto his arse on the artificial pitch and just lay there holding his arms out, till Martindale shouted at him to get up off his arse and start chasing the guy with the ball. Then looked at his studs a few times to indicate it wasn't his fault he fell. Has big long legs though, which he used well to make last ditch tackles to poke the ball away.

Liviforever wrote:Looking at the page announcing his arrival, he looked the exact opposite of what was described of him against Alloa last night.

“Cécé is an out-and-out defender and likes to defend, good on the ball, physical and has a bit of pace in his locker. All in all we feel he is a fantastic signing for the club.”

Certainly didn't look like he had pace in his locker, unless he was keeping it there till a competitive game started, slipped onto his arse on the artificial pitch and just lay there holding his arms out, till Martindale shouted at him to get up off his arse and start chasing the guy with the ball. Then looked at his studs a few times to indicate it wasn't his fault he fell. Has big long legs though, which he used well to make last ditch tackles to poke the ball away.

Did find it quite strange that he lay there after slipping with both feet flat on the ground - he hadn't been tackled so couldn't claim for a foul etc. It does worry me that he may be used to football in more clement climate and Scotland may be too much of a culture shock for him. That being said Marvin Andrews was extremely shaky when he first joined us culminating in us getting knocked out of the cup at Hampden by Hibs when there was a mix-up between him and the goalkeeper McCaldon(?). The next season playing with Brinquin on one side and Rubio he seemed to settle and became the play we now know he could be.

In the right position I believe Cece can be a formidable opponent but he needs to build up confidence playing on plastic. Currently he would be ripped apart by some of the main strikers in other premiership sides; the thought of him against Morelos doesn't bear thinking about.

I think he could be a real asset but he definitely needs to work on his mobility and potentially fitness. Still cant believe he's only 22.

Might be better against that big lug of a striker Aberdeen have right enough, def wont be pushed about in a physical dual, even Halkett struggled against Cosgrove's physical presence.

Incidentally I though both Lamie and McMillan looked perfectly at home in their brief spells in central defence last night - not that Alloa's attacking presence was anything to write home about though.

I know it's only pre season games, and not sure how high a standard of teams we played over in Hungary, or in England, but we've only conceded 3 goals and one of them was a penalty. Fills me with some hope that our defence will be ok this season after losing such big players.

Liviforever wrote:I know it's only pre season games, and not sure how high a standard of teams we played over in Hungary, or in England, but we've only conceded 3 goals and one of them was a penalty. Fills me with some hope that our defence will be ok this season after losing such big players.

Hmmmm... not counting any chickens yet until the first Betfred games are over and we approach the first proper game against Motherwell with a (hopefully) relatively settled side.

However you slice it Halkett is a massive hole that's difficult to fill. If we had been able to sign up the left back trialist on Tuesday I would have felt a lot more assured. If we were able to play three central defenders and two wingback (Devlin looked pretty impressive to me) I'd be suggesting maybe seventh place given the increasing strength of our midfield and possible attacking options.

Time will tell.

Doesn't really do justice to how one-sided the game actually was but here you go: