🗓️Pre-Season Friendlies 2024/25

[Mark_Ross]

As things stand, mid-table mediocrity is at the upper end of my expectations.

As things stand, I would be absolutely overjoyed with mid-table!

[uysapie]

As things stand, I would be absolutely overjoyed with mid-table!

At this stage, avoiding relegation will be the target. Do we have the most inexperienced head Coach in this League?

[SwalePie]

From reading this torrent of depressive posts it would appear the sky is suddenly falling. Thankfully we're getting promoted this season so people might cheer up.

[MapperleyMagpie]

Crikey, I thought I was doom and gloom but getting trumped recently. All will be ok tomorrow when we announce a stellar midfielder for this level and a top drawer striker. Mind ,I'm on holiday in Amsterdam and that cake did have a funny taste to it. 😁🌿

[SwalePie]

Crikey, I thought I was doom and gloom but getting trumped recently. All will be ok tomorrow when we announce a stellar midfielder for this level and a top drawer striker. Mind ,I'm on holiday in Amsterdam and that cake did have a funny taste to it. 

[LeftPeg_Pie]

Like playing both Jones and Nemane on the same side and Scot out on the left wing..

How has the Jones/Nemane positioning looked? Has Jones been the 10 on the right with Nemane as the right wing back?

[LeftPeg_Pie]

I’ve always been one for asserting the view that pre season is for fitness purposes and never get overly worried about results.

I’ve not been to any PSF’s and whilst it is concerning to hear peoples thoughts on a lack of noticeable style of play, I think you have to caveat that with various things in this thread already, especially the specific PSF vs league game intensity, bulk substitutions and players not wanting to get injured amongst them.

Squad wise, I think the basis looks solid;

Bass should realistically be playing every game and is highly rated.

CB wise, there’s seems a good range in Platt, Badeau, Macari, McDonald and Cundy. In a 3, you could easily have Chicksen as the LCB if required.

Wing back is strong. Tsaroulla being injured and missing PS clearly isn’t ideal but again, realistically, Jones will be manning that side with regularity. But Tsaroulla and Chicksen give us the option to move Jones further forward.

Maynard’s choice of shape also dictates how strong our options look in CM/10. Robertson will be the deeper lying CM. Palmer will clearly come in when fit so Edwards could start with SR. Hinchy is a genuine CM and Palmer when he’s back. Ryley Reynolds seems to be having a lot of PS time so could be in the mix?

Crowley starts, no questions asked. Lots of options to play in the other 10 role; Austin, Jones, McGoldrick and Scott. Clearly starting one of the latter takes away the depth from the forward line, but I can only see us playing one up front. Always good to have players who can play in multiple positions.

Jatta will probably start up front.

So you’ve got 23 pro’s. 20 outfield. There’ll also be a couple of ‘long term’ trailists knocking about too who could easily be signed up this week.

There’s also a few youngsters who’ve featured; Alves, Cooney, Gill and Adiefeh. Sanderson will probably be around about that group too. There’s a part of a thread somewhere saying we don’t produce or give the youngsters a chance, but it seems SM has been doing that. But then, counterintuitively, some will argue the squad looks thin if one or two make a bench. So what do we want; a path way or a squad full or pro’s?

From a cursory look, only McDonald, Palmer and Tsaroulla have no PS minutes and probably only Palmer would be a nailed on starter.

Let’s all relax. I feel the loss of Macca is weighing heavy on many fans. This is totally understandable but he’s gone. Onwards and upwards.

[SmiffyPie]

I dont have any sympathy for him whatsoever.. He is completely out of his depth. It was his choice to take the job knowing damn well he wasnt up to it.

The emphasis (good or bad) should be on the Bros! THEY offered him the job.

[OP67]

We seem to have upgraded a number of positions with players with plenty of EFL experience yet still have pretty much a non league manager. I'd really like it to work out for Stu as he seems a nice chap but I still think he'll be gone well before Christmas.

[PedroTheFisherman66]

i can't comment on the Pre season friendlies simply because i haven't seen one ! i have no idea what teams were played how many youth team players , first team players , were played and in what combinations. However the worrying incident for me was releasing Morias and (so far ) not replacing him with another forward, After ML was sold the forward line still held some weight in strength with a decent balance in numbers and in styles. Unless he is going to push JJ into an out and out attacking role ( a gamble indeed) we desperately need a new body upfront with pace.
fingers crossed he knows what he is doing ?x