🗓️Pre-Season Friendlies 2024/25

[BigFatPie]

I’d argue playing jones on the right isn’t playing him out of a position as that’s where he played before he joined us and also where he played when he ripped us apart getting his hatrick for Cov against us. Scott’s always been a victim of the same system, having the box midlfield with one up front means if he’s not playing up top then the next best position is the left number 10 cutting in and getting shots off.
If

That hat trick was 7 years ago… I must confess I’ve lost all track of what formation we’re trying to play, but if you’re having to play Cedwyn Scott as an outside left it’s probably the wrong one.

[irishpete]

We shouldn't take too much notice of results in the friendlies so far as the lads have been having full training sessions the day before all the games.
We've been running out of steam in the second half in most games because of this
I feel a bit for Maynard
Our model is that the recruitment team brings in players mostly based on their data
The manager has little choice on the personnel and as Luke found, he often finds that some of the new signings are either not up to the level or don't play in the positions where we are lacking
Additionally data doesn't show up character deficiencies. The squad were glad to see the back of one or two who weren't kept on at the end of last season for example
Luke often talked about how we needed better defenders last season but he was ignored and instead found himself with forwards and midfielders who didn't play

So, the "model" then isn't doing it's job then. All we are doing is signing players we hope to shift on for xxx amount, regardless of whether they fit in & what we need.
This is a"big" season for the bros & especially Montague. He puts his name to every signing we make.

[Could'vebeenacontender]

So, the "model" then isn't doing it's job then. All we are doing is signing players we hope to shift on for xxx amount, regardless of whether they fit in & what we need.
This is a"big" season for the bros & especially Montague. He puts his name to every signing we make.

I agree

[upthemaggies]

So in the four friendlies since the behind closed doors one at Loughborough Uni, we've scored 6 and conceded 0 in the first halves, scored 0 and conceded 8 in the second halves.

[1955pie]

This has been very very underwhelming . Not only is Maynard under pressure but so is the recruitment team as seem to have missed out on a few first choices as well as letting our best player go for peanuts.

Slack is quite right Maynard will be the fall guy, a manager always is, I would add that I feel he has been dealt a bad hand off the field as well. We’ve seen two coaches leave this summer without explanation from the club, only one announcement made in terms of the keeper coach replacement and go into the new season risking a level of fitness without that type of coach in place. I’ve not been to any games this summer but what does the fitness levels look like? The last couple of years there has never been a concern over the fitness levels as it appeared we had a competent coach in place.
Nothing seems to be coming from within the club in terms of updates on players, kit, season ticket sales, even the updates on the pitch seem to have ceased it doesn’t help Maynard’s cause that the club seem apathetic this summer in their communication with supporters.

Perhaps our Head of Media (Nick Richardson) is on holiday? He is entitled to one.

[legs77]

Except for the fact we haven't really signed anyone other than defenders. Have we replaced Baj, Bostock and O'Brien? Edwards seems a decent player but the unproven U21 player I can't even remember the name of is doing what exactly?

We've let go of Langstaff and Morias, who exactly have we bought in to replace them?

We have replaced Randall mind with Tsaroulla who seems equally adept at sitting in the medical room

My belief was we'd have a forward lined up before it was public knowledge we sold Langstaff.

People will say Jatta is the replacement but im not having that we had 5 forwards we now have 3.

[1955pie]

Saturdays’ double header will be interesting.
We have just 18 senior outfield players + 2 youngsters (Hinchy and Reynolds) to cover for 180 minutes. Given that Palmer and Tsaroulla seem unlikely to play much or at all, that means that several players will be playing a lot more than 90 minutes and with increased risk of injury.
I would have thought that there will have to be several youth players involved plus maybe a trialist or 2.
We desperately need at least 2 more, especially a striker.

[MagpieMeltdown]

Saturdays’ double header will be interesting.
We have just 18 senior outfield players + 2 youngsters (Hinchy and Reynolds) to cover for 180 minutes. Given that Palmer and Tsaroulla seem unlikely to play much or at all, that means that several players will be playing a lot more than 90 minutes and with increased risk of injury.
I would have thought that there will have to be several youth players involved plus maybe a trialist or 2.
We desperately need at least 2 more, especially a striker.

I’m astonished we’ve agreed to the double header with Peterborough when we insist on having a paper-thin squad every year.

When the double header was announced I was quietly confident that would mean a bigger squad this season yet here we are, again.

[SwalePie]

The 'scrap' at Boston...

https://x.com/dannholla_/status/1818406052271956119

[upthemaggies]

I’m astonished we’ve agreed to the double header with Peterborough when we insist on having a paper-thin squad every year.

When the double header was announced I was quietly confident that would mean a bigger squad this season yet here we are, again.

Can't remember us ever playing two games against the same club on the same day. We've had pre-seasons where we've had two games against separate clubs on the same day at different venues in the very early weeks of pre-season, but this is something else. I'm presuming we're playing the strongest 11 in one and effectively a reserve team in the other (and the same for Posh), otherwise it doesn't make much sense with a week to go to be mixing things up.