I thought Flanno did well, played with a bit of passion.
He did, and was head and shoulders better than the other young players on view. Unfortunately the youngsters other than himself, Ibe and Coutinho (ie the ones who weren't in our first team last season) did little or nothing to thrust themselves into the managers thinking. One or two infact did even worse than that, and I'd be very surprised if a couple didn't make the managers mind up about them as far as this season is concerned. Here's some ramblings/musings going from memory and taking into account I don't have too much knowledge of some of the players:
Brad Smith: He's pacey and willing, at the moment that's the best of what's going for him. There isn't too much guile or composure about him going forward though, and he doesn't convince me defensively either. Flanaghan was in a different stratosphere to the young lad in the same position in the second half, and as such I'm convinced Smith is a long way from being currently good enough. He must surely go out on loan.
Ilori: Hard to say as he went off early.
Kelly: Isn't IMHO ever going to be good enough. We should give the lad a break and listen to offers so he can find his true level.
Coady: As above a fair distance from being of the required standard IMHO. I'm not surprised he did so well at Sheffield United, that's much nearer his level.
Wisdom: Based on what we saw here his spell at Derby hasn't advanced him. Again I'm not sure he's up to it if I'm honest, but I do like him so I'd loan him out for one more season.
The centre half, hyphon Jones who came on second half: Looked alright, another season in the reserves then let's see.
Suso: Enigmatic and unconvincing. He always goes to his left and posseses no pace to speak of, rarely puts a tackle in and doesn't get around the pitch. He's a player I like but he's going to have to do some serious thinking about just what type of footballer he is going to be. He seems to have it in his head that he's going to be some sort of playmaker from deep, the man with the keys to unlock the doors and the man that makes things happen. Now he's undoubtedly a talented footballer with a great left foot, but where he operates and what he does, he's rarely if ever going to truly hurt the opposition in England. And he's going to need to hurt them, otherwise you wouldn't bother playing him as he contributes little when you haven't got it. My concern is that he's going to be too easy to force into playing it square left all game, too easy to dominate physically, and too easy to turn into a passenger who the rest of the team has to carry. He has to be far braver in possession, far more determined to make things happen and bust much more of a gut to get into areas where he can have an impact on the game. He needs to stop watching videos of Xabi Alonso and start looking at videos of Cesc Fabregas, that's more the player he could become with work in my opinion.
Teixera: Had little impact on the game, and like Suso was IMHO disappointing. These lads make noises about "fighting for their place" but where was the desire to make the managers mind up for him? Where was determination to impose themselves on the game?
Ardejan? - A mile from being good enough. That allied to his dying swan routine when he got hit on the back of the head by a clearance (the opposition could have gone on and scored for all he knew and cared) convinced me that he isn't ever going to make it.
Borini-Bitterly disappointing.
