Originally Posted by
optipez
Harrogate tomorrow is perfect preperation. They're better than us but not by much, match fit and as it's competitive we won't be changing most of the team at half time.
We then have another friendly against a York team who would probably have gone up to our level last season but for Covid interrupting things.
Friendlies tend to be quite useful in gauging where we're likely to be. Under Allen we had a good pre season and looked organised and played well until Trew sacked him, under Derry we looked dreadful, Hucknall Rolls were as good, we only won through fitness and bringing on subs and we went on to get relegated.
Under Moniz, Carlton Town looked fitter than the Dutch imports, Jenner was gasping after 15 mins and we were unfit and lightweight all season.
Nolans second pre season was terrible. Again , Basford matched us until they ran out of puff after an hour.
Last season the team we were sending out to friendlies was clearly going to struggle, Remaye Campbell up front was leagues away from Nathan Tyson who was years past his best and Oxlade Chamberlain and Bird as our centre halves was just not National League standard.
Looking at this season's matches I worry that the bench doesn't have a striker as good as Dennis on it and I'm a bit worried that centre mid is still too reliant on Doyle, Reeves has had injury issues and JOB isn't a 7 out of 10 every week and also the wrong side of 30. Enzio looks lost in the formations we've played and Sam doesn't look in the same class as Wootton or Thomas so far. Knowles has been the surprise packet, quick, energetic and generally lively. I think Ardley will play Graham ahead of Rawlinson as he did last year until his injury and Chiksen over McCrory for the most part. Just a view based on not very much though.